NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2005

Women’S PRESS
Educate • Enlighten • Empower VOLUME XX, NUMBER 6

A PUBLICATION OF THE WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CENTER • SAN LUIS OBISPO • CALIFORNIA

Inside:
Become a Women’s
Press supporter
… page 2

Meet our
photographers
… page 3

… page 4

Peoples’ Self-Help
Housing
… page 5

Women’s stories
… pages 6 – 7

Unsung heroine
Annie Dunbar
… page 7

Holiday thoughts
… pages 8 – 9

Yoga, ayurveda,
and winter
… page 10

NEW COLUMN
Spirituality Matters
… page 10

CodePink activities
… page 13

Community
Bulletin Board
… pages 13 – 14

Community
Resources
… page 15

Back Talk
… page 16
 Women’s Press
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KATHLEEN DERAGON
MANAGING EDITOR, WOMEN’S PRESS
MANAGING-EDITOR@WOMENSPRESS-SLO.ORG

Dear Readers,
Whenever the holiday season begins, I have the
flush of excitement and anticipation that I felt as a
child when the decorations started to come out, I
wrote my list to Santa, and Mom and I planned what
cookies to make that year. But then the experience
of the years is recalled and my excitement wanes,
eroded by too many seasons of decorations coming
out in October to give stores more time to make
money and of messages to buy, buy, buy bombarding
me in the newspaper and on TV. Tears may enter
my eyes as I watch the Hallmark card and Kodak
moment ads, but I quickly wipe them away as I
ponder the fact that the promotion of such rich
family experiences all but disappears once the
holidays are over. I feel manipulated.
I countered all the commercialism with my own
children by giving them each a modest allowance
with which to buy gifts for family members, which
encouraged them to apply their creativity and
crafting skills to make the money stretch. The
present opening became joyful and noncompetitive,
full of laughs and gratitude. We have kept our
tradition of thoughtful but not extravagant gifts
even as they have become adults. It’s nice to not be
pressured to overspend when we all seem to be living
on tight budgets.
The other reason I’m jaded about holidays is
because it looks like a once-a-year-giving-frenzy
to persons less fortunate. People are hungry and Choose your level and mail a check made out to the Women’s Community Center with Women’s Press on the memo line.
homeless all year long, but it’s mostly in December Mail to:Women’s Community Center, 880 Industrial Way, SLO 93401
that we remember and donate canned goods, money
for a holiday meal, coats and other warm clothing.
All these collections and good deeds make for good Subscribe to the Women’s Press: The annual subscription fee for delivery of the Women’s
front page stories so for one month a year persons Press by U.S. Mail is $20/year (six issues). Mail check to Women’s Community Center, 880 Industrial Way, San
needy all year long experience our generosity. Luis Obispo,CA 93401. Write “Women’s Press subscription” on the memo line.
I guess I want the warm fuzzies available during
the holidays to be part of our lives all year long.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we all made volunteerism WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD
and monetary contributions a part of our everyday Angie King, President
Your Opinion
lives? That we knew who in our community needed Wanted
Dawn Williams, Secretary
assistance and helped out not just with money but
ourselves? Are our lives really so busy that we cannot Kathleen Deragon Send your letters to :
entertain that possibility? Susan Howe Women’s Press–Your Opinion
I think the outpouring of generosity to the Kacey Kralicek Women’s Community Center
victims of Katrina and the other storms showed that Sue McMeans 880 Industrial Way
we do feel a responsibility for one another. May we Andy McMeans San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
keep those feelings alive. Send eMail to :
Jan Potter
Go to www.volunteerslo.org to find a volunteer managing-editor@womenspress-slo.org
opportunity or to post one. Renee Sanpei
( “Your Opinion” in subject line)
Robin Werderits
— Kathleen
Peace,
Karol Vogt

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Page 2 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org Women’s Press November/December 2005

 Women’s Community Center
880 INDUSTRIAL WAY • SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401 • 805.544.9313

