ccf jan 16

January 2016

Central Coast FamilyFree!

Inside

Child Development ......... 2

Library Voice ....................... 4

Wellness .................................. 6

Fun & Games ........................ 8

Money ........................................ 10

Local History ....................... 12

Wordmonger ....................... 14

Calendar .................................. 17

Family Events ..................... 18

Local Resources ............... 20

Alt Education ....................... 22

Parent-Child Play / Animals Alive! / Fertility & Vitamin D / SLO Ghost Buildings

Central Coast FamilyTM

(805) 528-0440PO Box 6424, Los Osos, CA 93412

Our goal is to connect Central Coast families with the resources they need to thrive!

Central Coast Family™ is published monthly with a readership over 40,000. Find FREE copies throughout San Luis Obispo County and North Santa Barbara County.

Visit our website: www.centralcoastfamily.comSubmission deadline: 15th of each month prior to publication

Information contained in advertisements and other submissions is accepted in good faith. Publication does not imply endorsement by Central Coast Family. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect views of the publisher. We reserve the right to reject or edit all submissions for any reason.

Material published herein may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission. © Vogel 2008

Every issue is printed with soy ink on 100% recycled paper. Please recycle again!

AssoCiAtE EDitoRClaire Vogel

[email protected]

EDitoRPatrice Vogel

[email protected]

AssistANt EDitoRJack Vogel

[email protected]

ADVERtisiNG Inquiries:

[email protected]

DistRiBUtioN MANAGEREric Woodards

CoNtRiBUtiNG WRitERsKristen Barnhart, John J. Cannell, Guy Crabb, Kerrin Edmonds,

Renee Mosier, Molly Peoples, CS Perryess, Steven Smith

GRAPHiC DEsiGNOut of the Blue

CC F

Child Development

Central Coast Family • January 2016 • www.centralcoastfamily.com •

Cover Photo:In Memoriam

George William “Bill” Hocker 10/3/1935 - 12/5/2015

Did you receive affection, play freely, and feel supported during your own childhood? Childhood experiences like these appear to have a lot to do with well-being and moral capacities in adulthood.

In a forthcoming article in the journal of Applied Developmental Science, University of Notre Dame professor of psychology Darcia Narvaez and colleagues Lijuan Wang and Ying Cheng,

associate professors of psychology, show evidence that childhood experiences that match with evolved needs lead to better outcomes in adulthood.

According to Narvaez, one of the reasons that the well-being of children in the United States lags behind that of children in other advanced nations is because “we have forgotten that we are social mammals with specific evolved needs from birth.”

“Humans evolved with a nest of care for their young that matches up with the maturational schedule of the child. It was shaped over 30 million years ago and modified through human evolution,” Narvaez said. “We call it the evolved developmental niche.” In describing this niche, Narvaez emphasizes six components: Soothing, naturalistic perinatal experiences; responsiveness to a baby’s needs including sensitivity to the signals of the baby before the baby cries; constant physical presence with plenty of affectionate touch; extensive breastfeeding; playful interactions with caregivers and friends; and a community of affectionate, mindful

caregivers.

Narvaez, Wang and Cheng asked adults to reflect on their childhoods according to several components of the evolved developmental niche (EDN): How much did they receive physical affection? Play freely outside and inside? Do things as a family inside and outside the home? Feel supported?

Adults who report receiving more of such parenting practices in their childhoods display less depression and anxiety, greater ability to take the perspective of others and an orientation toward compassion.

Playful Parenting


Child Development

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Adults who report less of these parenting practices in their childhood have poorer mental health, more distress in social situations and are less able to take another’s point of view.

“Our research shows that when we don’t provide children with what they evolved to need, they turn into adults with decreased social and moral capacities,” Narvaez said. “With toxic stress in childhood, the good stuff doesn’t get a chance to grow and you become stress reactive. It’s hard to be compassionate when you are focused on yourself. We can see adults all around us who were traumatized or

undercared for during critical times.”

In prior research, Narvaez and her colleagues found that children who had experienced more of the “evolved developmental niche” exhibit, for example, more empathy, self-control and conscience.

Narvaez, who joined Notre Dame’s faculty in 2000, conducts her research on moral cognition, moral development, and moral character. She writes more about the needs of children and adult morality in the book, “Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality: Evolution, Culture and Wisdom,” winner of the

2015 William James Book Award from the American Psychological Association.

Reprinted with permission. University of Notre Dame. “Parent touch, play and support in childhood vital to well-being as an adult.” ScienceDaily, 21 December

2015.

Could you use a little help to come up with games and activities to share with your child? Here are some useful

online resources for parent and child play ideas:

w w w. p a r e n t s . c o m / f u n /activities

www.ahaparent ing.com/parenting-tools/connection/p l a y - c h i l d - e m o t i o n a l -intelligence

w w w. p b s . o r g / p a r e n t s /creativity

The Village Salon

115 East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande

Call or stop by for an appointment for yournew cut or color: (805) 489-5100

from Toni & Toni


Nanu Nanu

Library Voice

by Kristen Barnhart

For Wildlife in DistressCall Our HOtline:

805 543-WilD [9453]

Welcome to a wild winter and hopping spring full of fun family programming at San Luis Obispo City Library, brought to you by another amazing grant from the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust. Summer Reading Programs have become epic here in SLO and we want to keep that high quality momentum up throughout the year. This grant allows us to present a plethora of live free programs and to partner with Central Coast Aquarium, Woods Humane Society, Pacific Wildlife Care, and Charles Paddock Zoo.

Starting on December 28th and running through March 31st, children can sign-up at the SLO Library Children’s desk for their reading log. In the log, participants can list ten nature/science related books they read or have read to them. By completing their log and attending at least one program, children will be rewarded with the gift of giving as a donation of $5.00 will be given to one of the above organizations, helping to keep Harold Miossi’s dream of a nature loving SLO County alive. Imagine how empowering it will be for children to know that they have made a difference! Harold Miossi was born at the family–owned La Cuesta Ranch in Cuesta Canyon in 1922. His love for the majesty of nature

in our county is still felt by all of us who live here now. His four grandparents were part of the Swiss-Italian emigrants who arrived between 1864 and 1870. They built the dairy industry here. Harold’s parents were both born in San Luis Obispo County; his father Bernard Miossi was born on a ranch near Pismo Beach, and his mother Vera Gnesa Miossi was born on a ranch in Green Valley between Cambria and Harmony. Harold attended San Luis Obispo schools through his AA at San Luis Obispo Jr. College, which shared a campus with the high school before becoming Cuesta College. With academic honors, he received his BS from Cal Berkeley in 1943 and then returned home to run the family cattle ranch. Miossi was an active community leader and a firm believer that individuals shape the world in which they live. He worked hard to create and save some of our most beloved open spaces, such as Montana de Oro, and the Cuesta Grade, which was set to be clear cut so the road could be widened to eight lanes. Miossi called the Cal-Trans plan “burying of Cuesta Canyon alive” and went from being a lone voice to having the ear of the San Francisco Chronicle and the L.A. Times, which took it statewide to victory.

