SLO LIFE Oct/Nov 2020

LIFE 

SLOmagazine 

DISCOVER 

SAND & SEA 

SAN LUIS 

FAVORITE 

HEALTH TRENDS 

MEET THE 

MAKERS 

ON 

N 

S 

CENTRAL COAST 

REAL ESTATE 

UPCOMING 

HAPPENINGS 

BEHIND THE 

SCENES 

VIEW 

FAMILY 

TRIP 

G 

OCT/NOV 2020 

SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM MEET 

JESSE DUNDON 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FAMILY, 

& FORGING AHEAD 

OCT/NOV 2020 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 1

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2 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2020

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

1 1 2 8 G A R D E N S T R E E T S A N L U I S O B I S P O W W W . B A X T E R M O E R M A N . C O M 


We’re here 

for you 

now 

and 

always. 

We know how important essential travel is to our community. SLO Transit 

has taken extra precautions in implementing enhanced cleaning methods 

and maintaining a rigorous cleaning schedule to keep buses clean and 

sanitized. We’re here for you now with essential travel and we’re here for 

you as our community is supporting one another on the road to recovery. 

For more information on individual routes and schedules, please visit our website at 

slotransit.org, download the SLO Transit app, or call Transit Dispatch at (805) 541-2877. 


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LEARN BY DOING WAS BORN HERE 

CAL POLY AND LEARN BY DOING HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS OF THE CENTRAL COAST SINCE 1901. 

Cal Poly students and faculty 

are participating in a restoration 

project at the Oceano Dunes 

funded by a grant awarded to the 

Horticulture and Crop Science 

Department from California 

Department of Parks and 

Recreation. The habitat mitigation 

effort aims to reduce particulate 

emissions, improve air quality and 

provide hands-on experiences for 

students as they assist with the 

seeding, growing and transplanting 

of more than 200,000 native dune 

plants. 

PHOTOGRAPH BY CAL POLY FACULTY MEMBER MIKE BUSH 

See more Learn by Doing stories at 

GIVING.CALPOLY.EDU 


Picture from left to right: Damian Fernandez, MD; Rabab Hajar, MD; Neal Moller, MD; Daniel Zovich, MD 

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CONTENTS 

Volume 

24 

30 

32 

11 

Number 5 

Oct/Nov 2020 

36 

Briefs 

View 

Q&A 

MEET YOUR 

NEIGHBOR 

12 

PUBLISHER’S 

MESSAGE 

14 

16 

18 

22 

Info 

Sneak Peek 

In Box 

Timeline 

8 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2020 

34 

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| CONTENTS 

66 

70 

76 

Real Estate 

Election 

Health 

82 

TASTE 

88 

92 

Wine Notes 

Brew 

46 

ARTIST 

48 

50 

52 

Family 

On the Rise 

Dwelling 

96 

HAPPENINGS 


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| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 

For many years, I’ve had two recurring dreams. Nightmares, really. 

In the first, I’m late to a football game. The team is counting on me, and I’m sprinting to the locker room 

with a massive duffle bag draped over my shoulder. No one is there because they’re already on the field. Over 

the PA system, I hear the announcement: “Let’s stand for the kickoff!” I look across the plaza. It’s my high 

school on a crisp Friday night. The lights are beaming down. I’m panicking as I rifle through my bag when 

I realize my shoulder pads are missing. So is my helmet. The PA clicks on again to ask a question: “Where’s 

Tom Franciskovich?” The crowd boos. I wake up in my bed, gasping for air in a cold sweat. 

The second dream unfolds as follows: I sit down for an interview and click on my favorite, trusty voice 

recorder. The tiny, red light glows indicating it’s on. For an hour, I dazzle the interviewee with incisive, 

thought-provoking questions. Over and over again, I’m told, “I can’t believe I’m telling you this, but . . .” 

I get one scoop after another, going deeper and deeper into the most incredible interview of my career. 

Periodically, I glance at the red light to ensure the tape is still rolling. It is. I try not to smile as the interview 

subject gushes on. Afterward, I head back to the office, plug the voice recorder into my computer and click “upload.” Then, nothing. The tape is blank. I 

wake up in my bed, gasping for air in a cold sweat. 

More than a decade ago, my wife, Sheryl, and I were struggling to launch the very first issue of SLO LIFE Magazine. I was working from a home office. 

At the time, our youngest, Harrison, was only a year old. As much as I loved to have him curled up in my lap as I clanked on my keyboard, it was just 

not working. He was far too interested in joining every conversation and typing along with me. At the time, it was a big leap for us, but it was clear we 

needed a real, actual office. 

I moved into a windowless space at the San Luis Business Center, the broom closet suite. Just down the hall from me was a fresh-faced kid who 

had recently graduated from Cal Poly. Each day, when I’d go to the mailroom—praying for more checks than bills—I’d stop by to say “hello” to Jesse 

Dundon. He was so happy to have moved out of his garage and into a real, actual office. When I asked him what exactly his company, Hathway Tech, 

did, he explained it, but I didn’t really understand what he was talking about. Then, he would joke around and say the same thing he always did during 

those quick exchanges: “Hey, you should put me on the cover!” 

I would smile and dismiss him with a wave as I continued toward the mailroom, thinking to myself, “Yeah, yeah, kid, whatever.” 

Fast-forward ten years. Jesse has grown Hathway into a booming technology operation with more than a hundred employees. Now, the shoe was on the 

other foot, and I found myself trying to talk him into being on our cover. As a young CEO with a one-year-old son, it was much more difficult to track 

him down than it had been when we first met. But I finally did. And, after much back-and-forth, we found a window of time to talk. 

We sat down, and ninety minutes later, I knew I had it, a great Meet Your Neighbor story. I said “goodbye” and retreated to my office where I plugged 

the recorder into my computer. The screen was blank. Nothing. Zilch. I felt a surge of electricity shoot through me. But I didn’t wake up—because I 

wasn’t asleep. 

It took a week before I could bring myself to send an email admitting what had happened. I started it like this: “Hey, Jesse, you’re not going to believe 

this, but I have this recurring dream, and it finally came true.” Of all the people who could have made that dream a reality for me over the past ten years, 

he was the perfect choice as he graciously sat for a second interview. And, as we talked, I fully expected to hear a booming voice announce, “Let’s stand 

for the kickoff!” 

Thank you to everyone who has had a hand in producing this issue of SLO LIFE Magazine and, most of all, to our advertisers and subscribers—we 

couldn’t do it without you! 

Live the SLO Life! 

Recurrence 

Tom Franciskovich 

tom@slolifemagazine.com 

p.s. If you’d like to read more visit me at tomfranciskovich.com 


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SLO LIFE 

magazine 

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

SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM 

info@slolifemagazine.com 

(805) 543-8600 • (805) 456-1677 fax 

PUBLISHER 

Tom Franciskovich 

Elder Placements realizes the 

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Charlotte Alexander 

Jeff Al-Mashat 

Lauren Harvey 

Paden Hughes 

Zara Khan 

Jaime Lewis 

Andria McGhee 

Brant Myers 

Joe Payne 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Cyrus Crossan 

Caroline Hernandez 

David Lalush 

Mark Nakamura 

Vanessa Plakias 

Claudio Schwarz-Purzlbaum 

Ergita Sela 

Jon Tyson 

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, 

SUBSCRIPTIONS 

Ready to live the SLO Life all year long? It’s quick and easy! Just log on to 

slolifemagazine.com/subscribe. It’s just $24.95 for the year. And don’t 

forget to set your friends and family up with a subscription, too. It’s the 

gift that keeps on giving! 

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. 

Contact us today for FREE placement assistance. 

(805) 546-8777 

elderplacementprofessionals.com 


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.

Moving Forward, Together. 

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| SNEAK PEEK 

ON THE COVER 

behind the scenes 

WITH JESSE DUNDON 

BY VANESSA PLAKIAS 

We met in Morro Bay, it was foggy and smoky 

from all the fires. But the water was beautiful, 

as always. I took a canoe out to capture Jesse’s 

favorite hobby: stand-up paddle boarding. My 

husband was my gondolier. We had a blast. 

Jesse was great about going with the flow. I usually ask people 

to do silly poses or actions, and end up loving the shot. He 

was good with my jump and cheer request, in fact, I think he 

would have done it on his own. He’s got a fun personality. 

My boys came along with me and they were calling 

out to me from the shore. They were ready to go. 

Jesse was entertaining them from the dock by 

holding up his board with one hand and saying, 

“I’m the strongest man on the planet!” It was good 

for a laugh. I like the colors hiding in this shot. 

We saw lots of harbor seals. Then Jesse pointed out a 

momma and baby otter, one of the cutest things in the 

world. The baby made the most adorable sound when it 

climbed onto its momma’s belly. It was awesome. 



Emergency 

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treatment options. We’re here 24 hours a day to answer your call. 

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with a nurse or emergency 

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2. Book your Tele-ER 

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3. Get your smartphone, 

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For a Tele-ER visit, just 

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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 

EMERALD BAY, LAKE TAHOE 

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HAWKINS FAMILY REUNION 

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98th Annual Hawkins Family Reunion Zoom-style. 

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| IN BOX 

SLO LIFE travels! 

CRATER LAKE, OREGON 

YELLOWSTONE RIVER, MONTANA 

CALLAWAY SISTERS 

CORY and LAURA HEIDEN, 

WARREN and KIM NEWHOUSE 

HORSESHOE BEND, ARIZONA 

NEWPORT, OREGON 

CALDWELL FAMILY 

DISHER FAMILY 

LAKE TAHOE 

VIENNE, FRANCE 

TOM and CAMI RICHARDS, 

BECKY and DAN KALLAL, 

NATALIA and MIKE WELLMAN 

ERICK and JENNIFER WAND below the Cháteau Batie 

ruins in the Rhône Valley wine community. 


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

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).

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| TIMELINE 

San Luis Obispo 

AUGUST 2020 

8/18 

San Luis Obispo’s City Council approves a proposal from Jamestown 

Properties to build a mixed-use, six-story, seventy-five-foot tall building in 

the heart of downtown, saying the project will create much-needed housing 

and stimulate the local economy. The development at 1144 Chorro Street will 

demolish the existing structure (home most recently to Sports Authority and 

Copeland’s Sports) and replace it with 30,000 square feet of commercial/retail 

space and fifty residential units. In comparison, the County Government 

Center is sixty-five feet tall and the City’s parking garage at Palm and Morro 

streets is eighty feet tall. 

8/18 

City staff will be using a new screening tool for analyzing investments after the 

San Luis Obispo City Council votes unanimously to proceed with a plan they 

say better reflects community goals about how it invests seventy-five to seventyeight 

million dollars of the public’s money. The more socially responsible 

investment approach adds weapons manufacturers to the list of industries in 

which the city does not invest, which currently includes tobacco products and 

the production of fossil fuels. City staff may take the policy a step further by 

expanding into Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies, a 

far-reaching philosophy that not only looks at end products, but how products 

come to be and how a company treats its workforce. 

8/18 

A fire starts near Dolan Canyon in Big Sur. Believed 

to have been started by arson, the Dolan Fire keeps 

growing into the Ventana Wilderness area, where 

according to the U.S. Forest Service a California condor 

research facility is destroyed. One month and 128,050 

acres burned later, the fire has destroyed at least nineteen 

structures and is only forty-six percent contained. 

Highway One is closed between mile post twenty-five 

and mile post ten. Nacimiento-Ferguson Road is closed 

to all traffic from Highway One to the Fort Hunter 

Liggett base boundary line. Smoke driven by offshore 

winds causes the SLO Public Health Department to 

issue air quality advisories for several weeks. 

8/21 

The SLO Arts Leadership Roundtable announces the 

results of its audience perception survey concerning the 

future of live performances in SLO County that was 

distributed in mid-July. More than 3,400 SLO County 

residents responded to the survey, the second in a series 

that the Roundtable intends to repeat every two to 

three months until performance venues can re-open in 

the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents are 

being asked their opinions on public safety and health 

regulations, motivators for attending live events, and 

their experience with virtual performances. Key findings: 

thirty-nine percent say they will wait for a vaccine before 

returning to live performances; seventy-eight percent say 

placing limits on audience size is very important; fifty-five 

percent have attended at least one performance streamed 

online in the last month. 


News & Updates 

SEPTEMBER 2020 

9/2 

Community leaders submit an application officially 

making the case for why Vandenburg Air Force Base 

should be home to the US Space Command. Provisionally 

headquartered at Colorado Springs, the command in charge 

of space warfare is looking for a new home that will house 

1,500 military personnel, including a four-star general and 

international liaisons. Vandenburg’s nomination is one of 

several from more than two dozen states looking to house 

the new headquarters. The Air Force plans to announce its 

preferred location in January 2021. 

9/17 

Tianna Arata’s attorney announces to the San Luis Obispo Superior Court 

his intention to file a demurrer for her case—a plea entry that does not 

dispute the facts of the prosecution’s claims, but argues that the facts do 

not justify legal action. Arata, a local activist and former Cuesta College 

student, was charged with five felonies and three misdemeanors for events 

that occurred at a Black Lives Matter protest she helped organize in San 

Luis Obispo in July. Eventually the charges were lowered to thirteen 

misdemeanors, and the court is scheduled to hear her plea on October 22. 

9/3 

The History Center of San Luis Obispo County announces 

the creation of the Dallidet Adobe Endowment Fund to 

support the Dallidet Adobe and Gardens. An initial $50,000 

pledge has been made to maintain the adobe and its gardens 

in perpetuity in memory of Peter R. and Carol F. Andre 

by Jim Andre (their son) and Paul Kellogg. Attorney Peter 

Andre was instrumental in the preservation of the Dallidet 

Adobe, in which the Dallidet family lived from the 1850s 

through the 1950s, and in the creation of the History Center 

in 1953. Due to current restrictions, guests may only visit the 

gardens at 1185 Pacific Street on Sundays, and virtual tours 

of the adobe are conducted on Thursdays. 