FAMILY LAW ACTION COMMITTEE

Thanks for supporting
Women’s Press!
OUR MISSION IS:
Susan Rodriguez, Pat Soulliere-Ochylski • TO maintain an accessible center to collect and
exchange information of interest and concern to
women
Shirley Clark Herbel
• TO organize and facilitate workshops, clinics,
Get family law advice from local attorneys and/or paralegals.
seminars, classes and support groups on subjects of
interest and need
Margaret Hennessey
• TO engage in and facilitate interaction
among local, state and national agencies and
organizations working to benefit women
Dealing With Divorce
3rd Wednesday of each month – 7 PM
Upcoming: Nov. 16, Dec. 21, Jan. 18
Talk with other women who have been there, done that in a
supportive, non-judgmental environment. $5 donation
Self-Represented Litigants’ Clinic
4th Tuesday of each month – 5:30 PM
Upcoming: Nov. 22, Dec. 27, Jan. 24
Reservations required $25 donation
Call the WCC- for more information
and to confirm dates: 805.544.9313

You can make a difference
BY SUSAN HOWE
One of the programs of the
Women’s Community Center
is courtwatching. You sit in
family court and observe the
proceedings of cases of persons
who do not have legal counsel,
self-represented litigants.
Court watch serves several
purposes. One is to support
those persons who are going
through a divorce representing
themselves in family court.
Unrepresented litigants
can call into the Women’s
Community Center to ask for
this service or you can sit in
on court and see that a case
is a self-represented one and
choose to follow up on it.
It is interesting to see the
difference in behavior of the
judges when there are court
watchers there. Patience in
handling the self-represented
and explaining things to them
is present, and it seems at
times that the decisions are
even affected. After you watch,
you write up the procedure on
our form for court watch and
we gather them, summarize
them as to general and specific
observations, and report back
to the family court.
If you are interested in
doing this kind of service,
call the WCC at 544-9313
and we will arrange for a
training session.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming cl
Learn the Basics of
Money Management
The Women’s Community Center is offering a series of classes in
financial literacy, presented by Carmel Vignocchi.
“All too often women ask me, ‘Am I doing it right?’” reveals
Carmela. “Most want reassurance that the financial decisions
they have made are on target. Others question me about credit
or budgeting because they don’t know and are worried. They
have never had a personal finance class. They may be lacking
confidence in their financial literacy skills or are seeking additional
knowledge. These classes cover the very basics of personal
financial literacy. They are not investment classes. Each class is a
stand-alone module that can be taken independent of the other
modules. Together all 5 modules will cover the very basics of
money management.”

Let me introduce you …

Cost: $20 each session
Prerequisites: None
BY KATHLEEN DERAGON Length: 2 hours each
My call for photographers for the Women’s Press Number of participants: Minimum 10 - Maximum: 30
reaped a bountiful response. We now have three Location: Goodwill Building, 880 Industrial Way, SLO
women who have volunteered to take photos for Time: 7-9 p.m.
the paper as needed. Let me introduce them to you. 0 06
Thanks! L2
TI
UN
Schedule of Classes
Lynda Roeller N ED
OOctober 5 – Getting Financially Organized: Where
I like my photographs to elicit S TP Are You Now? Where Do You Want to Be?
emotion and impact, to show the PO
October 19 – How Does Your Cash Flow?
beauty that exists at any given
moment and share it. I would rather November 9 – Banking and Credit: Tools for Your
be behind the camera than in front Cash-Flow System
of it.
November 30 – Managing Your Risks: Insurances,
Services, & Programs

December 7 – The Basics of Saving and Investing

Anne Skelton
For me, photography is about
capturing a moment, an interaction
- whether it be the play of light and
shadow on a statue or the guy on the
motorcycle zooming down the street
with a shopping bag in his teeth. I see
wonderful photos everywhere I go and
it is my pleasure to sometimes catch
one.
What will the first class cover? Getting Financial Organized:
Where are you now? Where do you want to be?
At this class, you will be discussing issues regarding later life
financial security. You will learn to:
• Clarify myths from realities about later-life financial security
• Identify specific action steps that can help protect financial
security
• Assess your personal progress in planning, acting and
evaluating your financial security
• Know which financial documents are necessary to keep and
for how long
• Create a snap shot of your financial net worth.

Call 805-544-9313 to save a space.

