CCF APR 15

Central Coast April 2015

Central Coast FamilyFree!

Inside

The Arts ................................. 2

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

Education ................................. 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Family

Earth Day / Summer Learning Loss / Women & Money / Drought History / Into The Woods! Pg 2

Easter Egg

Hunts!9

Central Coast FamilyTM

PO Box 6424, Los Osos, CA 93412

Phone: (805) 528-0440 Fax: (805) 439-0798Our 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.

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AssOCiATE EDiTORClaire Vogel

[email protected]

EDiTOR / PUBLisHERPatrice Vogel

[email protected]

AssisTANT EDiTORJack Vogel

[email protected]

ADVERTisiNG Inquiries:

[email protected]

DisTRiBUTiON MANAGEREric Woodards

CONTRiBUTiNG WRiTERsKristen Barnhart, Jennifer Best, Guy Crabb, Kerrin Edmonds,

Renee Mosier, Molly Peoples, CS Perryess, Steven Smith

GRAPHiC DEsiGNOut of the Blue

CC F

Cover Photo: © Cortez PhotographyChristian Clarno & Lizz Premer

While the film version of INTO THE WOODS is still fresh in the minds of movie goers, Kelrik Productions will bring Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award winning musical version to San Luis Obispo – set for a limited run of three live performances at the beautiful Cuesta Cultural and Performing

Arts Center on April 17 to 19.

The forests are not always what they seem in this spellbinding, romantic, and brilliant musical. Weaving everyone’s favorite fairy tales together, this delightful, dark, and witty musical asks: “What happens AFTER happily ever after?”

Director and Choreographer Erik Austin, Co-Director Sandy Schwarer and Musical Director John Cribb head the creative team. Austin has loved this show since he was a student at San Luis Obispo High School, even convincing the school to do the show, which became his senior project. The rest of the creative team includes backdrop design by Grosh & Kenmark Inc., scenic painting by Sharon Doran, costume design by Costume Capers, stage management by Ryan Manus, sound design by Ron Eminhizer, and lighting design by Richard Jackson.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, INTO THE WOODS debuted on Broadway in 1987 and ran for 764 performances. The show garnered many awards during it’s initial Broadway run including Best Actress in a Musical and Best Original Book and Score. The unique show has spawned numerous national tours and revivals and remains one of the American theatre’s best loved musicals to produce.

In this story, you will see many

fairy tale characters that you have grown to love come to life in one epic story. All of these tales are woven together by an original story that involves a baker and his wife, whose wish to begin a family sets off a series of twisted events within the confines of the dark woods. “Audiences have a very unique opportunity to see two versions of INTO THE WOODS in two different mediums, all within months of each other,” said Austin,“ and The Cuesta Performing Arts Center provides a beautiful space for theater-goers to fully enjoy this epic and extraordinary story.” Schwarer adds, “Sondheim illustrates how there are always consequences to face when wishes are granted and those consequences are not always pretty.” This story is probably best for kids around age 8 and up.

Tickets for INTO THE WOODS are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.kelrikproductions.org or in person at Cheap Thrills, 563 Higuera Street in downtown San Luis Obispo.

Performances are Friday, April 17

The Arts

Central Coast Family • April 2015 • www.centralcoastfamily.com •


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and Saturday, April 18 at 7:00 pm, with a Sunday, April 19 Matinee at 2:00 pm. Parking is available next to the Cuesta Cultural and Performing Arts Center, located on CA Highway One in San Luis Obispo. This Kelrik production is made possible through the generous contributions of show sponsors: Costume Capers, Central Coast Family, and Cheap Thrills.

Mark your calendars for Kelrik’s summer production of PETER PAN! Performances will be on two weekends, July 10-12 and July 17-19 at Spanos Theater, Cal Poly Performing Arts Center. Kelrik is diligently searching for a new “home” theater space in San Luis Obispo and welcomes any input on properties or buildings.

Kelrik Productions has given

San Luis Obispo high caliber community theatre on the Central Coast since 2004, becoming a non-profit company in 2008. Kelrik belives that giving back is a vital part of a full and rewarding life. Kelrik Productions partners with some amazing volunteer groups and non-profit organizations that help local communities.

Five seasons ago, Kelrik adopted the Kelrik Cares Program, selecting a different organization for each production, and raised money and awareness for causes. In the past five years, cast members have collected thousands of dollars with the help of amazing guest volunteer organizations, such as Woods Humane Society, Big Brothers, Casa, The Prado Day Center, and Kids Cancer Research Foundation. For more information about Kelrik

Productions and the Celebrate 2015 season, visit the website:

www.kelrikproductions.org , and be sure to find them on Facebook and Twitter.

115 East Branch Street in Arroyo Grande

The Village Salon

Call Toni & Toni: (805) 489-5100

April Showers bring you to us to

Dry & Style your Hair

Pray For

Rain!


Nanu Nanu

by Kristen Barnhart

Library Voice

When sharing ideas of green living with children, the library should be the first thing that pops into your head. Not only do we carry great books, some of which I’ll explore below, but we are and always have been the model of shared resources. With the economy still challenging families, your library is here for you with more programs all the time, fresh new books, movies, and smiles to greet you at the door.

Every week, families come in and fill their canvas library bags (yes, we offered them long before Trader Joe’s) with books of all shapes and sizes, music CDs, audio books, video games, and DVDs. They present a card, and take it all home for free! Then, oh frabjous day, they bring them all back to the library and do it all over again.

Can’t find the item you want on your branch library’s shelf? No problem; requests are now free too! Thousands of books are being shared every day like smiles between friends and neighbors. In fact, the library is the perfect place to meet up with old friends and make new ones. Making a play date at the park after Toddler or Pre-school Story-Time can lead to lifelong friendships for both children and their parents.