9/16 

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office 

drops all charges against Francisco Orozco, a twenty-yearold 

Oakland man accused of a mass shooting during a 

concert in May 2019 at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular 

Recreation Area that sent six people to the hospital. 

Orozco, who could have been sentenced to prison for life 

if convicted on all charges and enhancements, spent four 

months in jail before being released on bail in August 2019. 

The District Attorney’s Office said the dismissal was the 

result of additional investigation, forensic testing, and an 

uncooperative witness. 

9/18 

Correctional Officer Ricardo Ancheta, a California Men’s Colony employee, 

is among ninety-eight people honored during the California Department of 

Corrections and Rehabilitation’s thirty-fifth annual Medal of Valor ceremony. 

For coming to the aid of a crash victim whose SUV was wedged under a 

semitrailer truck, Ancheta received a Silver Star Medal, which honors “acts 

of bravery under extraordinary or unusual circumstances.” In a pre-recorded 

ceremony, CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz said Ancheta and the other honorees 

“show that the bravery and professionalism of our staff extends beyond 

institution walls and into the community.” 

9/19 

Hundreds of mourners gather in front of the SLO County Courthouse 

to hold a vigil for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died 

September 18 at the age of eighty-seven from complications of metastatic 

pancreatic cancer. Local speakers from Women’s March SLO and Planned 

Parenthood Central Coast encouraged attendees to vote in the November 

election to honor Justice Ginsburg’s legacy. SLO LIFE 


| BRIEFS 

Aviadoros 

Way 

The name recently selected from more 

than 200 submissions for the street 

connecting ACI Jet’s new headquarters 

to the SLO County Regional Airport. 

Spanish for “aviators,” the name honors 

the region’s history. 

74 

The number of local, community-based 

organizations dividing up more than 

$1.6 million allocated by the County Board 

of Supervisors in August from General 

Fund Support and Tobacco Tax Settlement 

funding to benefit the community’s health 

and well-being. 

“Best in 

the West” 

For the twenty-eighth consecutive year, Cal 

Poly was named the best public, master’slevel 

university in the west by U.S. News 

& World Report’s annual America’s Best 

Colleges guidebook. It also puts Cal Poly 

in the top “Best of the West” slot for most 

veteran-friendly university. 


5 

The number of brush fires reported at the 

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation 

Area in August, leading to speculation that 

someone could be starting the fires. They 

ranged in size from about three-quarters of 

an acre to eleven acres and occurred between 

August 13 and 29. The causes of the fires 

remain under investigation. 

Card My 

Yard 

A new San Luis Obispo full-service yard 

sign rental company that is “spreading joy 

one letter at a time” by offering birthday, 

graduation, seasonal, and just about any 

other wording you might want to see on 

a front lawn to help families celebrate 

special occasions. 

264 

The number of Cuesta College students 

receiving some 454 scholarships during 

the institution’s annual fall scholarship 

reception in August to celebrate 2020- 

2021 recipients and donors alike. What 

the number doesn’t include is just as 

impressive: 978 additional students received 

Promise Scholarships, which offer two full 

years of fee-free education to SLO County 

high school graduates. 

CCCE 

Monterey Bay Community Power’s 

new name—short for Central Coast 

Community Energy—and its new 

strategy to achieve 100% renewable 

energy by 2030, according to an 

announcement in September that says 

the agency wants to reflect its expanded 

service area, up to twenty-nine cities and 

four counties in California. 

#ResilientSLO 

An initiative launched by the City of 

San Luis Obispo to gather information 

from those who live or work in the city, to 

identify strategies for building community 

resilience to the impacts of climate change. 

The intent is to build a roadmap for the 

decades ahead. 

“The Precision 

Manufacturing 

Bootcamp 

opened up a 

lot of career 

opportunities 

for me.” 

That’s from Ariel Rasgado, a graduate of 

the apprenticeship program that provides 

students with base skills needed to go 

straight into the workforce and fast-tracks 

the on-the-job training process for local 

employers. It’s sponsored by SLO Partners, 

an initiative of the San Luis Obispo 

County Office of Education to address 

college and career readiness among the 

county’s population. SLO LIFE

Leadership you can trust. Civility you can count on. 

VOTE for the only NON-PARTISAN candidate for MAYOR. 

SWEENEY 

 

“BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD” 

I’m a downtown business owner, environmental 

steward, interior designer, wife, and mom. My candidacy 

for Mayor is inspired by the collective need to reinforce 

San Luis Obispo’s foundation — building upon our core 

values of solvency, safety, civility, transparency, 

and accountability in our city government for the 

community we serve. It is time we come together and 

focus on serving our commUNITY first. 

Bring Non-Partisan Leadership to City Hall 

Restore Community Trust in Public Health & Safety 

Focus on Local Economic Recovery 

Oppose Permanent 1% Local Sales Tax Increase 

Re-Prioritize City Spending Relevant to Today’s 

Public Health & Safety Needs 

Implement Balanced Environmental & Energy Policies 

@SweeneyForSLO | www.CherisseSweeney.com | (805) 310-9790 | Cherisse@CherisseSweeney.com 

Ad Paid for by Cherisse Sweeney for San Luis Obispo Mayor 2020 - FPPC ID #1429010 


| BRIEFS 

$2,492,714 

The total amount of grant funding 

The Community Foundation San Luis 

Obispo allocated in 2019, according to 

its recently published annual report. Of 

that total, $945,243 supported health 

and human services, $624,171 provided 

community enhancement activities, 

$549,984 was distributed for education 

and scholarships, and the remaining 

$373,316 went to the arts. 

Tele-ER 

A new option for patients unsure about 

whether to go to an emergency room. 

Tenet Health Care Central Coast has 

opened a phone line that allows you to 

talk to a board-certified ER physician 

twenty-four hours a day, seven days a 

week, from the comfort of your home. 

All you need is a smartphone, tablet, or 

computer with a functioning camera. 

“Chief Cantrell 

is an exceptional 

leader and an 

expert in policing 

and community 

engagement.” 

“We have seen 

our airport grow 

from a modest 

community asset 

to a true gateway 

to the world.” 

County Administrative Officer Wade 

Horton attributing the bright future of SLO 

County’s Regional Airport (SBP) to the 

work of Director of Airports Kevin Bumen, 

who is leaving after seven years to become 

San Francisco International Airport’s first 

chief commercial officer. In 2018, SBP was 

named the seventh fastest growing small 

airport in North America. 

Villaggio 

A 404-unit “life plan community” of 

independent and assisted senior housing 

included in the Froom Ranch Specific 

Plan approved by the SLO City Council in 

September. The plan will guide development 

on more than forty acres of the Froom 

Ranch property located off Los Osos Valley 

Road, south of The Home Depot. 


SEASON 

57 

As the outlook for the resumption of 

public gatherings remains poor, PCPA- 

Pacific Conservatory Theatre has 

delayed the opening of its fifty-seventh 

season from December 2020 to Summer 

2021, with plans to produce four live 

performances, primarily at the Solvang 

Festival Theater. Stay tuned by visiting 

PCPA.org. 

“Rogue” 

The newest K-9 to join the SLO Sheriff ’s 

Office is a two-year-old Malinois being 

trained in apprehension and bomb 

detection with his handler, Deputy Mora. 

Rogue joined the force in August. 

City Manager Derek Johnson announcing 

the departure of SLO Police Chief 

Deanna Cantrell to become the City of 

Fairfield’s police chief. He said the City 

will begin a national search for a new 

chief in the coming months, with input 

from the community on the recruitment 

and selection process. 

30 

FEET 

CAL FIRE and SLO City firefighters 

saved a rock climber who suffered severe 

injuries after she fell thirty feet from 

Bishop Peak on Labor Day morning. 

A CHP H-70 helicopter crew helped 

firefighters move the patient, who was 

flown to Sierra Vista Regional Medical 

Center for treatment. SLO LIFE

Vote for the only “SLO Grown” Nonpartisan choice for Council! 

TORRES 

for 

ABRIANNA 

SLO CITY COUNCIL 

San Luis Obispo needs a voice of reason. 

As a small business consultant, former Sheriff’s 

Correctional Deputy, former Division One scholarship 

and all-American athlete, and mentor to the next 

generation of SLO residents, I uniquely understand 

the current issues facing our City. My priorities are 

to facilitate a prosperous and sustainable future we 

can all participate in by empowering residents and 

enabling opportunities for growth. 

I was born and raised in San Luis Obispo and want 

what is best for our entire community: 

• Economic Vitality 

Minimize burdensome tax increases and regulations. 

Make our streets clean and safe. Prioritize 

addressing homelessness. 

• Public Safety 

Support public safety with adequate training, 

transparency, and accountability. 

• Housing 

Re-zone and adapt underutilized buildings 

to accommodate mixed uses including 

work-force housing. 

• Inclusion 

Solutions based upon conversations with all 

community members. 

SLOEMPOWERED 

@ABForSLO | www.AbriannaTorres.com | Ab@AbriannaTorres.com 

Ad Paid for by Abrianna Torres for San Luis Obispo City Council 2020 - FPPC ID #1429012 




| VIEW 

Coastal 

Scene 

BY MARK NAKAMURA 

As we made our return and descended down from 

Buckeye Campground to the Salmon Creek Ranger 

Station, just north of the San Luis Obispo County 

and Monterey County line along Highway 1, I saw 

the layers of coastal mountains bathed in the golden 

yellow afternoon light. I pulled out my Canon 5D IV 

camera with the 70-200mm f2.8 lens and took a few 

photos before packing up and catching up with my 

friends, who are very understanding of my passion for 

landscape photography. 

Buckeye Trail is located in the Silver Peak 

Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest, which 

holds iconic views along the rugged Big Sur coastline, 

especially at higher elevations. Just the first couple 

of miles into the hike will give you exceptional vistas 

of the coastline looking back into San Luis Obispo 

County. The three-and-a-quarter-mile hike ascends 

to the campgrounds. The higher you go, the better 

the view, but you don’t have to make it to Buckeye 

Campground to make your trip worthwhile. 

Beginning around 8 am we arrived in Buckeye 

Campground by 10 o’clock that morning, where we 

relaxed. There is a spring at the campsite, but we 

brought our own water to be safe. I brought a book 

to read and a hammock. By mid-afternoon, after a 

leisurely lunch, we headed back down the trail. 

This photograph was 

taken in the January 

sun, around three o’clock 

as we descended to the 

trailhead, watching out for 

the poison oak that lines 

the trail and checking for 

ticks along the way. 

In my opinion, the 

Buckeye Trail has 

the best views of the 

picturesque Big Sur 

coastline and San Luis 

Obispo County’s breathtaking 

coastal range. Get 

an early start to beat the 

heat since much of the 

trail is exposed to the 

sunlight. SLO LIFE 

MARK NAKAMURA, retired 

school teacher, continues 

to pursue his passion in 

landscape photography as 

well as capturing the joys of 

weddings, families, events, 

and sports around the 

Central Coast. 



| Q&A 

OPEN MIND 

Newly installed as the Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo 

Museum of Art, LEANN STANDISH checked in recently for a 

wide-ranging conversation. Here is some of what she had to say… 

Tell us, Leann, where are you from? Okay, sure. I’m 

from the Midwest. I was born in Indianapolis and 

grew up in that region. Most of my family still lives 

back there. My folks are in Michigan and I visit there 

several times a year. My father worked for Volkswagen 

of America and Audi, so we moved around that area 

a lot. I was a real troublemaker. My first car was a 

Volkswagen Beetle, stick shift. I was the first of my 

friends to get my license. So we’d pile into my Bug, way 

too many of us, much more than was appropriate. It 

was kind of like a clown car. We’d drive around in the 

winter. If I lost control and slid over the ice, we’d all pile 

out, pick it up, and put it back on the road. 

What were you like as a kid? It was a very innocent 

childhood. I was mostly always getting myself in trouble 

for talking. And I was always up for something different 

or a new experience. So I don’t know. I wasn’t really 

a troublemaker. When I reflect on it, I realize, “Oh, I 

wasn’t really in any kind of trouble.” But at the time I 

was very disruptive. I was the oldest of four kids and I 

required a lot of attention. I was terrible at sports. I was 

on a softball team for a minute, and I remember sitting 

on the bench and painting my teammates’ fingernails. I 

was active in choir and in theater, I was an exceptional 

shower and car singer, and occasionally I joined actual 

singing groups. 

What came next? I went to South Bend to Notre 

Dame. I was a terrible student, so I ran away to 

California before I finished. I had never traveled 

anywhere ever and was sure that I was going to live 

on the beach. I had no idea what Fresno was. Didn’t 

realize there was no surfing there. I got a job in a lab 

analyzing soil and stuff. I hated it, hated it, hated it, 

and was miserable. And just on a whim, I took a job 

as an assistant in a museum. It was the most perfect 

career for me. It was a tiny, little museum. Everything 

just clicked and I fell in love with it. I found my calling. 

From there, I went to the Minneapolis Institute of 

Art, then I moved to Portland to work at the Oregon 

Museum of Science & History. But I was really missing 

my family, so I took a job at Fredrick Meyer Gardens 

and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which 

is a pretty extraordinary place. It’s remarkable and 

noteworthy because it’s a small community that has a 

huge arts support system. Then, it was full circle, back to 

the Indianapolis Museum of Art. 

And then you made a stop in Miami, correct? Yes, that’s 

right. It was a freezing cold day in February when I got a 

call from Florida asking if I’d like to work at the 

Miami Art Museum. I was like, “Yes! Get me 

out of here! It’s so cold!” Anyway, as it turns 

out, a small group of us built a brand-new 

museum there. Still, to this day, it’s the 

thing I’m very most proud of. And, while 

I was there, I had this dream, a vision, 

of advertising on all the taxi tops—this 

was before Uber, gosh it sounds like I’m 

so old, this was not that long ago—so 

everyone coming out of the airport 

would know about the new museum. 

So, around this same time, I met this 

guy at one of our fundraising events, 

and I noticed he was liking everything 

I’d post on social media. They call that 

“deep liking,” by the way. So, one day, 

he sent me a message and said, “Are you 

interested in advertising on taxi tops?” 

