SLO County News BlogGolf, Wine, Real Estate, Business & Travel NewsMore SLO Aid to Southeast AsiaFriday, December 31, 2004Relief in Southeast Asia is needed now more than ever, as the death toll from last weekend's deadly earthquake and tsunami continues to rise. This week central coast residents are teaming up, to send aid to those who need it most.When computer programer Sean O'Brien got an E-mail asking for help with the relief efforts in Sri Lanka, O'Brien turned to the young men in Boy Scout troop 322 to help. "I wanted to do whatever I could to help with the relief effort, and I decided with my connection to the Boy Scouts, that it'd be good to get the scouts involved" said scoutmaster O'Brien. The scouts have set up drop boxes at Von's grocery store in San Luis Obispo. Weekly donations will be taken from there, and then sent to those in need in Sri Lanka. The group says aid is a long term effort, but say as long as people keep dropping off donations, they will continue to send aid to the areas hit hardest by the natural disaster. You can also help those overseas by donating to a Sri Lanka grocery store through the internet, simply click on the following link. For more information, visit www.keellsuper.com. Central coast residents work together to bring aid to Southeast Asia - KSBY SLO Aid to Tsunami Ravaged RegionsThursday, December 30, 2004The Tribune provided an informative article on how we in San Luis Obispo County can help provide aid to Tsunami ravaged regions.Andy Samarasena, a local Sri Lanka native, is collecting light summer clothing, stuffed animals, canned food and similar items at local Bank of America branches to send to tsunami victims in his homeland of Sri Lanka. He can be reached at 772-6370. Red Cross and other non-profit organizations are accepting monetary donations to provide food water purification tablets, shelter and continued relief efforts where they are urgently needed. Checks, made out and sent to the local Red Cross chapter, should have a notation that they're for the Red Cross "international response fund." Here are some of the organizations helping victims of the tsunami that local residents can support: The local Red Cross chapter, 225 Prado Road, Suite A, San Luis Obispo, 93401. Phone: 543-0696. VeAhavta, in care of Parkinson, 1190 Marsh St., Suite B., San Luis Obispo, 93401. Phone: 783-1070. Direct Relief International, 27 South La Patera Lane, Santa Barbara, 93117. Phone: 964-4767. International Medical Corps, Tsunami Emergency Response, 1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300, Santa Monica, 90404-1950. Phone: 800-481-4462. World Emergency Relief, 2270-D Camino Vida Roble, Carlsbad, 92009. Phone: 760-930-8001. You can also donate to tsunami relief funds by logging on to the following Web sites: Doctorswithoutborders.org Unicef.org Methodistrelief.org Mercycorps.org Netaid.org Savethechildren.org Worldvision.org Americares.org Bnaibrith.org Locals coordinating efforts to aid ravaged regions - Carol Roberts, The Tribune Happy Holidays to SLOTuesday, December 21, 2004SLO Pages wishes all of San Luis Obispo and the Central Coast a safe and happy holiday season. We'll get back to posting entires here towards the end of the year. Happy Holidays to all! -- SLO PagesAnnual SLO Bird CountSunday, December 19, 2004The Morro Coast Audubon Society hosted the local bird count Saturday, tallying 196 species of birds, including a bald eagle and California condor and two warbler species.A group of about 80 birdwatchers spread out over an area that covered all of Morro Bay and parts of Los Osos and San Luis Obispo. Unusual species included the bald eagle and California condor. Also, two species of warblers were spotted, which is unusual considering their presence in this area during the winter. The annual bird count event is in its 104th year since it was started by the National Audubon Society. The event began locally in 1948, according to bird count registrar Bert Townsend of San Luis Obispo. More than 2,000 bird counts will be taking place throughout the continent and also in Central and South America, Townsend said. The event, which used to be held on Christmas Day, serves a scientific purpose in assessing where bird species are at this time year. Last year, 195 bird species were tallied. The Morro Bay/Los Osos area is known as one of the top 10 bird-watching areas in the country. This year's local tally will be compared to those of other regions to determine how the area ranked for 2004. Copied from article at: Audubon Society hosts annual bird count - The Tribune, Nick Wilson SLO Pet Business on Food NetworkSaturday, December 18, 2004 The Cloud Star Corporation, a local natural pet products company, will be featured Tuesday on the Food Network.