Rani Shah
I currently work for the SARP Center, as the Crisis
Carmela Vignocchi has a Masters in
Services Coordinator. I have a goddess daughter and
Business Administration and a BA in
another one due in November! I love photography and
Psychology. She retired from Public
all things arts and crafts, especially scrapbooking! The
Education after 16 years as an Assistant
Women’s Press is one of my favorite local publications
Superintendent of Business Services.
and it’s an honor to volunteer as a photographer with
In 1996 she joined with Consumer
them. I hope to contribute more in the future!
Credit Counseling Service as the
Director of Outreach and Education.
Her passion is helping people learn about money.

Page 3 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org Women’s Press November/December 2005


Coordinator’s
Corner
BY ANGIE KING
Only one person responded to my
query last issue about the changes in
our newsletter. I hope that doesn’t
mean I am writing this stuff into the
void. The one lone response urged
us to continue publishing because,
as she put it, members need local
contact and information from the
chapter leadership. So until further
notice, I’ll give you one page every
other month til something happens,
like there’s too much news to fit into
one page (that’s already true!), or
someone steps forward to help.
This won’t get printed until
sometime in the middle of
November, and since the news
changes so fast, any comments on
today’s news would be out of date
by then, so I am not commenting
on Roberts/Meiers/Scalito or Prop
73 or any of the many other issues
confronting us.
But one thing that seems not to
be changing, and which bothers
me as much as – or more than-
the shenanigans coming out of
Washington and Sacramento, is the
lack of response to those shenanigans
at any meaningful level - by anyone
– Democrat, progressive, radical,
anarchist. I think we have all
internalized the rhetoric, and believe
ourselves powerless to change the
situation, even when we could, and
can, and should, maybe even taking
back democracy in the process. But
we’re made to feel afraid and we
seem to have given up. We have an
administration only too willing to
stir up our own worst demons, to
support their own drive for power.
Sound like a call to action? Well,
it is! We can do it. But we aren’t.
Where are the speeches in the
Senate demanding answers and
threatening filibuster? Where’s
Howard Dean doing what he does
best – railing against the machine?
Where are the investigative
journalist exposés? Where’s anybody?
If you want to take action, write
letters, become an escort at the
Planned Parenthood clinic, table
at Farmer’s Market to hand out
information, or - even just to know
there are other like-minded people in
SLO - come to one of our meetings.
We meet the 3rd Tuesday evening
each month, at the GALA center,
11573 LOVR at 6 PM. Call 541-5242
for directions.
NOW Calendar
Nov 8:
Election Day
Nov 15
NOW regular meeting, 6 PM
Nov 24:
Thanksgiving Day. Since 1916,
native peoples have also used the
occasion to celebrate their history
and cultures. National American
Indian Heritage Month is now
celebrated all during November
Dec 20
NOW regular meeting,
6 PM holiday party.
(See invitation this page)
Page 4 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org
NOW
News
THE PURPOSE OF NOW IS TO BRING WOMEN INTO FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICAN SOCIETY NOW!
Roe v. Wade Celebration
This year, NOW is celebrating the 33rd
anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision
with a screening of the acclaimed movie
“Vera Drake” at the Palm Theatre in San
Luis Obispo. Tickets will be sold at the
door for a $10 donation to NOW.
Thanks to the generosity of Jim Dee,
we have the opportunity to bring you
this movie, which tells the story of an
a good-hearted working class woman
who lived a happy life with her family,
cleaning houses for money, but also
performingNOW
illegalCabortions
HAPTER # CAfor565
poor
working PO
class women
BOX in London
1306, SLO, CA 93406after
World War II.SLONOW
Imelda @ KCBX.NET as Vera
Staunton
was nominated for Best Actress. Critics
have called this a “memorable film that
painstakingly creates a truthful and
often painful reality.”
There will be refreshments and an
audience discussion after the showing.
Action Shorts
NOW and Progressive Allies March
in New Orleans: When hundreds of
evacuating Katrina survivors, mostly
African American, attempted to cross
the Crescent City Connection Bridge
into the city of Gretna as they were
instructed, they were met by armed
Gretna police who had reportedly been
ordered by the police chief to seal off
the bridge, denying safe passage to
evacuees.
NOW joined other civil rights allies
in a Nov. 7 march across that bridge,
“sending a message to the police that
their actions were unacceptable and
inexcusable, and that people are willing
to stand up against racism,” according to
NOW President Kim Gandy.
Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA) Re-Authorization Bill Still
Stalled: VAWA expired September
30. The re-authorization bill is stalled
in conference committee, leaving
women in limbo. Enacted in 1994,
Jingle Bells and All That Jazz