And I was like, “Yes, I love you! And, by 

the way, who are you? And why are you on 

my page?” [laughter] It was cute. Turns out, 

he was in advertising, and he was from Fresno 

originally, and he made the taxicab thing 

actually happen. He had the goods. We’ve 

been together ever since. He’s my person. 

Okay, but why museums? I think that 

museums have opened my mind. And I’ve 

watched other people experience that same 

sort of thing. A work of art can change you, 

or speak to you deeply, or challenge you, or 

make you angry, but it makes you feel. And it 

makes your world bigger. So, when we moved 

here, right away I thought to myself, “One day 

I will run SLOMA. I really want to.” I did. 

I think back now to when I was a young 

person in the field. One of my mentors 

talked about how museums so often 

feel like a stuffy, formal existence. He 

compared it to when your grandmother 

had that living room furniture you weren’t actually 

allowed to sit on. And you had to take your shoes 

off to go into the formal living room and all of 

that. He said he wanted his museum to be like the 

rec room where you eat popcorn and crawled all 

over the couches and stayed there for hours and 

hours and were able to be yourself. I have always 

dreamed of each museum that I worked with as 

being the place where you just really relaxed into 

yourself and discovered a bigger world. SLO LIFE 


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| NOW HEAR THIS 


IN FULL 

BLOOM 

BY JOE PAYNE 

IMAGES COURTESY OF NATALIE HASKINS 

Born and raised in the Nipomo region of San Luis 

Obispo County, Natalie Haskins has performed 

her own music live across the Central Coast for 

more than a decade. But not until now, after 

several years of work in multiple studios with 

a team of instrumental contributors, has Haskins reached a 

serious benchmark for any singer/songwriter—her own full 

length album. 

Haskins honed her sixteen-track collection of original songs 

since 2016, focusing on poetic settings of real-life feelings with 

an Americana twang in her May-release titled Puhidua. The 

album showcases her songwriting like no other project, with all 

but two co-authored tracks featuring entirely her own lyrical 

and compositional efforts. “I’ve been writing poetry since I was 

a young girl, and I’ve always been interested in music as well. 

Like in middle school I played flute—I was one of those kids. 

In high school I was in band,” Haskins shares. “So I’ve always 

been interested in the arts, and when I started learning guitar at 

eighteen, that’s when my poetry started turning into songwriting.” 

Growing up in a rural SLO County, Haskins’ family was 

steeped in Americana and country music. Her dad, uncles, and 

brothers were all into that kind music while she was growing 

up, Haskins recalls, and even though genres like R&B held her 

attention, her family’s influence shone through once she started 

writing music. “As I got older and I started playing, I naturally 

just came out sounding that way,” she explains. “I think it is 

kind of in my blood as well because my grandfather was a 

musician and he was an outlaw country guy. His sound was very 

old school country.” 

Haskins’ new album exemplifies the kind of Americana that has 

risen in popularity during the last decade-and-a-half, which is 

fused with country influences but doesn’t shy away from folk, 

blues, and even some jazz forms. Pihidua isn’t a nitty gritty, 

whiskey-obsessed album often heard from the more male side of 

Americana songwriting, but a polished and artful interpretation 

of real feelings like heartache and family dynamics. 

Part of the success of the album goes to Haskins’ selection of 

instrumentalists, who bring everything from ripping electric 

guitar solos to haunting pedal steel to sensual saxophone breaks 

to her songs. Locals may recognize some of the names on the 

album jacket, with contributors like Jon Clarke, Joe Koenig, 

and Terry Lawless. “I felt really lucky because I would kind of 

hand them the idea, and whatever their skill was, they would 

just elevate it to another level,” Haskins reveals. “That was fun 

for me to watch, because having a song is kind of like having 

a child, you’re really connected to it, you gave birth to it, but 

you’re sending it out to the world and hoping someone loves it. 

I just feel like the musicians collectively on the album made the 

songs so much better than I ever could have envisioned from 

the beginning.” 

The album includes tributes to her 

own progenitors. First, the use of 

an heirloom Martin guitar from 

her grandfather, which was used to 

record multiple tracks. The guitar is 

also featured in some of the album 

artwork, which Haskins said was an 

important part of the project. As a 

“90’s kid,” the physical product was 

important to her, and connections to 

her roots are seen throughout. 

Also, the album title, Puhidia, comes 

from the Native American language 

of the Paiute Tribe, of which her 

mother is a member. The word means 

“wildflower,” and definitely illustrates 

Haskins’ blossoming as a recording 

artist and local performer. SLO LIFE 

JOE PAYNE is a 

journalist, as well as a 

lifelong musician and 

music teacher, who 

writes about the arts on 

the Central Coast. 


| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR 


HOME 

GROWN 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VANESSA PLAKIAS 

A little more than ten years ago, JESSE DUNDON was living in a garden shed 

on Hathway Avenue in San Luis Obispo. Each morning, he would make his 

commute across the backyard to the garage where a handful of recent Cal 

Poly graduates clanked away at computers in a mad scramble to launch a 

new technology company. Today, he is the Co-Founder & CEO of a sprawling 

enterprise that employs over a hundred people and counts some of the 

country’s most respected and recognizable brands as clients. Together with 

his wife and their fifteen-month-old son, he represents a new generation of 

entrepreneurs who are reshaping the Central Coast economy. Here is his story… 



kay, Jesse, let’s start from the 

beginning. Where are you from? I 

was born in San Luis Obispo at Sierra 

Vista hospital in 1985 and then grew 

up in SLO. I’m one of nine; it’s a 

little bit of a Brady Bunch situation. 

So, there was six original Dundons. 

My mother passed away when I was a 

young kid and my dad met a woman Owho had two kids already and then, together, they had one more. And 

that makes nine, so I would be the eighth of nine. The oldest eight are 

basically every two years over a fifteen-year span. So, there is a large 

range in ages. It was competitive for scarce resources. Let’s put it that 

way. Attention, rides, carpools, food, those sorts of things. 

Tell us about your dad. My dad was a philosophy professor. He was 

a big believer in dinner with the whole family every night. There was 

always robust dialogue about various issues. As a result, a number of 

my older siblings went on to become lawyers. I would say, to a fault, 

we’re all very opinionated. My dad was a Cal Poly professor and then 

moved us up to Davis when I was a kid. He then transferred to Sac 

State, so I spent a lot of my childhood in Davis and Sacramento. 

It was around that time I started mowing lawns and walking dogs, 

those sorts of things. Davis is a big bike town, so I got my first job at 

a bike shop the day I turned fourteen, which is the earliest you can 

get a work permit. I worked there fixing bikes for the next three years 

through high school. 

What happened next? When I was seventeen, I came down to Cal 

Poly to study Industrial Technology. I was in the Santa Lucia dorms. 

On the first day, I met my business partner, Kevin Rice, there in the 

dorms. We’ve been friends ever since. While we were in school, Kevin 

ran the local branch of a residential house painting company. They’d 

set up college students to do house painting jobs in their hometown. 

He managed a crew here. I did a similar thing for a screen-printing 

company. My job was to go out and drum up business from the 

campus clubs, and fraternities and sororities, and sports teams, and 

stuff like that for T-shirt orders and apparel orders. Also, I played 

rugby in high school and in college and, at that time, they had a 

five-year eligibility window for collegiate rugby. So, you could either 

take five years to get your bachelors and play all five years, or you 

could do a four plus one program and get your bachelor’s in four and 

then as long as you got your master’s at the same school, they would 

extend your eligibility. And, so, I was one of the few on the team that 

decided to graduate in four and then stick around for a fifth year. And 

I was on the fence actually, I almost left and didn’t do the master’s 

program and almost took a job at Shopatron. Then, I just decided to 

stick around and get my masters and play another year of rugby. So, 

after I graduated with my bachelor’s, that summer we started a carpet 

cleaning business. 

Interesting… We looked at the map and we said, “Hey, in San Luis 

Obispo there’s 20,000 students or so. Let’s say four or five to a house, 

which means there’s four or five thousand student houses in town, 

or apartments, and they all need to get their carpets cleaned every 

summer when they move out.” We said, “If we could get that, it’s 

a market value of a hundred bucks or so per house, so if we could 

get a certain percentage of this market it would 

work.” And we’d basically do a similar model to 

the house painting Kevin did, where we would 

line up jobs all spring and then do carpet cleaning 

all summer. Then we could test it out one year 

in San Luis Obispo and then scale it out similar 

to how the house painting thing worked, or how 

my screen printing thing worked. So we started a 

company called University Steam Cleaners. This 

was 2007, so this was my fourth year, Kevin had 

already graduated a little bit early and we did 

all the marketing all spring, and then we did the 

carpet cleaning all summer before we realized a 

couple things. 

What did you realize? One of them was that 

the sales and marketing piece was not the most 

challenging part of it. Doing good work and 

making your customers happy was quite a bit 

different, especially when you didn’t invest in the 

right level of equipment. We didn’t have a $50,000 

truck-mounted steam cleaning machine, which 

is what, as it turns out, any actual commercial 

operation needs to use. We got the $3,000 

machine and we didn’t really have any training. I 

think we had a certain amount of hubris, I’d say, 

going into it, and we learned a lot. We came out 

of it with a great respect for people in the trades, 

and doing proper training, and investing in the 

right equipment to get the job done. But after one 

summer of mostly doing the work ourselves and 

employing some of our friends to help us with it, 

we threw in the towel on that and then wanted to 

get into something that was a little bit more based 

in technology. Something that wasn’t hard physical 

labor, so we moved on to start the next business. 

What was the next venture? It was a company 

called WiHire. We had lived in various houses on 

Hathaway for most of college, not all of college, 

but most of the time after college. It was the street 

that taught us everything we knew at the time. It 

was funny, actually. We started that business a few 

months later. It was initially about, again, solving 

another college problem right in front of us, which 

was how to help college students get jobs and 

internships, and how to help companies better 

recruit for interns and entry-level employees. 

The economy was going great, so we thought it 

was going to be a great idea. We had some cool 

features in our platform for things like video 

resumes, and campus clubs, and interest groups 

using this recruiting channel, and those sorts of 

things. So, we did it, but we didn’t know anything 

about technology. So once again, we chose to start 

a business that we had no training in whatsoever 

[laughter]. But, I will say, we had learned enough >> 


to know what we didn’t know. We ended up raising a little bit of 

money to go out and get some help. 

Where did you find it? As it turns out, what we were really good at 

was finding people using Craigslist to do freelance web development 

work using open source software. So, we built out our platform and 

started getting some traction with it and blew through the small 

amount of money that we had raised. It was just enough to initially 

make ends meet. At the time, we were all packed into a house over by 

Cal Poly. I think seven or eight people living in the house at the time, 

and we were all working out at the garage. At one point, we converted 

the garden shed. We put sheet rock on the walls and insulated it so 

we could pack more people into the house and have our rent be as low 

as possible. I actually lived in that garden shed as I was getting my 

masters and playing my last year of rugby. 

So, how was the business doing? We started getting some traction 

with WiHire, but then 2008 hit and by 2009 there wasn’t a lot of 

hiring or recruiting going on. It didn’t turn out to be the best timing 

in terms of any employment-based business. But, at the same time, 

we were doing more and more freelance web development work on 

the side. There wasn’t some hard cutoff date that I could point to, but 

it was sometime in mid-2009 that we realized we were earning good 

money doing freelance work and just spending that money on this 

other idea, which was going nowhere. So, we shut down WiHire and 

focused all our effort on doing web development for people. At the 

time, our company was called Hathaway Technology Group LLC, 

which was never intended to be a brand name or anything, it was just 

that we lived on Hathway Avenue. But whenever someone would 

write us a check for the work we did for them, we’d say, “Oh, you can 

just make it out to Hathway Tech.” It just sort of stuck. Somewhere 

along the way, we dropped the “Tech.” Now we’re just Hathway. 

How did you and Kevin split up the various responsibilities? As we 

grew and started taking on more and more work, Kevin and I went 

slightly different paths. He focused more on sales and marketing and 

client services. I, from more of an engineering mindset, focused more 

on how the technology works and was doing web development work. 

I became a web developer and a system administrator and as we grew. 

Naturally, I focused on the guts of the business, actually producing 

the work and the financial administration, like management of the 

business, and Kevin focused on sales, marketing, and client services 

to bring in the business and to keep our clients happy. Fast forward 

to now, and that’s more or less still our division of labor within the >> 


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company. Kevin manages sales, marketing, and client services. And I 

manage production and financial operations. 

And what exactly does Hathway do? So, initially we started out just 

doing web development work for small businesses at the depths of 

the recession using open source software so that we could help them 

get to market. We’d say, “Better, faster, and cheaper.” And it was really 

just a hodgepodge of various businesses that we worked on, but we 

specialize with these open source platforms for content management 

and marketing sites. Over time, we have evolved to where we’re at 

now, which is specializing in eCommerce and loyalty for a couple 

of retail market segments, in particular large chain restaurants, and 

coffee shops, and convenience stores, and other chain retail brands. 

What about lately? How have things been? For us, we’ve always been a 

company that thrives through remote relationships. When we were first 

getting freelance clients, they would be from anywhere in the country. 

And we’ve had a number of international clients as well, and they were 

coming to us because of our expertise in particular software platforms. 

So, we always had to figure out: How do we actually work with these 

clients when we had never actually met most of them in person? And, 

on the staffing side, we hired some folks in SLO and the core of our 

operations for a long time has been local, but we were always using 

contractors throughout the US and abroad for various things. 

From your standpoint as a tech CEO, what’s it like to do business 

here on the Central Coast? Our headquarters is still in SLO, and 

it’s always going to be in SLO, but our clients and our teams are 

distributed; we’re actually in a really, fortunate place when COVID 

hit that we already had the equipment to go remote. We already had 

the software systems and collaboration tools in place to be able to 

work remotely, and our client relationships were almost completely 

remote anyway, so we were able to shift to a fully remote work culture, 

I would say, fairly seamlessly. There have definitely been some sticking 

points that we’ve had to work through and there’s certainly pros and 

cons to it, but we were pretty lucky for it to not be as big of a culture 

shock to us as I’m sure it was for other companies. As we have grown, 

we’ve recognized that most of our clients are not based here locally. 