Miossi was active in the Sierra Club and led the force to pass a bill protecting the Santa Lucia Wilderness all the way up to President Jimmy Carter, who signed the bill in 1978. One of my concerns about moving to the Central Coast in 1978 was PG&E’s Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. Mr. Miossi was active in his opposition to that too. He not only questioned the safety of the nuclear process, but also the impact of all those power lines winding their way through the delicate ecosystems that make up our County’s unique beauty. This winter, that beauty will be celebrated with six “Animals

Alive” programs in the SLO Library Community Room. On Saturday, January 16th at 10:30 am, nationally renowned Zoo to You will present a show about Unhuggables Slimy, Pokey, and Scaly, animals that are misunderstood members of the animal kingdom. If you haven’t experienced one of this rescue and educational organization’s shows in person, you and your entire family are in for a treat. If you miss this show, don’t panic. They will be back on Saturday, February 13th at 10:30 am with Amazing Adaptations, a how highlighting prehensile tails to camouflage, adaptations essential for animals and humans to survive. Zoo to You will return a third time on March 12th at 10:30 am with Wild American, a show introducing animals found throughout the USA from sea to shining sea. On Saturday, January 30th at 10:30 am, Central Coast Aquarium will transform the Community Room into a tide-pool! Come on in to experience Touch Tanks with sharks, flat fish, octopus, and more and learn about our treasured local ecosystem. On Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 am, we will be presenting a Reptile Show with wildlife expert and photographer Dennis Sheridan, who will bring a large selection of reptiles to touch. Reptiles not your thing? Come back on March 26th at 10:30 am, when Dennis will bring a wide variety of live insects to view and touch. All of these programs not only delight, educate and entertain, they aim to save a nature-defined SLO County for future generations. We feel proud to be working with our community in such an

innovative and inclusive program. Everything that libraries are fits into this model of sharing time, talents, information, and resources in ways that create a future and memories for our community. Although all the programs are held at the San Luis Obispo City Branch, families from the whole county are welcome to sign up and participate. And, of course, they are all offered for free. I wish I could sit down and listen to Mr. Miossi’s stories about his vision for our beautiful county, the people he met, the fights he chose, and the memories he cherished. Being part of this grant given in his name at least lets us know we’re carrying his spirit forward through the 21st century. We are grateful and honored to be a small part of his enduring legacy. Be sure to visit our calendar at www.slolibrary.org, “like’ us on facebook: SLOCountyLibrary or call us at (805) 781-5775 for more information. We can’t wait to share our version of a winter wonderland and a sweet spring with “Animals Alive @ the SLO Library”!

Kristen Barnhart has been telling stories, recommending books, and stamping little hands for over 30 years throughout SLO County. She is currently a Youth Services Librarian at the San Luis Obispo Library. Kristen can be reached at (805) 781-5775 or [email protected].

“Libraries will get you through times with no money, better than money will get you

through times with no Libraries!”

Animals Alive!


Nanu Nanu

OUR NEW ExpaNdEd LOcatiON iS OpEN!Pacific Coast Center, 81 Higuera St, Suites 160 & 180

(at Madonna Rd) in San Luis Obispo

24/7 Access for Members ~ Limited Hours Access for SLO Library Cardholders

Visit SLOMakerSpace.com for Calendar, Membership and other Information


Wellness

Does low vitamin D status contribute to reduced male fertility? A recent study published by the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology found that vitamin D status is linked with male reproductive success in couples attempting pregnancy.

Human infertility occurs when a couple is unable to achieve a pregnancy after twelve months of carefully prepared unprotected sexual intercourse. Up to 15%

of the population is infertile, affecting both men and women equally.

Few people know that vitamin D is actually not a vitamin. It can not be obtained by diet; it is a pre-hormone made via sunlight. Our bodies turn it into a powerful steroid hormone with profound effects on genetic function.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with several reproductive

disorders, including miscarriage, preterm birth, and hypogonadism. In fact, research has discovered that vitamin D may play a regulatory role in reproductive physiology. Since vitamin D receptors and enzymes are expressed in the ovaries, placenta, testis, and male reproductive tract, researchers hypothesized that vitamin D may act locally to mediate the effects on the reproductive system. In animal models, vitamin D deficiency in males has been found to result in low sperm count, impaired sperm motility and decreased pregnancy rates.

Despite the prevalence of male infertility, as well as the established link between vitamin D status and male fertility in animal models, there is a lack of research regarding vitamin D in male partners of couples attempting pregnancy. Therefore, researchers recently conducted a pilot study to evaluate whether vitamin D deficiency in males may reduce the rate of conception in couples attempting pregnancy.

A total of 102 couples enrolled in the study. The couples were separated into two groups, depending on the vitamin D status of the male partners. Group 1 was considered vitamin D sufficient (≥30 ng/ml) and group 2 had low vitamin D levels (<30ng/ml). All males in the study had their semen analyzed based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) reference criteria. The female partners in groups 1 and 2 received 3 consecutive cycles of gonadotropin-induced mono-ovulation, a common procedure used to increase conception rate.

After observing the patients for three months, the researchers found that the pregnancy rates were significantly elevated in couples with normal vitamin D levels (p< 0.05). However, the semen analysis concluded that the sperm concentration, motility and form remained similar in both groups, regardless of the

vitamin D status.

The researchers concluded that, “Taken together, the results from our pilot study suggest the existence of a direct relationship between male vitamin D serum levels and semen ability to begin a pregnancy during cycles of timed vaginal intercourse.”

The authors theorized that the lack of significant findings regarding the difference in semen quality among the two groups is simply due to the limitations of routine semen analysis, such as not accounting for immature chromatin, fragmented DNA and sexual activity.

Although the study researchers successfully confirmed their hypothesis, there are a couple of limitations to note. First, the observational study design only proves association, not causality. Also, the small sample size decreases the strength of their findings. Future large scale clinical trials are needed to determine if vitamin D supplementation may improve the rate of successful pregnancy in couples undergoing mono ovulation therapy.

Study researchers recommend that males and females who are attempting to concieve supplement with a safe dose of 5,000 IU/day of vitamin D3. What have you got to lose?

Sturges, M. & Cannell, JJ. Does low vitamin D status reduce male fertility? The Vitamin D Council Blog & Newsletter, December 8, 2015.

Tartagni, M. et al. Males with low serum levels of vitamin D have lower pregnancy rates when ovulation induction and timed intercourse are used as a treatment for infertile couples: results from a pilot study. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 2015.

John Cannell, MD has over 35 years of clinical experience, and has written and spoken widely on integrative medicine topics. He is the founder and executive director of the non-profit Vitamin D Council. You can reach Dr. Cannell at (805) 439-2569 or [email protected].

Vitamin D and Fertility

by John J. Cannell, MD


[email protected]

(805) 242 6789

Los Osos Valley Organic Farm

Gift Subscriptions Available!


Fun & Games

SUDOKU

sudoku begins with some of the grid cells filled with numbers. The object is to fill the other empty cells with numbers between 1 and 9 (1 number only in each cell). A number should appear only once in each row, column, and region.

What goes TICK, TICK. WOOF, WOOF? A watchdog!

Why did the golfer wear 2 pairs of pants? In case he got a “hole-in-one!”

Why do male deer need braces? They have “buck teeth!”

Jack’s Jokes

Winter Word Search

Help the New Year NumeralsFind Each Other


GYMNASTICS

preschool gymnastics

ROLLIE POLLIES: Birth-Crawling

INCHWORMS: Crawling-Walking

HONEY BEEBoys & Girls (Walking – age 3 yrs)

Parent & Tot

Boys & Girls (5 yrs & up) Beginning, Intermediate & Advanced

Learn basic - advance tumbling and trampoline skills on the floor, two in-ground trampolines, and Tumble-Trak for gymnastics, cheer or other sports that require air sense, body awareness, flexibility, and strength.

Our coaches are USAG safety certified, USAG Professional & Instructor members, SLO County fingerprinted and/or background checked with NCSI & USAG, and CPR and First Aid certified.

Enhance your child’s physical and cognitive development and build strength. Enjoy parent / child bonding and a healthy and active lifestyle!

TUMBLING & TRAMPOLINE

BUSY BEEBoys & Girls (ages 3 – 4 yrs)

BEETLEBoys & Girls (ages 4 – 5 yrs)

FAMILY FUN PLAYBoys & Girls (2 – 12 yrs All Levels)

Parents too!


of financial advisors who claim they can consistently achieve high returns for you – there are very few guarantees in the investment world.

… Explain how he or she will be compensated? Financial advisors get paid in various ways, often in some combination of fees and commissions. Ask all potential financial advisors how they get compensated; any reputable professional will be upfront about his or her charges.