Feminist Holiday Shopping Tips
and NOW Party Time
Tis the holiday season. Pick your reason.
It’s holiday time. And since most of
winter holidays derive from the ancients
using the promise of springtime renewal
to cope with the long cold darkness,
there are candles and fires and lights
and songs and gatherings of people.
Each holiday has a version of spiritual
renewal also, making efforts to clear up
misunderstandings, paying old debts,
giving gifts to each other, etc.
So, as you buy things for the people
you exchange gifts with at this winter
holiday season, consider the politics
of your choices. I don’t mean only
to buy local (to deprive corporations
of more profit and to preserve local
small businesses thus maintaining
a vibrant economy). I mean buy to
support feminist businesses. Those
that treat their women workers well
EVERY WOMAN DOESN’T HAVE TO JOIN NOW, JUST THE 125 MILLION WHO ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST!
National Organization for Women
NOW Prents
`Vera Drake´
January 22, 2006
10 AM
Palm Theatre, SLO
We are announcing this event early
because we want to make sure everyone
has it marked on their calendars. Join
us in affirming a woman’s right to
choose, which has become the issue du
jour (again).
Bush’s judicial nominations want
to do away with Roe; many states,
VAWA dramatically improved the
law enforcement response to violence
against women and made many more
services available to victims. In 2000,
Congress re-authorized the law,
adding services for rural, older and
immigrant women, as well as those with
disabilities.
Senate Amendment Would
Reinstate Data Collection for
Women at BLS
An amendment was added to the
Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations
Bill requiring the Bureau of Labor
Statistics to reinstate collection of the
Women Worker data series. The BLS
had announced in August that it would
discontinue collecting data on working
women.
Emergency Contraception (EC)
Update
As long as EC is available only by
prescription, individual pharmacists can
refuse to fill them. Over-the-counter
availability would completely bypass
these refusals. While we are still fighting
for OTC access to EC here in the U.S.,
(indeed, all their workers well), i.e.,
not Wal-Mart. I mean businesses
that provide health benefits for
their workers, including coverage
for reproductive health; I mean
businesses that pay a living wage so
families can actually have a decent
life and the kids have opportunities.
And of course, where possible,
patronize a woman-owned business.
You’ll be helping those retailers and
manufacturers and service providers and
business owners as well as giving joy to
your friends and family with thoughtful
gifts. Those businesses that show by
their behavior and policies that they
understand that the women employees/
customers are equal to men are feminist
and should be supported. After all, that’s
all feminism is – the notion that women
are people.
including California, are fighting right-
wing attempts to restrict access. The
Hyde Amendment and the Mexico City
Rule insure no federal money is spent to
terminate a pregnancy. Re-criminalizing
abortion is the ultimate goal of the
anti-choice lobby, and they have been
successful in scaring politicians to do
their bidding, even though the majority
of the American people are pro-choice.
The good news is that Scalito cannot
be confirmed before next year. Justice
O’Connor has said she will stay until
her successor has been confirmed. She
must be disappointed at the delays,
but feminists are not complaining.
O’Connor has been the swing vote on
a lot of issues NOW supports and the
longer she stays the safer are our rights.
Join us for the movie and the
discussion: Where do we go from here?
39 countries have laws making EC
available without a prescription.
“North Country” Illustrates
Woman’s Brave Fight Against
Violence, Sexual Harassment
Academy-award winner Charlize Theron
stars as Josey Aimes, a single mother
who takes a job in the iron mines of
Northern Minnesota — a lucrative job
where men outnumber women 30 to 1
and make it clear that they think women
don’t belong. The movie is inspired by
a true story, the case of Jenson v. Eveleth
Mines — the first class-action sexual
harassment lawsuit in U.S. history.
NOW is working with Participant
Productions, one of the movie’s
producers, to launch an action campaign
called “Stand Up: A Campaign to End
Sexual Harassment and Domestic
Violence.” The campaign allows those
who are moved by what they see in
the movie to get involved in the issues.
Visit their web site: www.participate.
net/standup for more information and a
community discussion space.
NOW Chapter # CA 565
PO Box 1306, SLO, CA 93406
SLONOW @ kcbx.net
The local chapter of NOW celebrates
the Winter Solstice on December
20, at Pat’s house. December 20th is
Tuesday, our regular meeting date,
and the party starts at 6 PM with
a potluck dinner. Bring musical
instruments, beverages, etc.
Call 528-6753 for directions.
Women’s Press November/December 2005
 Women’s Stories
Peopl’ Self-Help Housing
Helping Women Gain Autonomy
(from an interview of Jeanette Duncan by Renee Sanpei and Summer Fehrer)
BY CHARLENE HUGGINS