The business, owned by Jennifer Melton and Brennan Johnson of San Luis Obispo, was launched in 1999, and specializes in healthful products for household pets such as dogs and cats. The weekly television show, "Recipe for Success," highlights entrepreneurs who gave up their careers to pursue a small business. Melton and Johnson got involved in the food market when they adopted a dog with food allergies from the local animal shelter. They began making their own dog treats for their new canine, Samantha, and soon the word got out. They now produce a full line of dog and cat treats, cleansing bars, shampoo, conditioner, and dog and cat designer clothing. They also make a Buddy Biscuits Bake-at-Home treat mixture that dog owners can bake at their own convenience. The treats do not include corn, soy, dairy, artificial colors or flavors, byproducts, preservatives or salt. The show will feature Melton and Johnson at local landmarks such as Avila Beach, Fiore and Johnson's Galleria in San Luis Obispo, and the Saturday morning Farmers Market in San Luis Obispo. Take a trip to your local animal shelter; you may come home with more than just a new family member! Cloud Star supports humane education programs throughout the United States in addition to donating a portion of profits to our furry friends in the animal shelters. Cloud Star is dedicated to preserving the environment that belongs to all of our animal and human friends. Recycled products and soy-based inks are used whenever possible. Cloud Star Corporation Pet Project Makes Millions Beyond Their Years - Entrepreneur.com New SLO Home for WoodsFriday, December 17, 2004 The community gathered at the site of the new Woods Humane Society on June 26, 2004 for a ground digging celebration. This marked the beginning of a four million dollar building project to create a modern animal shelter to serve the Central Coast.
What began as a tale 15 years ago culminates with a happy ending and a truly heart rendering new beginning! In June 1989, Woods Humane Society's saga and search for a new shelter site began when the County of San Luis Obispo purchased the humane society property located at 4679 Broad Street in order to comply with Federal Aviation Administration requirements. Visionary community leaders served as volunteer members of the Board of Directors. Board members, along with staff and County personnel, dedicated tremendous amounts of time to the relocation effort. The new shelter is slated for opening in 2005 and reflects a collaborative effort that starts a new chapter in animal welfare in San Luis Obispo County. The number of dog kennels and catteries will be increased to accommodate more guest animals in the new facility at Camp Roberts off HWY 1. In 2003 San Luis Obispo County ranked fourth in the nation for its companion animal rescue efforts. Woods alone found new homes for 675 cats and dogs. With this new animal shelter, Woods can ensure this County achieves even great success through the rescue of an additional 360 animals from the county Animal Services Division. Woods will welcome approximately one animal a day from the County facility into its re-homing, adoption program. Over the last decade 13,000 homeless animals have received permanent new homes through Woods Humane Society. With approximately half of the funds already raised for the new shelter, community commitment is essential to bringing home the balance. Currently, there is a $500,000 anonymous matching challenge gift before the public. Through December 31, 2004, all new contributions to Woods Humane Society's animal shelter building fund will be matched dollar for dollar up to the $500,000 cap. Woods Humane Society SLO Housing is Nation's Most VulnerableThursday, December 16, 2004According to a report from information provider Standard & Poor's, San Luis Obispo is the most volatile housing market in the nation and the most likely to pop - ranking highest in a housing volatility index (HVI) that attempts to identify which of the 331 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are most vulnerable to housing price losses during an economic downturn.The HVI examines historical records of housing prices, as reported by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, and focuses on the variabilty of those prices over the years. One of the developers of the index, Francis Parisi, says that it reflects not just how much homes in those markets have gone up in price during the good years, but how much they have gone down during the bad. The steeper the price rises and price descents, the more vulnerable. The index ignores other economic factors, such as consumer debt or mortgage rates. S&P went as far back as the 1970s to examine the data for each market, according to Parisi. He stresses that S&P is not predicting a bubble burst nor is it saying that there will be an economic decline. Read more in today's CNN/Money article: If the