We’ve also recognized that while the talent market is great in SLO— 

it’s picked up quite a bit over the years—it’s still very small. And, so, 

we built out an office in Dallas and we have an off-shore operation in 

Kiev [Ukraine]. And lately, since COVID, we’ve been really focused 

on just hiring remote staff throughout the country. So the nature of 

our employee base has shifted over the years. Most recently, over the 

>> 


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last few months, in particular, we now have a good portion of our staff 

based outside of San Luis Obispo. 

Let’s switch gears for a minute and talk about your family. I live 

with my wife, Kayla, and our son Lucas, who’s fifteen months old. 

I’ve got to say that my wife is a saint. She, unfortunately, hasn’t been 

able to pursue her career as much lately. She’s a fitness instructor, and 

pretty much all the gyms got shut down. So she’s been doing some 

remote classes out of the house on Zoom, but she’s spent most of 

the time watching Lucas and raising him, especially in this critical 

time when I’ve been working remote out of the home office, which 

has definitely been a challenge. But we’re very fortunate. I can only 

imagine how tough it would be for a family with both parents trying 

to work full time remotely out of the same house with dueling Zoom 

calls and trying to balance raising a kid at the same time. I certainly 

understand that not all family situations are created equal. It’s made 

us understand that with our employees, too, that not everybody has 

the same situation going on. 

What do you do to unplug? When I’m not working or I’m not hanging 

out with family most likely you can catch me out on the water. I started 

paddle boarding about four or five years ago at this point. At first, what 

hooked me on paddle boarding was just being a part of nature and being 

able to see close up so many things this region has to offer. Then, I caught 

my first wave. After I started surfing, it progressed to higher performance 

paddle boards. It’s one of the few times I’m unplugged from technology. 

The latest journey is SUP foiling, which is when you lift up out of the 

water. I’m starting to really get the hang of it, but it’s definitely a humbling 

experience. It’s almost like starting over because you’re basically flying an 

airplane that’s hovering over the water and you’re still in the ocean dealing 

with waves and the ground and potential hostile marine life. 

Starting over. Sounds a lot like entrepreneurship. It’s a change up in 

terms of a life because much of my day is based in technology. Actually 

somebody asked me, “What is it about paddle boarding that is engaging?” 

Maybe it’s because I played rugby for ten years, but I said something 

like, “Oh, entertainment for me has got to include a little bit of physical 

jeopardy, a little bit of risk associated with it.” And, actually, I have found 

that I get really bored paddling on fresh water, paddling on lakes. It’s still 

fun, but I can paddle out in the ocean for a couple hours and it’s much 

more of a challenge with swell and the potential for sharks and everything 

because, you know they’re out there. But, on a lake, there’s none of that, so, 

for me, when you remove that piece of jeopardy, it’s a little bit less exciting, 

less engaging. SLO LIFE 


EST. 1999 

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| ARTIST 

PROFILE 

David Limrite 

BY JEFF AL-MASHAT 

M 

ysterious, dramatic, dark, and edgy are all words that 

artist David Limrite uses when talking about his own 

drawings. “Inviting” is not likely the next natural word 

one would expect after hearing the artist’s description. 

But inviting is exactly what these gestural figures—made 

with the most basic drawing tools, like charcoal and 

graphite—are. They are invitations for us to not only 

recognize our internal conflicts, but spend some time and 

explore them a little. 

The figures are drawn with volatile motion and vigorous 

energy. At the same time, there is a constant tension, as 

the figures seem trapped by other marks and lines on 

the paper. The sense that the figures want to break free 

suggests that Limrite is telling the viewer that it is okay 

to have, and even enjoy, and maybe even show the world, a 

darker side of ourselves. 

“I am really interested in what I call the drama of 

vulnerability,” says Limrite. “I am fascinated by this idea 

that we are always at a crossroads, and one decision can 

alter an entire life.” 

Jim Dine, Edvard Munch, and Auguste Rodin are 

influences of Limrite’s, all of which make perfect sense. 

But the stark difference that Limrite brings with his 

work is the ability to connect on a very basic level with 

the viewer. He eliminates any question of distance and 

instead asks the viewer to come along on the journey 

with him. 

The reckoning between the ghostly figures in his 

drawings and Limrite’s ability to connect so easily with 

his viewer is evident in the man himself. Limrite is quite 

accomplished, with a rich 

body of work as well as an 

impressive resume. He is 

disciplined in his craft, but he 

is also an incredibly affable 

fellow who loves to teach 

and talk with anybody about 

art. These days, without 

the ability to connect with 

students in the classroom, he 

has taken to giving critiques 

online and is in the process 

JEFF AL-MASHAT is a 

of writing a book about what writer and visual artist with 

an MFA in painting from 

he calls “mind management,” Georgia State University. He 

which he defines as the ups and lives in Grover Beach. 

downs of being a creator. SLO LIFE 


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Dr. Arnie Horwitz 

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| FAMILY 

Sand & Sea 

BY PADEN HUGHES 

The Central Coast is one of the most beautiful 

and varied landscapes which includes the Guadalupe- 

Nipomo Dunes Complex, a system of dunes that covers an 

eighteen-mile portion of the coastline from Pismo State 

Beach to Point Sal, making it the largest remaining dune 

system south of San Francisco and the second largest in 

the state. Simply put, it’s huge. On top of its sheer land 

mass, the Central Coast sand dunes boast of having the 

highest sand-swept peak in the western coastline of the 

United States. Mussel Rock Dune stands at 500 feet tall. 

All that sand and space work together to create a unique 

ecosystem, providing home to at least eighteen endangered 

species of plants along with over 200 species of birds, 

including the ground nesting California Least Turn and 

Western Snowy Plover. Both species of these federally 

threatened birds will begin wrapping up their breeding 

seasons in October. 

The unique landscape isn’t just for the birds. The early 

Chumash people were the first to occupy this land, but they 

weren’t the only ones. From the 1920s until the mid-1970s a 

bohemian community of artists, writers, and poets known as 

the Dunites called the sandy shores home. 

The area has also served as the backdrop to films, music 

videos, and commercials alike, including the 1923 Cecil B. 

DeMille movie “The Ten Commandments.” The Egyptianthemed 

sets from the film were dismantled and buried in 

the dunes to prevent other filmmakers from using them— 

often called The Lost City of Cecil B. DeMille. If you’re 

interested in learning more, some of the recovered artifacts 

can be viewed at the Dunes Visitor Center. 

In addition to its history and landscape, the dunes boast 

an abundance of activities both in and out of the water, 

including surfing, boogie boarding, kite and wind surfing, 

paragliding, biplane flights, hiking, whale watching, and 

cozying up around a bonfire. In fact, according to the 

Whale Trail organization, Oceano is home to some of the 

best whale watching on the West Coast. Gray whales can 

be spotted between December and April and humpback 

whales can be seen year-round. 

We decided to load up our two little ones and soak in the 

fun at the dunes with a family picnic. The selling point 

that delivered instant enthusiasm was when my husband 

dubbed the spot “the World’s Largest Sandbox” when 

describing it to our kids. 

With the riding area closed, the entire time we were there 

we didn’t see a single other person. What we loved about 

this was the sense of walking into a completely foreign 

environment and experiencing all the novelty that goes 

along with being somewhere so different. The sand is 

surprisingly fine, soft, and clean-feeling underfoot. The 

dunes were magical to explore. Even our fifteen-monthold 

son was able to tackle the heights and had so much fun 

sliding down the sandy hills. The highlight was watching 

our three-year-old daughter run happily at full speed in 

her Rapunzel dress shouting, “This is the best day ever!” 

We could all use sweet escapes like this to step out of the 

stresses of life and to experience something new. And if you 

have managed to preserve your childlike exuberance, I can 

promise you, it will feel like one of the “best days ever!” 

Getting There: 

There are a few different 

access points. One is behind 

the Pacific Dunes Ranch 

RV Resort in Oceano. Be 

careful to not park on private 

property. A small trail can be 

found behind the water tower 

that winds its way through 

beautiful bluffs. After a 

fifteen-minute walk, you’ll find 

yourself surrounded by sand. 

You can also access the area 

by taking the Oso Flaco Lake 

Trail. The one-mile hike begins 

from Oso Flaco Lake Day 

Use Area in Arroyo Grande. 

The beautifully landscaped 

boardwalk studded with 

picnic tables and benches 

leads you on a picturesque 

journey to the sand. SLO LIFE 

PADEN HUGHES is 

co-owner of Gymnazo 

and enjoys exploring 

the Central Coast. 



| ON THE RISE 

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT 

Ingrid Chen 

With several Mock Trial and Golden Tiger Awards under 

her belt as well as a National Latin Exam Gold Medal, 

this San Luis Obispo High School senior 

is ready to step into a bright future. 

What extracurricular activities are you involved in? I am involved in Mock Trial 

and Harvard Model Congress. I also play on the tennis team and am the president 

of my school’s National Honor Society. Outside of school, I am on the United Way 

Youth Board. 

What do you like to do for fun? I love walking my dog, reading, and watching Avatar: 

The Last Airbender! 

What experience has influenced you the most? When I was in fifth grade, my parents 

took a sabbatical from work and we moved to Australia and then New Zealand for six 

months each. I met some amazing people and saw some incredible things while I was 

there, and living in other countries has really helped contextualize my experiences in 

America and solidified my beliefs and morals. 

What is important to you outside of high school? Being involved in my community. I 

think that there’s a lot of people and organizations who are underserved right in our own 

backyard and I think that especially in our current political climate, it’s more important 

than ever that we do our civic duty, and have empathy for others. 

What is it that you look forward to next? I’m really looking forward to graduating 

from college, to be honest. I think that having a solid secondary education will be the 

springboard to achieving my personal and work goals and making some substantial 

change in this world. 

What is your favorite memory of all time? Probably going to a tennis tournament out of 

town for a few days with the rest of the tennis team. We always have a really great time 

together and it is a lot of fun. 

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

be really cool to meet Julius Caesar. I’m taking Latin in school right now and we’re 

reading some of his old writing. He sounds like a really interesting guy. 

What career do you see yourself in someday? I would love to be a lawyer someday. My 

interest in law started in middle school with Mock Trial, mainly because I liked the public 

speaking element, but I’ve since come to appreciate the political and social implications 

that law can have on public opinion and everyday life. 

What schools are you considering for college? I’m applying to Stanford, a couple 

Ivy League schools, and a few UCs, as well as some other great out-of-state private 

universities like Barnard. SLO LIFE 

Know a student On the Rise? 

Introduce us at slolifemagazine.com/share 


A new view of God 

AND ITS EFFECT ON 

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Divine Love erases suffering from 

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Saturday, November 7 

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WilsonSIR.com | ID: 

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© MMXX Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates 

LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each Office is 

Independently Owned and Operated. Sotheby's International Realty and the Sotheby's International Realty logo are 

registered (or unregistered) service marks licensed to Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC. 


| DWELLING 

FRESH 


START 

BY ZARA KHAN 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID LALUSH 



I 

t was time to downsize. After a lengthy search, Monica 

and Stu Soren found their home—and it checked most 

of their boxes. It was in a welcoming location, had 

great bones, and was a single 

story. But it would require 

a major renovation to really 

feel like home. They decided 

to approach their project in 

phases. At first, they simply 

updated a few things, so the 

home felt more comfortable 

and reflected the couple’s 

design sense. 

The Sorens hired Anne Fortini 

of Fortini Designs to help them 

make a few strategic upgrades 

so the home felt updated >> 

In addition to being an 

interior designer, ZARA KHAN 

is also a shoe aficionado and 

horror movie enthusiast. 


and was cohesive with their personal style. Fortini 

brings with her over forty years of design experience 

and is known for creating functional spaces while 

maintaining her clients’ individual style and personality. 

After discussing their project, she recommended some 

quick, simple fixes including a fresh coat of paint on 

the walls and dated oak built-ins and removal of a 

traditional mantel. Replacing it with large rectangle tiles 

immediately updated the family room. The refresh was 

coupled with a new kitchen island. These simple details 

completely transformed the space. 

As the Sorens continued to live in the house, they found 

they thoroughly enjoyed the lifestyle at the country 

club and gathering with their neighbors. During this 

period the couple began to identify how the space 

functioned for them and decided it was time to iron out 

the wrinkles, so they invited Fortini back and assembled >> 



a game plan and a team for the second phase. Some of 

the home’s features left the Sorens feeling boxed in. 

Their kitchen counters and cooktop hood were lower 

than standard and needed to be adjusted. All of the 

interior window and door headers were at six feet eight 

inches and the couple hoped to open up the space and 

allow in even more natural light by raising them to eight 

feet. Their master suite was generous in size, but the 

layout along with poor window and door placement and 

height made it challenging to utilize the space the way 

they wanted to. And the dated light soffits needed to be 

removed in order to attain the updated look they were 

hoping to achieve. 

The Robertson brothers, co-owners of Green Goods, 

Mikel and Brian, were added to the team and served as 

General Contractor (Mikel) and Cabinet Maker (Brian). 

The Green Goods team brought an easy-to-work-with >> 


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demeanor along with knowledge of construction and 

design input, which ensured the project moved along 

smoothly through each phase. It was refreshing for the 

owners to see how their vision came together as the 

designer and contractor collaborated and stayed on the 

same page. The project was taken to another level. 

One of the most challenging design elements was in the 

master bathroom. There was a large space for separate 

vanities, but the couple wanted to remove a dated 

corner spa-tub, and really needed more closet space. 

Unfortunately, the best location for the closet was also 

where the windows were located above the removed 

tub. After several different iterations of the layout, 

Robertson thought it might work best to change out 

the size of the window and break up the length of lower 

cabinets with a full height closet and create a new focal 

point. With some massaging from Fortini, they agreed >> 



to the new design which increased the functional closet 

space significantly, while giving the Sorens each their 

own vanity. 