By finding the answers to these key questions, you should be able to find a financial advisor who is well-suited to work with you. So take the time you need to gather enough information to feel confident in your choice. After all, you’re enlisting the help of someone who can have a big impact on your financial future.

Money

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your estate planning attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Molly Peoples is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in San Luis Obispo. She can be reached at (805) 784-9013. © 2014 Edward Jones. All rights reserved. Member SIPC.

There’s a lot to know about investing, so it’s a good idea to get some professional help. But with so many financial advisors out there, how can you choose one that’s right for you?

You may have to interview several prospective financial advisors before deciding on one. When you talk to them, see if you can get a sense of how they might work with you. Specifically, try to answer the following questions:

Does this financial advisor …

… Understand you? Perhaps above all else, you want a financial advisor who will take the time to get to know you and your family, your goals and what’s important to you.

… Clearly explain investing? Once you enter the investment world, you will likely be curious about it. Why is diversification important?

What’s a market correction? How do interest rate movements affect different investments? You will want to work with someone who will make the effort to educate you on any relevant investment topics and answer all of your questions.

… Know your investment style? Obviously, you’ll want someone who will recommend only those investments that are in your best interest and that can help you make progress toward your goals. Therefore, the person you choose needs to understand your investment personality – that is, whether you are an aggressive, moderate or conservative investor.

… Have a certain investment philosophy? You may have your own investment style and preferences, and so do many financial advisors. In fact,

some financial advisors have an overriding investment philosophy that governs many of their recommendations. You need to find this out before you start working with someone.

… Communicate frequently? The most knowledgeable financial advisor in the world won’t be of much help to you if he or she is not a good communicator. You need someone who will regularly let you know if you’re on track or make suggestions if you’re not – even if you aren’t scheduled to meet for a while. And, speaking of conferring with your financial advisor, you’ll want someone who will meet with you when it’s convenient for you, whether it’s in person or over the phone.

… Avoid making big promises? You want a financial advisor with the expertise and experience necessary to help you make the right moves. And you’ll want someone committed to your success. But there’s a big difference between someone who promises to do the best possible job for you and someone who promises big results. Be wary

Californians Don’t Waste

What to Look For

in a

Financial Advisorby Molly Peoples


Local History Monterey Street is getting a makeover. Buildings are being renovated and the parking lots are being dug up.

Buy your copy of Monterey/Marsh Sts 100 Year Book. Remember the past, as the future is right around the corner.

Enjoy Your Memories! Get an autographed copy at:

www.slo100years.com Also available at Barnes and Noble, Crushed Grape, Antiques of Monterey, History Center, Apple Farm, and Boo Boo Records. GUY CRABB PUBLISHING

Guy Crabb teaches at Charles E. Teach Elementary School in San Luis Obispo. He graduated from Cal Poly SLO and has been teaching for 30 years. Guy was a Teacher of the Year in 2006 and currently teaches at a National Blue Ribbon School. Reach him at [email protected].

I have written about several of the buildings in downtown San Luis Obispo that have a name or, in some cases, two names. I was regretting not writing about several other famous buildings along Higuera Street (such as the Dove Building or the Maino Building) or other old buildings on Monterey Street (such as the Sinsheimer). Then I began to think about all of the great buildings that are no longer around because of demolition. I think of these as “ghost” buildings. Many grand buildings once graced downtown with that impressive look of fine craftsmanship. Of course over time, all buildings start to deteriorate and decay, especially if they are made of wood. Even a solid brick wall is not necessarily a guarantee for long life.

One of my favorite “ghost” buildings was the old City Hall

located on Higuera Street near the corner of Chorro. To be more specific, if you were to walk down Higuera Street and stop in front of Charles Shoes, you would be standing where it once stood. The old City Hall was a multi-level building that even housed a really cool bell that was rung when there was a fire in town. The City Hall was built in 1879 at a cost of approximately $7,500. I have always wished this building had been restored, but during the 1950s it was easier to tear down a building rather than spend the money to restore it.

The old City Hall was a large brick and stone building with three large arched entrances where the city fire wagons were housed. The horses were kept in the rear of the building. In case of a fire, the horses were hitched up to the fire wagons to gallop off to the scene.

Above the fire department, the building included the offices of City Hall. The second floor had three very large windows that offered office workers a panoramic view of daily life on Higuera Street. By 1945, the bell tower started to become a danger, especially for kids in town who would climb up the tower as a fun activity. The city decided that the bell tower needed to come down, and just eight years later the entire building was demolished.

My next favorite ghost building was a theater. If you walk up or down Monterey Street and stop in front of the Italian restaurant named Giuseppe’s, you would be standing at the site of one of the best walk-in theaters in town, the Obispo Theater. This building had an incredible-looking marquee that was similar to the Fremont marquee in its later years. In addition, the building had a huge neon sign that said “Obispo,” similar to the Wineman Hotel sign on Higuera. It also had a huge arch on the front of the building and elaborate architectural detail at the top. The Obispo burned down on December 28, 1975. The last show to play at the theater was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was rereleased that year. I bet many of you who grew up in San Luis Obispo remember going to the Obispo and watching the latest movie on the big screen. Now let’s stroll on over to Higuera Street, walk down and stop on the corner of Higuera and Garden Streets, where Marshall’s Jewelry store now stands. At this location stood a two-story stone ghost building. Built in the 1880s, it was a very modern building for the time. The huge windows that lined the

second floor and ornate stonework at the top were classic in that era. This building was originally a dry goods store. In its later years, Mr. Riley bought the building and opened the original location of Riley’s Department Store (once the premier store in downtown). This once beautiful building began to fall into disrepair and was finally demolished in the 1950s.

Before I write about my last ghost building, I must mention that the two parking lots you exit from on Monterey Street across from the Ross Dress For Less were once occupied by two large two-story buildings. I have several pictures of Monterey Street with the entire block filled with buildings. They look odd to me because I never saw these buildings.

The last ghost building I want to include is the long-forgotten Andrews Hotel. This beautiful four-story hotel was a favorite for traveling tourists. If you stand on the corner of Osos and Palm Streets where the city library is today, you would be in front of the old hotel. Not only was it one of the area’s best hotels, but it was also the location of one of the most grisly murders in town. A complete story is in my book The Cross Streets. I can tell you that it was a case requiring the assistance of the FBI, which was not common for a small town such as San Luis Obispo in the 1940s. Isn’t it fun learning about “ghost” buildings that were a part of our past?

by Guy Crabb

Ghost Buildings ofSan Luis Obispo


Make a Difference!(805) 781-3226

www.slobigs.org


Education

CS Perryess writes for teens, narrates audio books, and ponders the wonder of words in a foggy little town on California’s central coast. Find more at http://csperryess.blogspot.com, or reach him at [email protected].

CS Perryess writes about words

No

This month’s article celebrates a word that all two-year-olds appreciate. Additionally, the good folks who wrote the OED appreciated it enough to give it a nearly two-page entry. No came to English as early as the 1200s through Old English from the Proto-Indo European word ne, meaning no, not, never. And ne is the grandmother of oh-so-many modern words:

Never, which started out as næfre, meaning not ever, came to the language even before no, appearing in the first Anglo Saxon tale to be written down in that barbaric tongue they called Anglish in the epic poem Beowulf, sometime before 1000.

Nothing, which came to English as an adverb in 1200, added noun to its quiver in 1600, and added adjective in 1961.

The word not came from its earlier form, naught, arriving in English in the 1200s. Interestingly, naught came from an even earlier term no whit, meaning no thing.

The combining form non- showed up in the 1300s, giving us non sequitur, nonviolence, non-fiction, non-conformist, nonfat milk, and any number of other non-s.

Null, which came through Latin and Middle French, arriving in English in the 1560s and mostly meaning nothing, zero, void, is assigned eight different meanings in the OED – a delicious bit of irony.