bubble bursts... - Les Christie, CNN/Money The Tribune carried news about this article the following day: Are we in a housing bubble? - Leslie E. Stevens, The Tribune Some real estate agents unfazed by S&P report - Nick Wilson and Nathan Welton, The Tribune Storing SLO DocumentsWednesday, December 15, 2004The DocuTeam operates a storage site for long-term records needed by banks, hospitals, lawyers and other San Luis Obispo businesses.In today's increasingly competitive business environment, efficiency, timely access to critical information, and lower costs are paramount to success. Outsourcing your records management to The DocuTeam can provide you a higher yield on your space and employee resources, quicker access to data, reduced risk and liability, and cost reductions. The professionals at The DocuTeam in San Luis Obispo employ a proven methodology to the storage and retrieval of your records. Their use of state-of-the-art technology allows us to offer you accurate service, flexible information, and peace of mind. When Tom Brown, president of The DocuTeam, walks customers into his company's cavernous warehouse for the first time, a stunned "Oh, wow" or "Oh my God" usually follows, he says. What prompts such awed responses are row after row of boxes and files stacked three stories high, dwarfing Brown and anyone else who enters the San Luis Obispo storage facility. In the past five years, The DocuTeam warehouse has become the repository for many of the critical and long-term records belonging to the county's hospitals, doctors, lawyers, banks, and insurance and title companies. The company is just one of several endeavors Brown has undertaken in the past three decades. One of this year's Cal Poly Entrepreneurial Award winners, Brown also has been involved in sporting goods stores and commercial development, while continuing as president of Brown's Shoe Fit Co., a retail business founded by his grandfather in 1911. Learn more about The DocuTeam from this article at The Tribune by Leslie E. Stevens: A conversation with Tom Brown SLO's "Million Dollar View"Monday, December 13, 2004 With news about another landslide last week on Highway 1 and the challenges faced in keeping Highway 1 open to the millions of locals and tourists who travel it each year, we thought we'd mention one of the highlights along this coastline right here in San Luis Obispo County - Ragged Point.
Towering high above the Pacific on a promontory with 400 foot sheer cliffs, Ragged Point offers one of the finest ocean vistas in the world, often called the "Million Dollar View". It is also one of the few places on this coast where there is a trail down the face of a cliff. The trail ends at a breathtaking, black-sanded pocket beach. The Santa Lucia Mountains parallel the central California coast. For a stretch of about 100 miles, starting at Ragged Point in the south, and ending at Big Sur in the north, the mountains drop straight into the ocean forming an almost unbroken line of cliffs the entire distance. In a fabulous engineering feat, Highway 1 has been built onto the cliffs generally about 400 feet above the water. This section of Highway 1 is considered by many to be the finest scenic drive in the world. The section of coast, often called the "Big Sur", is considered by many to be the most beautiful in the world. Ragged Point is actually a privately owned resort property. The Ramey family has owned the site for nearly forty years turning a gas station and snack shop into a beautiful and tasteful resort featuring a motor inn, an excellent restaurant (terrific soups), gardens, vista points, and of course the trail to the beach. There are few services between here and Big Sur so it has been a popular place to stop for generations of travelers. The trail to the beach at the base of the cliffs is short (1/2 mile) but steep with about a 400 foot change in elevation. Views of the beach below are spectacular as are the ever changing views of the cliffs to the north. This cliff face is well-watered and hence very lush in vegetation. In the summer, there are wildflowers everywhere. The dampness makes the trail somewhat slippery. The beach is rather exotic with the black sand. It is a rather common phenomenon on this section of the coast. The view of the cliffs is all the more imposing looking from the bottom up. Few tourists are willing to brave the trail so it's also very private. Ragged Point also features the largest waterfall on the Big Sur coast. Ragged Point - The Million Dollar View SLO's Best BenchSunday, December 12, 2004 Passiflora Mosaics recently completed work on a mosaic bench for a SLO resident that you simply must see. SLO Pages has voted this bench as SLO's best! This mosaic bench took Fred and Donnell Pasion nearly 400 hours to complete. The back and bottom front of the bench have a limewash finish on it. They even did some mosaic with pebbles and china in the patio floor.