Fortini always recommends identifying the overall 

vision, she makes a space plan and works backwards 

from there. This ensures that decisions aren’t made 

during the construction phase that will later disrupt 

the intention for the furniture, lighting, and spatial 

planning. For example, as they performed the electrical 

walk through with Jim Devor, owner of Green Wave 

Electric, the team decided it would be advantageous to 

place a floor outlet where the future sofa console would 

be placed. This would prevent lamp wires from having 

to be concealed and was an affordable addition since 

they were already performing other electrical work. 

And, as tempting as it was to explore widening all of the 

windows and doors to their maximum potential, Fortini >> 



kept the plan on track, taking into account the future 

window coverings and wall space needed on both sides 

for drapery returns. 

Home improvement projects are on the rise and with 

several remodels under their 

belt the Sorens have some 

wisdom to share: start by doing 

some research and compile 

examples or concepts of 

your vision. Set clear budget 

parameters. And—perhaps 

the most important advice— 

assemble a collaborative team. 

Find people who recognize the 

overall goals, work creatively 

to solve unforeseen obstacles 

(because there will always 

be a few), and choose those 

you enjoy working with 

who understand and can 

communicate your vision. SLO LIFE 

DAVID LALUSH is an 

architectural photographer 

here in San Luis Obispo. 


LIFE IN THE SLO LANE 

STARTS HERE 

Ladera 

 

Ladera at Righetti 

Models Now Open! 

By Appointment Only. Pricing starts from the low $1 millions. 

Ladera at Righetti offers five different home layouts, each designed to take full advantage of 

the site’s gorgeous hillside topography. Homes range from approximately 2,600 square feet 

to nearly 3,000 square feet and feature three and four bedrooms, and two and one-half to 

four and one-half baths. 

Please feel free to contact us and we’d be happy to schedule a personal appointment to discuss 

San Luis Obispo’s most attractive new home neighborhood. 

Call or go online to book a personal appointment. 

(805) 774-3038 www.righettiladera.com 

Information Center open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

All prices, plans, terms and offers are effective date of publication are subject to availability and may change without notice. 

Housing is open to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. Depictions of homes are artist 

conceptions. Hardscape and landscape may vary and are not included in the purchase price. Square footage shown is only an estimate and 

actual square footage may differ. Please consult our sales team for additional information. Sales by CADO Real Estate Group 

DRE # 01525182 Construction by Ambient Management Service LP Lic. #1014645 


| SLO CITY 

REAL ESTATE 

BY THE NUMBERS 

laguna 

lake 

tank 

farm 

cal poly 

area 

country 

club 

down 

town 

foothill 

blvd 

johnson 

ave 

Total Homes Sold 

Average Asking Price 

Average Selling Price 

Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 

Average # of Days on the Market 
















2019 

48 

$773,694 

$761,623 

98.44% 

31 

2019 

21 

$811,549 

$801,024 

98.70% 

20 

2019 

18 

$1,065,383 

$1,032,549 

96.92% 

31 

2019 

17 

$1,547,429 

$1,492,647 

96.46% 

104 

2019 


53 


$818,634 


$799,915 

Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 97.71% 

Average # of Days on the Market 43 











2019 

35 

$959,586 

$913,958 

95.25% 

33 

2019 

44 

$834,552 

$817,027 

97.90% 

33 

2020 

44 

$763,261 

$758,431 

99.37% 

38 


32 

$817,596 

$811,766 

99.29% 

39 


19 

$985,995 

$977,105 

99.10% 

18 


13 

$1,186,461 

$1,135,169 

95.68% 

26 


44 

$987,080 

$960,653 

97.32% 

40 


31 

$885,332 

$885,919 

100.07% 

31 


44 

$1,047,293 

$1,013,472 

96.77% 

42 

+/- 

-8.33% 

-1.35% 

-0.42% 

0.93% 

22.58% 

+/- 

52.38% 

0.75% 

1.34% 

99.10% 

95.00% 

+/- 

5.56% 

-7.45% 

-5.37% 

2.18% 

-41.94% 

+/- 

-23.53% 

-23.33% 

-23.95% 

-0.78% 

-75.00% 

+/- 

-16.98% 

20.58% 

20.09% 

-0.39% 

-6.98% 

+/- 

-11.43% 

-7.74% 

-3.07% 

4.82% 

-6.06% 

+/- 

0.00% 

25.49% 

24.04% 

-1.13% 

27.27% 

*Comparing 01/01/19 - 09/23/19 to 01/01/20 - 09/23/20 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ® 



The leaves aren’t the only thing 

falling this time of year. 

Make sure you lock in a low rate before it’s too late! 

Work with a mortgage company that can offer low rates, great service and a fast, transparent process: 

• In-house underwriting and closing 

• Jumbo financing experts 

Make sure you lock in a low rate before it’s too late! 

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 

Eileen Mackenzie 


O: (805) 212-5204 

C: (831) 566-9908 

eileen.mackenzie@rate.com 

Joe Hutson 


O: (831) 205-1582 

C: (831) 212-4138 

joe.hutson@rate.com 

Ken Neate 


O: (805) 706-8074 

C: (925) 963-1015 

ken.neate@rate.com 

Luana Gerardis 


O: (805) 329-4087 

C: (707) 227-9582 

luana.gerardis@rate.com 

Maggie Koepsell 


O: (805) 335-8742 

C: (805) 674-6653 

maggie.koepsell@rate.com 

Rate.com/SanLuisObispo 

1065 Higuera St., 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. 

Donna Lewis NMLS #245945; CA - CA-DOC245945 | Dylan Morrow NMLS #1461481; CA - CA-DBO1461481 | Eileen Mackenzie NMLS #282909 | Joe Hutson NMLS #447536; CA - CA- 

DOC447536| Ken Neate NMLS ID #373607; CA - CA-DBO373607 | Luana Gerardis NMLS #1324563; CA - CA-DBO1324563 | Maggie Koepsell NMLS #704130; CA - CA-DBO704130 | Guaranteed Rate, Inc.; NMLS #2611; For 

licensing information visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. • CA: Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act 


Now is a great 

time to take 

advantage of low 

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Contact me today to learn more. 

Ben Lerner 

(805) 441-9486 

| SLO COUNTY 

REAL ESTATE 

REGION 

Arroyo Grande 

Atascadero 

Avila Beach 

Cambria/San Simeon 

BY THE NUMBERS 

NUMBER OF 

HOMES SOLD 

2019 

237 

216 

19 

108 


213 

272 

9 

96 

AVERAGE DAYS 

ON MARKET 

2019 

52 

40 

96 

68 


56 

40 

35 

86 

MEDIAN SELLING 

PRICE 

2019 

$822,000 

$593,304 

$1,453,496 

$961,409 


$845,313 

$590,490 

$1,136,654 

$841,763 

Cayucos 

36 

39 

114 

121 

$1,170,889 

$1,238,021 

Creston 

7 

7 

93 

198 

$935,357 

$812,143 

Grover Beach 

92 

97 

56 

44 

$549,563 

$582,999 

Los Osos 

118 

97 

39 

35 

$650,114 

$760,542 

Morro Bay 

99 

103 

67 

66 

$750,272 

$724,827 

** 

Nipomo 

213 

178 

58 

55 

$652,600 

$726,091 

Oceano 

45 

45 

64 

79 

$522,111 

$568,648 

Pismo Beach 

102 

95 

86 

57 

$1,173,585 

$1,032,733 

Senior Loan Advisor 

NMLS 395723 

blerner@flagstarretail.com 

1212 Marsh St., Suite 1 

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

Paso (Inside City Limits) 

Paso (North 46 - East 101) 

Paso (North 46 - West 101) 

287 

43 

93 

256 

39 

77 

47 

66 

69 

37 

49 

93 

$527,636 

$575,216 

$642,085 

$546,125 

$608,051 

$620,039 

Paso (South 46 - East 101) 

45 

45 

64 

66 

$596,731 

$669,282 

The The The power of of the of the the 

Human Interest Rate. 

San Luis Obispo 

283 

269 

43 

43 

$909,767 

$942,521 

Santa Margarita 

21 

14 

104 

102 

$546,832 

$538,814 

Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC 

** Top 200 Mortgage Originator | Mortgage Executive Magazine 

Not a commitment to lend. Programs available only 

to qualifi ed borrowers. Subject to credit approval and 

underwriting terms and conditions. Programs subject 


to change without notice. Some restrictions may apply. 

Templeton 

Countywide 

85 

2105 

112 

1999 

*Comparing 01/01/19 - 09/23/19 to 01/01/20 - 09/23/20 

69 71 $773,656 $836,068 

56 54 $718,247 $738,487 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ® 

SLO LIFE

smart, eclectic, art to live on 

TIMELESS DESIGN 

FOR A CHANGING 

WORLD 

1599 Monterey Street | 805.544.5900 | sloconsignment.com 

(at the corner of Grove Street, across from Pepe Delgados) 

Open Tuesday - Saturday 10-5pm 

PUGLISIDESIGN.COM | 805.595.1962 

STALWORK 

INC 

CONSTRUCTION + DESIGN 

LIC 948012 | PO BOX 391 

SAN LUIS OBISPO CA 93406 

805.542.0033 

WWW.STALWORK.COM 

MAIL@STALWORK.COM 

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INTERIORS | LANDSCAPE + MAINTENANCE 


| CANDIDATE FORUM 

Election 


MAYOR 

HEIDI HARMON 

As we face the health and economic challenges of COIVD19, San 

Luis Obispo needs proven leadership, creativity, and collaboration 

to move us forward. Serving as your Mayor over the past four years, 

I have a proven track record of significant progress on issues, values, 

and priorities important to our community. I pledge to uphold this 

commitment in my next term. 

We have, and we will, continue to support the creation of more 

housing affordability, expand access to open spaces, work with small 

businesses and employees on challenges, build relationships with 

regional partners to strengthen economic recovery, reinterpret the 

unique culture of our downtown, prioritize fiscal responsibility, 

spearhead sustainability policies that attract meaningful clean jobs, 

and proactively refocus City staff to support our community in this 

unprecedented time. 

As Mayor, I will work to ensure San Luis Obispo is a dynamic, safe, 

and resilient City of belonging with a solution-oriented mission 

for the future, protecting the health of our residents, and providing 

support for local businesses to thrive. As a Cal Poly graduate, former 

business owner, and mother, I share your vision to evolve and adapt 

our City during times of change while preserving what makes SLO 

special. 

Let’s move San Luis Obispo forward together. 

MAYOR 

DONALD HEDRICK 

The biggest issue the city faces today is not in the city’s daily operating 

activities, but the increasing changes trickling down from the levels of 

government above our city. We have a renegade cadre of agents of the 

international corporate elite that have their goal being the destruction of 

this country and its democracy. We as a city need to resist this erosion of 

our Constitution and our rights that is in process by the elite that want 

to replace our country’s forefathers creation with a retouched version of 

dictatorship. It is treason to favor these international based programs 

such as identified in the UN’s Agenda 21 that express the goal of the 

dismantling of our country’s industry and our rights. We need to have our 

city government cease the rubber stamping of these subversive doctrines 

that are coming down the line and come up with local solutions. 

The first thing would be to appoint myself to the APCD and bring the 

issue of the international fouling of our skies with the geo-engineering 

that is genocide against the people of the world. Our protest of the 

poisoning of our land, water, crops, and lungs with the patented processes 

that the corporate elite are using to poison the land, water, crops, and the 

air we breathe. We need to resist the lure of the grants that promote the 

objectives of the UN’s Agenda 21 which are working their way down to 

the cities. We need to speak out against such seditious programs and their 

grants with strings attached that are designed to take away our citizen 

rights. We as a city need to take back control of our governments and 

get rid of the criminals that want to replace our democracy with the new 

world order. 


MAYOR 

SANDRA MARSHALL 

Meet Sandra Marshall, Candidate for Mayor of San Luis Obispo. 

Sandra moved to San Luis Obispo in 1974. With almost 50 years of 

living in the small city she loves, she has seen the progress and change 

San Luis Obispo has gone through. In 1991, concern for preserving the 

environment inspired Sandra to found and publish Information Press, a 

free local paper which remained in print until 2017. Sandra’s activism also 

drove her to serve as the Director of Earth Day Alliance, through which 

she has coordinated the annual San Luis Obispo Earth Day Fair since 

1999 to the present. 

Sandra is a homeowner, a business person, a mother and grandmother, 

and the Director of a non-profit organization. She understands what is 

important to the residents of San Luis Obispo: 

• Saving San Luis Obispo’s historic Downtown 

• Ending homelessness in our community 

• Affordable housing 

• Creating safer communities 

• Preserving the environment and open spaces 

Why Support Sandra Marshall for Mayor? 

In her years of activism, Sandra has grown to believe every citizen’s voice 

should be heard. Sandra will bring strong leadership, fairness, balance, 

and honesty to municipal politics. For years, Sandra has expressed her 

deepest personal belief with the saying “The good of the whole begins 

with the individual.” The urgency of today’s challenges has inspired her to 

amend that saying to “The good of the whole begins now.” 

Preserve, Protect, Plan. That is Sandra’s three-pronged approach to 

moving San Luis Obispo successfully through these challenging 

times. Preserve our heritage—our charming Downtown, our thriving 

businesses, our diversity of cultures and our historic architecture. Protect 

our natural resources—our open spaces, our fragile environments, our 

air and water. Plan responsibly—growth is inevitable, let’s plan together 

how it can best happen. 

To get involved with Sandra’s campaign or to offer financial support, visit 

her website and follow her on social media. 

MAYOR 

CHERISSE SWEENEY 

I’m proud to be a Downtown business owner, land use consultant, 

environmental steward, wife, and mom. Raising my family and pursuing 

my career locally has allowed me the opportunity to have a first-hand 

understanding that it is time for a new perspective in City leadership. 

Partisan divisions have left our community vulnerable. My nonpartisan 

candidacy for Mayor is inspired by the need to reinforce San Luis 

Obispo’s foundation — building upon our core values of solvency, safety, 

civility, transparency, and accountability. In the face of unprecedented 

uncertainty, we are presented with an opportunity for mature, resolute 

leadership. I look forward to stepping into the leadership role and 

cultivating productive dialogue by lifting each other up and allowing all 

voices to be heard. 

