It’s Fall Harvest in San Luis Obispo County and coastal wine grape growers are exhausted, but hopeful the bountiful harvest will ultimately crush to become  memorable 2012 wines.

            Many of the vineyards are hidden in the hills beyond the scenic coastline. “San Simeon and Cottontail Creeks, Santa Rosa and Santa Rita Creek Roads, Green Valley off of Hwy. 46 have grape vineyards,” explained Stuart Selkirk of Cayucos Cellars.

            Cayucos Cellars, Harmony Cellars, Hearst Ranch Winery, Moonstone Cellars of Cambria and Red Zeppelin Winery in Morro Bay represent scenic coast wineries with tasting rooms.

And more Estero Bay wine bars have emerged. Morro Bay Wine Sellers below Windows on the Water has added competition from Morro Bay’s STAX Wine Bar next to Giovanni’s Fish Market and Bella Vino’s Wine & Cheese Bar near DiStacio’s Italian Ristorante. In Cayucos Full Moon Wine Bar & Bistro and newly opened Backstage Pass have Ocean Avenue addresses. www.winecoastcountry.com   

            “When someone finds out we produce the wines right here, they prefer to stay on the coast and taste and enjoy our weather” said Selkirk.

            Cayucos Cellars has produced wine since 1983. East of Cayucos, the Selkirk ranch was originally an old dairy. Today barrels are stacked to age before bottling and offering to consumers at their 131 N. Ocean tasting room.  

            Selkirk added, “We bottle Zinfandel, Pinot, Cabernet, Syrah, Chardonnay and our blends.  The pinot grapes are his biggest challenge.  They take constant maintenance and 90 degree weather or mildew creeps in. We produce 500 to 800 cases of aged premium wines annually.”

            Cayucos Cellars is a family affair with its only employees being wife Laura and siblings Clay, Ross, and Paige, especially during harvest.  Clay is assistant wine-maker and tasting room/marketing manager.  He explained the cycle of wine making. “After harvest picking in the fall, the vines are dormant over the winter.  About February pruning is critical to allow the leaves to “bud out” and train the shoots for proper sunlight. Once the grapes meet the vintners satisfaction on the vine, red grapes are picked and separated from their “must” – stems and seeds – then allowed to ferment naturally for one to two weeks. Finally before they are barreled they go through a press, which squeezes the juice from the grapes.”

            Stuart admitted their equipment was “old school” but worked. “My investment was only $30,000 instead of $500,000.  No debt allows us to age our wines longer – three to six years – before bringing them to market.”

            “We haven’t had time to talk to each other for weeks,” said Clay. “We pass each other working this year’s harvest or working the tasting room.”  

General John A. Logan with granddaughters Cindy Logan Hankins and Leslie Logan George before the John A. Logan Museum in Murphysboro, ILL. Thanks to the Director P. MichaelJones for helping us with historic information and the picture of Cindy, Leslie and the General.

Cayucan Related to First Official Memorial Day- May 30, 1868

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan issued General Order No. 11 stating, “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.”

Cayucan Cindy Logan Hankins is the great-great granddaughter of General Logan. “Father took great pride in his heritage. Daddy retold us the stories he heard from his grand-Pop, so we have family stories that may not be in the history books. One was he was disowned by his family when he supported the Union’s war effort to free the slaves.”

As a member of Congress in 1861, Logan supported a compromise between the North and South. His position labeled him a traitor in his own state of Illinois. However, President Abraham Lincoln praised him. Logan is credited with convincing 40% of eligible Illinois volunteers to fight with the Union and he served on the front lines commanding the Army of Tennessee during the Battle of Atlanta.

“My Great-Great Grandmother Mary Cunningham Logan got word the General had been wounded and died, but after traveling to retrieve the body, he was alive. She nursed him back to health and by 1871 he was elected to the Senate. After visiting Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia, Mary was disturbed by the tattered flags and withered flowers. She suggested to her husband that Congress needed a day to properly honor those lost serving their country. An official Memorial Day was her idea and he got it through Congress.”