Enjoy these photos of the Mosaic Sunburst Bench by Passiflora Mosaics: Passiflora Mosaics Sunburst Bench - Portfolio Mosaic Sunburst Bench Photos - Completed Mosaic Sunburst Bench - Under Construction 'Hulk' is backing new SLO restaurantSaturday, December 11, 2004A new Italian restaurant is on its way to San Luis Obispo, courtesy of longtime restaurateur Jim Delmore, businessman Dave Watson and celebrity Lou Ferrigno.Delmore, owner of Jimmy Bump's Pasta House in Los Osos, is pairing up with Ferrigno, who played the muscle-bound super hero of "The Incredible Hulk" TV series, and Watson, a Santa Maria businessman, to open Italiano Pronto next spring. The restaurant will feature "fast casual" Italian dining, Delmore said. Guests will order their food at a counter, and then wait for dinner at a table. His wife, Linda Delmore, plans to decorate the restaurant in a Tuscan style. "Right now, we're in the final stages of setting up the financing end and selecting a location," he said. "We're looking over in the Foothill area and on Broad Street. Downtown would be nice, but we just don't see that happening, especially with Giuseppe's on the block in the Copelands' (Court Street) project." The plan is to eventually open 10 pasta restaurants, and then sell franchises, Delmore said. But Delmore admits that he wasn't particularly excited about starting another restaurant. A new place would have to be special, he said, and he wanted to associate a well-known Italian face with the eatery. Delmore asked Ferrigno, who lives on the Central Coast, if he would be interested in the new enterprise. Ferrigno, a regular customer at Del's Pizzeria, the Pismo Beach restaurant formerly owned by Delmore, said yes. "He's going to do all the commercials and anything promotional," he said. 'Hulk' is backing new SLO restaurant Julie Lynem, The Tribune Coming Soon to SLO: Coastal Concierge - Your connection to the best San Luis Obispo County has to offer. Ceramic Art Tiles by Laurel SherrieFriday, December 10, 2004 A local San Luis Obispo County "plein-air" painter - Laurel Sherrie - now provides her artwork in the form of brilliant and vividly colored Ceramic Art Tiles. The images of Laurel's original oil paintings are transferred to ceramic tiles with a permanent process. They are available in either 6 x 6 or 6 x 8 inch tiles. Their super high gloss finish really brings out the intense colors of her art, and they have felt "feet" on the back four corners to protect your counters and furniture.
These tiles are useful as coasters and hot plates, (trivets), or put them on small easels in your kitchen or around your home. You can frame them for hanging or install them in tile projects, such as bathroom, kitchen wall or kitchen back splash. One image can be spread over several tiles, to create a Tile Mural. See Laurel's collection of 20 Ceramic Art Tiles at her website: Laurel Sherrie Ceramic Art Tiles Laurel's mission through her art is to inspire people to help conserve our wild and rural California landscapes which are precious and in danger of vanishing. Open House at Fiala's Gourmet DeliThursday, December 09, 2004Fiala's Gourmet Deli in Edna Valley is hosting an open house on Sunday, December 12 to celebrate the holiday season. Owners Paul and Edy Fiala and the deli staff will offer guests an evening of gourmet food, local art, music and wine by Tolosa Winery. The free event will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Located at the crossroad of Price Canyon & Hwy 227 in the heart of San Luis Obispo's Edna Valley Wine Country.For questions or directions, call Fiala's at 543-1313. Dream Jobs in SLOTuesday, December 07, 2004 Some would say ANY job in San Luis Obispo County is a dream job - simply because it permits you to live on the California Central Coast. However, some residents really do have dream jobs. We just read about one in the Living section of The Tribune.
