Big, Bad & Ugly Surf Contest 2009
by Kevin Cole

Morro Rock by Dennis Young

USCG Surf Boats by Malcolm Riordan

Great Blue Heron by Nan Carder

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Peregrine Falcon Image on Banner by Cleve Nash

Atascadero Writers Group

Dear John

A full-size cutout of John Wayne stands in the rustic hotel lobby corner
Hat over gunfighter squint, dusty red shirt, hip-shot, tan jeans over scuffed boots
But something is wrong here……
Then it hits me
His gun belt is there but he has no gun . . . Read More

Frustrated Local Writer by Rose Marie Zurkan

We invited the neighbors, new and old, to our Hallowe'en party. Sonia Beaufort hemmed and hawed over the phone, finally apologizing for taking so long to tell me why she called. "Did you invite Helen?" she asked. "Who lives across the street from me?" Read More

Genie's Pocket by Jeanie Greensfelder

Slaying Dragons

Waving his battle-axe
he slays dragons and goblins
preparing me for The Hobbit,
a movie he's seen three times.  Read More

Great Shots by Jerry Kirkhart & Steve Corey

Our photo editors bring you some of their favorite coastal images for the month. This month's featured local photographers are Rick Derevan, Steve Corey, Brenda Harker, Beth Sargent, Jenn Lawrence, Jerry Kirkhart, Aidan Briggs, Mimi Ditchie, Cheryl Strahl, Bob Canepa, Teddy Lovett, Ronnie Goyette, Elizabeth Haslam, Dave Lawrence, Marlin Harms, Bill Bouton, James Crawford, Alice Cahill, Don Henderson, Lace Anderson, Barb Ignatius, Donald Quintana, Mike Peterson, David Pasillas, Linda Tanner, Ashala Tylor, Breedie Savage, Dagmar Collins, Sylvia Sanchez, and Michelle Maani. See More

Mostly Music by Dawn Starr

San Luis Obispo County is home to one of the premier social dance scenes in the United States. Social dance is a category of dance styles which can be performed with a variety of partners in a relaxed, social setting. While many people think this type of dancing if primarily for competition, locally less than 5% of the dancers are competing. The rest of the dancers are doing it simply for fun.  Read More

One Poet's Perspective by Jane Elsdon

April was full of applause for poetry as we celebrated National Poetry Month in our county's libraries. At the Atascadero Library I was privileged to share some of my own children's poetry with a group of three-year-olds through third graders eager for the Story Hour. Read More

Opera SLO by Kathryn Bumpass

The Metropolitan Opera has announced its series of HD broadcasts for the 2013-2014 season. The roster has a distinctly Russian-East European flavor, and serves up predominantly late 19th and early 20th century works. Read More

Practicing Poetic Justice by Deborah Tobola

Since beginning the Poetic Justice Project in 2009, I've met the most amazing people — formerly incarcerated actors, audience members, and colleagues in the field of restorative justice. One person who fits all of those categories is Father Masseo Gonzales. Father Masseo, born Robert Gonzales, is a Franciscan priest. And a rap artist. And he runs a hip-hop dance studio in Guadalupe. Read More

Shutterbugs, Featuring Gary Powell

I am thrilled to be asked by the SLO Coast Journal to write about my love of Morro Bay and my photographic experiences here.  I continue to be amazed at the work of the very talented  Central Coast photographers, many of whom have had their work showcased in the Journal.  Read More

Slo Coast Cooking by Elise Griffith

Ah, May… the fog of summer hasn't yet settled in, graduations, bridal showers, weddings and Memorial Day picnics are arriving as friends and family begin to congregate. Gatherings of people mean all those folks need to be fed. One restaurant luncheon at a recent family reunion cost more than $500, so I'd like to encourage readers to plan ahead for much more affordable alternatives. Read More

Valencia Peak Panorama by Howard Ignatius