Nil came through Latin and

arrived in English in 1833,

Naughty showed up in the 1300s, meaning having nothing. By the 1520s, naughty had picked up its second meaning, wicked, evil, or morally wrong. By the 1630s, its third meaning applied to misbehaving children, and by 1869 its fourth meaning, sexually promiscuous, jumped on board. It occurs to me that the etymology of naughty provides a fascinating sociological study.

LiEs

The word lie, meaning to speak falsely or tell an untruth, has been part of the English language since the 1100s. Its roots are buried deep in Germanic languages. Lie’s linguistic cousins show up in Norse (ljuga), Danish, (lyve), Gothic, (liugan), Frisian, (liaga), and German (lugen).

It shouldn’t surprise us that we have an impressive number of synonyms, near-synonyms, and idioms available to substitute for that terribly direct and offensive three-letter word, lie.

Instead of lying, businesslike folk might reframe, mislead, evade, misspeak, or misstate, while artsy types might buff, burnish, embroider, or fictionalize. We can also whitewash, inflate, spin, dissemble, or stonewall, and those of us who lie regularly can lay claim to any number of afflictions: necessary disingenuity, factual flexibility, serial exaggeration, or the ever-popular; fictitious disorder syndrome.

Ah, but all lies are not equal. For instance, to lie is to make a

deliberately false statement, to prevaricate is to quibble or confuse in order to avoid the truth, to fabricate is to invent a false story, to equivocate is to deliberately use ambiguity to mislead, and to fib is to tell a falsehood about something unimportant.

tHE FALL oF LAtiN

The Latin word meaning to fall is cadere. Its sister word (a combining form with the same meaning), is cidere. Before reading on, sort through your brain’s language center for English words that might have grown out of cadere or cidere.

Cascade, meaning waterfall, came to English in 1640 through Italian and French.

Cadence, meaning a flow of rhythm in music or verse, appeared in the 1300s through Middle French.

Decay showed up in the late 1400s through several varieties of French from the Latin decadere, to fall off.

Decadence arrived in the 1540s, meaning behavior that shows low morals.

Deciduous, meaning that which falls off, came to English in the 1680s straight from Latin. Originally, the falling items included petals, leaves and teeth. It wasn’t until 1778 that deciduous came to refer to trees that drop their leaves seasonally (as opposed to evergreens that retain leaves through the year).

In 1705, the word coincide came to English straight from Latin, meaning to be identical in substance or nature, to fall together, or to agree.

In the late 1300s, accident was born, meaning an occurrence, incident, or event. Over the centuries, that simple event definition morphed to mean a chance event, and then a mishap.

And we’ll finish off with a real killer, the English noun marker –cide, also from cadere/cidere, an important element in pesticide, homicide, genocide, suicide, and many other English words, all suggesting some sort of fall.

Many thanks to my sources: Ralph Keyes’ Euphemania, the 1959 Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language, Wordnik, Etymonline, Merriam Webster, Word Detective, and the OED.


NOW OPEN FOR LuNch!


SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY27FARMERS MARKET:11:30-2:30pm Nipomo: Monarch Club3:00-6:00pm Grover Bch Ramona Pk

28FARMERS MARKET:2-4:30pm Los Osos: 2nd & Santa Maria

29FARMERS MARKET:3:00-6:00 pm in Paso Robles City ParkLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:10 SLODOC BURNSTEIN’S READING LAB 3:30-4:15pm AG

30FARMERS MARKETS:8:30-11am AG Spencers Market12:30-4:30pm Santa Maria Town Ctr3:00-6:00pm AT Sunken Gardens3:00-6:00pm Pismo Beach PierLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 AT, 10:30 AG, 11:00 NI

31FARMERS MARKETS:3:00-6:00pm Old Porte Fisheries AG 2:30-5:00pm Spencers Morro Bay 6:00-9:00pm Downtown SLO LIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:00 MB, 10:10 SLO, 10:15 CAM,10:30 AT, 10:30 AG,10:30 LO, 11:00 CAY, 11:30 SMG

1BINGO VETS HALL MB - 1st FRI 5:00pmFARMERS MARKETS:9:00am-12:30pm Paso Robles Wal Mart 2:30-5:30pm Cambria Main St Vets HallLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 LO

NEW YEAR’S DAY

2FARMERS MARKETS:8:00-10:30am SLO Promenade9:00am-12:30pm Templeton City Park9:00am-1:00pm Paso Downtown Park12:00-2:30pm AG Village Gazebo2:30-6:00pm Morro Bay 800 Main StLIBRARY STORYTIME: 11:00 AG SLO CO GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 1st SAT 12:30am IOOF Hall SLO

DRINkING STRAW PATENTED (in 1888)

3FARMERS MARKET:11:30-2:30pm Nipomo: Monarch Club3:00-6:00pm Grover Bch Ramona Pk

FESTIvAL OF SLEEP DAY

J.R.R. TOLkIEN’S BIRTHDAY (Born in

1892)


ISAAC NEWTON’S BIRTHDAY (Born in 1643)

JAkOB GRIMM’S BIRTHDAY (Born in 1785)

LOUIS BRAILLE’S BIRTHDAY (Born in 1809)


1ST WOMAN GOvERNOR NELLIE ROSS

INAUGURATED IN WYOMING (in 1925)

NATIONALBIRD DAY


SHERLOCk HOLMES’ BIRTHDAY (Published 1887)

BEAN DAYCUDDLE UP DAY


OLD ROCk DAY

8FARMERS MARKETS:9:00am-12:30pm Paso Robles Wal Mart 2:30-5:30pm Cambria Main St Vets HallLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 LO

BUBBLE BATH DAY

ELvIS PRESLEY’S BIRTHDAY (Born in 1935)

9FARMERS MARKETS:8:00-10:30am SLO Promenade9:00am-12:30pm Templeton City Park9:00am-1:00pm Paso Downtown Park12:00-2:30pm AG Village Gazebo2:30-6:00pm Morro Bay 800 Main StLIBRARY STORYTIME: 11:00 AG

NATIONAL APRICOT DAY

NATIONAL STATIC ELECTRICITY DAY



MILk DAY(1st bottles delivered in 1878)

SECRET PAL DAY

12FARERS MARKET:3:00-6:00 pm in Paso Robles City ParkLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:10 SLODOC BURNSTEIN’S READING LAB 3:30-4:15pm AG

NATIONAL PHARMACIST

DAY

WORk HARDER DAY


MAkE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE DAY



1ST SUPER BOWL(In 1967)


NATIONAL NOTHING DAY


BENJAMIN FRANkLIN’S BIRTHDAY(Born in 1706)


DR MARTIN LUTHER kING JR DAY (Born in 1929)


NATIONAL POPCORN DAY


CHEESE DAY

INAUGURATION DAY

PENGUIN AWARENESS DAY




NATIONAL HANDWRITING DAY

MEASURE YOUR FEET DAY


COMPLIMENT DAY


JACkIE ROBINSON’S BIRTHDAY (Born in 1919)



AUSTRALIA DAY(Sydney settled in 1778)

27FARMERS MARKETS:8:30-11am AG Spencers Market12:30-4:30pm Santa Maria Town Ctr3:00-6:00pm AT Sunken Gardens3:00-6:00pm Pismo Beach Pier\LIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 AT, 10:30 AG, 11:00 NI

LEWIS CARROLL’S BIRTHDAY(Born in 1832)


NATIONAL kAzOO DAY

29FARMERS MARKETS:9:00am-12:30pm Paso Robles Wal Mart2:30-5:30pm Cambria Main St Vets HallLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 LO

NATIONAL PUzzLE DAY


FRANkLIN D. ROOSEvELT’SBIRTHDAY (Born in 1882)

NEW MooN

FULL MooN

January 2016 Free Ongoing Events

January is:Eye Care Month

National Blood Donor MonthNational Braille Literacy Month

National Hobby MonthNational Staying Healthy Month

National Thank You MonthHot Tea MonthOatmeal Month

Birthstone: Garnet

Flower: Carnation


Family EventsTHU NOV 19-THU DEC 31 (days & times vary): HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA at The Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St, Oceano. Scrooge finds his Christmas spirit in this magical holiday musical. The Vaudeville Revue follows each show with song, dance, and comedy. Cost: $19-25, discounts for groups, seniors, students, military, and children. The in-house snack bar serves great food and drinks. Contact: americanmelodrama.com or 489-2499.