Writer and lecturer (and SLO resident) Kim Lisagor went into the wilderness to explore the best lodges and compiled her findings in a new book for Outside Magazine - "Outside's Wilderness Lodge Vacations". Then she got to come home to San Luis Obispo, where she teaches a journalism class at Cal Poly, is a regular freelancer for Outside, USA Weekend, and other publications. When confronted with the idea, the San Luis Obispo resident took, oh, a few moments to think about it. And before long, she was flying in a private helicopter, sipping French wines and hiking Alaskan trails devoid of other humans. "There were quite a few moments," Lisagor said, "when I had to stop in the middle of a trail, smile and say: 'You know, life is good.'" Read more: And through the woods, to find the best lodges we go - Patrick S. Pemberton, The Tribune SLO County Polar Bear DipSunday, December 05, 2004 January 1, 2005 marks the 25th year of the San Luis Obispo County Polar Bear Dip - a chilly swim off Cayucos Pier at noon on New Year's day -which is expected to draw some 1,000 locals and visitors submerging themselves in 50-degree surf at the foot of Cayucos Drive. Named after former resident Carlin Soule, who took the first dip in 1981 with his wife and a half-dozen friends, the swim draws an eclectic crowd: Many dress in costume (polar bear is an obvious favorite), and this year's swim included an 89-year-old man and a 9-month-old baby held in its parents' arms. Your reward for the big chill? A certificate, but you've got to get wet from head to toe -- and no wet suits allowed. Participation is obviously free. If you're bear enough to try, bring plenty of warm clothing. And just in case you have second thoughts after jumping in, the Coast Guard and emergency vehicles will be standing by.
san luis obispo county polar bear dip - The Mercury News SLO Roasted CoffeeSaturday, December 04, 2004 Not sure what to get that special friend, family member or co-worker for the holidays? Try a SLO Roasted Coffee gift certificate. They are available in any dollar amount you desire. Just give them a call and they'll send out the gift certificate along with a current catalog.
Order a total of 10 lbs. or more of bulk coffee at one time to one location and receive a 15% discount on the coffee. Remember to only purchase the amount of coffee that you will use in two weeks to maintain optimum taste and freshness! So share the wealth with some friends and save! Your discount will be put into effect upon shipping. Call 800-382-6837 or visit their website: Central Coast Coffee Roasting Co. San Luis Obispo has another coffee roasting business too - Costa Java Coffee - providing coffee to local and far-away coffee houses. Costa Java buys only the best quality beans available from around the world, carefully selected from a variety of brokers. It makes a difference to us and it will make a difference to your customers! Costa Java roasts in small batches only, no more than 60 pounds at a time. This imparts the best favor and bean development as opposed to a larger capacity roaster. They use infrared heat so the beans never come in direct contact with the flame and are gently brought to full development without scorching. Small batch roasting really makes a difference! Call Costa Java at (800) 585-8565 or visit their website: Costa Java Coffee Downtown SLO's Bubblegum AlleyThursday, December 02, 2004 If you do a search for gum OR bubblegum OR gumball "San Luis Obispo" at Google, you'd get the impression San Luis Obispo's Bubblegum Alley is SLO's top attraction. Seems we find a new post every couple weeks about SLO's Bubblegum Alley in a blog entry by someone who just passed through town. Here's the latest by Ben Padilla.