Children can explore all the components of green living starting with their favorite resource: the children’s librarian! We can recommend picture books such as Chris Van Allsburg’s (Polar Express, Jumanji) Just a Dream, with litterbug Walter,

who thinks his neighbor’s gift of a tree as a birthday present is pretty lame. He dreams of a world, not filled with cool robots, but with a frightening polluted future. He awakens as a changed boy, empowered to save the world, starting with a tree. Carl Hiassen’s chapter books for middle grade readers, Hoot and Flush, feature laugh-out-loud adventures of kids saving an endangered owl and a polluted waterway.

A movie never seen is a new movie, so check out WALL-E if your children were too young in 2008, and find love on an almost dead planet earth. Have the whole neighborhood over on Saturday, April 22nd for an Earth Day party and make something new from something old! DVDs now circulate for the same three-week lending period as books and CDs, so there’s no need to panic about getting your items back to the library.

Every single day offers parents opportunities to share creative ways to help the world. Books on fun craft projects that use found and recycled items can be a beautiful way to make gifts. Children love to get their hands in the dirt and they love to eat, so: plant an organic garden, learn to compost, and prepare a homegrown meal together. You can even sing “Oats Peas Beans and Barley Grow” while you work together.

Your librarian can lead you through the Dewey decimal system to the craft books in the 745s, the gardening books in the

635s, cooking books in the 640s, and song books in the 780s.

Dewey love to help? Yes we do! We also have books on global warming, recycling, and Earth Day in the 363.7s, and saving the rainforest in the 333.7s. Don’t forget to ask for all the books on animals and biographies on inspirational people like John Muir, Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman, and Rachel Carson.

So, jump on the bus and take a ride to your library, you’ll be amazed by what you find and the RTA will get you close to most of our larger branch locations. I love recycling so much, I’ve even spruced up and recycled this column!

Your library can even be viewed as an ever-growing and adapting tree. The trunk is the San Luis Obispo Library; the branches include Atascadero, Cambria, Arroyo Grande, Morro Bay, and Los Osos. We even have twigs, such as San Miguel, Shell Beach, Oceano, Shandon, and Cayucos, and all have programs for your family.

There are fifteen locations in all, so visit www.slolibrary.org, like us on facebook: SLOCountyLibrary, and discover your local library. Also visit our website to view your record, make lists of items you may want to reserve later, renew books, and place holds.

You can ask our calendar to send you a reminder when interesting programs come up, including

parenting workshops on Sleep Pattern on Thursday April 23rd at 5:15 pm, and Toilet Training on Saturday April 23 at 11:00 am. We even have a mobile catalog for quick and easy access to materials from your smart-phone or tablet.

Don’t miss our last Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust Arts Live @ the SLO Library performances this month during Spring Break. On Tuesday, April 7th at 10:30 am, a Musical Petting Zoo will be joining Story-Time; On Wednesday, April 8th at 10:30 am, Opera SLO for Little Ones will fill the Community Room; PCPA will present the play Thomas and the Library Lady on Friday, April 10th at 10:30 am, and we’ll end the week with a performance from the always fabulous Central Coast Children’s Choir.

Here’s a little teaser: Summer Reading is coming! This year’s themes are: Every Hero Has a Story @ Your Library for our younger readers, and Unmask @ Your Library for our teens. Next month, I’ll have all the exciting details. Happy Reading!

Every Day is

at Your Library

Kristen Barnhart has been telling stories, recommending books, and stamping little hands for over 36 years throughout SLO County. She is currently a Youth Services Librarian at the San Luis Obispo (TUE 10:30 am Storytime) and Atascadero (MON 10:30 am Storytime) Libraries. 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!”


Nanu Nanu

Central Coast International SchoolCCIS is a non-profit International Baccalaureate (IB) candidate school conveniently located in San Luis Obispo.

We set high academic standards, nurture whole-child development and encourage a global perspective.

CCIS is ideal for students who thrive in a small class environment with individualized instruction. Our curriculum includes literacy, math, sciences, music, art, physical education and technology. Every student uses a tablet computer and learns a foreign language.

With longer school days and a 197-day school year, we meet the highest international standard.

CCIS is affordable and family-friendly. Now accepting applications for the 2015/16 school year in grades 1-8.

Call for information or to arrange a tour:

(805) 858-8054www.ccisslo.com

[email protected]

(805) 242 6789

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Students can experience learning loss when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer months. On average, students lose the equivalent of two months of math and reading skills during the summer months. More than half of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities.

Spring is the perfect time to start making plans to change that. Together, parents, guardians, and community members can help give children the best foundation for the upcoming school year.

stay Engaged

Encourage reading all summer long. This will help to prevent the “summer slide” and provide

benefits for young readers that can be seen year-round.

Visit your local library and help your children put together personal summer reading lists based on individual interests. Celebrate each time they finish a book. This will encourage them to complete the list by the time the summer ends. Be sure to take advantage of any summer programs and activities sponsored by your local library.

During the school year, children have busy schedules and often have required reading for classes. Summer is a time when children can read what, when, and how they please. Don’t set daily minute requirements or determine the number of pages they should read. Instead, make sure they pick up books for fun and help find ways for them to choose to read on their own. Remeber, if kids see the adults around them reading often, they will understand that literature can be a fun and important part of their summer days.

Without the regular weekly school regimen, adults and kids may need more activities to fill the hours. Books that teach kids how to make or do something are a great way to get kids reading and keep them occupied. Don’t forget to take your kids’ favorite reading series along on day outings and long road trips.

