December 4, 2013: Correspondent, Tom Wilmer visits with Walter Heath about the Morro Bay In Bloom volunteer project. The program is founded on the concept that a small group of people applying 2 hours of effort every week can make a positive difference in their community. Morro Bay in Bloom is undertaking civic beautification projects and completing them in several two-hour sessions. The "In Bloom" program encompasses landscaping public spaces, urban forestry, community gardens, floral displays, promoting heritage awareness and community involvement. Another group of dedicated volunteers works hard at the long-term management and restoration of the Elfin Forest in Los Osos. That small nature preserve is home to more than 300 species of plants and animals. Marisa Waddell talks with Ron Rasmussen, the chair of Small Wilderness Area Preservation -- the group that saved and maintains the land. And Ears on Art this week and next presents its 14th annual holiday programs featuring stories told by community members. This year's theme is The Gift is in the Details. These personal tales have proven to be touching, funny and unique.
November 27, 2013: Correspondent Tom Wilmer visits with the owners of Olea Farm in Templeton, to learn about California's distinctive olive oils. We'll learn what the term "extra-virgin, first press" really means, and what some of the differences are between European and California olive oils. Also, it is estimated that 10 to 40 million Parrots live in the United States as pets. Because captive bred parrots are just a few generations from their wild cousins, their needs are often misunderstood. Donna Cheek and local parrot rescuer Marty Johnson, explore the challenges that face these beautiful, intelligent birds. And Brian Reynolds visits with long time bookstore owner Caroll Leslie of Volumes of Pleasure Bookstore in Los Osos, and new bookstore owner Darin Gabler, of the Bookworm in Santa Maria as they discuss the wonders, treasures, and continuing changes to our local bookstores.
November 20, 2013: Larry Rutter will talk with Sam Blakeslee, the founding director of the Institute for Advanced Technology & Public Policy. The interdisciplinary institute, which already has three projects up and running, aims to develop practical solutions to societal issues by informing statewide public policy through advanced technology.
November 13, 2013: Hear a conversation about John Steinbeck's life in the Salinas Valley with correspondent Tom Wilmer, as he visits the Steinbeck Center. Then head with Tom over to Elkhorn Slough to learn about the birds and sea life there, and to discover the kayaking and whale watching opportunities in the area. Then enjoy a visit to San Luis Obispo's Granada Hotel for some fun at their Art Bar, where patrons learn to paint while sipping on wine. Leslie Westbrook chats with one of the teachers at the Art Bar, and channels her own inner artist at a recent class. And Crissa Hewitt continues her conversation with award-winning metalsmith Gary Griffin for another edition of Ears on Art.
November 6, 2013:The dwindling groundwater basin in Paso Robles has been big news on the Central Coast, especially after the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors extended an emergency ordinance banning new pumping to two years. Some are calling the plight of Paso Robles a good example of what's wrong with California's unregulated groundwater supply. Chris Richard will have the story. Also, the Morro Bay National Estuary Program has just launched a fundraising campaign. Marisa Waddell will talk with the N-E-P director Adrienne Harris about the organization's plans for the money they raise -- their goals and current work -- and about some of the threats to the estuary, including pollution and sedimentation. And this week on Ears on Art, Crissa Hewitt visits with metalsmith Gary Griffin, who lives and works in El Rito (REE-toh), New Mexico. He retired from his teaching career after 32 years -- the first ten at the School for American Craftsmen, Rochester Institute of Technology, and the next 22 years as artist in residence and head of the metalsmithing department at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. The recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts grants, Griffin has exhibited extensively in the United States, Mexico, South America, Japan and Europe.
October 30, 3013: Donna Cheek talks with the program coordinator of Partners in Equestrian therapy -- a unique riding program located in San Luis Obispo, for children and adults with special needs. The program helps people to increase their physical skills, confidence and self esteem through therapeutic horseback riding.
Also, Cal Poly Professor of History, Emeritus Dan Krieger discusses cemeteries, the Day of the Dead and Halloween History, and how they impact our culture today.
And Marisa Waddell visits with San Luis Obispo poet Kevin Patrick Sullivan, who's gearing up for the 30th annual San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival.