The gum started appearing on the walls in the late 1950's or 1960. People complained but the gum kept on coming. There are a few shops that have gumball machines on the sidewalk so if you want to add to the wall, chew and stick! You can find Bubblegum Alley on Higuera St. between Broad and Garden. Locallinks.com is kind enough to provide a map. In our quest for gum bloggers, we ran across "A really, truly, repulsive tour" of Bubblegum Alley by Ira Hirsh, pop culture horrorist and an official article by John Johnson from the LA Times, which appeared in the SF Chronicle. City Stickers - San Luis Obispo's "bubble gum alley" disgusts and delights visitors, November 6, 2000. San Luis Obispo -- As cultural monuments go, Bubble Gum Alley has proved its staying power. Like a wad of Bazooka Joe stubbornly stuck on a shoe, it has hung on for almost 50 years. "On a regular day, we get about 300 to 400 visitors," said James Anderson, the assistant director of information services for the Chamber of Commerce in this central California city. There's always "a handful" who say their visit wouldn't be complete without a trip down Bubble Gum Alley. And proving that bad manners is a universal language, many of those searching out the alley in this conservative community are visitors from abroad. The word most associated with the alley, in fact, means the same thing no matter what country you're in. "It's kind of disgusting," said Lauren Tobin, 21, as she scanned the gum-covered walls. Taking a shot at the local California Polytechnic State University students, the biology student from the University of California at Davis said, "It probably reflects the student population." As the name implies, Bubble Gum Alley is an alley in which the facing walls of two downtown commercial buildings are encrusted with gum. It doesn't resemble anything but what it is, tens of thousands of wads of multicolored gum squished one on top of another in a masticated mosaic 70 feet long and 15 feet high. At the top, the gobs have been blackened by age and weather. Some have left messages in mucilage: "Jesus Loves," "Porky" and the sweetly simple "Hi." Others have used the brick facades as canvases for their artwork. There are flowers, an American flag and several impressionistic figures that may or may not be human forms. Two cigarette butts protrude from one gummy mass, embracing at once the two oral habits that mothers warned generations of children against. The city's historical society says the genesis is sketchy, but the alley was created sometime in the 1950s. High school students started putting gum on the walls, Cal Poly students soon followed suit, and by the '60s the alley had become part of the local color. Over the years, San Luis Obispo's attitude toward Bubble Gum Alley has vacillated. On one hand, the Chamber of Commerce lists it as a "special attraction," and the city has posted a sign on the site. On the other, residents have periodically united in anti-gum crusades. "One year, the Fire Department hosed it down," said Deborah Holley, administrator of the Downtown Association. Instead of just falling down and washing away, thousands of pieces of old gum shot high into the sky. That day, people fled a potential gum-storm, she said. Holley entered Gum Alley in a national civic competition for unusual community monuments a few years back. A banquet room in Portland, Ore., was filled with representatives of hundreds of cities when pictures of the alley flashed on the screen. "Eeew, gross!" the audience said in unison. "It's interesting to watch tourists," said Holley. "There's this attraction-repulsion thing." You could see it in the face of Ryan Norton, 24, of Los Angeles. He and his 23-year-old wife, Angela, were in town on a recent afternoon celebrating their first anniversary. To him, the alley was equal parts fun and disgusting; his wife pronounced it "great. I don't know if it's an expression of art. Maybe this will keep people from throwing their gum on the ground." Ryan Norton overcame his repulsion and decided the couple should leave their own mark on the wall. And so, just as they plighted their troth, they merged their gum. Stooping, he etched their initials in the wad with a piece of broken glass he found on the asphalt. "We'll come back every year and put our gum here," he proclaimed. As anniversary traditions go, it might not be the most elevating, or hygienic. But the walls of gum have already outlasted many marriages. City Stickers - San Luis Obispo's "bubble gum alley" disgusts and delights visitors - SF Chronicle A really, truly, repulsive tour of Bubblegum Alley - Ira Hirsh SLO Jobs for Cal Poly Grads?Wednesday, December 01, 2004Job Prospects Looking Up for Cal Poly GradsSAN LUIS OBISPO - As Cal Poly's mid-year commencement draws near, the approximately 900 students expecting to graduate have reason to be optimistic: job prospects are up. "The university's Career Services has experienced a marked increase in employer activity this year, and employers have become more proactive in recruiting new graduates," said Martin Shibata, interim director of career services and testing services. At the recent Fall Job Fair, record numbers of employers and students turned out. "More than 90 employers participated, representing a broad spectrum of employment needs," Shibata said. "In addition, more than 1,600 students were in attendance. We expect an even larger turnout at our Winter Job Fair in February." The university's on-campus recruiting program has also experienced an increase, with large numbers of employers interviewing students and posting jobs on a regular basis. "Employer information sessions are up. Career counseling appointments are up. All these factors point to a stronger and more-active job market," Shibata said. "The last two years, the job market has been stable, reflecting some growth. This year, the outlook is even more positive in all sectors. We expect this trend to continue this year, providing our Cal Poly students with opportunities for Co-ops (Cooperative Education), internships, summer and career jobs." For more information, contact Shibata at (805) 756-5726 or mshibata@calpoly.edu. Job Prospects Looking Up for Cal Poly Grads Read More
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