In 1884 the Republican presidential ticket was james G. Blaine with General Logan as Vice-President. “I’m told they lost by a narrow margin,” said Hankins. Internet sites and the John A. Logan Museum in Murphysboro, Illinois, agree Logan would have been the Republican presidential nominee if he hadn’t died in 1886.

General Logan’s name is memorialized on bronze plaques throughout the nation. There are statues, a community college and a museum that bear his name. Regularly, another plaque will be sited somewhere in the nation and the museum appreciates notice so they can include where the recognitions can be found. In 2014 Hankins and surviving Logan ancestors will attend a reunion, reenactment and gun salute at the John A. Logan Museum.

“The first time I went through the museum, he seemed taller. Walking through your family’s history makes you want to learn more about our American history,” said Hankins.

A Cayucan since 1985, she and her husband, Doug Hankins, retired from real estate. She owned Seaside Real Estate and Property Management. She now enjoys time with her 4 dogs, quilting and feeding the homeless.

Celebrating Captain Annie Clapp, Co-Owner Chablis Cruises Morro Bay

(Pictured is Annie training Arthur Able, who will become the omelette chef once Annie takes the helm as captain. Custom made omelets. Yum!)

A couples weeks ago, my husband Bob and I had the pleasure of cruising Morro Bay on the Chablis. Co-owner Annie Clapp will soon be Captain Annie as well. Just a little paperwork and she’ll be “steering the ship.” It was a chamber of commerce perfect day, Captain Gary Ryan steered us perfectly, the food was Chef Rodney Clapp perfect and the Chablis was roomy, clean, nicely appointed and the crew first cabin! Thanks, Annie, and much luck.  Our company was delightful as well and they’ve been waiting for this post to record in their scrapbooks…a family reunion and a new family beginning. A lovely day celebrating Mother’s Day just a bit sooner.

Some thought they saw a ghost –boat on the bay when the Chablis sailed into Morro Bay Harbor April 5, 2007. Co-owner, Annie Clapp, recalled several locals’ reaction after a serendipitous encounter launched her business and brought the dinner cruise boat to Morro Bay.

“My former partner, Zoey Andres, was in San Francisco. By chance she met the executive chef of the Belle of Humboldt Bay. She discovered former Tiger’s Folly I Captain Yost had built the replica in Humboldt. It cruised there for years then somehow made it to San Francisco. We bought the Belle and renamed it the Chablis. We had our first dinner cruise on April 12, 2007.”

Clapp and her sister Shasta, who serves in the U.S. Navy, co-own it today. Zoe took a full time job, but the Andres family still works with Clapp regularly. “Zoe’s son, Avery (Andres) is my star helper”

The Chablis charters private parties, celebrations of all kinds and Saturday brunch. “Awhile back I was missing Sundays being with my family. I realized many of our customers are tourists and leave Morro Bay Sundays, so we tried out Saturday brunch. It works well for everyone. I now have a day for God and family.”

It will soon be Captain Clapp. She has passed all her testing. “Booking captains has been the biggest challenge. I have several on call, but if they are busy, like banjoist Gary Ryan or can make more money fishing, they can’t work for me. I’ve had to cancel bookings.”

Note: Gary Ryan is the owner of Goofy Graphics in Morro Bay and the captain and an award winning banjoist who has played all over the world and is a fan favorite at many Jazz Festival.

Recently the Chablis hosted Jerry Criscione’s family from Lompoc. They were celebrating wife Pat’s and son Terry’s birthdays. A sister had flown out from Long Island to be part of the family reunion.

Note: Pat’s sister is Norma DeTolla and told about her harrowing trip across the country by an unnamed airlines. For 10-15 to eternity, she thought the plane would go down due to the air pockets they hit. Glasses were flying, Ipads left to other seats, women were screaming, but they made it safely to California. Terry and family were from Granite Bay, Daughter Sheryl and hubby Gary Belluz were also there.

Jerry Criscione said, “Thirty years ago we cruised on Tiger’s Folly. I thought it would be a nice to stay closer to home.”

A Merced couple, Jeff Lawry and Amy Horta had become engaged the night before.

“I like brunches and rehearsal dinners best,” said Clapp while training Arthur Able to customize Omelets.