October 23, 2013: Fifty-six years ago nine black children attempted to start classes at the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were blocked by the national guard, on orders from the state's governor, until President Eisenhower placed the guard under federal command, and ensured those children would be escorted into the school. That was just the beginning of a long and arduous ordeal for the Little Rock Nine. Correspondent Tom Wilmer recently visited Little Rock, and shares the story of those children, and how their legacy still affects that community, and the rest of the nation, today.
Also, Internationally-regarded composer Daniel Lentz lives in Santa Barbara, and travels all over the world to find inspiration for his work. Correspondent Leslie Westbrook chats with Lentz about his current work, and samples some of his well-known compositions.
And Cuesta College is a breeding ground for fine musicians who go on to successful careers. Marisa Waddell talks with music teacher and choir director John Knutson about the college's music program, and some concerts coming up this season.
October 16, 2013: A reprise of some of the more interesting people interviewed by Larry Rutter so far this year: Two impresarios, one of entertainment, the other of food; The National Teacher of the Year;
And a group of lawyers and law students from Southern California literally walking through the Central Coast headed for Sacramento to petition the Governor to grant clemency to 12 people they believe were innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted.
October 9, 2013:Whether it's an owl, a deer or even a possum in distress, Pacific Wildlife Care is there to help. The group is dedicated to rehabilitating wildlife, and returning orphaned and injured animals back to their natural habitat. Marisa Waddell talks with Pacific Wildlife Care about how they help animals on the Central Coast.
Join Correspondent, Tom Wilmer for a fascinating interview with retired Democrat U.S. Congressman, Kika de la Garza, and retired Republican Senator, Ben Knighthorse Campbell, as they reflect on their careers--a time when cross-isle relationships and partnerships were the norm rather than the exception.
And Crissa Hewitt and Steven deLuque bring us part two of their Ears on Art conversation with Cuesta College teacher and artist Bob Pelfrey. This week they focus on his teaching with special attention to his conviction that the study of art history is the study of connections. Pelfrey's work will be featured at the Cuesta College Art Gallery later this month.
October 2, 2013: There's a conference coming this month that will feature social, scientific, and environmental innovators from many disciplines to share breakthrough solutions to environmental, scientific and social challenges. It's the Central Coast Bioneers Conference, coming at the end of October. Marisa Waddell talks with the conference organizer, and the CEO of a company whose goal is to create a global community of people helping each other to repair things instead of throwing things away.
Also, travel correspondent Tom Wilmer visits with Cuba expert Christopher P. Baker about what Cuba is like for American visitors since President Obama created a new license category for travelers that allows any U.S. citizen to travel to Cuba. It's called "People to People," and its purpose is to encourage cultural exchange and to encourage Americans to act as "Citizen Ambassadors."
And Crissa Hewitt and Steven deLuque bring us another segment of Ears on Art. This week begins a two part program with teacher and artist Bob Pelfrey. Bob was the third Cuesta Art Department faculty hire, joining Chet Amex and Barry Franz. He draws, paints, and is a printmaker, but most of all he is a teacher.
September 25, 2013: Many people who are terminally ill have pets. But what happens to those pets when a patient enters hospice care? Donna Cheek talks with the executive director of Hospice of San Luis Obispo about their Pet Peace of Mind program to assist end-of-life patients with their beloved pets.
Also, San Luis Obispo County Library Director Brian Reynolds explores the history of the Santa Maria area with some folks from the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society and Museum, and all the great resources available for local history buffs.
September 18, 2013: Fine wine, iconic opera, and sleek bicycles are among the topics on this week's "Issues and Ideas." Guests include Jim Cooper, head of Cal Poly's Viticulture department, and Brian Asher Alhadeff, who conductors and directs Opera San Luis Obispo's upcoming production of "Carmen." We will also hear from Dan Revoir, head of the SLO Bicycle Coalition, and Robert “Red” Davis, who heads the SLO Bicycle Club.
September 11, 2013: Alzheimer's Disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and more than 5-million Americans are living with the disease. Marisa Waddell talks with two experts about the disease, its warning signs, and what resources are available if you or a loved one has Alzheimer's.
Also, there's an agriculture company in Salinas known as "Andy Boy," named after a toddler in the 1920's who is now 89 years old. Andrew D'Arrigo's family is credited with introducing broccoli and green celery as a commercial crop to America. He's now head of the family-owned company, and chats with correspondent Tom Wilmer about farming in the Salinas Valley.