Be Creative

Summer is the perfect time to let children’s imaginations run wild and stimulate creativity. Visit the following websites for ideas:

Kids.gov (http://kids.usa.gov) –Find resources for arts and crafts projects that will keep children engaged and their minds active while having fun.

NGA Kids (www.nga.gov) – Choose from a variety of activities or projects from the National Gallery of Art, enjoy an animated musical adventure, take a tour through the sculpture garden, and more.

smithsonian (http://americanart.s i . e d u / e d u c a t i o n / i n s i g h t s /midnight) – Are your children fans of Night at the Museum? Then this is the perfect activity for them. Here you are magically taken to the museums at night. To get back home, you have to solve mysteries and help your new friends find their artworks.

stay Active & Healthy

In addition to academic risks, children can also be at an increased risk of weight gain when they are out of school during the summer months. Sign your child up for local recreational or sports programs. Churches, community centers and schools usually host events throughout the summer. Let your child choose what interests them. They may even

want to try something new.

Take advantage of the warmer weather and keep youth active outdoors. The following sites can help you get started:

KidsHealth.org (http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition) – How do you feed a picky eater or encourage a child to play outside? Learn how to keep your child healthy with the right foods and exercise.

Let’s Move! (www.letsmove.gov/get-active) – Opportunities for kids to be physically active, both in and out of school and create new opportunities for families to be moving together.

UsDA summer Food Program ( w w w . f n s . u s d a . g o v / s f s p /summer-food-service-program) – This U.S. Department of Agriculture program provides free meals to all children 18 years old and under in areas with significant concentrations of low-income children.

Plan to read together, register for local programs, visit parks and museums, and keep kids learning and active during the summer months. For additional tips throughout the summer, follow @usedgov on Twitter, and check out the U.S. Department of Education Facebook page.

Excerpted with permission. © Office of Communication and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education. http://www.ed.gov

Plan for SummerLearning

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Fun & Games

SUDOKU

Fill empty cells with numbers between 1 and 9 (1 number per cell). A number should appear only once in each row, column, and region.

What is faster: Hot or cold? Hot - you can catch a cold!A day without sunshine is like, night. A paper cut is a tree’s way of getting the last laugh.

Jack’s Jokes

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Start

End

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home residents are women, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. And the average cost for a private room in a nursing home is more than $87,000 per year, according to the 2014 Cost of Care Survey produced by Genworth, a financial services company. Typically, Medicare covers only a small percentage of these costs.

Potential solution: Prepare in advance for long-term care expenses.

Long-term care costs can be enormous, but you do have some protection-related options for meeting these costs. Check with your financial advisor to learn which of these choices might be most appropriate for your situation.

These aren’t the only financial issues facing women, but they do give you a good idea of what you may be facing. So, be proactive in meeting these challenges, because there’s actually a lot you can do.

MoneyF inanc ia l Secur i t y for Women

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.

On March 8th, we observed International Women’s Day. On this occasion, thousands of events across the world honored the cultural, political and social achievements of women. In many countries, women still face significant economic challenges. And even here in the United States, women encounter more obstacles than men in the pursuit of financial security, particularly in seeking a comfortable retirement lifestyle. So if you are a woman (regardless of marital status), you will need to be aware of these challenges and take steps to overcome them.

Let’s consider a few of these challenges and some possible solutions:

Fewer Years in the Work Force

Challenge: Women spend more time out of the workforce and accumulate less money in 401(k) plans.

Women spend an average twelve

years out of the workforce caring for children or elderly parents, compared with less than two years for men, according to the Social Security Administration. This time away from work can translate into less money in retirement plans — in fact, women’s average 401(k) balance is only about two-thirds as large as men’s, according to a study by Fidelity Investments.

Potential solution: Take full advantage of your 401(k) and IRA.

Your care-giving obligations are an issue to be decided by you, your spouse and perhaps other family members. But while you are working, contribute as much as you possibly can to your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan. Also, try to fully fund your IRA each year.

More Retirement Years

Challenge: Women typically live more years in retirement and depend more heavily on Social Security.

Women reaching age 65 are expected to live, on average, an additional 21.6 years, compared with 19.3 years for men, according to the Social Security Administration, which also reports that the average annual Social Security income received by women 65 years and older was about $12,500. Furthermore, Social Security comprises about 50 percent of the total income for unmarried women age 65 and older, compared to just 36 percent for elderly men.

Potential solution: To become less dependent on Social Security, create a sustainable withdrawal strategy for your investment portfolio.

Social Security was designed to supplement one’s retirement income, not replace it. Consequently, it’s essential that you make full use of your other sources of income, such as your 401(k), IRA and other investment accounts. To make this money last, you’ll need to create a sustainable withdrawal strategy early in your retirement, and stick to it.

Long-Term Care

Challenge: Women are far more likely than men to need some type of long-term care.

More than two-thirds of nursing

by Molly Peoples

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We are still in a drought. I really thought that this would be the year we would break the cycle. It’s hard to believe we are in a drought with all the new homes being built in our county. We need water and we need lots of it to refill our lakes, streams, and our underground water supply.

This is definitely not our first drought. Our county has suffered several droughts over the last several centuries. In 1862, a drought began in the later part of that year that lasted for 3 years. Less than half an inch of rain fell in the fall of 1862 and the county went completely dry until the fall of 1864. Before the drought began, there were huge ranches with thousands of heads of cattle. The cattle roamed the hills grazing on rich green grass, which made them fat and profitable. Then the drought began.