One of my top priorities is to restore the City’s resilient economy by 

upholding and enforcing transparency and accountability of citywide 

financial resources. Promoting and sustaining economic stability equates 

to balancing and lowering assessed property, sales, and business taxes — I 

am not in support of the permanent 1% sales tax increase as it is currently 

proposed. As a business owner, it is especially important for me to mend 

relationships between the City and its business community. I am an 

advocate for keeping goods and services local. 

My goal is to restore community trust in public health and safety 

by reprioritizing city spending and resources. Meeting the growing 

homelessness needs with effective private/public partnerships and 

resource development will accelerate results-driven solutions. I will assess 

policy-driven issues through the lens of local relevance and economics. 

I will support resources and practices that will result in a City where 

everyone feels safe. 

As an environmental steward, I have and will continue to implement 

balanced environmental and energy policies. By supporting regulations 

based on facts and data, collaborating on policies that promote 

economically-sensible conservation and sustainability initiatives, we 

can collectively protect the livability of our neighborhoods and the 

preservation of our open green spaces. 

I am committed to bringing nonpartisan leadership you can trust, and 

civility you can count on. Working together, I see brighter days ahead. 



CITY COUNCIL 

KELLY EVANS 

I am an antiracist, pro-housing candidate who believes environmental 

justice and accessibility of government programs are inextricably 

linked to achieving those first two goals. 

I will work towards building Racial Justice, affordable housing, and 

deeper accessibility to local government, for all residents. I will help 

ensure we stay on track with the newly passed Climate Action Plan. 

I will work on the intersection of support for unhomed residents and 

downtown vitality, because they are one and the same, not opposing 

goals. 

I believe in finding the cross sections of what look like opposite 

points and analyzing them for real, long-term solutions. I bring this 

energy to stalled projects, invoking efficiency and soothing pain 

points. 

I have taken action to the best of my ability as a community 

organizer, helping set up SLO CORE, a Collective of Organizations 

and Relief Efforts aimed originally around mutual aid and other 

support needed during COVID-19. I have a history of building 

coalitions, across political spectrums, to meet the challenges we face. 

CITY COUNCIL 

ERIK LONG 

I graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in political science, 

and CSU Chico with a MA in political science. I have taught, 

researched, analyzed, published and consulted extensively in the field 

of political science. 

Twenty-years ago when I moved to San Luis Obispo, I felt I had 

arrived at one of the most beautiful small cities in California. In 

many ways, I still feel this way. However, over the last few years, I feel 

there are three issues of concern which merit additional attention; 

homelessness, housing and downtown parking. While I realize much 

has been done by various political bodies to address these issues, I am 

proposing that we undertake a far more expansive process that would 

allow for greater inclusiveness and the development of diverse ideas. 

I am calling for three summits starting in Fall 2021 through Fall 

2022. The reason for a delayed start to these summits is that we must 

first continue to work as a community in containing the spread of 

COVID-19, while a vaccine is developed. Details for these summits 

are on the Issues page of my website. 

I would be honored to have your vote. 

I have interacted with Council, both in person and via emails, to 

support policy changes and make asks. I have volunteered at shelters 

and organized within nonprofits. 

Privately, I began work at a family business event planning company 

years ago and quickly realized my skills in management and the 

marriage of idealistic visioning with reality and budget constraints. 

Now I believe it’s time to take my skills to government. 


CITY COUNCIL 

JAN MARX 

I am running for City Council at the urging of many residents who say the 

City needs my help during this unprecedented time of COVID-19, economic 

meltdown, climate change, wildfires, and civil unrest. How could I say no? 

I love the City of San Luis Obispo and feel called to offer my services. 

My first priority is serving present City residents. I am concerned 

that the pandemic and economic collapse have placed residents under 

tremendous stress. Our residents deserve City Council members who 

listen to their concerns and take action to protect their quality of life. 

Future planning is important, but serving those, who might someday live 

here, must not overshadow Council’s duty to protect the health, safety, 

and wellbeing of people who live here now. 

I will provide public-spirited, effective, and experienced leadership. 

Building on my proven track record—six years as Mayor and six on 

Council—I will continue to help solve difficult problems and get good 

things done for the community. I am committed to improving diversity, 

inclusivity, and public safety with the creation of a new citizen Police 

Accountability committee. I support all-age alternate transportation, 

workforce and affordable housing and our Climate Action Plan. I will 

continue to fight for preservation of our precious resources: natural, 

fiscal, historical, and environmental, including open space. 

I have what it takes to lead us through these challenging times, just 

as I did through the 2008 Great Recession: 1) the experience, social 

consciousness and collaborative skill to work with people from all 

different backgrounds; 2) the business savvy to make sound decisions 

based on prudent budgeting, efficiency and accountability; and 3) 

integrity, civility and respect for everyone, without playing favorites. 

The new Council’s first order of business should be curbing the virus to 

get the economy back on track. I will advocate required mask wearing in 

public and work with all sectors to update SLO’s Economic Development 

Strategic Plan. I encourage local hiring, so salaries are spent locally. I 

will advocate expansion of highspeed broadband, storage batteries and 

microgrids to make us a more resilient entrepreneurial center. The City 

must do all it can to protect residents against blackouts, given increasing 

dependence on air conditioning and the internet. 

To learn more about my take on the issues, past achievements, and vision 

for the City’s future, please visit my website, janmarx.com or Facebook. 

Working hard and working together, we can create a thriving, sustainable 

and secure post pandemic future for our City! I would appreciate your vote. 

Jan Marx for City Council 2020! 

CITY COUNCIL 

JAMES PAPP 

No sane person runs for office—unless you have a fire in your belly that the 

cold shower of putting yourself in front of voters can’t quench. I happily 

served on SLO’s Cultural Heritage Committee for five years, analyzing 

a two-and-a-half-foot pile of development proposals and environmental 

studies, but I decided to run for City Council a year ago when the Council 

wanted to ban memorials to people because “people are flawed.” 

The Council didn’t ask the CHC’s advice, because we would have said 

it was a goofy idea. For thousands of years people have memorializing 

people. People inspire us to be our best, however flawed: hence SLO’s 

9/11 memorial, with 403 upstanding rods for the 403 emergency workers 

who sacrificed their lives when their best demanded it of them. No 

town’s ever suggested banning monuments to people; we would have 

been a laughingstock. But the Council and senior staff were so intent on 

“Council unity” they went charging ahead—until dozens of SLO citizens 

charged back. 

This situation arises when elected representatives get out of touch with 

the people they represent. There’s a structural reason. SLO has a “weak 

mayor” system; the city manager is basically our CEO and the Council 

the oversight board. Only a rare individual like Ken Schwartz—who had 

eight years on Planning Commission, then 10 as mayor—can take the bit 

in their teeth and bring substantial change. 

Our council doesn’t have anyone with that experience, vision, and drive. 

The city manager calls the shots and allows symbolic accomplishments; 

in return, Council doesn’t ask awkward questions. Like why Monterey’s 

city hall overhead is 10% of that city’s operating budget and San 

Luis Obispo’s is 19%. Why SLO’s Police Department budget is, 

proportionately, a fifth more than Monterey’s but our Parks Department 

budget barely a third the size. 

SLO’s budgets have gotten way out of whack with comparable cities. So 

have our government values. Decades of Councils have condemned our 

last working-class neighborhoods to be replaced by expensive condos. 

That’s something our preservationists and affordable housing advocates 

can have common cause on. 

The Council recently declared a car-free, carbon-neutral future–then 

approved a massive new parking garage. Since then, 5,500 square miles 

of California have burned, and Cal Poly’s reached a Death Valley high of 

120F. In these times, symbolism doesn’t cut it. 



CITY COUNCIL 

ANDREA (ANDY) PEASE 

It has been my honor to serve on the SLO City Council these past four 

years and I’m excited to be running for re-election. Despite the challenges 

of our time, I am confident in a bright future for our community. I have 

a vision for San Luis Obispo that is sustainable, inclusive and thriving. I 

have a balanced approach and listen to all perspectives. And, as a council 

member and a business owner, I have the experience to be effective. We 

have accomplished a lot over the past four years, and going forward, I will 

build on that foundation. 

Economic recovery: The pandemic has been devastating to so many 

businesses, and we must focus on recovery. Starting in 2017, we gradually 

tightened our city budget by almost $9 million and planned for longterm 

fiscal health, putting us in a stronger position now. After COVID 

restrictions were put in place, we launched OpenSLO with parklets, 

streamlined permitting and small grants. I will continue this work to 

retain local businesses, while supporting head-of-household jobs, helping 

address child care for working families and maintaining essential services 

for all our residents. 

Housing: Our council embedded new projects with requirements for 

affordability and giving priority to locals, so more people who work here 

can afford to live here. Access to local housing supports business, reduces 

carbon emissions and is a keystone of social equity, and I will continue to 

promote housing options, walkable neighborhoods and great access for 

transit and biking. 

CITY COUNCIL 

JEFFERY SPECHT 

As a councilman, I will work to end the culture of waste, corruption 

and bloated government oozing out of City Hall, as well as put a halt 

to the division pulling apart our community at its seams. San Luis 

Obispo needs council members who are accountable to the people, 

not to buddies in big business and extremist street activism. 

Our City Council ignores the public while bowing to city staff and 

supporting large developers and a marijuana mogul. These special 

interests build atrocities that block our scenic views and grease the 

wheels to get projects approved. The council also backs a bike riding 

coalition determined to force people out of cars and onto bicycles. 

I plan to build a coalition on the council that will fire the city 

manager and city attorney, slash city employee salaries and place 

major pension reform on the ballot. We’ll also address the veterans 

left to rot on the streets and make police hand over body-cam 

footage when the public requests it. 

I am running for city council because I care about our community, 

our residents and justice. As a councilman, I promise to serve the will 

of the people. 

Homelessness: We strengthened partnerships with the county, non-profit 

agencies and the community to the establish and maintain the 40 Prado 

homeless services center, and we added social services in the field. We 

must do more, and I support developing transitional housing, deploying 

social workers to those in crisis and advocating for mental health services 

for all who need it. 

Climate action: We established the ambitious target of carbon neutral 

by 2035. We led our region in adopting community choice energy, so 

we are now receiving carbon-free electricity, supporting an equitable 

green economy and saving our residents money. I’ll continue the 

work of climate action through open space, urban forestry, sustainable 

transportation and energy efficiency. 

Diversity, equity and inclusion: Underpinning all this work is my 

commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We must ensure all of our 

residents have a voice and access to opportunity. 

I ask for your vote this November. Thank you so much! 



CITY COUNCIL 

ABRIANNA TORRES 

Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, I am a small business 

consultant, former Sheriff ’s Correctional Deputy, former Division 

One scholar and all-American athlete, and active mentor to the next 

generation of SLO residents. My strong roots in our City allow me 

to uniquely understand current issues at hand. 

In recent months, we’ve seen the “happiest city in America” devolve 

into a community divided. Our neighbors and friends have been 

branded as racist, and our police department marginalized. To my 

core, I stand against racism and bigotry; concurrently, I will not 

support any group that calls for destruction within our streets. We are 

in desperate need of diversity of thought; this should not be a “whose 

side are we on” debate but rather a “how can we work together” 

conversation. It is time to shine a light on what good law enforcement 

and first responders do for our community. I will ensure that they have 

the tools necessary to keep our citizens safe and to continue building 

a unified culture of transparency and accountability. 

We’ve also recently experienced how governmental mismanagement, 

burdensome regulations, and excessive taxes cripple our hard working 

community members and local businesses in the face of COVID-19. 

I will prioritize boosting our economic vitality by minimizing these 

tax increases and regulations. I will also work to ensure that our 

streets are clean and safe and that homelessness is properly addressed 

through impactful resource investment. 

Growing up, our house was a safe haven for foster children. As a 

longtime renter and newly minted, first-time homeowner in San 

Luis Obispo, I’m acutely aware of the housing challenges that we 

face. I plan on re-examining existing assumptions, regulations, and 

fees to make sure that the City is working in the best interest of the 

taxpayers. I also plan to rezone and adapt underutilized buildings to 

accommodate mixed uses, including work-force housing. 

My guiding goal is to facilitate a prosperous and sustainable future 

that we can all participate in by empowering residents and enabling 

opportunities for growth. As a nonpartisan candidate for SLO 

City Council, I strive to develop forward-thinking, results-driven 

strategies to unify our community. Our City needs voices of reason. 

CITY COUNCIL 

ROBIN WOLF 

A SLO local born and raised, I grew up on the Central Coast. 

This year, San Luis Obispo residents have many choices in their 

candidates for SLO City Council. I am unique in my two-plus decades 

working in restaurants, hospitality, and tourism. My time spent in our 

public facing businesses offer a unique skill set and perspective into the 

largest economic force in our area. One that provides a living for many 

of our residents and is vital to our City. I have learned to listen and to 

bridge divides between people to ensure everyone has a seat at the table. 

Our community faces many challenges in 2020, and there is none 

more timely and far reaching than the recovery and success of our local 

economy and businesses. There is not a single member of our community 

unaffected by this threat. We are a bustling tourist community and the 

effects of Covid-19 have been nothing short of devastating, with many 

of our long-standing businesses fighting to survive. I have been on the 

ground since day one of the pandemic, adapting and pivoting entire 

business models to fight for ownership and employees alike. We need 

representation on City Council that is prepared to fight this battle with 

creative problem solving and the insider knowledge of someone familiar 

with the nuts and bolts of our service industries and the tough work 

ahead. I am that candidate. 

My priorities in office include: Economic Recovery and Vitality, Workers 

and Jobs, Civil Rights, Health and Safety for All, Environmental 

Stewardship, Affordable Housing and Renter’s Rights, and Transparency 

and Accountability in Elected Officials and Law Enforcement. 

I am dedicated to greater community engagement in local government, 

especially our youth and traditionally underrepresented voices. 

