Welcome to the Slo Coast Journal. Published online monthly, the Journal brings you information specific to California's Central Coast.
"After all those years as a woman hearing 'not thin enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not this enough, not that enough,' almost overnight I woke up one morning and thought, 'I'm enough.' "
Anna Quindlen
Since President Obama released his budget last month, I've heard from constituents throughout the Central Coast with comments and concerns, especially about one specific provision: the President's inclusion of the Republican proposal to change how Social Security cost of living adjustments are made by using a benefit calculation called "chained CPI."
The President has said he would only be willing to consider this change in conjunction with a balanced plan of revenue increases and other spending cuts to bring our deficit in line. While I appreciate his willingness to once again go the extra mile in an effort to find compromise, this proposed change to Social Security is just a bad idea. Read More
New Column:
Whale Watch Adventures
Submitted by Rouvaishyana
Entry: May 2013
May is a month of transition for whale migration and marine life in general. Strong onshore winds produce coastal upwelling, which begins to form coastal fog and phytoplankton blooms. Phytoplankton feeds zooplankton, which feeds small fishes, which in turn provide food for marine birds and marine mammals including whales and dolphins.
During May the last gray whales head north toward the Bering Sea and arctic waters from their wintering areas off Baja California. The ones still traveling tend to be mothers with calves, and juveniles, both of which travel close to shore, sometimes in water 40 to 50 ft. deep or only slightly deeper. Read More
New Column:
Dear Abe
by George Zidbeck
Welcome to the first printing of an advice column, initiated by the alter ego of Mr. George Zidbeck, who retired as a "Country Squire" last month. Only a dozen people sought Mr. Abe's counsel last month – with some mailers requiring professional help. Hopefully, more readers will respond now having a taste of his sagacious responses. Read More
City Council members Jamie Irons, Christine Johnson and Noah Smukler believe they have righted the ship by making the planning and construction of a new water reclamation facility (also known as a wastewater treatment plant) the city's top priority in the 2013 goals the Council has adopted to guide the city's mission into 2014. The wasted time and money spent by the previous Council on developing a new facility seems to have ended. Read More
Open Meeting Laws Reviewed for Residents
It was billed as a "Brown Act, Fair Political Reform Act and Council Policies and Procedures Study Session" and meant to help residents understand what kind of "open meeting" rules the city staff and City Council are supposed to abide by. And, through that understanding, to enable those residents to gain important information they desire from the city by learning what obligations the city has to provide such information.
After years of wasted time and money, Morro Bay — under the leadership of a new City Council majority — has taken the first big step toward planning a new Water Reclamation Facility (WRF). But so much has changed. That new majority, of course, is mayor Jamie Irons, Christine Johnson and Noah Smukler.
Three years after Morro Bay and the Cayucos Sanitary District hired Montgomery Watson Harza (MWH) to design a new sewage plant that they would jointly own and operate, Morro Bay appears to be going it alone — at least for now — and the Cayucos Sanitary District (CSD) is apparently planning its own separate sewage plant. Read More
Morro Bay/Cayucos Partnership — To Be or Not To Be
By Richard E.T. Sadowski
The current Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the Cayucos Sanitary District (CSD) and Morro Bay was negotiated in 1982. It covers the ownership and operation of the jointly-owned wastewater treatment plant in Morro bay. The CSD and Morro Bay are currently deciding what to do with regard to future wastewater treatment facilities. Read More
Letter From a Gun-a-holic
by Dr. Steve Sainsbury
I started using firearms when I was a teenager. I began with the small stuff — a borrowed .22 single shot rifle, an occasional shotgun round. But soon I advanced to purchasing my own weapons, including a semi-automatic rifle, 12 gauge shotguns, and a pistol or two. Shooting became an adrenaline-filled passion, and I was thoroughly hooked. Until that day in 1975 when my gun world fell apart. Read More
Shutterbugs
featuring Alice Cahill
As a young child I drew constantly - mostly horses. Like many young girls I was horse crazy. Alas, I never had a real horse, so I had to content myself playing horses with my imaginary playmate DAH. Until I was almost eleven I lived out in the country on an orange grove. I can still recall the feeling of the rich, brown earth between my toes as I ran up and down the furrows between the rows of orange trees. Read More
Community News - Marine Mammal Center Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed to help rescue and care for marine mammals found on our shores. The Marine Mammal Center, a non-profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured, sick and orphaned marine mammals will hold an Introduction meeting Wednesday, June 5 at 6:30 pm. Read More
It's That Time of Year Again: Morro Rock Fledgling - Video by Cleve Nash
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Great Blue Heron Image on Banner by Nan Carder
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