The first year of the drought affected the number of calves being born to the cows that had much less to eat. By the beginning of 1864, thousands of cattle had already died of starvation and ranchers were forced to reduce the number of cattle on their ranches. To put their animals out

of pain, the animals were shot and the landowners cut out the tongue and skinned the cow for the hide. The tongue was about the only thing left to eat and if the hide was not filled with sores resulting from starvation-related skin diseases, the ranchers could get a few dollars.

Some ranchers in one area of California were said to have driven herds of cattle over the side a cliff and into the ocean and rocks below. Some ranchers went to the extreme of saving bullets and clubbing the cattle to put them out of their misery.

It was a terrible time and it wasn’t just cattle that suffered. Horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, and all other animals suffered due to the drought. It is said that about 500,000 animals died of starvation and dehydration because of the lack of rain. Visitors who came to the area saw hillsides littered with the skeletons of animals that could not survive the years of drought.

Eventually the drought ended in the fall of 1864. The rains finally arrived for a parched San Luis Obispo County. Unfortunately, most of the cattle were dead

by the time the rains fell. Most ranchers were without money to buy more cattle, so the only option many of them had was to sell parts of their land. The Hollister family came to the area in 1865 and bought huge sections of land in the Los Osos, Camp San Luis, Cuesta College area, and other surrounding areas of land. The Hollisters were a wealthy and well-known family and they bought land up and down California. Hollister Peak along Highway 1 in Chorro Valley is named after the family.

Another family that came to town was named Steele. Brothers George and Edgar Steele bought thousands of acres of land in the Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, and surrounding areas. They bought the land for around $1.10 an acre in 1865, gambling that the drought would soon end. The rains came back and our county once again became prime land for raising cattle.

San Luis Obispo County gets its water from underground water and surface water. We are not part of the California Aqueduct system. In the 1860s, you could dig a well on your land or use some type of drilling tool to go deeper into the ground, but in reality many of the wells could not go deep enough into the earth’s surface. Back then, a well started with a hole in the ground

and the hole would get deeper as a worker would continue to dig. Once the person dug so deep that they could no longer throw the dirt out of the hole, a bucket was lowered down and the worker would fill it up. The bucket was then lifted out of the hole and dumped. A well would continue to be dug until the underground water was breached. Even then, the water had to be tested to see if it was drinkable. Digging a well must have been back breaking work in a small hole in the ground.

Most ranchers relied on surface water or water in lakes and streams. There are normally many small lakes that dot the hills in our county. You would only know this if you were to fly over the hills in a plane. Today, we are in the middle of one the worst droughts in recent memory. Luckily we have technology to help us find water deep under the surface of the earth.

When it comes to rain, California can be a tough place to live. Even when the Spaniards first arrived in what is known as California in 1769, there had been drought problems. At one point, the people who lived at missions were reduced to eating grass and tree bark to get some type of nourishment during periods of drought. There were years of drought at the turn of the century, and in the early 1930s, the late 1950s, and even into the 1960s and 1970s.

I was born in California and so was my father. I have lived through several periods of drought and have learned that there is nothing we can do but hope and pray for rain. I sure am hoping that April showers will bring May flowers this year.

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].

Local History

by Guy Crabb

Drought Tolerance

Bank note signed by the Steele Brothers


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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

MiNiON

For years now, I have been laughingly referring to myself as a minion. Officially, I’m one of two San Luis Obispo co-coordinators for the Central-Coastal Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The tongue-tripping title has a causal relationship to my preference for the moniker minion.

In my California baby-boomer upbringing, I understood that a minion was a devoted helper – usually of some nefarious villain. Nefarious villains aside, I’ve always had an affinity for the word. Imagine my surprise upon discovering that minion has a myriad of deliciously disparate meanings.

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) devotes two thirds of a page to minion, which appeared first in English about the year 1500. Though most etymologists believe it came from the Old High German word minnja or minna, meaning love, others put its source in the Celtic combining form, min- or small, which was borrowed from Latin. The OED’s definitions (slightly abbreviated) for minion include:

a. a beloved object, darling or favorite

b. a lover, lady-love, mistress or paramour

c. a dearest friend or favorite child, servant or animal

d. one who owes everything to his patron’s favor and is ready to purchase its continuance by base compliances

e. a form of address, meaning darling or dear one

f. a hussy, jade, servile creature

or slave

g. a gallant, an exquisite

h. an adjective meaning dainty, fine, elegant, pretty or neat

The last few OED meanings are really out there.

a. a small kind of ordnance

b. a type of peach

c. a type of lettuce

d. a typesetter’s term identifying a medium-size font

Some non - OED definitions compiled by the wonderful folks at Wordnik include:

a. an obsequious follower or sycophant

b. a pert or saucy girl or woman

c. loyal servant of a powerful being

How did this one simple word end up being its own antonym in multiple ways? And what’s up with the lettuce, anyway?

CARPETs AND RUGs

We walk on them all the time, but do we ever take the time to think of their etymologies?

The word carpet made its way into English in the 1200s, meaning coarse cloth, tablecloth or bedspread. It entered English from the Old French word carpite, which referred to heavy, decorated cloth. This came from the Medieval Latin word carpite, which began with the word carpere, to card or to pluck. This most likely had to do with the fact that wool, cotton, and other weaving materials required some sort of plucking before they could be wrassled into threads or yarn, and then woven into cloth.