And Crissa Hewitt and Steven Deluque bring us part two of their Ears on Art conversation with artist and art instructor Barry Franz. This week they'll discuss his role in the expansion of the Cuesta College Art Department facilities to include a sculpture studio and bronze casting foundry. The latter is a rarity on college campuses and this one has been going strong for over twenty years. Barry Franz along with Chet Amyx and Bob Pelfrey -- the first three full time Cuesta art faculty -- are being featured in a three part exhibit at the campus Art Gallery. For details please check the Cuesta website.
September 4, 2013: September is National Preparedness Month. Marisa Waddell talks with local Red Cross Executive Director Loren Avila about what we can do in our own homes and businesses to be ready for emergencies and disasters.
A best-kept-secret on the Central Coast is King City's San Lorenzo County Park. Join correspondent, Tom Wilmer for a visit with Jessica Potts, Executive Director of the park's Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum. It features a restored one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith’s shop, more than 30 ancient farm tractors, an irrigation museum and lots more.
And Crissa Hewitt and Steven Deluque bring us another edition of Ears on Art, as they explore the world of the visual arts on the Central Coast.
August 28, 2013:There's a new federally-mandated fishery management system on the west coast called Catch Shares -- and it's making both fishermen and environmentalists happy. Marisa Waddell talks with one of each about what Catch Shares mean to local fish and fishermen.
Also, Donna Cheek profiles two North San Luis Obispo County groups that improve the lives of cats and dogs, especially through spay and neuter programs.
And San Luis Obispo County Library Director Brian Reynolds chats with local author Eric Soderquist and photographer Chris Burkard as they take you on an adventure of California surfing chronicled in their book, The California Surf Project.
August 21, 2013: Karen Pelland has a story about a Santa Barbara County non-profit that helps women get out of and recover from domestic violence.
Marisa Waddell talks with the director of the Central Coast Writer's Conference and a literary agent about the world of publishing and writing in the digital age, and Leslie Westbrook takes us on a tour of Santa Barbara's Funk Zone -- a longtime haven for artists that is being gentrified, and transforming into a hip place to hang out, drink wine and beer, and listen to music.
August 14, 2013: America in the Fall—Exploration Destinations. When summer vacation ends and the kids are back in school…that’s when many empty nesters hit the road to explore new destinations both close to home and around the country. Correspondent, Tom Wilmer, shares a sampler of intriguing things to see and do, including: The Booker T. Washington National Monument in Virginia. A visit to Spaceport America in New Mexico where Virgin Galactic is transforming space travel with planned sub-orbital flights for tourists and the cost to play is no longer limited to the rich and famous. Then it’s off to Northwest Georgia for a visit with Park Ranger Christopher Young at Chickamauga National Battlefield, the site of a bloody Civil War confrontation in the fall of 1863.Afterwards it’s off to Independence Missouri for a conversation with Diane Houk director of the Puppetry Arts Institute where you’ll find one of the world’s largest collections of Pinocchio ephemera, and we’ll learn that Pinocchio was not as nice as depicted in Disney’s interpretation. Also on Ears on Art, Hosts Steven and Crissa continue their discussion about the new interdisciplinary experiential event collaborative PRIME pARTicle productions. Timo Beckwith will return and will be joined by Academy Award nominated animator James Satoru Straus who is a core member of PRIME pARTicle. This is the first time we have explored the discipline of animation and are excited to do so. Tune in and learn how it and the many other arts disciplines will work together to create a unique art happening. The first event will be August 23 at SLOMA as the finale to the opening of a juried sculpture exhibit "SLAM".
August 7, 2013: Marisa Waddell talks with young author, Dori Stone, about her new novel, Growing Home, and her vision for a rural community farm and urban garden center on the Central Coast. Dori has been named Author of the Year by Common Ground Worldwide. Also, Travel Correspondent, Tom Wilmer, gets tips from third generation Californian Leslie Westbrook, whose latest book is the Insider's Guide to Santa Barbara.
July 31, 2013: Host Larry Rutter talks law, theater, and farm-fresh food on this week’s edition. Guests include the winner of the Distinguished Jurist Award for 2013 from California Women Lawyers, retired SLO Superior Court Judge, the Honorable Teresa Estrada-Mullaney. She talks about her extraordinary career of legal firsts as lawyer, prosecutor and judge.