Morro Bay Coffee on Morro Bay Blvd. is their other business and commercial kitchen. Clapp’s husband Rodney prepares all the food and pastries for both businesses. Trained at Western Culinary Institute in Portland where the couple met, they’ve been married for 19 years. “He’s not crazy about the boat but loves to cook and is home Justin 22, Meagan 15, Noah 13 and Samuel 10.

Clapp’s sunny personality works to make everyone enjoy their bay cruise, “My goal is for every Morro Bay visitors to see its beauty from an awesome viewpoint…the Chablis’ deck looking back at Morro Bay’s Embarcadero.”

Contact 772-2128 or www.chabliscruises.com

Sometimes you just need a brain-break. My husband’s birthday seemed reason enough to “fly” away. I told him to pick his pleasure. He picked Sedona, Arizona. We’d never been there.

When our photographer/artist/illustrator…so talented!! daughter heard we were going, she begged a ride-along and that meant our 2.5lb. teacup chihuahua aka our furry grandson, Mason, would join us.

Jody and I decided to take a shot at our first adventure as a travel writing team, but first we needed our hook. Since Mason would travel with us we thought “Dog Friendly Sedona” would be our quest. I pitched it to my new best friends and Morro Bay neighbors at AnimalRadio.com. Hal Aaron and Judy Francis were game. (I’ll let you know when the interview will air at more than 100 affiliates across the US and at KVEC-Radio in San Luis Obispo.)

We already had reservations at the Bell Rock Inn, a Diamond Resort Timeshare property. I called Jacob, who assured me Mason was welcome. They were, indeed, as advertised a dog-friendly resort. When we arrived the entire staff was excited to meet our VERY friendly Mason. He got all the attention…well, mostly…and gifts, too. They offered us a handy bag with treats, dog-sheets and towel, poo-bags, and blanket. They had re-assigned our room to the designated pet-wing area of the resort near the pool with convenient parking. It also had a nicely appointed designated dog-walking area.  They quoted a daily charge of $20, but when Jacob heard Mason is so tiny and would be left in his crate if we left him at all – don’t tell Jacob’s boss – but he reduced our charge to $20 for our entire 3 day stay. Yes, I’d say the Bell Rock Inn staff is very people and dog friendly.

Note: This is a Diamond Resort and we were also told the CEO of Diamond Resorts has mandated companion dogs must be accepted at Diamond Resorts…so all resorts in the system are somewhat dog friendly.

Touring and Hiking: Our concierge recommended we book immediately with the Red Jeep Tour Company. It was spring break and jaunts filled up. This was the only instance on our visit, Mason was not welcome. We quickly discovered why. Our jeep bounced up forest service roads to trails and buttes of significant red rock beauty. Our guide was a college educated geologist turned NY web designer with an eye for beauty and customer service. His brother lived in Sedona so longed for retirement and chose his “good life” taking people on tours of Sedona nooks and craggie overlooks. Tried to tell us Elvis was vortexing around one of the trees as he filmed his worst or bad movies there. Well, we took the picture anyway. Jody was able to get multiple images and panoramic views of the entire Sedona valley…one even looked 30 miles out to Jerome. No pollution here! She posted them at Facebook/JodyHollier. Still new at this so not sure I’ll add pictures that are certainly appropriate for a travel article…especially with a professional photographer touring with the writer. Oooppps! *this is Jody, I have added pictures for Mom, so I hope you enjoy!*

I will note we saw lots and lots of hikers on trails and their furry friends were with them. We were delighted with our Red Jeep Tour and Steve was the best guide we could have stumbled upon.

Eating in Sedona: I quickly learned the rule when traveling with a pet. Picnics are great if you bring along your own food, but if you are looking for dog friendly dining, outside patios might offer what you need. Wind and chilly evenings will hamper your search, however, early bird dining isn’t so bad! Patio access needs to be from the outside so the animal doesn’t sneak inside the restaurant. Health Department is not keen on co-habitation with people-food. Jody’s husband, Michael, had googled pet friendly restaurants and found 4 in Sedona and one in Jerome. Blue Moon Cafe had American fair and great pizza! Cuchina Rustica was moderately priced and yummy Italian home-styled menu items. Long established by a Sedona Italian family it was delish and the ambiance was first class. Their outdoor patio had heaters and their wait staff was pleasantly attentive!!