It wasn’t until the 1400s that

carpets clearly belonged on floors.Oddly, rugs didn’t start on the floor either. The word rug entered English in the 1550s, from Norwegian rugga, meaning coarse fabric or coverlet. It took until the 1800s for rugs to land soundly on the floor.Some rug and carpet tidbits: Though nobody’s sure when the term roll out the red carpet became popular, the custom of rolling out a red carpet to celebrate royalty or popularity appears to have begun in ancient Greek myth when Clytaemnestra rolled one out for Agamemnon.1769 to be snug as a bug in a rug1823 to be called on the carpet1940 theatre slang labeled a toupee a rug 1942 to cut a rug1953 to sweep something under the carpet1968 - the word rugrat was born

MYLEs WHO?Let us consider some words first written down by Myles Coverdale, who, in 1535, published the first-ever English translation of the Bible (predating the King James version by seventy-six years). Even though most etymologists believe many of the compound words Coverdale was the first to write down were in common usage, the commoners using them weren’t bothering to write them down, so the following words are known as Coverdale words:fleshpot – meaning luxuries regarded with envy, though the literal meaning was pots in which flesh was boiled. One could argue for either meaning in the Exodus verse in which the word appears. noonday – a simple compound of noon and day, from Joblovingkindness – I’ve always associated this word with my mother, known in the family as Muz. She strived to live this word and most who knew her would agree that she succeeded. Lovingkindness appears in Psalms.

bloodthirsty – not a word one would expect in Psalms, but predictability is not the Old Testament’s strongest suit.

uproar – meaning to move, stir or shake, or a revolt or commotion (appearing in Kings, Matthew and Acts), from the German aufruhr, meaning tumult or riot, and definitely not related to the word roar, which came to English through Old English and Dutch from Sanskrit ragati, meaning barks.

sackbut – from the book of Daniel, sackbut came from the French saquebute, a bass trumpet with a trombone-like slide. Interestingly, the instrument bore a striking resemblance to the saqueboute, a hooked lance-like weapon of northern France, used in battle to pull riders from their horses. Apparently Coverdale incorrectly used the term in Daniel to refer to Aramaic instruments known as sabbekha, a small triangular harp. I’m often in the minority when it comes to religious/spiritual issues, but it seems to me that a joyful noise is a joyful noise, no matter the nature of one’s sackbut. Of course, the question remains whether it was the French or the Aramaic who first coined the phrase, Does this dress make my sackbut look big?

My thanks to sources: OED, Etymonline, English Bible History, and Wordnik.


Camp Melodrama 2015July 20 - August 10

Monday - Friday9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Showcase Performances on August 9 & 10

Ages 7 - 17 Cost: $450

To download a registration form, go to: www.americanmelodrama.com

For more information, call: 489-2499The Great American Melodrama in Oceano . 3 Miles South of Pismo Beach


SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY29FARMERS MARKET:11:30-2:30pm Nipomo: Monarch Club

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

31FARMERS MARKET:3:00-6:00 pm in Paso Robles City ParkLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:10 SLODOC BURNSTEIN’S READING LAB 3:30-4:15pm AG

1FARMERS MARKETS:8:30-11am AG Spencers Market12:30-4:30pm Santa Maria Town Ctr3:00-6:00pm AT Sunken Gardens5:00-8:00pm Pismo, Main St & DolliverLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 AT, 10:30 AG, 11:00 NI

APRIL FOOLS DAY

2FARMERS 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

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON’S BIRTHDAY

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOk DAY

3BINGO VETS HALL MB - 1st FRI 5:00pmFARMERS MARKETS:9:00am-12:30pm Paso Robles Wal Mart 2:30-5:30pm Cambria Main St Vets Hall4:00-8:00pm Avila Beach PromenadeLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 LO

FIND A RAINBOW DAY

4FARMERS MARKETS:8:00-10:30am SLO Promenade9:00am-12:30pm Templeton City Park9:00am-1:00pm Paso Downtown Park9:00am-1:00pm Shell Bch Dinosaur Caves 12:00-2:30pm 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

NATIONAL WALk AROUND THINGS DAY

5FARMERS MARKET:11:30-2:30pm Nipomo: Monarch Club

EASTER

NATIONAL READ A ROADMAP DAY


NORTH POLE DISCOvERED

(In 1898)


NO HOUSEWORk DAY

WORLD HEALTH DAY


zOO LOvER’S DAY


1ST PUBLIC LIBRARY OPENED(1833 in New Hampshire)

10FARMERS MARKETS:9:00am-12:30pm Paso Robles Wal Mart 2:30-5:30pm Cambria Main St Vets Hall4:00-8:00pm Avila Beach PromenadeLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 LO

NATIONAL SIBLING DAY

ENCOURAGE A YOUNG

WRITER DAY

11FARMERS MARKETS:8:00-10:30am SLO Promenade9:00am-12:30pm Templeton City Park9:00am-1:00pm Paso Downtown Park9:00am-1:00pm Shell Bch Dinosaur Caves12:00-2:30pm AG Village Gazebo2:30-6:00pm Morro Bay 800 Main StLIBRARY STORYTIME: 11:00 AG

JACkIE ROBINSON DAY



THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BIRTHDAY (Born in 1743)


REACH AS HIGH AS YOU CAN DAY


DA vINCI’S BIRTHDAY(Born in 1452)

INCOME TAx DAY


SLAvERY ABOLISHED(In DC by Lincoln in 1862)

NATIONAL STRESS

AWARENESS DAY

17FARMERS MARKETS:9:00am-12:30pm Paso Robles Wal Mart 2:30-5:30pm Cambria Main St Vets Hall4:00-8:00pm Avila Beach PromenadeLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 LO

18FARMERS MARKETS:8:00-10:30am SLO Promenade9:00am-12:30pm Templeton City Park9:00am-1:00pm Paso Downtown Park9:00am-1:00pm Shell Bch Dinosaur Caves 12:00-2:30pm AG Village Gazebo2:30-6:00pm Morro Bay 800 Main StLIBRARY STORYTIME: 11:00 AG

