Sitting on a prominent hillside overlooking the Cayucos Pier and a distant Morro Rock is the historic Borradori Garage. Originally built in 1932 along the Roosevelt Highway, the automobile repair garage was named the Roosevelt Garage. In 1949 when the State of California realigned Highway 1, it purchased the property and the garage. However, Sam Borradori immediately bought the building back, moving the structure slightly to its present location at 455 N. Ocean Blvd.

In 1995, the landmark garage passed to the Dante Borradori family. Dan (Sam’s nephew) and wife Sharon Borradori hired Cayucos contractor/winery owner, Stuart Selkirk, to restore, repaint and provide ongoing maintenance since Cayucos is a vacation destination for the Bakersfield residents.

“It was a modern day blacksmith shop until it was retired in 1985. A 1925 Mack Truck is displayed in the garage,” said Selkirk. “Other than a clear story additiona, it is the original garage.”

The family encourages its limited use for nonprofit benefit events as well as membership events for Cayucos Cellars, the winery owned by the Selkirk family.

“Many have joined our wine club just to get inside the Borradori Garage and look around,” said Selkirk. “Of course, they stick around because we have great wines and great parties.”

And what’s new at Cayucos Cellars? “When the recession hit in 2008, wine sales dropped,” said Selkirk. “By 2009 sales dropped another 10% and in 2010 things stopped, so Laura and I scheduled a trip to Italy. Harvest was late and my boys, Ross and Clay, had to step up. By Skype I was directing wine-making electronically. Clay knew how to do everything, but never had the responsibility. Ross is more into construction. But they did a great job and so we incorporated into Devil’s Gate Wineworks.”

They produce Pinot from Cayucos-grown grapes, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, blends and more and compete with Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo to attract more customers to taste at their Cayucos Cellars tasting room at 131 N. Ocean in Cayucos.

Cayucos Cellars is actively participating in the annual ZinFest Weekend, typically the third weekend of March. The ZinFest is the kick-off to a season of wine festivals that pepper the Central Coast. And the Central Coast is ripe with hundreds of old vine wineries and newly developed family wineries and partnerships. Pick a time to visit the Central Coast beginning with this weekend’s ZinFest based in Paso Robles and discover a festival, events or tours happening in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Cayucos, Morro Bay, Harmony, San Simeon, Templeton, Avila, Arroyo Grande, Lompoc Gap near Solvang, Santa Maria Valley, and San Miguel. Weather and soil conditions create perfect combinations to produce savory whites in the southern appellations of the county and rich, hearty reds in Central Coast northern regions.

So enjoy ZinFest this weekend! Stop by Cayucos Cellars’ tasting room Sunday afternoon. Along with a glass of red or white, they will fire up the “bar-b” to grill oysters…most likely from the Morro Bay Oyster Farm…although it is raining today and that plays havoc with the oyster beds in the bay…but that’s another story to be told from the Central Coast.

Central Coast First Responders The Best.

Note: When Bob and I first moved to the Central Coast nine years ago, we heard the medical care was lacking. We have NOT found that. We’ve had great care at both French and Sierra Vista Hospitals and all the doctors we’ve encountered. In fact, there was one year that I called the year I did “the doctor dance” with my mother, Pat McKaye. She had some medical issues and we met what became our team of doctors who provided EXCELLENT care.  And she is doing great. Her GP, Dr. Heather keeps asking if she is ever going to retire. Not in our genes, I guess. !

So when Jerry May suggested this story to me at the Cayucos Seniors Monthly Potluck, where I take pictures for my mom’s group, I thought it a worthy, well deserved story. And a fine Happy 90th Birthday gift for Jerry. Thank goodness we still have Jerry and Paula May around to enjoy! Here’s their story, the subject of my “By the Bay” column in the San Luis Obispo Tribune, Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.

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Jerry May will continue to serve the Cayucos Lions, Cayucos Art Association and Cayucos Seniors after he celebrates his 90^th Valentine’s Day birthday this weekend. He and wife Paula weren’t sure he’d make it to 2012.

“I’d like everyone in Cayucos to know our community has excellent first responders. Don’t delay. Call 911 if you have an emergency. They saved my life,” said Jerry. “We’d just come home from our anniversary dinner. I had indigestion, I thought. I fell back into my chair. I only remember Paula screaming at me.”

Paula continued, “I told him I wasn’t going to plan his party without his help. I called 911 at 8:45. They must have been on the roof, because they were here in seconds. I met them because we are in the upstairs back. They put him on oxygen and then the paramedics were here. They asked which hospital. I said his records were at Sierra Vista and we were there by 9:20. They were ready for him. I was told his blood pressure was so low five more minutes and we would have lost him.”

Paula said she learned a few good tips. “Falling in his chair was good. Sitting is better than lying. Don’t drive a spouse to the hospital. Call 911. Jerry would not have made it without immediate care of Cayucos Fire and the EMTs. Don’t drive? The Cayucos Lions or Seniors have people who will drive you to visit your loved one.”

Cayucos Fire Chief Bill Radke said their response averages 2-3 minutes. Cayucos Fire is affiliated with Cal Fire Station 11. “I’ve been with the department long enough to remember when our equipment and training was minimal. Field operations during Viet Nam advanced today’s treatment, transport and even GPS mapping. In Cayucos we are all part time servers, but willing and trained to help our neighbors and community.”

A 911 emergency call is relayed from Sheriff and Cal Fire dispatch simultaneously to Cayucos Fire and Morro Bay’s San Luis Ambulance or Cambria Ambulance. “We arrive to stabilize and treat. Within 5-6 minutes EMTs arrive to treat and recommend transport if needed,” explained Radke. “Cayucos Firemen are trained in basic or advanced life support and available 24/7. Cayucos runs about 255 calls a year.”

For non-emergency help, call 781-2441. Betsy Watts, Cayucos Seniors’ president suggests, “We have emergency information “Vials of Life” magnet kits. Keep updated on the refrigerator. Access to good information can be lifesaving at any age.”

Watts also recommends picking up a resource guide produced by the Area Agency on Aging at the Cayucos Seniors, 200 Ocean Avenue or 995-3543.