How to choreograph a sword fight and a preview of the offerings this summer of PCPA Theaterfest at the Solvang Festival Theater are topics covered in a visit with the company’s Artistic Director, Mark Booer.
And then listeners get an introduction to the new farmers market at the Santa Maria Town Center from its manager, Christy Laschiver.
July 24, 2013: On the next Issues and Ideas, Brian Reynolds talks with Stacey Hunt and Michael Jencks of Ecologistics, a non-profit set up to create a resilient and healthy community for the residents of San Luis Obispo County that strives for sustainability, both economically and environmentally.
Reporter, Jake Blair, asks shark and conservation experts about the increase in shark sightings and interactions off the Central Coast. Then, he considers the meaning behind the annual summer media frenzy that surrounds these “apex-predators”.
The beauty of horses cannot be denied, but could they also provide a path for healing for people with unresolved trauma? There are individuals who have experienced this unusual form of equine therapy, and their answer would be yes. Donna Cheek will discuss this rather novel therapeutic approach with certified equine facilitator, Hans Van Randwijk.
July 17, 2013: Marisa Waddell has a preview of the Festival Mozaic with Music Director, Scott Yoo, and Executive Director, Bettina Swigger. We’ll hear about the wide variety of concerts, special events, a world premier, and how the festival is using social media.
Carried in Our Hearts: Founder of the Worldwide Orphans Organization, Dr. Jane Aronson, presents moving first-person testimonies from families whose lives are changed by adoption.
Also, Guy Rathbun talks with Dr. Jane Aronson, founder of the Worldwide Orphans Organization, about adoption and how it transforms lives. Dr. Aronson’s new book, Carried in Our Hearts, presents moving adoption stories from families around the nation.
July 10, 2013:Marisa Waddell talks with Tom Neuhaus, the president and founder Project Hope & Fairness, on the topic of fair trade chocolate, also Travel Correspondent, Tom Wilmer takes us to Little Rock, and Bentonville, Arkansas, where he spends an evening at the Starving Artist Cafe in North Little Rock, the home of the weekly Tales from the South radio show. Then he visits with Warwick Sabin, publisher of the Oxford American Literary Magazine and its new venue, South on Main, which is the magazine's cultural institution devoted to the preservation and perpetuation of Southern culture..On this week's Ears On Art segment at 1:30, Steven and Crissa visit with former central coast resident Mark Beck who currently has a show of his paintings at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art titled "Tyranny of Beauty". Mark currently lives in Albuquerque and his works can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the world.
July 3, 2013: If San Luis Obispo County had a first family of farming, the Talley’s would be high on the list. Vegetables, wine grapes, and now, fresh harvest boxes...they like to say, “quality is what we do.” Lynn Diehl finds out what roots generation after generation to the land in this great American success story. Then, Santa Barbara Correspondent, Tom Wilmer, visits with General Manager, Laura McIver, for an in-depth exploration of the revered, historic El Encanto Hotel. Set on lush garden grounds a thousand feet above the beachside town of Santa Barbara, the El Encanto has been an integral part of the local fabric for close to a century. Following a six-year, multi-million dollar restoration, the El Encanto has recently reopened, with all of its historic charms intact, but with the addition of sophisticated, modern amenities.
On Ears on Art, Crissa Hewitt talks with Beth Mott, Education Coordinator of the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, about children’s art classes, the learning process, the value of art in people’s lives, and how to engage students so that art becomes an integrated part of their lives.
June 26, 2013: Marisa Waddell talks with Garrison Keillor in anticipation of his visit to Paso Robles in July with A Prairie Home Companion's Radio Romance Tour. The humorist and author answers listener questions about his creative process, "yo' mama" jokes, the gridlock in Congress, and more.
Plus, Red Wings Horse Sanctuary is not your typical horse rescue facility. Donna Cheek will explore the unusual collaborative efforts of Executive Director Linda Plumb and therapeutic body work specialist Jeanette Burrows. Together they have developed a program that benefits horses and humans alike.
And San Luis Obispo County Library Director Brian Reynolds talks with local science fiction writer Mark Arnold about the origins of science fiction, and how the literary genre has, and continues, to define our times.
June 19, 2013: On Issues and Ideas, the topics are the vastly different yet equally fascinating topics of entrepreneurship and theater. Larry Rutter's guests include Professor Jonathan York, head of Cal Poly's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, who talks about new methods and tools for creating business enterprises and how they're being used to grow enterprises created by students.