PET OWNER’S DAY


HUMOROUS DAY


PATRIOTS DAY


kINDERGARTEN DAY

(1st kindergarten in 1837)


EARTH DAY


SHAkESPEARE’S BIRTHDAY (Born in 1564)

24FARMERS MARKETS:9:00am-12:30pm Paso Robles Wal Mart 10:00am-12:30pm Cayucos Vets Hall2:30-5:30pm Cambria Main St Vets Hall4:00-8:00pm Avila Beach PromenadeLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 LO

NATIONAL ARBOR DAY


NATIONAL TELEPHONE DAY


HUG A FRIEND DAY

NATIONAL PRETzEL DAY


TELL A STORY DAY


POETRY READING DAY


zIPPER DAY


NATIONAL HONESTY DAY

1FARMERS MARKETS:9:00am-12:30pm Paso Robles Wal Mart2:30-5:30pm Cambria Main St Vets Hall4:00-8:00pm Avila Beach PromenadeLIBRARY STORYTIME: 10:30 LO


NEW MOON

April 2015 Free Ongoing Events

FULL MOON

April is:Autism Awareness Month

School Library MonthKeep America Beautiful Month

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Nat. Math Education MonthNational Garden Month

National Frog MonthNational Poetry Month

Birthstone: Diamond

Flower: Sweet Pea


Family EventsMAR 12-APR 26 (days & times vary): LEADING LADIES at The Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St, Oceano. This hilarious farce by Ken Ludwig follows the exploits of two down-and-out Shakespearean actors, Leo Clark (Sam Hartley) and Jack Gable (Toby Tropper), whose fortunes have reduced them to touring the Moose Lodge circuit in 1950’s Pennsylvania. In the Flyin’ High Vaudeville Revue, the cast takes a comedic look at various forms of flight. 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.

SAT MAR 28 9:00 am-5:00 pm & SUN MAR 10:00 am-5:00 pm: CENTRAL COAST ORCHID SHOW & SALE at South County Regional Center, 800 W Branch St, Arroyo Grande. Don’t miss the 20th annual Orchid Show and Sale, including door prizes, demos, plant doctors, food, and treats. Cost: $5, kids free. Contact: 343-2455 or http://fcos.org.

SAT MAR 28 9:00 am - 5:00 pm: WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL in downtown Santa Margarita on El Camino Real. This 4th annual event includes Everyone’s Hidden Treasure “nature talks and walks” about our local area from the wildlife to wildflowers, and CA wildflower photo contest. Cost: free. Contact: 235-2129 or http://visitsantamargarita.com.

SAT MAR 28 10:00 am-3:00 pm: APPLE BLOSSOM DAYS at Apple Farm, 2015 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo. Celebrate spring at this 8th annual festival with crafts, demos, petting zoo, egg races, kids scavenger hunt, bounce slide, and BBQ for sale. Cost: free. Contact: www.applefarm.com.

SAT MAR 28 at 7:00 pm: THE CRUCIBLE at Spanos Theater, 1 Grand Ave, Bldg 6, San Luis Obispo. The Civic Ballet of SLO presents a dramatic new take on this classic story. Directed by Drew Silvaggio. Cost: $18-32. Contact: 544-4363.

SAT MAR 28 7:00-9:00 pm: SPRING FLING CONTRA DANCE at

Oak Creek Commons Community Rm, 635 Nicklaus St, Paso Robles. Celebrate Spring! Jean Gorrindo is caller; live music by Calamity House. Cost: $7 adults; children free. Contact: 602-2929.

SUN MAR 29 3:00 pm: SLO SYMPHONY FAMILY CONCERT at Cal Poly PAC, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo. Enjoy a delightful and educational afternoon of music for the entire family. Features maestro Michael Nowak, the San Luis Obispo Symphony and jazz vocalist Inga Swearingen. Cost: $5-20. Contact: 545-5874 or www.pacslo.org.

WED APR 1: BRUSHMARKS 2015 artwork due at Paso Robles City Library, 1000 Spring St. Aspiring North County artists in grades 6-12 are invited to submit paintings and drawings to the 9th Annual Juried Art Competition for Teens. Winners selected by Juror Jack Johnson on THU APR 2, and prizes awarded at Gallery Reception on FRI APR 3. The exhibit will show the month of APR. A small entry fee is charged to enter the event. Contact: 237-3870 or www.prcity.com/library.

THU APR 2 & FRI APR 3 10:00 am-7:00 pm, SAT APR 4 10:00 am-4:00 pm: SPRING BOOK SALE in Paso Robles Library conference room, 1000 Spring St. Find books, DVDs, books on CD, books on tape and VHS at bargain prices. THU APR 2: Early access for Friends of the Library members only. Membership at the door: $10. Contact: 227-4232.

SAT APR 4 at 2:00 pm: POETS LAUREATE READING at SLO Library, 990 Palm St, San Luis Obispo. To celebrate National Poetry Month, several past Poet Laureates and our current Poet Laureate, Marguerite Costigan will give readings. Cost: free. Contact: 547-1318 or http://languageofthesoul.org.

APR 6-10 7:00 am-6:00 pm: AUSTRALIAN FUN SPRING BREAK CAMP: Legends from the Outback at Sinsheimer Elementary, 2755 Augusta St, San Luis Obispo. Join Youth Services for swimming, hiking, cooking, playing group games and exploring a challenge

course! Contact: www.slocity.org/parksandrecreation or 781-7300.