FRI NOV 27-THU DEC 31 (times vary): ARTFUL HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW at Gallery at the Network, 778 Higuera St, SLO. A variety of handcrafted works from Central Coast artists available for purchase. Cost: free. Contact: 788-0886.

FRI NOV 27-THU DEC 31 (times vary): SLOMA CRAFT ART MARKET at San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St, SLO. Shop for gifts of handmade art and crafts. The Nybak Wing transforms into a high-end art gallery boutique of treasures created by local artisans. Contact: 543-8562 or sloma.org.

FRI NOV 27-THU DEC 31 (times vary): HAVE A HART at Pewter Plough Playhouse, 824 Main St, Cambria. Enjoy this delightful family holiday musical. Cost: $17-22. Contact: 927-3877 or

pewterploughplayhouse.org.

FRI DEC 18-JAN 3 9:00 am-10:00 pm: WINTER WONDER SLO ICE RINK at Madonna Expo Ctr, 100 Madonna Rd, San Luis Obispo. Tickets online or at rink. Cost: $9-13. Contact: winterwonderslo.com.

SAT DEC 19-SAT JAN 2 (times vary): HOLIDAYS AT MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY at 20 State Park Road, Morro Bay. Family-oriented activities every day. Most are in the Museum auditorium, some are just outside. The majority are at 2:00 pm. Suitable for ages 3 and up. Cost: adults $3, children under 17 are free. Contact: 772-2694.

SAT DEC 19-SAT JAN 2 (times vary): HOLIDAY TWILIGHT TOURS at Hearst Castle, 750 Hearst Castle Road, San Simeon. Experience Hearst Castle dressed in holiday splendor with special tours that take visitors through the castle property glittering with holiday cheer. Cost: $15-30. Contact: hearstcastle.org.

THU DEC 31 10:00 am-3:00 pm: NOON YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION at SLO Children’s Museum, 1010 Nipomo St, SLO. Ring in the New Year well before bedtime at our 8th annual Noon Year’s Eve Celebration. Make crowns and enjoy noisemakers and an apple juice toast with cookies. You won’t want to miss the big countdown and balloon drop at noon sharp! Cost: free with admission. Reservations are recommended. Contact: 545-5875.

WED DEC 31 at 11:00 am: NOON YEAR PARTY at Elwin Mussell Senior Ctr, 510 E Park Ave, Santa Maria. Celebrate the New Year with locals age 50 and older. Cost: free. Contact: 925-0951 or cityofsantamaria.org.

THU DEC 31 5:00 pm-Midnight: NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION at Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd, SLO. Enjoy dancing, live music, a prix fixe menu, champagne, party favors, and a midnight balloon drop. Cost: $75-125. Children 2 and

under free. Contact: 543-3000 or madonnainn.com.

THU DEC 31 at 7:30 pm: NEW YEAR’S EVE POPS at PAC Cal Poly, 1 Grand Ave, SLO. Enjoy the San Luis Obispo Symphony with conductor Lawrence Loh, guest ensemble Café Musique, and emcee Dan Shadwell. Cost: $20-80. Contact: 756-4849 or tickets.calpoly.edu.

THU DEC 31 at 7:30 pm: THE MET LIVE IN HD: LES PECHEURS DE PERLES (Bizet) at Cohan Ctr, Cal Poly PAC, 1 Grand Ave, SLO. Bizet’s opera set in the Far East returns to the MET for the first time in 100 years. Cost: $12-22. Contact: 756-6556 or calpolyarts.org.

FRI JAN 1 at 9:30 am: 36th Annual Carlinn Soule Memorial POLAR BEAR DIP at Cayucos Pier, Cayucos. Celebrate the new year by taking a dip in the Pacific Ocean with hundreds of others! Festivities start at 9:30 and the ocean dip at 12:00. Cost: free. Contact: visitcayucosca.com.FRI JAN 1 11:45 am: 4th Annual POLAR BEAR PLUNGE at Avila Pier, Avila Beach. Meet on the East side of the pier for plunge or watch from the pier. Costumes are welcomed. Cost: free. Contact: avilabeachpolarbearplunge.com.

SAT JAN 2 at 2:00 pm: FAMILY MOVIE at Los Osos Library, 2075 Palisades. We supply the popcorn and movie the 1st SAT of every month. This (PG) movie may cause toe-tapping! Call for movie title. Cost: free. Contact: 528-1862.

MON JAN 4-THU FEB 4 5:00-10:00 pm: RESTAURANT MONTH at

Alex Madonna’s Gold Rush Steak House, 100 Madonna Rd, SLO. Enjoy a 3 course meal. Your meal includes an appetizer or soup or salad, choice of barbecued beef ribs, top sirloin, or broiled salmon, followed by a slice of Black Forest or Pink Champagne cake. Cost: $30. Contact: 543-3000 or madonnainn.com.

FRI JAN 8 at 5:00 & 7:00 pm: JULEFEST CHRISTMAS TREE BURN at Solvang Festival Theater, 420 Second St, Solvang. Bring the tree and the whole family to this popular annual celebration. Cost: free. Contact: 709-2221 or julefestsolvang.com.

SAT JAN 9 1:00-2:00 pm: MAYA FOREST GARDEN at SLO Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd, San Luis Obispo. Discover the hidden secrets of the tropic rainforest with a real-life Indiana Jones! Archaeologist Dr. Anabel Ford will share exciting clues about ancient farming practices. Followed at 2:00 pm by a docent-led garden tour. Cost: $5 members, $10 public. Contact: slobg.org/maya.

SAT JAN 9 at 8:00 pm: MARK TWAIN TONIGHT at Cal Poly PAC, 1 Grand Ave, SLO. Hal Holbrook, who has been playing Twain for more than 60 years, will present this amazing one-man show. Cost: 36.80-66. Contact: 756-6556 or calpolyarts.org.

SAT JAN 9-SUN JAN 10 (times vary): SLO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL at Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St, SLO. Join the JCC-Federation of SLO for a weekend of film, filmmakers, and fun celebrating diversity and Jewish culture. Sponsorships

PETS OF THE MONTHAvailable for Immediate Adoption!

875 Oklahoma AveSan Luis Obispo(805) 543-9316

MAX8 year old Male Miniature

Poodle Mix

Neutered, Vaccinated, Microchipped & House Trained

Playful, active, walks well Great with older kids & dogs

ERNISTINA2 year old Female Domestic

Shorthair

Microchipped, Vaccinated, Spayed & Litter Box TrainedGentle, Quiet & AffectionateSlight blemish on right ear


Family Events

available through the end of the year, until ticket sales start. Cost: $0-175. Contact: 426-5465 or jccslo.com.

SAT JAN 9-SUN JAN 10 (times vary): WOMEN’S TENNIS TOURNAMENT at Templeton Tennis Ranch, 345 Championship Ln. Templeton Tennis Ranch is hosting an inaugural winter women’s doubles tournament. There are three levels of play: A-advanced, B-Intermediate, C-Beginner. All ages. Cost: $30 per team. Contact: 434-9605 or ttrtennis.com.

MON JAN 11 10:00 am-12:00 pm: MOMMIES AND GUPPIES at Central Coast Aquarium, 50 San Juan St, Avila Beach. Visit the aquarium for this first group of the new year! The event includes storytime, sing-alongs, hands-on animal encounters, coloring activities, and of course aquarium exploration! For ages 5 and under. Cost: $5. Contact: 595-7280 or centralcoastaquarium.com.