And Larry talks with the managing artistic director of the SLO Little Theatre, Kevin Harris, about his vision and strategy for guiding and building the venerable theater company, and listeners get a preview of the company's new season. On Ears on Art, they continue their discussion with Frank Goss, of the Sullivan Goss Gallery in downtown Santa Barbara, and they have a brief chat with the new Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo Arts Council, Jenna Hartzell.
June 12, 2013:Dogs are more than companions in the military, in law enforcement, and in safeguarding a variety of people, places, and events. In such a high-tech world, how is it that K-9 units continue to be an essential element of public safety? Lynn Diehl visits with Pedra, a 6-year-old German Shepherd, her handler, Ranger Daniel Gant of Hearst Castle, and a filmmaker whose documentary about Marine Corps dog teams will screen at the Hearst Castle IMAX Theatre next weekend.
Also, travel correspondent, Tom Wilmer, takes us to Monterey’s Cannery Row and explores the Portola Hotel in the heart of Old Town Monterey. The Portola serves as Monterey’s convention center, but is also family- and dog-friendly, a leader in green initiatives, and houses a micro-brewery.
And Crissa Hewitt and Steven Deluque explore the world of art on another edition of Ears on Art.
June 5, 2013: Marisa Waddell speaks with the executive director of Community Partners in Caring, which provides volunteer services to homebound seniors in the Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Ynez Valleys. Services like transportation, friendly visits, errands and simple home repairs allow seniors to continue living in their homes with dignity and quality of life.
Tom Wilmer takes us on a trip to an Albuquerque hotel that supports non-profit cultural programs and provides opportunities for local and regional artists to showcase their work. The Nativo Lodge has just unveiled its “Artist Rooms,” where emerging New Mexico Native American artists were invited to transform guest rooms into living works of art.
This week’s Ears on Art is an interview with Frank Goss, one of the owners of Sullivan Goss gallery in Santa Barbara. Frank is an expert on the history of the artists of the Santa Barbara area since the late 1800’s. The gallery also boasts a private collection of over four thousand works that are rotated in with the traveling shows they organize. They specialize in working with well-known artists. Andrew Wyeth’s works are featured in the current exhibition.
May 29, 2013: Larry Rutter talks with the head of the California Innocence Project, Professor Justin P. Brooks, about the organization and its current effort to persuade Governor Jerry Brown to grant clemency to 12 people the Project believes were innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted.
Larry also visits with SLO city planner, Kim Murry, about the next steps in the city’s process of updating its master plan.
Then he talks with director, Sandy Bosworth, about her play, Audience With Murder, premiering at the Pewter Plough Playhouse in Cambria.
Finally, the chair of the Cal Poly Journalism Department, Professor Mary Glick, talks about how her students are being taught to adjust to the rapid changes in news media in the era of nearly instant on-line communications.
May 22, 2013: It’s commonly called Valley Fever, but the disease is not confined to the valley. The number of known cases is on the rise. Would you recognize the symptoms, and can you protect yourself with a mask? Lynn Diehl reveals what doctors, medical investigators, and researchers are finding in the lab and in the field.
Also, Donna Cheek visits with Morro Bay Police K-9 officer Stephanie Pipan and her dog Xello.
And San Luis Obispo County Library Director, Brian Reynolds, examines social media, social networking, and how businesses are using these tools to enhance advertising and gain marketing momentum. He talks with local business owner Teri Bayus of Siafu Consulting, who holds social networking classes at the Oceano Community Center.
May 15, 2013: California might be described as having 5 seasons—the fifth being Fire Season—and this year the conditions are particularly ominous. Lynn Diehl talks with firefighters who are applying years of know-how to switch tactics and save neighborhoods that are surrounded by wildlands.
Also, Marisa Waddell talks with Pearl Means, the widow of American Indian activist, Russell Means, who died in October. In anticipation of an upcoming book signing and speaking engagement in Santa Maria, Pearl Means will talk about her and her husband's work with the American Indian Movement and the United Nations, his writing, and his philosophy. Julie Wheelock talks with an expert who can help you plant a garden that is less likely to cause allergies. And Mary Schiller takes us on a spring cleaning trip to the Nipomo Swap Meet.