MON APR 6 at 7:30 pm MAMMA MIA at Cal Poly PAC, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo. Inspired by the magic of ABBA’s songs, this wildly popular show is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found. Cost: $60-90. Contact: 756-4849 or www.calpolyarts.org.

TUE APR 7 at 10:30 am: MUSICAL PETTING ZOO STORYTIME at San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St, SLO. Come and meet the SLO Symphony instruments at this very special musical storytime. Stories by Ms. Kristen. Cost: free. Contact: 805-781-5775 or http://slolibrary.org.

WED APR 8 at 10:30 am: SLO OPERA LIVE FOR LITTLE GUYS at

San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St, SLO. Young children will be introduced the exciting world of opera through live performance, music, costumes, and interactive play. Cost: free. Contact: 805-781-5775 or http://slolibrary.org.

WED APR 8 6:00 pm: THE NEXT STEP talk by Robert Enns at Cayucos Library, 310 B St, Cayucos. President of the Cayucos Sanitary District will give a talk and answer questions. Cost: free. Contact: 995-3312.

THU APR 9 at 7:00 pm: TIME STANDS STILL at SLO Little Theatre, 888 Morro St, San Luis Obispo. This preview of the Tony Award-winning play will benefit the SLO Library Fdn and Operation Surf. Cost: $20. Contact: 546-1392 or http://slolibraryfoundation.org.

FRI APR 10 at 10:30 am: TOMAS

Serving grades K-8

OPEN HOUSESUN, May 3rd 12:00-2:00 pm940 Templeton Hills RoadEnjoy a Day of Fun for the Whole Family Bounce house, face painting,

picnic, and door prizes!

TEMPLETON HILLSSEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST SCHOOL

Educating to renew the mind, transform the character and restore the soul to the image of God


Family Events

& THE LIBRARY LADY at San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St, SLO. This play shares the tale of Tomas Rivera and his first encounter with the magical world of books. For children ages 5 and up. Cost: free. Contact: 805-781-5775 or http://slolibrary.org.

FRI APR 10 & SAT APR 11 at 7:30 pm: THE MERRY WIDOW at Spanos Theater, 1 Grand Ave. Bldg 44, San Luis Obispo. The “co-opera” with Cal Poly’s Student Opera Theatre and Opera SLO continues with Lehar’s comic operetta. Student sing key roles with pro opera singers. Cost: $9-18. Contact: 541-5369 or http://music.calpoly.edu.

SAT APR 11 10:00 am-12:00 pm: PUPPET SHOW in Grandma’s Frozen Yogurt & Waffle Shop courtyard, 307 Morro Bay Blvd, Morro Bay. Cost: free. Contact: 704-9866.

SAT APR 11 10:00 am-3:00 pm: CHILDREN’S DAY IN THE PLAZA at Mission Plaza, 989 Chorro St, San Luis Obispo. Children and their families can explore creativity, individuality, and diversity while having fun and learning about

community resources. Cost: free. Contact: 782-4723.

SAT APR 11 at 10:30 am: CENTRAL COAST CHILDREN’S CHOIR at San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St, SLO. Cost: free. Contact: 781-5775 or http://slolibrary.org.

TUE APR 14 at 7:30 pm: LILA DOWNS at Cal Poly PAC Cohan Center, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo. The Grammy Award-winning singer appears as part of her new “Balas y Chocolate” 2015 tour. Cost: $24-56. Contact: 756-4849 or www.calpolyarts.org.

WED APR 15 3:00 pm: MAKE’N’TAKE at Los Osos Library, 2075 Palisades. School age children are invited to create recycled bird feeders. Cost: free. Contact: 528-1862.

FRI APR 17 & SAT APR 18 at 7:00 pm & SUN APR 19 at 2:00 pm: INTO THE WOODS at Cuesta College CPAC, Hwy 1, San Luis Obispo. What happens after Happily Ever After? In Sondheim and Lapine’s beloved musical retelling of the Grimm classics, a parade of familiar folktale figures find their

way “Into the Woods” and try to get home before dark. Tickets at Kelrikproductions.org or Cheap Thrills. Cost: $20-40. Contact: Kelrikproductions.org.

SAT APR 18 10:00 am-2:00 pm: CONSERVATION CELEBRATION Party For The Planet at Charles Paddock Zoo, 9100 Morro Rd, Atascadero. This 6th annual event features interactive adventures, hands-on activities, and lively demos. Kids can bring old t-shirts to transform into ‘ZooperHero’ costumes. Drop off handheld electronics for recycling. Cost: free with zoo admission. Contact: 602-7817.

SAT APR 18 & SUN APR 19 10:00 am-5:00 pm: BOOKS IN HARMONY in the town between Cambria and Cayucos on Hwy 1. Celebrate World Book Days with a book fair and a look-see into the future of CA’s favorite tiny town (pop. 18). Glass blowing demos and free books. Contact: 927-1028.

SAT APR 18 at 2:00 pm: FAMILY MOVIE at Los Osos Library, 2075 Palisades. Enjoy an Earth Day themed Dr. Seuss movie rated PG. Popcorn will be provided. Cost: free. Contact: 528-1862.

MON APR 20 at 4:00 pm: INVESTMENT BASICS talk at Cayucos Library, 310 B St, Cayucos. Scot McManus, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, will give a talk and answer questions. Cost: free. Contact: 995-3312.

WED APR 22 3:00 pm: EARTH DAY PROJECT at Los Osos Library, 2075 Palisades. Make your world a little greener and enjoy an Earth Day activity and story time. Cost: free. Contact: 528-1862.