Jerome was a day excursion about 30 miles from Sedona – an old copper mining town carved out of a hillside and who said only the Indians could survive hillside living. We were told Jerome was the the most populated towns in Arizona during its heyday. It now dependent on tourism. The 3-block town with S-curved narrow streets is an artist haven and yummy eatery sprinkled with ghosts and history to discover in converted storefronts and restaurants, b&b’s and museum more friendly to children than our furry grandson. But that’s understandable. Their unique train will soften the time the kids will endure a museum. And don’t miss the converted county schoolhouse which is now an Art Coop. Catch it on the way down the hill on the right side with the copper art gallery across the street.

Many restaurants accommodated dogs by leash-tie-ups and water and treats outside while you ate. We only found one that had patio access. However, a smart promoter at The Quince Grill and Cantina suggested we carry out and we did and had a picnic at Art Park…yummy.

I loved the concept for Jerome’s Art Park. It was property donated by a lady who deeded the double-or triple wide lot to the city fathers if they would keep it for licensed art vendors. Nice idea and interesting to see the variety of arts and crafts they offered for less … great deals for the kids to spend their fun-money…Mason didn’t get his allocation, but did get a collar at the leather store!! Art Park didn’t have the overhead of a storefront and employees. In most artsy stores in Jerome, we were talking to the artist or family of…especially when we were told to stop by the Art Co-op down the hill at the school. We traveled early in the week and the big rush of visitors…and vendors…is Thursday through Sunday!

Shopping: Sedona and Jerome stores were all dog friendly to Mason…even the Urgent Care we had to take Jody to for an infected leg abscess she brought with her! The Red Jeep Tour and hiking did wonders to make a trip to Urgent Care imperative. But it was just another example how dog friendly Sedona was. It seemed everywhere there were lots of furry friend owners and travelers around so lots of Sedona friendly dog-talk.

Tlaquepaque is an must-see for most Sedona tourists…shopping for arts and crafts from paintings to fabric art to candles and healing lotions. The setting is quaint with Sedona Mesa-Native style architecture…and VERY dog friendly. They had one outdoor patio restaurant for eating. My husband checked out the Micro Brew Pub, but it was upstairs and Mason was not welcome. All the stores….most quaint … were dog friendly. I’ll suggest using your shopping etiquette as you would with children going into small places with lots of displayed wares. Tlaquepaque had lots of places for someone to sit outside with pooch and people and pooch watch while someone else shopped. Take turns!

Sedona is an amazing Red Rock Mesa with gorgeous land formations. Spring weather was pleasant and much like Morro Bay is most of the year, but I have to admit I love my Central Coast Pacific Ocean weather and setting best of all.  No matter where I’ve traveled and we tend to get a week or two away each year, I appreciate coming back to my bay and seaside paradise. Why would I want to go anywhere else? To discover what I have at home…and tell you all to visit us someday.

Morro Bay and Cayucos are especially dog-friendly. Check out http://www.morrobay.org or http://www.winecoastcountry.com.  And then there is the happiest city in the US according to Oprah…San Luis Obispo so http://www.visitslo.org. You and your furry friend will be more than welcome.

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.

*******

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.

            AnimalRadio.com is “America’s most listened-to Pet Talk” interactive radio program. It is syndicated in 100 U.S. affiliate stations in 90 markets, XM Satellite Radio, and generates 100,000 podcast downloads internationally. So you already listen each Sunday from 2-4 p.m. on KVEC-Talk 920. But did you know Hal Abrams, the program’s “voice” and Judy Francis, the executive producer, “talk” with the world about our furry, leathered or feathered friends from their studio in Morro Bay?

They’ll call in their “experts” like Dr. Debbie from Las Vegas, Vladae, the Russian Dog Wizard from Newport, Groomer Joey Villani, from New Jersey and Animal Communicator Joy Turner from Seattle.

Abrams has been in radio forever starting in Los Angeles playing music and creating high visibility fundraising stunts like spending a week in an Alaskan doghouse for the SPCA. He’s worked in San Francisco, Denver, Fresno, Montana, Ventura, but prefers California.