May 8, 2013: Larry Rutter gets an update from SLO County supervisor Adam Hill about the upcoming Amgen Tour of California that will stop in Avila Beach, among other places on the Central Coast. They'll talk about how preparations are progressing, and how the bicycle race will affect the little beach town. Also, travel writer Lisa Sonnie takes us to an alpaca ranch in Ojai.
May 1, 2013:May is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Month, so Marisa Waddell talks with two experts about this common, but still little understood disorder that causes pain, fatigue, and sleep problems. Rheumatologist Dr. Deneen DiCarlo and yoga instructor Shoosh Crotzer talk about fibromyalgia symptoms, treatment, and how friends and family can help.
Also, travel correspondent, Tom Wilmer, explores “Doggie Friendly” San Luis Obispo County. Tom’s American Bulldog, “Tug”, joins other doggie tourists, along with their owners as they climb aboard the “Lost Isle” tour boat in Morro Bay. Doggies and their owners experience the wildlife such as sea otters, seals, sea lions, and a wide variety of birds in Morro Bay’s beautiful estuary.
And Crissa Hewitt and Steven deLuque explore the exciting world of visual arts on Ears on Art.
April 24, 2013:News reports last week revealed that the Wild Cherry Canyon project in Avila was apparently dead. Why should we care? What does the loss mean for the future outdoor recreation and accessible scenic beauty of the Central Coast? Are there any prospects for reviving it? Those are some of the questions Larry Rutter asks one of the chief promoters of the project, Kara Blakeslee.
Guest host Joe Laurenzi, from San Luis Obispo County Libraries, talks to Karen May Ortiz, Executive Director of the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, and Sheryl Flores, Director of Operations and Guest Services at the SLO Children’s Museum. Karen and Sheryl will discuss the new policies and changes with the Association of Children’s Museums’ Reciprocal Program and the importance of children’s museums on the central coast.
Also, Donna Cheek speaks with the Community Programs Director of Woods Humane Society about its strategic plan and programs—which include everything from curbing feline over-population to dog therapy sessions with veterans and educational programs for kids and adults alike.
April 17, 2013:Host Larry Rutter’s talks with Cuesta College president Gil Stork about accreditation, summer school, Cuesta’s 50th anniversary, and more.
…Also, Sigrid Wright, head of Santa Barbara's Earth Day celebration, tells us about next week’s festival.
…SLO Tribune reporter Kathe Tanner details the problems with re-surfacing Highway 1 north of Cambria
…and Deborah Cash, executive director of the San Luis Obispo Downtown Association, reports on issues facing downtown merchants.
April 10, 2013:Kauai--the island of Discovery--- join correspondent Tom Wilmer reporting from Kauai as he visits with Sue Kanoho, Executive Director of the Kauai Visitors Bureau www.kauaidiscovery.com. Followed by an in depth look at the world of sustainable agriculture and farmers markets on the island with Melissa McFerrin www.kauaigrown.org. Then we will tour the Kaui museum www.kauaimuseum.org.
April 3, 2013: Get a preview of the upcoming SLO Marathon when Larry Rutter talks with its director, Heather Hellman. Tom Wilmer takes us on a tour of some wineries in the Paso Robles CAB Collective, a group that promotes the area's Cabernet and Bordeaux varietals.
March 27, 2013:To cap off Women's History Month, Larry Rutter talks with author and historian Vicki Leon, author of the Uppity Women series of books, who shares encouraging and often humorous tales of brave and daring women from ancient times and from the New World. Larry also visits with theatre owner, Jim Dee, and takes a look at the movie business behind-the-scenes. And, Brian Reynolds and Joe Laurenzi from SLO County Libraries look forward to national poetry month. Their guests - Cal Poly professors and celebrated local poets Kevin Clark, Lisa Coffman and Leslie St John - discuss ideas of poetry on the Central Coast, the pursuit of poetry in academia, and what it's like to be a poet in the information age.
March 20, 2013: Host Larry Rutter talks with the National Teacher of the Year, Rebecca Mieliwocki, who offers some surprising and very thoughtful ideas about the future of education in the U.S. He also visits with Arthur and Marilynn Rosenberg, the owners of an extraordinary collection of paintings from the '30s and '40s called "American Scene" on display this month at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art.