TUE JAN 12 at 6:30 pm: STAR PARTY at Los Osos Library, 2075 Palisades. Ever wonder what the night sky looks like through a gigantic telescope? Join the Central Coast Astronomical Society and find out! Meet us in the parking lot at the Los Osos Library. Please avoid bringing flashlights and remember to dress warmly. Cost: free. Contact: 528-1862.

THU JAN 14 9:30-11:30 am: CAPSLO ADULT WELLNESS & PREVENTION SCREENING at SLO Senior Ctr, 1445 Santa Rosa St. Free health screening for adults. Services include blood pressure, pulse, weight, finger prick blood test for anemia, blood sugar, and cholesterol. No appointment needed for basic services. Cost: free. Contact: 544-2484 or capslo.org.

FRI JAN 15-SUN JAN 31 (times vary): LITTLE WOMEN at SLO Little Theatre, 888 Morro St, SLO. Under the guidance of their beloved mother, the four young March sisters struggle to keep their family going while Father’s away at war. A warm tale of love, family, and individuality. Cost: $13-20. Contact: 786-2440 or slolittletheatre.org.

SAT JAN 16 9:00 am-3:30 pm: WINTER BIRD FESTIVAL FAMILY DAY at Museum of Natural History, 20 State Park Rd, Morro Bay. This event includes a birding introduction, easy hikes, crafts and activities, a puppet show, and critter crawl in honor of our “Globally Important Bird Area,” home to or visited by more than 200 bird species. Reservations are requested for kayak trips. Cost: $3 per adult entering museum (kayak trips: $10). Contact: 772-7273 or morrobaybirdfestival.org.

SAT JAN 16 at 2:00 pm: FAMILY MOVIE at Los Osos Library, 2075

Palisades. We supply the popcorn and movie every third Saturday of the month. This PG film is an award winning animated feature. Call for title. Cost: free. Contact: 528-1862.

WED JAN 20 at 3:00 pm: KIDS CRAFT at the Los Osos Library, 2075 Palisades. School age children make and take a craft on the third Wednesday of every month. Sponsored by Friends of Los Osos Library. Cost: free. Contact: 528-1862.

SAT JAN 23-SUN JAN 24 (times vary): MEN’S TENNIS TOURNAMENT at Templeton Tennis Ranch, 345 Championship Ln. Templeton Tennis Ranch is hosting the inaugural winter men’s doubles tournament. Levels are A-advanced, B-intermediate, and C-beginner. All ages. Cost: $30 per team. Contact: 434-9605 or ttrtennis.com.

SUN JAN 24 at 3:00pm: CARL SONNY LEYLAND at SLO Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St. Don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy Leyland playing vintage boogie woogie music on SLOMA’s Steinway with infectious spontaneity, providing a musical joyride. Cost: $20. Contact: 543-8562 or sloma.org.

SUN JAN 24 at 3:00 pm: Dr. Seuss’ THE CAT IN THE HAT at Cohan Ctr, Cal Poly PAC, 1 Grand Ave, SLO. The whole family will enjoy this stage adaption of the Dr. Seuss classic. Cost: $12-24. Contact: 756-6556 or calpolyarts.org.

THU JAN 28 at 7:00 pm: THE PEKING ACROBATS at Clark Ctr, 487 Fair Oaks Ave, Arroyo Grande. Enjoy a troupe of China’s most gifted tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, cyclists, and gymnasts. Cost: $36-46. Contact: 489-9444 or clarkcenter.org.

FRI JAN 29 at 8:00 pm: WELLINGTON INTERNATIONAL UKULELE ORCHESTRA at Cohan Ctr, Cal Poly PAC, 1 Grand Ave, SLO. Sharing DNA with Flight of the Conchords and hailing from the home of The Hobbit movies, New Zealand’s ukulele supergroup

is in hot demand for its winning combination of charming humor, disarmingly small instruments, and absolutely sublime musicality. The band’s No. 1 rule is: “If you know the words, sing along. If you don’t know the words, sing along!” Cost: $23-58. Contact: 756-6556 or calpolyarts.org.

SUN JAN 31 at 7:00 pm: MOSCOW FESTIVA BALLET: Chopiniana & Romeo and Juliet at Cohan Ctr, Cal Poly PAC, 1 Grand Ave, SLO. Cost: $24-60. Contact: 756-4849 or tickets.calpoly.edu.

SUN JAN 31 at 7:30 pm: CELTIC NIGHTS: SPIRIT OF FREEDOM at Clark Ctr, 487 Fair Oaks Ave, Arroyo Grande. Featuring vocalists from the Celtic world, with dance and live music. Cost: $36-48. Contact: 489-9444 or clarkcenter.org.

TUE FEB 2 at 7:30 pm: CAMERON CARPENTER FORBES PIPE ORGAN RECITAL at Cohan Ctr, Cal Poly PAC, 1 Grand Ave, SLO. Cameron will perform on the Forbes Pipe Organ and on his own International Touring Organ. Cost: $32-40. Contact: 756-4849 or tickets.calpoly.edu.

Every WED 3:00-4:00 pm: PAWS TO READ at Los Osos Library, 2075 Palisades Ave. Read to Berkeley, a golden retriever, who loves to listen to children read. Cost: free. Contact: 528-1862.

Every THU 6:30-9:30 pm: SLO CHESS CLUB meets at Carl’s Jr on Santa Rosa St, 1 block W of Foothill, across from Cal-Poly. All ages. Cost: free. Contact: 441-7210 or slochess.com.

Every SAT 10:00 am-2:00 pm: SLO CHESS CLUB meets at the big board on the Morro Bay Embarcadero at the west end of Morro Bay Blvd (down the stairs). Cost: free. Contact: 441-7210 or slochess.com.

in San Luis Obispo County for those living with cancer and their families

Wellness and support services provide a bridge between standard medical care and a full range of healing therapies

Our integrative approach offers a foundation for care that includes programs designed to strengthen the body, educate the mind,

and alleviate the stress that often comes with a cancer diagnosis

1941 Johnson Ave Ste 201A, San Luis Obispo (805) 542-6234

Hearst Cancer Resource Center (HCRC)

A one-of-a-kind resource

Recurring Events& Resources


Local ResourcesThe Mankind Project men’s support group meetings: all issues welcome. Find purpose, mastery, healthy autonomy, and your life’s mission and purpose. Gain skills to change your life or to become a better husband or dad. Call ahead to confirm. 1st & 3rd TUE 6:00-9:00 pm in San Luis Obispo. Contact: 459-7808. 1st & 3rd THU 6:30-9:30 pm in Cayucos. Contact: 471-9342. 2nd & 4th THU 6:30-9:00 pm in Atascadero. Contact: 235-2774. Cost: free. Info: www.mkp.org.

3rd SAT every month 3:00-6:00 pm: Interactive Indonesian Music at Grandma’s Frozen Yogurt, 307 Morro Bay Blvd, MB. Instruments available for all. Play along with “Ëru” and Anna! Endang “Ëru” Rukandi is a master of the regional music of West Java. Cost: free. Contact: 704-9866.

1st & 3rd THU every month 7:00-8:30 pm: Drop-in Dream Group at St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church, 2220 Snowy Egret Ln, Los Osos. This “drop-in” support group is to share dreams and the relationship between dreams and spiritual path, using Jungian interpretive assumptions and language and Robert Johnson’s book Inner Work. Cost: free. Contact: [email protected].

3rd WED of every month at 6:30 pm: Prepared & Natural Chidlbirth Classes at Twin Cities Community Hospital, 1220 Las Tablas Rd, Templeton. This is a six-series class addressing all matters of childbirth in the form of a lecture as well as hands-on demos and practice techniques. Cost: free. Contact: 434-4654.

