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Issues & Ideas: A Central Coast Rhône anniversary, librarians and "Clover Blue"

Thirty years ago, the only Rhône grape most Americans knew about was Syrah. Then a French family and an American family together purchased some land west of Paso Robles, in the Adelaida wine district. They set out to import Rhône grape varieties to the Central Coast, with the aim to grow them using organic, dry farming and other sustainable methods. 

It took years of quarantine, propagation and vineyard growth, but Tablas Creek Vineyards has become an influential force in sustainable wine grape and Rhône wine production. Marisa Waddell talks with Tablas Creek general manager Jason Haas and one of the founders, Jean-Pierre Perrin, about the company’s past three decades, and about its future.

Also, in the latest installment on media literacy, the conversation moves to the library. San Luis Coastal Unified School District librarian Michelle Hopper and San Luis Obispo High School library media tech Jennifer Sawyer explain the natural fit for librarians to foster inquiry and critical thinking skills with students from kindergarten through high school—and they have some tips for the rest of us, too.

And local author Eldonna Edwards and Brian Reynolds discuss Edwards' new novel, “Clover Blue,” about a young boy coming of age in a 1970s-era commune in Northern California. 

As director of programming and content, Marisa Waddell coordinates the radio programming on KCBX and KCBX HD2 and leads efforts to develop content on the KCBX website and other digital platforms. She manages the KCBX on-air and newsroom staff, volunteer program hosts, and contributors. Marisa also hosts the Americana music program The Road Home, (Thurs. 6:30-8:00 p.m.) and contributes interviews and stories to the weekly KCBX radio magazine Issues and Ideas and to KCBX News.
Brian Reynolds is a contributor to Issues & Ideas, a weekly show that brings listeners a wide variety of perspectives on KCBX. Brian was born in Visalia, CA, and spent many years in the Central Valley before leaving for college at UC Berkeley. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from UCB, and two Master’s degrees (UCLA and CSU Chico…Library Science and Public Administration). He lived abroad for two years in Spanish-speaking countries (Spain and Nicaragua) and is fluent in Spanish. He spent his career as a public librarian, serving as a Library Director for over 30 years. He retired from the Director position at the SLO County Library in 2013.
Tyler Pratt was a reporter, host and producer at KCBX from 2018 to 2020. You could hear him on weekdays filing news reports and hosting afternoon programming. Tyler hails from the deserts of West Texas but likes to call the the swamps of Louisiana home. He fell in love with public radio over a decade ago while studying improv comedy at the Second City in Los Angeles. He spent so much time in his car listening to KCRW while driving between auditions and various jobs that he eventually became inspired to switch careers from acting to radio journalism.
Beth Thornton is a freelance reporter for KCBX, and a contributor to Issues & Ideas. She was a 2021 Data Fellow with the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, and has contributed to KQED's statewide radio show The California Report.
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