March 13, 2013: Tom Wilmer takes us to the Johnny Cash Music Festival, where he visits with Rosanne Cash and the fascinating festival director, Bill Carter. The festival provides scholarships for needy students and funds the restoration of the Johnny Cash boyhood home.
March 6, 2013: There's a local, community-sponsored health plan that serves the uninsured and under-insured on the Central Coast. Learn more about what's available through CenCal Health, from adult day care services and Medi-Cal, to assistance understanding the Affordable Care Act. Marisa Waddell talks with CenCal Health C.E.O. Bob Freeman. Also, Tom Wilmer takes us on a visit to Cayucos. We'll tour a four diamond inn, and explore the charming local beach town.
February 27, 2013: Internationally-renowned philosopher and scholar Jean Houston will appear at the upcoming Central Coast Women's Symposium. Marisa Waddell talks with Dr. Houston and symposium organizer Laura Grace about how women are changing the world through collaboration and cooperation.
Also, award-winning author Russell Martin will make an appearance at the Festival Mozaic's upcoming WinterMezzo weekend. Martin's book Beethoven's Hair examines how a lock of the composer's hair can provide startling revelations about Beethoven, his music, and history. Kristine Tardiff and Kay Radar of the San Luis Obispo County Libraries talk with Russell, along with Festival Mozaic Executive Director Bettina Swigger about Beethoven, his music, and the WinterMezzo weekend.
February 20, 2013:Larry Rutter looks at localism and sustainability of the production and distribution of food. His guests are Hunter Francis, head of Cal Poly's Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Peter Jankay, administrator of the San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market Association, and Jenna Smith, Executive Director of the Central Coast Ag Network.
February 13, 2013: Three librarians and an author. Vanessa Diffenbaugh wrote this year's Cuesta College Book of the Year and the "SLO County Reads" novel The Language of Flowers. She talks about her book with San Luis Obispo County Public Library Director, Brian Reynolds, and Library Manager, Kristine Tardiff, along with Denise Fourie from Cuesta College.
February 6, 2013: Jim Dee talks with Wendy Eidson, about the upcoming San Luis Obispo International Film Festival. Also, join travel correspondent, Molly Blaisdell as she reports from Hawaii about romantic adventure options on the island of Maui.
January 30, 2013: A surprising tour of the lesser known museums of Los Angeles with travel correspondent Tom Wilmer, and a preview of a few upcoming events that appear this week on the KCBX Community Calendar. The events include a discussion about reforming the state's initiative process, the showing of a film based on a great book and the next concert of the SLO Symphony.
January 23, 2013 (b): Join SLO County Library Director, Brian Reynolds, and SLO County Library Manager, Kristine Tardiff, in a discussion with Dee Torres, CAPSLO Homeless Services Director and Laurel Weir, SLO County Homeless Services Coordinator, focusing on homelessness, some of the programs and services to assist the homeless, and some recent and upcoming efforts to better identify and understand homelessness in our community.
January 23, 2013:Marisa Waddell talks with local composer and musician Garry Eister, whose work has been performed all over the world. His latest effort, though, involves the music of another composer, the great American Maverick Harry Partch. Garry and members of the ensemble Partch have been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Classical Compendium for a recording of Harry Partch's Bitter Music -- a poetic and musical journal of the composer's experience as a hobo along the coast of California during the Great Depression.
January 16, 2013:Join host Larry Rutter as we learn about the state's newest national park at Pinnacles with its superintendent. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the PAC with the head of Cal Poly Arts, Steve Lerian. Hear about the City of San Luis Obispo's unique approach to master planning with long-range planner Kim Murry. And learn about an endowment that makes a meaninful difference in the lives of local women and girls. Ann Robinson of the San Luis Obispo Community Foundation will be on hand to speak about the Women's Legacy Fund.
January 9, 2013: When we think of the San Luis Obispo Symphony, we might think of beautiful music in a concert hall, musicians in tuxedos and black dresses, or a fun concert by the ocean at the end of summer. But the orchestra and concerts is only about half of what the symphony does. The other half is music education -- making sure kids are exposed to classical music, receive music training, and even providing instruments for students to try or to rent.
Join Brian Reynolds and Kristine Tardiff from the SLO County Library as they discuss the importance of providing positive experiences for youth through focusing on the developing of assets. The developmental assets are 40 common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help influence the choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible, successful adults. They will also be discussing some upcoming events focusing on how to build a community without bullying.