2nd THU of every month at 6:30 pm: Breastfeeding Basics at Twin Cities Community Hospital, 1100 Las Tablas Rd, Templeton. In this introduction to breastfeeding class you and your family will learn about the practical aspects of feeding your newborn from an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Cost: free. Contact: 239-4443.

San Luis Obispo Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) and Community Advisory Committee (CAC) offer parent orientation to special education programs in SLO County. Contact: 782-7301 or www.sloselpa.org/pro_dev.htm.

Twin Cities Community Hospital Volunteers, a non-profit org providing support to patients, doctors, and nurses of the hospital, seek volunteers to work in the gift shop and Obstetrics Dept. AM and PM 4 hour shifts are available. Contact: 434-4524.

Last FRI every month at 6:00 pm: Family Fun at Unity Church, 1165 Stubblefield St, Orcutt. Contact: 937-3025.

Every THU-FRI 12:00-5:00 pm & SAT 11:00 am-5:00 pm: Exploration Station Interactive Science Center welcomes families at 867 Ramona Ave, Grover Beach. Cost: $2-3. Contact: 473-1421 or http://explorationstation.org.

2nd THU of every month 6:00-7:00 pm: Grief Support Group at Central Coast Hospice, 253 Granada Dr, Ste D, San Luis Obispo. This free group is for anyone suffering the loss of a loved one who is in need of support. Contact: 540-6020.

2nd SAT of every month FEB-NOVat 9:00 am: the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Dept offers free docent-led nature walks in Los Flores Ranch, 6271 Dominion Rd, Santa Maria. Cost: free. Contact: 925-0951 x 263.

2nd MON every month 6:30-8:00 pm: Caregiver Support Group at Cayucos Community Church, Ocean Ave & S 3rd St. free support for caregivers and family dealing with long-term illness, memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. Contact: 458-7484.

Every MON 10:00 am-2:00 pm: Remain Independent Despite Vision Loss at Santa Maria Terrace, 1405 E Main St. New ways of doing daily tasks are taught by the Braille Institute, such as home management, traveling, and using talking library books. Contact: 462-1225.

2nd & 4th MON every month at 6:30 pm: MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meet at Pacific Christian Church, 3435 Santa Maria Way, Santa Maria. Childcare is provided. Contact: 934-3491 or www.pacificchristian.net.

Every TUE 3:00-6:00 pm & FRI 3:00-5:30 pm: Teen Wellness Program at Arroyo Grande EOC Health Services Clinic, 1152 E Grand Ave. Health services, including reproductive health, in a safe environment with staff trained to screen, assess, and to provide intervention. Appointments are preferred. Contact: 489-4026.

1st WED every month at 9:00 am: Community Action Partnership Senior Health Screening at First

United Methodist Church, 275 N Halcyon Rd, Arroyo Grande. free and low-cost services are offered for people 50 and older: blood pressure, pulse, weight, total cholesterol, screening for anemia, diabetes, and fecal blood, nutritional counseling, and medical referrals. Contact: 481-2692 or 788-0827.

1st WED every month at 12:00 pm: Disabled American Veterans luncheon at Veterans Memorial Bldg, 313 W. Tunnell St, Santa Maria. Contact: 345-0402.

Every WED 5:30-7:00 pm: Widowed Support Group at New Life Church, 990 James Way, Rm 14, Pismo Beach. Arrive 10 min early for 1st meeting. Offered by Hospice of SLO Co. Contact: 544-2266 or hospiceslo.org.

Every TUE at 7:00 pm: Al-Anon Family Support Group at Luis OASIS Senior Center, 420 Soares Ave, Orcutt. Contact: 937-9750.

3rd WED every month at 7:00 pm: How to Survive Divorce seminar at the San Luis Obispo Women’s Community Center, 1124 Nipomo St, #D in SLO. Practical tips, pointers, and suggestions for handling family law issues. $10.00 donation requested for handout materials and book. Contact: 544-9313 to register.

4th TUE every month at 5:30 pm: Legal Clinic for Self-Represented Litigants at the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse Law Library, 1050 Monterey St in SLO, #125. SLO County Bar Assn Family Law Section & Women’s Community Center provide one-on-one legal

Women’s Shelterof San Luis Obispo County

crisis line: 781-6400business phone: 781-6401email: [email protected]

www. womensshelterslo.org


advice for persons filing divorces w/o an attorney, and a document preparer to assist in completing court-required forms. Min. $40.00 donation. Limit: 12 participants. Contact: 544-9313.

RISE (formerly Sexual Assault Recovery and Prevention Center of San Luis Obispo Co) offers: Weekly Drop-In Support Groups for Sexual Assault Survivors; 24 Hour Crisis Line; Advocacy and Accompaniment; Peer Counseling; Individual Counseling; Prevention and Education, and Women’s Empowerment and Self Defense Workshops. Contact: 545-8888 or www.sarpcenter.org.

Every SAT 11:00 am-3:00 pm: ADOPT A PET at Petco, 2051 Theater Dr, in Paso Robles. Cats are available for adoption through NCHS. Dogs are available through Short n’ Sweet Dog Rescue. Contact: 466-5403.

Every MON 2:00-4:00 pm & WED 3:00-5:00 pm: Jacks’ Adaptive Toy Lending Library-Jack’s Helping Hand at Central Coast Gymnastics, 21 Zaca Lane, #100, San Luis Obispo. Traditional and adaptive toys for children with all types of disabilities to check out. In-home appointments available. Cost: free! Contact: 547-1914 or www.jackshelpinghand.org.

Every TUE 2:00-5:00 pm & FRI 4:00-7:00 pm: Jacks’ Adaptive Toy Lending Library - Jack’s Helping Hand at Pat’s Place in Nipomo Recreation Community Rm, 671 W Tefft St, Ste 2, Nipomo. Toys for children with all types of disabilities to check out. In-home appointments also available. Cost-free! Contact: 547-1914 or www.jackshelpinghand.org.

Every FRI at 7:00 pm: Senior Ballroom Dancing at Madonna Inn. If you are a senior (single or attached) and like ballroom dancing, this is the place! Look left of the bandstand for sign: Senior Dancers. Dance, chat and listen to good music. No fees; no dues; just fun! Contact: 489-5481 or [email protected].

Literacy Council for San Luis Obispo County has an ongoing and urgent need for volunteer tutors and offers free training in SLO. Contact: 541-4219 or www.sloliteracy.org.

1st THU every month at 6:15 pm: Commission on the Status of Women meets at Coast National Bank, 500 Marsh St, SLO. This official advisory group to SLO County Board of Supervisors identifies issues of concern to women that are not the focus of other advocacy or advisory organizations. Contact: 788-3406.

Every WED 11:00 am-12:00 pm: Growing With Baby, an infant feeding office for breastfeeding moms and babies (0-10 mos), offers a free class on feeding, crying, and sleep at 1230 Marsh St, SLO. Nurse and lactation consultant Andrea Herron answers questions. Dads welcome! Call to reserve. Contact: 543-6988.

Morro Bay Museum of Natural History offers Adventures With Nature & Mind Walks. Find the schedule at: www.ccnha.org/naturewalks.html.

Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens offers many free services: Senior Connection - connecting callers with local resources; one on one Medicare assistance, advise and referrals for long term care, and help with billing / appeals; Vial of Life magnetized containers with medical information; a Senior Resource Directory for SLO and SB counties, and much more. Contact: 925-9554 or www.centralcoastseniors.org.

Hospice of San Luis Obispo County provides free grief counseling, group support, counseling, crisis intervention, and wellness education to those with a life-limiting illness, their families, and the bereaved. This non-profit agency offers free counseling, community education and volunteer support to those grieving a death or dealing with potential end-of-life issues. Offices in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. Contact: 544-2266.

Volunteer as a Good Neighbor! Make a difference in the life of an older or disabled adult. Trained volunteers choose services to contribute and schedule hours

at their convenience. Training is monthly at Wilshire Community Services, 285 South St, Ste J, SLO. Contact: 547-7025 x 17.

