"ASHAMED AND SORRY" UPDATING THE POST--CLEARING YOUR HEAD & GETTING IT SAID-- WITH A SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT

RESNICKS "ASHAMED AND SORRY"
Make restitution in Paso Wine Region

    The Tribune reporter Lindsey Holden reports Stewart and Lynda Resnick, owners of Justin Vineyards say "they were asleep at the wheel" when their company cut thousands of oak trees, denuded a large hill side and began work on an illegal holding pond that would have sucked 6 million gallons of water, frightening nearby neighbors and farmers worried about their wells. Holden quotes them as saying they are "ashamed and sorry."

     The good news is they plan to give the 380 acre parcel to a local nonprofit group and say they are looking for conservation opportunities. They promise to plant 5 thousand new oaks.  

      As we have noted previously neighbors and other growers were worried by the Resnick actions. Since our original posts the LA Times and the San Luis Obispo Tribune and other media have given the growing story a lot of attention. Major restaurants have dropped Justin Wine from their menus and boycotts of the Resnick products Fiji Water, Pom Wonderful and Justin wine have begun. All of these products are produced by Wonderful Company. 

      The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors issued stop work orders and is investigating potential violations.  

       Holden reports Wonderful reported income of $3.8 billion 

  in 2014.  Since the Resnick purchase of the prestigious Justin label from Justin Baldwin they've experienced staff turnover, loss of a premier winemaker, have increased production levels and begun a mass marketing campaign.

Long time fans have dropped membership in the wine club and complained about the drop in quality of the product. The Justin operation is "corporate" while the majority of Paso Robles appellation winemakers are smaller, independent, boutique, mom and pop and artisan.

Fresh

Moonstone Beach, Cambria Ca     

    It is always a good place to clear your head. Politics, discord, warm temperatures and whatever disappear in the breeze and lullaby of the surf.

the intersection 

 the solo walker

 the mystery of where rocks land-why here?

 closer looks

 the world awaits

In a Council Chamber not far away

   The once revered Justin Winery took a verbal beating before the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors investigating land use irregularities and tree cutting on Justin property.

    Lindsey Holden of the San Luis Obispo Tribune reports dozens of farmers, residents and environmentalists decried practises by the winery owned by Stewart Resnick and his Wonderful Company.

     The county is considering penalties for trying to build a water storage pond and grading violations that neighbors say threaten their wells.

      Supervisor Bruce Gibson is quoted as saying "it is the most appalling demonstration of corporate greed I've seen in a very long time."

       Holden reports Chairwoman Lynn Compton told of how growers talk about how they grew up respecting the land and caring for it  "And then you have some out of town corporation....and they really come in and spoil it for everyone."

      As we posted previously, when Justin Baldwin owned the winery his product was highly regarded. Since sale to the Resnick group the wine appears to be just another commodity in a business that sells Fiji Water, Pom Wonderful and other products. Several fine dining establishments have dropped Justin and many former fans talk about a cheapening of the product. The ethos of Justin seems entirely out of place and character in the Paso Robles appellation which is gaining reputation for quality and a friendly and accessible counterpoint to Napa, a corporate wine region. 

      The Board of Supervisors is considering new Oak protection ordinances for that rural area, similar to those in place elsewhere.

The Gun Fight

    It appears the next battle ground for gun control, safety and regulation will be in state legislatures. The Supreme Court has permitted state regulation, consistent with their rulings on the Second Amendment. Further the US Congress is impotent and under the control of the NRA and their fellow gun industry lobbyists.  

    The state level fight worked for previous social issues, including marriage. In addition former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg vows to fight the NRA perversion of Congress. He's probably got deeper pockets and is a lot tougher than LaPierre.

    Interesting times we inhabit eh?

    Remember to take a walk once in a while.

    See you down the trail.

Atmospherics

CHANGES IN ATTITUDES

North Shore Oahu 

Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo County California

Sun play with branch and window

 SKY QUILTS

 HORIZONS

 The view from here

Find the artist?

THROW BACK JIM

Jim and his beloved Linda in the Paso Robles appellation

  An early visit to the Central Coast by Jim and Linda. Jim introduced us to the Central Coast and Big Sur a few moons ago. Now he makes introductions to the North Shore of Oahu.  He knows his ocean views.  Stay tuned.