In this time, we need new and creative approaches to support local 

businesses and workers facing an uncertain future. I am a worker. I am a 

renter. I understand the struggle we undertake to make San Luis Obispo 

our home. City Government should be transparent and inclusive and 

serve the people always. I am fiercely committed to making sure each 

community member is heard, valued, respected, and engaged. 

Join me as we work together for a successful SLO for All! 


| HEALTH 

feast 

freely 

Does indulging in a holiday feast have a lasting impact on overall health? 

BY LAUREN HARVEY 

H 

feast 


oliday traditions vary from culture 

to culture, family to family, but one 

commonality seems to be universal 

among them all—a celebration 

centered around a feast: A meal shared 

with friends and relatives, consisting 

of a wide variety of appetizers, sides, 

entrees, and of course, dessert. 

For the health conscious, the prospect 

of engaging in such a gluttonous 

occasion may spark some concern. I 

wondered how indulging in a holiday 

actually affected a person’s weight, blood 

sugar, and general health. 

It’s no secret extravagant meals are often 

advertised as the culprit for inevitable weight 

gain. Although indulging in a feast carries this 

undesirable connotation, this doesn’t mean it’s 

a scientifically backed truth. With the hope 

that my research findings may grant some 

medically justifiable permission to feast, I set 

out to answer this question: For the person in 

average health, did eating a holiday feast really 

incur a negative impact on general health? >> 

LAUREN HARVEY is a 

creative writer fueled by a 

love of cooking, adventure, 

and naps in the sun.


of older adults at risk for Type 2 diabetes. The study, co-authored by 

Loretta DiPietro, a professor at George Washington University’s Milken 

Institute School of Public Health, found that “short post-meal walks 

were even more effective at lowering blood sugar after dinner than a 

single 45-minute walk taken at mid-morning or late in the afternoon.” 

As postdoctoral research fellow Andrew Reynolds explains, “The 

muscles we use to walk use glucose as energy, drawing it out of 

circulation and therefore reducing how much is floating around.” A 

short walk can combat the effects of blood sugar spikes. For those with 

diabetes or other medical conditions impacted by blood sugar, a walk is 

not sufficient replacement for doctor-approved medical treatments. 

In addition to balancing your blood sugar, walking after your feast 

provides digestive benefits. Sheri Colberg-Ochs, a researcher at Old 

Dominion University explains, “Exercise stimulates peristalsis, which 

is the process of moving digested food through the GI tract.” A short 

walk helps your feast move through your digestive system, which could 

help relieve some bloating or the overfull feeling we experience after a 

larger-than-life holiday meal. Hopefully, this provides peace of mind— 

to enjoy the meal and focus more on what you can do after you put the 

fork down, rather than scrutinizing everything that goes on your plate. 

#1 

MYTH 

BUSTED 

Dr. Stephen Juraschek, a primary care physician at Beth Israel Deaconness 

Medical Center in Boston, breaks down the science behind what actually 

happens to your body when you enjoy a big meal. One common shortterm 

effect includes the overstuffed feeling caused by your stomach 

physically expanding to accommodate large amounts of food. 

Other short-term effects include spikes in blood sugar, blood pressure, and 

cholesterol markers—the aftermath of eating starchy foods high in carbs 

as they convert into glucose. However, these spikes are temporary and 

“should come down, usually within a couple of hours,” says Dr. Juraschek. 

While these processes happen after the consumption of any meal, the 

effects are amplified the more we eat. 

Dawn Jackson Blather, RD, provides some myth-busting insight on the 

long-term effects of holiday feasting, “What you’re [eating] for a holiday 

here and there is not going to have any lasting impact on health and 

weight if you’re getting back to your normal healthy-ish eating afterward.” 

And, as Dr. Juraschek adds, “It’s really more of a long-term pattern of 

eating that we worry about.” It seems then, one feast will not make or 

break your general health. 

Instead, it’s the rest of the year, and all those days between holiday feasts 

that truly impact our long-term health, despite what diet culture may 

want you to believe. 

#2 

MOVE 

WITH INTENT 

While lounging on the couch after a Thanksgiving feast may seem 

like the best way to recover, prefacing your relaxation with a ten- to 

fifteen-minute walk can help your body recover even faster. A 2013 

study published by The American Diabetes Association observed the 

effects of a fifteen-minute treadmill walk on the blood sugar levels 

#3 

STAY 

STEADY 

Everyone has their own strategies leading up to the big feast. Some 

people fast all day, in an effort to save room for the big meal, while 

some boost their exercise in a preemptive strike against excessive 

calories. Still others decide to fully embrace the feast, complete with 

post-meal nap. So what’s the best strategy? 

Registered dietitian Leslie Bonci says, “Fasting [before the feast] 

is typically not a good idea.” Instead of starving your body in 

anticipation, try to stick to your everyday meal schedule, “but stop 

eating four to six hours before the main event.” Staying as consistent 

as possible with your eating and exercise habits may be the key to 

holiday feasting without feeling too full to move. 

A small study, led by University of Michigan graduate student Alison 

Ludzki, asked participants to consume thirty percent more calories 

daily for seven days while maintaining their normal exercise routine. 

The results of this early study aren’t enough for anything definite, 

however, researchers found that “a week of gluttony did not affect 

glucose tolerance” in participants who exercised regularly. 

Additionally, the research showed that consuming excess calories “had 

no effect on markers of inflammation in volunteers blood or tissue 

samples…[and] no change in lipolysis, a chemical process by which 

the body breaks down fats.” This study and its initial findings support 

the notion promoted by many dietitians—consistency, more than 

anything, is key. 

According to McKenzie Flinchum, RD, LD/N, “There is no need to 

add extra workouts to burn off calories or skip meals; just go back to 

your [daily] healthy diet and workout regimen.” It seems then, that 

consistent exercise promotes greater metabolism, enabling your body 

to better handle gastronomic anomalies like a holiday feast. 

If you are feeling sluggish, Flinchum suggests focusing “on consuming 

a lot of veggies and lean protein the next day.” This acts to balance out 

what is already being digested in your system. Here, steadiness, balance 

and being kind to your body is paramount to feasting freely. >> 


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#4 

ENJOY 

EVERY MOMENT 

The holiday season is just beginning, so let us not forget the reason for our feast-centered 

gatherings. Raphael Konforti, Youfit Health Club’s national director of fitness, provides 

us with an important reminder to put it all in perspective, “One salad doesn’t make you 

healthy just like one delicious [holiday] dinner doesn’t make you unhealthy.” It’s with 

this in mind that we arrive at the crux of our findings—enjoying a holiday feast is not 

detrimental to overall health. 

As Flinchum states, “Indulging on [a holiday feast] will absolutely not ruin your diet.” 

Flinchum expresses the most important sentiment as such: “Enjoying the holiday events 

and festivities is all part of living a balanced and healthy lifestyle.” So next time you feel 

a pang of guilt for loading your plate at a holiday dinner, or someone throws a critical 

You’re-going-to-eat-all-that? comment your way, you can answer confidently, with a smile, 

“Yes, yes I am.” 

Stay present in the moment and enjoy the feast, however you choose to celebrate it. After 

all, it’s occasions like this that we cherish as some of our fondest traditions, whether your 

holiday feast is a buffet of secret family recipes, ordered prepared from a grocery store, or 

picked up curbside as takeout. No matter how your holiday looks, enjoy it and remember 

you have permission to feast freely! 

FINAL WORD 

Our daily diet and exercise routines affect our overall health more greatly than one 

day of all-out feasting. Enjoy the moment, stay consistent in exercise, and embrace 

the blessing of a holiday feast. As always, attend to individual health conditions as 

directed by your doctor. Happy holidays! SLO LIFE

3076 Duncane Lane . San Luis Obispo 

805 549 0100 


| TASTE 

Ribs 

THE SWEETEST WAY TO GET TENDER AT THE BONE 

BY JAIME LEWIS 

As a treat to my husband last spring, I 

indulged in a box of high-quality locallyraised 

meat from Larder Meat Company. 

The box arrived on my doorstep, beautifully curated with a seasoning 

pouch, recipe card, and enough tasty cuts to keep my beloved wellfed 

for a long time. I called Larder’s owner and local food champion 

Jensen Lorenzen to ask how to cook the plate ribs in the shipment. 

He patiently explained how to prepare them, and I followed his 

instructions to the letter, filling the house with the aroma of garlic 

and thyme. Then I dutifully brought them out to the grill to finish 

with a gentle sear. 

My mistake was small but fatal: I walked away from the ribs. Who 

knows why? Maybe to start a load of laundry, check my email, or 

prep some veggies; I don’t remember. 

What I do remember is discovering an 

angry column of smoke streaming from 

the lid of the grill. My precious ribs had 

caught fire and no one had been there to 

save them. I lifted the lid and looked to 

grab what remained with my tongs. The 

smoldering nub I found after the smoke 

cleared resembled a hockey puck. 

Since then, I’ve decided to leave ribs to 

the experts. I recently visited three local 

establishments that specialize in ribs, 

each in their own special way. >> 

JAIME LEWIS writes about 

food, drink, and the good 

life from her home in San 

Luis Obispo. Find her on 

Instagram/Twitter @jaimeclewis. 


STICK TO YOUR RIBLINE 

I walk into the Ribline in Grover Beach with my kids 

during a break in their homeschooling, and I try to turn 

it into an educational experience. Owner Brian Appiano 

makes the teachable moment extremely tasty for us. 

Since Appiano purchased The Ribline in 2010, the hottest 

menu items are ribs and tri-tip. (“Everybody wants tri-tip in 

this town,” he says with a grin.) He explains the differences 

between St. Louis Style ribs, baby back ribs, and spare ribs 

on a pig, and plate ribs and short ribs on a cow. Two towers 

of ribs arrive, rubbed with The Ribline’s universal seasoning 

(which goes on their fries, chicken dishes, etc.) then cooked 

low and slow before being sauced. The beef ribs are meatier, 

with more umami saltiness, while the baby back ribs are 

juicy, delicate, and sweet. 

Appiano mentions that his ribs have gone undefeated in so 

many Cal Poly rib cook-offs that none of the competition 

even bothered to show up the last three years. I grab a 

toothpick and tell him I’m not at all surprised.>> 


HEY BIG MAMA 

When I meet manager Kelly Ahumada at G. Brothers 

Smokehouse in SLO, she tells me her last name means 

“smoked,” which is a happy coincidence at this wellknown 

BBQ joint near Cal Poly. She introduces me to 

the owner, Leo Garcia, who explains the different styles 

they prepare, including Texas BBQ, Kansas City BBQ, 

and others. As for ribs, he says they go through about 150 

pounds of ribs each week. 

“Have you met Big Mama yet?” Ahumada asks me, and 

Garcia walks us over to a very serious looking smoker. I 

peak inside Big Mama and find several racks of dryrubbed 

ribs lounging there. Garcia tells me these ribs will 

be smoked four hours before being served; they won’t 

be sauced unless someone asks for it. I ask for it on my 

spare ribs, and take an order home with me. Sticky, tender, 

smoky, and sweet, the ribs go beautifully with two slices of 

Texas toast and coleslaw for lunch. >> 


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HIGH ON THE HOG 

Like G. Brothers, Oddette Augustus doesn’t sauce her ribs. 

“The meat should stand on its own,” she says, and adds: “That 

should tell you something because I’m the sauce lady and I’m 

saying that.” 

Indeed, Miss Oddette’s Creole Kitchen has been pumping out 

BBQ sauce for seventeen years on the Central Coast. Based 

out of Paso Robles, Augustus is a certified canner as well as 

a caterer. Lately, she’s been preparing meal deals to feed four 

people, and her ribs are famous, so I got in on that deal. I 

pulled up at Haven Properties where she does a little pop-up 

in the parking lot every other week to receive a hefty rack of 

pork back ribs plus a container of killer creamy potato salad. 

I also picked up a jar of her “Special Report” BBQ sauce. She 

tells me she learned how to make it from her “Granga,” her 

grandma Hazel. 

The ribs, she says, are seasoned very simply, then put in the 

smoker for four hours. Then she cures each rack in foil before 

selling to customers. At home, I unload the rack of ribs, the 

potato salad, and the sauce (which I end up using on the ribs 

because it’s so delicious) and then I dig in. The combination 

is sweet and salty, the magic formula that makes ribs taste so 

irresistibly good. SLO LIFE 


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| WINE NOTES 

take a 

chance 

BY ANDRIA MCGHEE 

When we are out wine tasting, we hear the 

names Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, 

Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio all the time. 

I thought I would invite Lagrein, a red wine 

grape variety, to the party and introduce you 

to a new flavor palette. It’s similar to Petite 

Sirah though it stands on its own with a 

dark berry twist. See the potential in a new 

friend and find out if it’s a match. 

Originally, the thick-skinned grape was grown in the northern Italian region 

called Alto Adige (high up). Known as the meeting point of the Alpine and 

the Mediterranean and one of Italy’s smallest wine growing regions, it nuzzles 

up to beautifully jagged peaks of the Dolomites on the Swiss and Austrian 

border. The region is known for their aromatic whites, such as Riesling and 

Pinot Grigio—Lagrein is similarly fragrant and won’t disappoint. The soil is 

laced with limestone, similar 

to the famous soil in Paso 

Robles where we find Lagrein 

locally grown in French Camp 

Vineyards. Wines from Lagrein 

grapes tend to be strong and 

full-bodied with flavors of plum 

and wild cherry. When made 

well, Lagrein wines can offer an 

interesting, off-the-beaten-path 

alternative to more well-known 

wines like those made from 

Cabernet Sauvignon. Our 

local winemakers have made 

something truly lovely with 

these bold, dark berry flavors. >> 

ANDRIA MCGHEE received 

her advanced degree in 

wines and spirits from 

WSET in London and enjoys 

travel, food, wine, and 

exercise as a means to enjoy 

those around her. 


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Alapay Cellars 

2018 Lagrein // $39 

Silver SF Wine Competition 

Are you still wondering about this elusive grape? 