Finch, his wife, says she was “lucky caller #5.” Her prize was a lifelong commitment to tour and develop their passion for animals and radio.

Animal Radio has developed and thrived since 2001. Their first affiliate was KOST.103.5 in Los Angeles. They built their brand by traveling the USA in their RV. Sponsored by Bissell and PetCo, they’d interview guests live at PetCo’s. They based a year in Utah hosted by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Then in 2004 they returned to Shandon, but longed to be seaside.

“We love the Rock, the birds and passionate people. We plan to get involved,” said Abrams. “Business is good. The pet marketplace is worth $50B expected to grow to $90B by 2017. Retail, restaurants, and tourism are pet-friendly today.”

Meanwhile Abrams intends to file with the FCC for a Morro Bay non-commercial, non-political community FM radio station. Its range would include Morro Bay, Cayucos and Los Osos with programming 24/7 taped and delivered by people in the community. What does he need to make it happen? No, not your money! Remember, he has the studio already. He needs to prove to the FCC the community is willing and interested. He needs potential community-based board members with diverse skills interested in radio programming and willing to give of their time and talents to promote Central Coast people and events, news and information.

“The new website www.morrobaycommunityradio.org should be operational in March,”he said. “but I want to meet with interested folks sooner. Call him at 805.772-1314 or email Hal@AnimalRadio.com.

Meanwhile, listen Sundays when AnimalRadio.com will host guests like Elayne Boosler and Iron Chef Cat Cora, and Cambria’s Elephant Seals docent, Charmaine Coimbra. And watch when their Morro Bay studio premiers on TLC Cable Network. Yes, they just finished filming!

February 29, 2012:

Welcome to my world of stories about people, places, events and even a furry friend or two from my viewpoint on the Central Coast of California. I’m expecting your visit often – virtually or someday in person.

As I look out my window at the towering Morro Bay “stacks” that overlook the beautiful, pristine and massive Morro Rock, I wonder why I doubted a move to the Central Coast from the Central Valley was for my health and happiness. It took me all of two minutes checking out my morning view on the first day of residency to realize I’d relocated to paradise. It just keeps getting better.

Since the 4th grade I’ve wanted to write…and I have…in school at our high school newspaper, in college in my creative writing classes, and teaching elementary, high school, and college level English. I wrote promos, reports, ad copy, press releases, brochures, and speeches during my career in marketing and public relations for media, nonprofits, and corporations. I even wrote the souvenir programs and weekly race reports during my NASCAR Short-Track days with Mesa Marin Raceway. My public relations firm was about teaching, learning, and writing for and about others.

And my writing life still is – but now I tell the stories about people making a difference – mostly living on the Central Coast in Morro Bay, Cayucos, Los Osos, and Baywood as I’ve done for years in my column, Judy Salamacha’s By the Bay,  published Mondays in the SLO Tribune (www.sanluisobispo.com) and reported Mondays with King Harris on KVEC-Talk Radio 920.

However, my blog will allow me to branch out and tell more stories about the generous authors, agents, editors, and publishers who share their insights at the annual Central Coast Writers’ Conference hosted by Cuesta College Community Programs (www.communityprograms.net) in San Luis Obispo, CA. This year’s conference is scheduled for September 21-22 and I have the pleasure and task of being its director for the third year. I also hope to feature my network of writers at http://www.sloNightWriters.org and Kristen Lamb’s Facebook/Twitter writing group @#Wana112.

My blog will allow me to reach back to Bakersfield. There are so many stories in the Central Valley. My good friend and writing partner, Sandra Mittelsteadt and I have started when Bakersfield became Bakersfield, writing fictionalize stories about its early pioneers. Our first book, due out Spring, 2012, will interpret the life and times of Bakersfield’s founder, Colonel Thomas Baker and his constant preservationist and great, great grandson, Chris Brewer. We have been blessed with the guidance, historical research and the amazing photography collection owned by Brewer and his wife, Sally. We have also enlisted the graphic artistry and photography talents of Jody Salamacha Hollier.

It’s all been a wondrous journey with each new phase of my life guiding me to focus on what I love to do best…write the story.