Volunteer at San Luis Obispo Museum of Art! Stop by at 1010 Broad St (Mission Plaza) or email [email protected].

San Luis Obispo Senior Center offers health screening, legal services, meals, exercise, bridge, and bingo at 1445 Santa Rosa St. Contact: 781-7306.

Central Coast Astronomical Society sponsors a Dark Sky Star Party every month at Santa Margarita Lake KOA Campground at sunset. CCAS sponsors guest speakers and public programs. Find events, weather updates, and resources at: www.centralcoastastronomy.org.

San Luis Coastal Adult School’s Parent Participation Program offers Core Parenting and Enrichment classes in San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, and Los Osos. Bring your child to activity classes, or find peer support and education just for parents. Cost: $76 for 10 wks. Contact: 549-1222 or parentparticipation.org.


Parent Participation. San Luis Coastal Adult School offers core classes to enhance parenting skills, meet other families, and allow children to play with peers. Also enrichment classes such as Spanish, Cooking, and Gardening, and a Cooperative Preschool at CL Smith. Contact: 549-1222 or parentparticipation.org.

CHARTER SCHOOLS

CAVA – California Virtual Academies and K¹² give kids the chance to learn at their own pace. Online schooling is aligned with California state standards. Teacher support as needed, meetings and work samples required quarterly. Contact: (866) 339-6790, caliva.org, or k12.com.

Family Partnership. A tuition-free K-12 independent study public school serving Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. Home study charter schools in San Luis Obispo (165 Grand Ave), Solvang, Santa Maria, and Cambria. Meet with teachers weekly and turn in work samples. Contact: 348-3333 or fpcharter.org.

olive Grove. Independent study home school with sites in San Luis Obispo (165 Grand Ave), Santa Maria, Lompoc, Los Olivos, and Santa Barbara. Meet with teacher weekly and turn in work samples. Enrichment classes also offered. Contact: 543-2701 or sbceoportal.org/losolivos.

orcutt Academy independent study. Affiliated with Orcutt Academy Charter School at 500 Dyer St, this free program offers home study and blended classroom/home study for grades K-8. Contact: 938-8934 or orcuttacademycharter.net.

summit Academy charter school serves K-12 grades, and provides

personalized home-based learning that fosters investigation, skill development and creativity, and lifelong curiosity. Contact: (818) 450-9810 or summitacademyca.org.

NATURE BASED SCHOOLS

sLoWanders. Offering nature-based education in SLO County. Programs include wilderness living skills, naturalist studies, wildlife tracking, awareness skills, and rites-of-passage customized for after-school, home-school, and personal one-on-one mentoring. Weekend workshops for adults. Contact: 215-0595 or slowanders.com.

outside Now. Summer, after-school, and private nature-based education in SLO County. Contact: 541-9900 or outsidenow.org.

Coyote Road Regional school. Natural Science and Outdoor Education. Contact: 466-4550 or coyoteroadschool.com.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Central Coast international school. Inquiry-based, small class, International Baccalaureate (IB) candidate school serving grades 1-8 in SLO. One tablet computer per child. Spanish and Mandarin taught weekly. Strong math, sciences, music and arts. Caring community that nurtures learners. Contact: 858-8054 or ccisslo.com.

the Laureate school. Project-based, differentiated learning to develop critical thinking, in arts, technology, foreign language, and character development programs. In San Luis Obispo. Contact: 544-2141 or laureateschool.org.

Clarity steiner school in Nipomo. Waldorf education for first and second graders. Class meets four

days per week. Contact: 929-6878.

santa Lucia school on 5 acres in Templeton. Peace education for over 25 years. Integrated curriculum founded on life experiences, in-depth study, and active immersion in the arts for grades 1-8. Attendance Mon-Thu with homeschool Fridays. Carpooling encouraged. Contact: 434.2217 or santaluciaschool.org.

sLo Classical Academy. Private school. Part time or full time classical education in SLO. Part time options are Tuesday/ Thursday or Monday/ Wednesday with a Friday enrichment day. Contact: 548-8700 or sloclassicalacademy.com.

Wishing Well school in Los Osos offers pre-school, mixed age kindergarden, and 1st-3rd grades. The approach (educating the whole child: head, heart, and hands) is based on Rudolf Steiner’s Waldorf model. Contact: 235-4401.

Children’s House Montessori school in Atascadero strives to help each child reach his/her greatest potential, by embracing learning and appreciating and respecting the world. Contact: 466-5068 or childrenshouse.cc.

Montessori Children’s school in San Luis Obispo seeks to inspire a passion for excellence, to nurture curiosity, creativity and imagination, and to awaken the human spirit of every child. Ages 3-12. Contact: 544-6691 or montessoriofslo.com.

Central Coast Montessori school in Morro Bay offers a rich, individualized academic environment to promote independence and optimum scholastic achievement. Contact: 772-9317 or centralcoastmontessori.com.

Heritage Montessori Preschool in San Luis Obispo provides an enriching and loving environment in a beautiful country setting. Waldorf and Montessori based for ages 2.5-5 years. Contact: 235-5589.

Academics and More is a Homeschool Helper class for 7th-8th grade at Ludwick Community Center in SLO. Offered in partnership with City of SLO, this class includes a convenient cost-effective way for students to gain access to a tutor, community involvement, assistance with their school work, time management and organization skills, and more. Contact: EarthAdventuresForKids.com.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Cambria Montessori Learning Center. Tuition-free public school in Morro Bay for grades K-6th through the Family Partnership Charter School. Contact: 927-2337, 541-2412 or familypartnershipschool.com.

Central Coast families are fortunate to have a wide variety of quality choices for their children’s education. Following are some options for those seeking secular alternative education in our region. For more information on independent and religious schools, go to: cde.ca.gov/re/sd or private-schools.findthebest.com/directory/a/California.

santa Maria Joint Union Home school. Accredited high school program at Santa Maria Public Library. Interactive student-parent-teacher partnerships provide educational resources, a mentor teacher, and eligibilty for sports, clubs, and activities. Students may qualify to enroll in community college as well as secondary classes. Contact: 937-2051 x 2761 or x 2762.

templeton independent study High school. WASC accredited. Weekly meeting with teacher. Opportunity for early graduation and concurrent Cuesta College enrollment. In Templeton and SLO at Los Ranchos Elementary School. Contact 434-5833 or tae.tusd.ca.schoolloop.com/tishs.

trivium Charter schools in Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Arroyo Grande offer a hybrid program of classical project-based classes 2 days per week and homeschool 3 days per week. Contact: 489-7474 or triviumcharter.org.

West Mall Alternative school. Independent Study Home School in Atascadero. Contact: 462-4238 or edline.net/pages/West_Mall_Alternative.

Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Home school & independent study Program serves K-8th grade. Students and parents work one-on-one with teachers, receive lesson plans, textbooks, and teachers’ editions for all subjects. Classes, enrichment activities, and field trips are also offered. Contact: 769-1675.

HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS

California Homeschool Network is a statewide grassroots organization to protect the right of parents to educate their children. Their website provides information about current state and federal laws, and how to get started. Contact: (800) 327-5339 or californiahomeschool.net.

Homeschoolers of the Central Coast. An inclusive Yahoo! group meeting on a regular basis for interaction and field trips: groups.yahoo.com/group/Homeschoolers_of_the_Central_Coast.

santa Maria inclusive Learners. A Yahoo! group offering free homeschool enrichment and support: groups.yahoo.com/group/santa_maria_inclusive_learners.

Templeton Unified School District K-8 Home schooling program. Contact: 434-5840 or tae.tusd.ca. schoolloop.com.

Note: This feature is published as space allows and is a work in progress. Please submit updates, corrections, or additional resources to: [email protected].

Alternative Educationon theCentral Coast

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