Stroll down First Street in Avila Beach and you’ll 

find Alapay Cellars. Take a moment and taste their 

2018 Legrein on the patio. Alapay, a Chumash 

word for heavenly, captures the meaning with their 

tasty wine and friendly tasting room staff—the 

perfect fit for the flip flop culture of this tight-knit 

coastal community. 

Winemaker Scott Remmenga was printing so many 

wine labels at his printing company, he decided 

to learn winemaking from one of the best, Clay 

Brock. His winemaking skills and wife Rebecca’s 

marketing made a fantastic blend for this winery. 

They started with dirt lots surrounding their 

tasting room, waving people in, and continue to 

have a loyal following. 

Piedra Creek 

2019 Lagrein Rosé // $26 

Double Gold 95 points Rosé Experience 2020 

In 1983, after successfully experimenting with winemaking at their Southern 

California home in Westlake, retired aerospace engineer Romeo Zuech and 

his wife Margaret decided to relocate to San Luis Obispo where they began 

making wine in the smallest bonded winery in Edna Valley—Piedra Creek. 

The move was largely in part due to a long-time friendship with Andy 

MacGregor, a fellow aerospace engineer who had planted a vineyard in the 

Edna Valley. 

While the Zuechs decided to harvest and produce Chardonnay for their first 

wine under the Piedra Creek label, in 1999 they purchased two acres in the 

Twin Creeks area of Edna Valley and planted Lagrein, Syrah, Dornfelder, 

Teraldego, and Pinot Noir vines. 

After growing up on the scene with his grandparents and graduating from 

the viticulture program at Cal Poly, T.J. de Jony began working alongside his 

family, and in 2014 suggested making a 100% varietial Lagrein wine. By 2016, 

de Jony’s grandmother, Margaret, successfully petitioned the FDA to approve 

the Lagrein grape variety in the United States. In 2017, after his gradfather’s 

passing, de Joney became owner of Piedra Creek Winery and in 2018 they 

produced their first Rosé of Lagrein. 

Romeo was knows for saying, “Good wine was meant to be red,” but this rosé 

may have changed his mind. Its basket full of strawberry flavor bowls me over. 

The thick Lagrein skins make a medium pink color and perfect body for the 

kind of wine sipped on a porch or with barbecue. Want to raise a glass? Give 

Margaret a call, she’ll take care of you. 

The 2018 Lagrein brings me right back to Italy. 

Its smell wraps me up in a velvety mulberry 

blanket. It’s full-bodied, dark berried with a 

typical blueberry homage. The earthy tones pair so 

well with nice steaks and pasta. This is a smooth 

operator with a body that will hold you close and 

fruit to make it flirty, just like a good dance partner. 

Tobin James 

2015 Lagrein // $48 

Speaking of good dance partners, everyone wants 

to cut in when dancing with Tobin James. He has 

been a part of the Central Coast lifestyle for years. 

James worked in a small wine shop where he met 

Gary Eberle, acting as his winery’s distributor. 

James secured a spot in the harvest with Eberle 

and moved to Paso a few years later. Eberle, well 

known for lovely wines, took a chance on someone 

passionate to learn the same trade. James won 

awards his first year out and started as winemaker 

at Peachy Canyon while dreaming up the Tobin 

James label. 

Along came Claire and Lance Silver to the team 

and now they have a combo for some seriously 

good wine. Their casual attitude along with the 

old saloon feel of the winery make their wine 

approachable. You can choose a range of wine 

from easy-drinking to special occasions. The 2015 

Lagrein, with an impressive five years of aging, 

has supple tannins and blackberry flavor that glide 

right over the tongue and enhance food. The flavors 

of blueberry continue to linger, the same way we 

linger with good company. 



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| BREW 

MARKET 

TRENDS 

BY BRANT MYERS 

eltzers have been slowly taking over the beer aisles 

across our grocery and liquor stores, so when will 

their reign of terror end? Not likely soon from the 

look of things. As a matter of fact, it seems that 

the industry is trending more and more towards 

“lifestyle” beverages that represent a growing 

consumer base of people who enjoy the social 

aspect of drinking beer, but aren’t fully on board 

with the flavor or alcohol within them. I’m not 

judging, I also drink water sometimes when I Sdon’t feel like beer. But what happens when the beer industry makes 

something that doesn’t look like beer, taste like beer, or have alcohol in 

it? Let’s take some sips of the growing trend that is not-beers. 

I’m a huge proponent of personal health and wellness, so there are 

some conflicts of interest when I’m also a huge proponent of full- 

fledged craft beer. That being said, why not have a “Sober October” or a 

thirty-day cleanse after New Year’s Eve if it makes you feel better? Maybe 

you just want to wake up tomorrow morning and go for a ride or jog instead 

of craving a breakfast burrito and mimosa. There is a compromise available: 

non-alcoholic (NA) beer. And if the predictors are correct, you’re going to 

be seeing a lot of these in the future. Already, Heineken has their 0.0 beer 

with a huge marketing budget pushing it across social media and traditional 

platforms, taking the success of their rival’s Bud Light Ultra to the next 

level by making an even healthier post-workout drink. Aside from them, the 

big news in big brews is that Sam Adams posted record profits from selling 

seltzers and hard kombucha last year and will be following up those successes 

with a new NA Hazy IPA. Imagine that, a craft brewery making nonalcoholic 

IPAs. I have a feeling this will trickle down fast through the smaller 

breweries and we’ll be seeing them en masse soon enough. 

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infrastructure to try new things and test them in the market, so it’s always a 

foreshadowing of things to come when they toy with new trends and find profits in 

their gambles. AB InBev has said that within five years their portfolio will be twenty 

percent low- and non-alcohol beverages. Even Molson Coors, the fifth largest brewing 

concern in the world, has taken this challenge head on, as evidenced by their name 

change from Molson Coors Brewing Company to Molson Coors Beverage Company. 

I mean, that’s actually a pretty huge shift to change your business model, let alone your 

name. You’ll be seeing their flavored seltzer water with probiotics, and diet sodas with 

ingredients like yuzu and bourbon vanilla. What is going on here?! Those are fruits 

that go in my IPA and adjuncts for my Imperial Stouts. Has the world gone mad? 

Although it does look like they made a Dr. Pepper knockoff called Surgeon General, 

which is bold. I like to laugh; it keeps me from crying about the shelf space lost. 

Speaking of shelf space, there’s some skinny buggers that have been squeaking onto the 

shelves for the past year and knocking down everything in the way. Malt liquor. Well, 

technically malt-based beverages, because it’s not brown and poured out of a 

forty-ounce bottle but instead clear, in slim cans, and with hints of fruity essences. 

Hard seltzers are squeezing the competition with their perception as a low calorie, low 

ABV alternative to beer. And maybe, in this era of La Croix fandom and treat-yo-self 

wellness routines, it hit the cultural timing perfectly to carve out a niche that sent the 

large manufacturers scrambling for a piece of the pie. Just ask the maker of the second 

best-selling seltzer brand Truly—Sam Adams Beer Company. Ole Sam’s at it again. 

If you really want to get into the weeds with me, I think it has more to do with a tax 

loophole allowing brewers to maximize their profits and reduce costs associated with 

brewing or high-priced hops purchases, since both malt- and sugar-based hard seltzers 

are considered “beer,” but only malt-based hard seltzers are also considered “malt 

beverages.” This means that federal beer rules (27 CFR Part 25) apply to both malt- 

and sugar-based hard seltzers, but federal malt beverage 

labeling and advertising rules (27 CFR Part 7) apply only to 

malt-based hard seltzers. Water plus malt or cane sugar plus 

fruit flavor equal profits! 

Whatever the trend may be, I guess being spoiled for choice 

isn’t the worst thing in the world. The craft beer industry 

had years of the fashion industry business model of having 

new trends and fads for the season, with whatever was new 

becoming the must-have of the time. Chasing those hype 

beers and hopped freshies was 

exhausting but also exhilarating. 

I guess the beverage industry 

wants to keep us running, and 

maybe they just want us to be in 

better shape and with good gut 

health, but maybe they’re also 

just giving the people what they 

want. Whatever it may be I just 

have one last gripe: stop making 

the cans skinny. It doesn’t make 

us skinny and they don’t fit our 

koozies. Rant over. Whatever 

flavor or ABV fluid you put in 

your mouth, raise one up, and this 

time we can say it with sincerity— 

To your health! SLO LIFE 

BRANT MYERS is a beer 

industry veteran and 

founder of SLO BIIIG, a 

hospitality consulting firm. 


CONSUMED 

A PODCAST 

Join SLO Life food columnist 

Jaime Lewis for candid 

conversations about life 

and flavor with area eaters, 

drinkers, thinkers & makers. 

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LETSGETCONSUMED.COM 


| HAPPENINGS 

Culture & Events 

CAMBRIA SCARECROW FESTIVAL 

The eleventh annual community-wide array 

of hundreds of eclectic scarecrows offers five 

display areas and lots of fun for visitors and 

Cambrians alike. All displays are positioned 

and spaced in specific, well-defined areas 

to make them easily viewed by parking 

and walking. Scarecrow Walks in the East 

Village, Mid-Village, West Village, the 

Pinedorado Grounds, and San Simeon can 

be easily enjoyed. 

October 1-31 // cambriascarecrows.com 

ACADEMY OF CREATIVE THEATRE 

As school resumed in the fall, the folks at San 

Luis Obispo Rep added more ACT classes 

so as many students as possible could learn 

about theatre, including daytime classes for 

homeschool families and students with a flexible 

school schedule. Spaces (and scholarships) are 

available for twice-per-week Session II classes 

beginning October 12 for between six and 

eight students each. All theatre games, warmups, 

exercises, rehearsals, and in-class activities 

include exposure to other elements of theatre 

such as scenic, costume, and prop design as well 

as multi-media elements. 

October 12 - November 5 // slorep.org 

RAPTORS, RATS, AND YOU 

Rodents can be a nuisance and a health 

hazard if they take up residence in the 

wrong places. And while poisoning 

them may seem like a simple solution, 

the repercussions are far different. 

Poisons designed to kill rats also poison 

wildlife, pets, and children. Join the 

San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden 

via Zoom to welcome Morro Coast 

Audubon Society President Judy 

Neuhauser and a special guest, a great 

horned owl, to learn how beautiful 

birds of prey are threatened by the 

widespread use of rat poison, and 

how you can promote natural raptor 

predation of pests. 

October 10 // slobg.org 

WIGGLE WAGGLE WALK 

A virtual fundraiser for Woods Humane Society isn’t just for walkers . . . you can run, kayak, bike, 

stroll, meander—whatever! And anyone, anywhere can participate. Sign up as an individual or as part 

of a team, then set your challenge. Enjoy weekly challenges, activity tracking, fun giveaways, and more. 

Now until October 31 // woodshumanesociety.org 

ELECTION 2020 

Every registered voter in San Luis 

Obispo County will receive a 2020 

Presidential Election ballot in the mail, 

which can be returned to be counted in 

one of the following ways: by mailing 

via the United States Postal Service; 

by hand-delivering your ballot to 

one of nineteen secure Vote By Mail 

ballot drop box locations; or by handdelivering 

your ballot to one of twentythree 

Voter Service Centers open during 

the four days of voting, October 31 to 

November 3. Go to the County Clerk- 

Recorder’s website to look up your voter 

registration status, to track your ballot, 

or to find Vote By Mail ballot drop box 

and Voter Service Center locations. 

Now until November 3 // slocounty.ca.gov 


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ADVENTURE, PASSION 

| HAPPENINGS 

Culture & Events 

Theatre Classes for All Ages! 

New socially-distant curriculum with 

approved Covid-19 safety protocols 

Sign up today at slorep.org 

ART AT THE GARDEN SHOW & FUNDRAISER 

The second annual fine art show and sale to benefit the 

San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden opens with a wine, 

appetizer, and chocolate reception on Friday, November 6. 

The show continues through the weekend and features 

twenty well-known local artists. The free event, held in 

the Oak Glen Pavilion at the Garden, includes oneof-a-kind 

jewelry, glass, paintings, wood, ceramics, and 

wearable textiles. 

November 6-8 // slobg.org 

OPEN SLO 

The City of San Luis Obispo is allowing businesses to expand their footprints into streets and 

to use other strategies to improve safety and access for residents jogging, bicycling, and strolling 

downtown. Temporary “parklets,” using water-filled barricades and other materials, have allowed 

businesses to use parking lanes on a daily basis. The block of Monterey Street between Chorro 

and Morro Streets is closed to eastbound car traffic, allowing for outdoor dining on half the street. 

Ongoing // openslo.org 

live the SLO LIFE! 

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 

slolifemagazine.com 


SWINGING 

FOR THE 

FENCES 

ON THE 

RISE 

HEALTH 

WORDS TO 

LIVE BY 

BEHIND THE 

SCENES 

m a g a z i n e 

HEATING UP 

SUMMER 

OUTDOOR 

LIVING 

AFTER 

HOURS 

NOW HEAR 

THIS 

MEET 


BILL 

OSTRANDER 

JUN/JUL 2014 & POLITICAL ACTION 

WEDNESDAY WORKDAYS 

Every Wednesday morning 

EcoSlo volunteers go to work 

from 8:45 to 10:15 am at Irish 

Hills Natural Reserve, Prefumo 

Canyon Road & Isabella Way, 

in San Luis Obispo, building 

new trails in city-owned open 

space. Want to help? Meet in 

the south corner of The Home 

Depot parking lot to work on 

trail maintenance and brushing. 

Every Wednesday // ecoslo.org 

PHOTO COURTESY OF SENSORIO 

SENSORIO 

Looking for a romantic retreat, or just some family 

fun? Bruce Munro: Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso 

Robles is open for visits. The weekly schedule for the 

event, singled out by The New York Times as one of 

“Fifty Places To Go in 2020,”now includes Thursday 

and Sunday evenings. Visitors can watch the sunset 

and stroll through the fifteen-acre site as 58,000 solarpowered 

lights appear across the landscape. 

Now until January 3 // sensoriopaso.com


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SLO LIFE Oct/Nov 2020

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