   
    Jimmy Buffet had it right about changes in latitude-even if only a frame of mind.

   See you down the trail.

MOMENTS THAT MATTER

THE REACH

Solitary fisherman on Moonstone Beach, Cambria Ca.

REEL THOUGHTS

WATERMARK

    WATERMARK is an extraordinary 92 minute visual odyssey that spans the globe and reminds us in every image how inextricably linked humans are to water.  

     Canadian documentary filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky have created an extraordinary work that is captivating. It is stunning in its scope and beautiful. Scenes are majestic or powerful and so well captured they prompt audible gasps from the audience. WATERMARK is a film to see, either in the theatre or at home on a good screen.

JUST BEING PRESENT

   A public expression of gratitude to Lana for her artist's palette creation on our back slope.

   Frequent readers are familiar with the work. She has created a space filled with a couple dozen variety of blooms, drought tolerant too, that is an aerial playground for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, beetles and other airborne denizens of the California coast. Orchestrated with wind chimes it is a perfect retreat for being present in the moment. It is a place of beauty, nature and transcendence.  

SCENES OF A STROLL

 A recent late morning stroll along San Luis Obispo County's Bob Jones "city to sea" trail was picture perfect.

 A FIRST EFFORT

   Bruce, aka The Catalyst, likes to experiment with recipes.

A few weeks ago he published his adventure with a coconut cream pie.  It "spoke to me," enough so to compel me to bake my very first pie. I'll do a couple of things differently next time, but it got nice reviews, none-the-less. Thanks Mr. T! Who'd ever think I would bake a pie?

   See you down the trail.

TELLING A HISTORY

AND ALL THROUGH HISTORY

     As we used our pin hole lens to chart the progress of the eclipse and as I viewed photos sent by friends and media coverage I was struck by a realization.  Though we live with amazing communication technology, build empires, farm in arid lands, change the course of rivers, and are stunned by IPO's and Idol shows, all of those things that might make  humans think we are planetary powers, we are still awe struck and marvel at a force of nature over which we have no control. And in that was the kernel of the realization. 

     After all is said and done, we are barely more than the first bipeds who watched an eclipse.  We may "know" the science behind it but we are still just inhabitants of a blue planet staring at the center of our solar system and watching a cosmic ballet and marvel at it.

GREEN SPACE HELPS TELL THE STORY

     The history of Chinese influence on this part of the Central Coast has been advanced thanks to a project of 

Greenspace The Cambria Land Trust.

     The Chinese Temple, an artifact of the time when Chinese were part of the Cambria cultural mix has been restored, curated and just opened to the public.

      Historical items are painstakingly displayed inside the
the Temple.

     Greenspace opened the Temple to public display and 
included an historical timeline, telling the story behind the Temple at its current location.

    The Temple was part of a complex of buildings that grew up in the area of Cambria where the Chinese lived.

     Once standing alone, the Temple was incorporated into what was known as "The Red House" as the Chinese cultural heritage consolidated into one location as the population began to diminish.  The Temple was that portion of the building marked by the white tag.

     The temple was built in 1885.  In 1925 it became part of the Red House, the Chinese cultural center.  Eventually it languished for decades.

Greenspace Photo

      In 2007 Greenspace moved the Temple to its current location and began external restoration.

Greenspace Photo

Greenspace Photo

      The inside work was completed this year and the Red Temple is now the jewel in the beautiful Greenspace Creekside Reserve on Center Street in Cambria's historic East Village.

     The Chinese flourished in this area in the 19th Century.  In northern San Luis Obispo County many were kelp harvesters. The product was gathered, dried, processed and shipped to China.  Earlier the Chinese helped build the west coast rail lines and then worked in the Cinnebar mines. They've been described as tireless and fearless workers, picking at rock and mountains.

     Local historians report that when George Hearst obtained coast land, he pushed the Chinese out of the area by shoving their bluff and cliff side homes into the Pacific. He was the  father of William Randolph Hearst the builder of the castle at San Simeon.
     For a variety of reasons the Chinese eventually left this area of the central coast and migrated to San Francisco where a vibrant culture remains. I'm sorry there is not a larger Chinese population on this part of the Central Coast.  I'm grateful Greenspace has done such a marvelous job of capturing and preserving the history.  
      If you get to Cambria, make a point of touching this 
part of history.
      See you down the trail.