MON APR 27 at 2:00 pm: BASIC BANKING at Cayucos Library, 310 B St, Cayucos. Robert Brown, Rabobank Service Officer at the Cayucos Branch, will give a talk and answer questions. Cost: free. Contact: 995-3312.

FRI MAY 1 8:00 pm: ABBA-MANIA at Clark Center, 487 Fair Oaks Ave, Arroyo Grande. A rock musical that takes you back to the era of ABBA. Cost: $35-47. Contact: 489-9444 or http://clarkcenter.org.

SAT MAR 28 11:00 am-2:00 pm: KIDS DAY at Nipomo Community Park, Pomeroy Rd & W Tefft. Activities include an egg hunt, BBQ, bounce houses, cake walk, carnival games, pony rides, and entertainment. Cost: free. Contact: nipomorecreation.org or 929-5437.

THU APR 2: 6:00-8:30 pm: BUNNY TRAIL DOWNTOWN at the SLO Farmers Market. Join the eggs-citement as E. Bunny invites all children to “Hop Along the Bunny Trail,” visiting businesses collecting candy and treats. Meet at the corner of Chorro and Higuera to receive a free map of participating shops and a bag for treats. Watch for Downtown Bunny! Cost: free. Contact: downtownslo.com or 541-0286.

SAT APR 4 at 10:00 am: FAMILY EGG HUNT & CARNIVAL at Elm Street Park, 1221 Ash St, Arroyo Grande. Free activities include egg hunts for all ages, sack races, and a raw egg toss contest. Other paid activities include a carnival, hot dog barbecue, and a bounce castle. Bring a basket! Cost: varies. Contact: 473-5474.

SAT APR 4 10:00 am-12:00 pm: EASTER EGG HUNT at South Bay Community Center, 2180 Palisades Ave, Los Osos. It begins with contests for the best home decorated egg or best costume. 10:30 am: Los Osos library story time on the lawn. 11:00 am: egg hunt for ages 2 to 7. Cost: free. Contact: 528-0100.

SAT APR 4 10:00 am-12:00 pm: COMMUNITY EASTER EGG HUNT at Mountainbrook Community Church, 1775 Calle Joaquin, SLO. Kids ages 2-10 can enjoy the Easter Bunny, 12,000 eggs to find, bounce houses, a petting zoo, face painting, and popcorn. Cost: free. Contact: 543-3162.

SAT APR 4 10:00 am-1:00 pm: EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA at Dinosaur Caves Park, 2701 Price Rd, Pismo Beach. In addition to the

Easter Events


eggs-citing egg hunt, participants can enjoy games, bounce houses, face painting, a balloon artist, and much more! Bring your own basket or bag. Cost: free. Contact: pismochamber.com or 773-7063.

SAT APR 4 10:00 am-3:00 pm: EASTER EGG HUNT & DOG PARADE at Hardie Park, 3rd St, Cayucos. Dress up your favorite pooch in their best Easter Bonnet and outfit for a parade! Prizes are awarded for Best Costume, Best Behaved, Best Bonnet and many more. Plus an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids and they can meet the Easter Bunny. Sponsored by the Cayucos Lioness Club. Cost: free. Contact: 235-2289.

SAT APR 4 11:00 am-1:00 pm: EGG HUNT at Mitchell Park, 1400 Osos, San Luis Obispo. Hippity Hoppity! Join the Bunny for an exciting adventure and search for prize-filled eggs. Cost: free. Contact: 781-7067 or www.slocity.org.

SAT MAR 28 11:00 am-2:00 pm: EASTER BUNNY in the City Park Holiday House, 12th & Spring St, Paso Robles. He’ll be in and out of downtown shops leaving tracks. Hop to it – start at the gazebo, follow Bunny’s tracks, find him and get some candy! Cost: free. Contact: pasoroblesdowntown.org or 238-4103.

SUN APR 5 at 8:00 am: EASTER EGG HUNT at Shamel Park, 5455 Windsor Blvd, Cambria. Meet the Easter Bunny. Balloons & prizes for kids 8 yrs and under. Special egg hunt for kids 2 yrs and under. Cost: free. Contact: cambriachamber.org.

Every SAT at 12:00 pm: GEO-CACHE FAMILY GROUP at Grandma’s Frozen Yogurt & Waffle Shop, 307 Morro Bay Blvd, Morro Bay. For all ages. Meet before exploring hidden treasures. Free frozen yogurt for all new members! Cost: free. Contact: 704-9866.

3rd WED of every month at 6:30 pm: Prepared & Natural Chidlbirth Classes at Twin Cities Community Hospital, 1220 Las Tablas, Templeton. This is a 6-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-NOV at 9:00 am: Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Dept offers free docent-led nature walks in Los Flores Ranch, 6271 Dominion Rd, Santa Maria. 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

Suicide Prevention Mental Health and

Emotional Support

Free Confidential

24 hours of every dayA program of Transitions Mental Health Association

Feeling hopeless, desperate, or alone? Concerned for someone you care about?

Women’s Shelterof San Luis Obispo County

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

www. womensshelterslo.org

Family Events

Recurring Events &

Resources


Local Resources

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 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, San Luis Obispo. Nurse practioner 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; HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) 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. Once 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. Contact: [email protected].

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

ListenSpeak Up!

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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 the pace and in ways that are right for them. Online schooling aligned with California state standards. Teacher support as needed, meetings and work samples required quarterly. Contact: (866) 339-6790 or 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.

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.

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

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.

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. Sites 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 and 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. Academic classes, enrichment activities, and field trips are also offered. Contact: 769-1675.

HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS

California Homeschool Network is a statewide grassroots organization dedicated to protecting 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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