Dinner to Support People Help People: The Luck of Los Osos: Good Times, Good Cause, Great Price

Just a wee bit of cash will buy you supper and song at the 2^nd annual Scottish Irish Night Thursday, March 14 at the South Bay Community Center. Scottish meat pies with Irish mashed potatoes and peas, salad and dessert are only $8. After supper the Gillie Weesels (www.centralcoastceltic.com) will croon Irish and Scottish ditties and ballads while Duncan McQueen, donned in his finest kilt, might be convinced to play his musical saw. But the best Irish luck is every penny for these pleasures benefits People Helping People (PHP) of Los Osos.

PHP began in 1972 when Los Osos, Baywood Park, and Cuesta-by-the-Sea seniors created the non-profit to help special needs seniors. A “senior center” was intended when they sold their lot on 4^th Street for $38,000 and continued fundraising. Then the leadership realized the entire community had special needs, so PHP donated the seed money of $58,000 to construct the South Bay Community Center.

Today Jim Quesenberry, 1^st Vice-President and coordinator of the food distribution program reports PHP averages 50 to 70 people daily at the Community Center and volunteers have stepped forward to help with distribution. “Our relationship with the Baywood Farmers Market renewed so we have fresh produce. The Food Bank and USDA provide the staples and proteins. We have a good time and thanks to board Secretary, Lynn Wise, donuts and coffee are available.”

Beverly Ford volunteers in the office and admits they could use more help weekday mornings. She helps provide medical, housing and tax referral information and checks out the medical equipment PHP can loan for a nominal deposit.

Newly elected board president Richard Margetson anticipated the pending remodel at the Community Center that will offer more efficiency in operations to both the center and PHP. He explained, “The cost to expand space behind the stage area will cost approximately $56,000 and most is already donated by area businesses and tradesmen. The community center started as a grassroots endeavor and it continues to gather support. After all, it belongs to the community.”

Margetson succeeds Jerri Walsh as president of the board. “Throughout my life I’ve volunteered for homeless issues. I’m not sure how People Helping People captured my interest but I’ve been involved ten years. Jerri will be past president, Linda Owens is 2^nd Vice-President and Carol Cribbs is treasurer.”

Scottish Irish Night tickets are limited to approximately 120 and must be picked in advance at the PHP office in the Los Osos Community Center, 2180 Palisades, Monday thru Friday from 9 to 1 pm. For more info call 528-2626.

Catherine “Kiki” Kornreich grew up in the San Joaquin Valley determined to attend Cal Poly. After graduation, she established Kornreich Design Associates in San Luis Obispo. Four years ago the allure of the beach moved her to Cayucos where she could beach-walk with her dog, Izzi.

“I used to consider sea glass trash. Then I found a white heart-shaped piece and started collecting,” said Kornreich. “I’d bump into the same women picking up sea glass and we’d compare our finds. We were all active Cayucos chamber businesswomen. I googled sea glass festivals and discovered Cayucos was perfect for a west coast festival so called everyone together to brainstorm at the Shoreline Inn. We’re now ready for our third festival, March 8-10.”

As chairwoman, Kornreich said she couldn’t have hand-picked a better team. Each has unique talents and passion to produce the community festival. Their common goals are to keep it small enough to reflect Cayucos’ welcoming attitude, but large enough to support their cause, the Cayucos Chamber of Commerce 4^th of July. The first year they had 3,000 people and made $5,000. Abundant success has continued.

“We fix what needs fixing each year, keep what works, and offer new activities to bring people back or entice new visitors.” The 2013 committee of Kornreich, Debbie Black, Carol Kramer, Jennifer Norton, Amanda Fritzsche, Laila Kollmann, Nadine Lilley, Maureen Carlson, Kate Stulberg, and Donna Halliday will direct 60 volunteers festival weekend.

The inaugural festival kick-off is Friday evening at the Borradori Garage. Guests will meet sea glass historian, Robert LaMotte, president of the North American Sea Glass Association and author of the definitive guide, Pure Sea Glass. Cayucos Cellars, Cayucos Beach Ale, nibbles and dessert will accompany LaMotte’s first California visit, presentation and book signing. Call 995-1351 for reservations.

“Robert and Nancy LaMotte have collected 40,000 pieces of sea glass mostly from the Chesapeake Bay. She designs jewelry. He can tell you how old, what the glass originally came from and often what ocean it came from,” marveled Kornreich.

Thirty-six nationally traveled vendors will display and sell sea glass products. Six Cayucos eateries will offer tastes in the food pavilion. Mermaids will greet and share “mermaid tears” and festival information to attendees entering the Cayucos Veterans Hall. The first 200 will munch on Brown Butter Cookie Company. And a new Discovery Station sponsored by Santa Cruz Sea Glass will offer tips on the value and history of sea glass.
Entry is $3 with music offered by Grammy-winning Louie Ortega, The Bobby Santa Cruz Band, The Tennessee Jimmy Harrell Trio and Bruce Beck and the Mystery Brothers. www.cayucosseaglass.com.
Note: If you come over next weekend (or need to book for same time in 2014 the check out the wonderful B&Bs and Inns in Cayucos…you’ll find your heaven on earth!