Recently on National lack of skills many of

Public Radio’s us take for granted,
“California Report,” find these tutorials
it was revealed that especially helpful.
a family of four
(two parents, two Because the PSHH
children), living in understands the
California, needs importance of
to earn $71,000.00 maintaining a
annually in an effort healthy life, they
to scratch out a assist in meeting
living. Housing, the health needs of
health care, their residents by
transportation networking with
and food were health professionals
the necessities and connecting
considered in this women to the proper
assessment. services, which
This startling dollar provide prenatal care,
Photo by Lynda Roeller

amount points to the parenting skills and

ever-growing need
for organizations like
Peoples’ Self-Help
Housing, which for
35 years has sought
to provide affordable
housing in the Central
Coast for single mothers, heads
of household, and those with
limited or no English skills.
Initially, the goal was to
operate a self-help housing
program, which they
successfully achieved with over
1,000 rental units developed.
They’ve also completed 3,000
housing rehabilitation and
home repairs. Recognizing
that providing housing wasn’t
enough, the PSHH has
expanded into a comprehensive
group which helps women
gain autonomy in all aspects of
their lives by offering economic
development programs,
educational, health, and youth
services.
It takes considerable skills to
achieve financial independence
and the PSHH is sensitive
to the needs of the diverse
population it serves. By forming
partnerships with Cuesta
College and Adult School
Education, English as a second
language instruction is provided
for women of limited or no
English skills and classes are
offered in GED for women who
PSHH Executive Director Jeanette Duncan
lack a high school diploma.
Women are advised on career
choices and the necessary skills
needed to obtain employment.
One program which
seeks to encourage women’s
entrepreneurial spirit are
the small business classes
conducted by Andrea Zeller,
director of the Mission
Community Services
Corporation. These workshops
encourage women to develop
their own business ideas, trust
their abilities, market the
business to the community
nutritional counseling.
Many female residents
experienced their first
mammogram through
these programs and
two women were
diagnosed early and
and nurture their dreams to treated for cervical cancer.
fruition. Youth programs are included
Successful businesses include in many residences and provide
an alteration service, a floral a safe place for children after
business, and a produce market. school. Available five days a
The knowledge acquired in week, these learning centers
these classes lead to financial provide tutoring, computer
stability and confidence. access, and mentoring.
Programs ranging from Clients discover PSHH
driver’s education and mostly through word-
creating a household budget of-mouth. For further
to providing exercise facilities information, opportunities
further encourage wellness to help, or to make a referral
and self-sufficiency in women. for residential placement,
Women of immigrant please contact PSHH at
communities, impeded by a 805-781-3088.

Local PSHH’s Rental Housing

ARROYO GRANDE Apartments style apartments designed for bedroom townhomes, and 6 Los Robles Terrace
Cawelti Court 2835 Schoolhouse Lane, a 24 seniors. three bedroom townhomes. 2940 Spring Street, 40
351 South Elm Street, a 28-unit unit multi-family complex, Sequoia Apartments La Brisa Marina Spanish-style apartments
development designed for has the distinction of being 365 - 389 Sequoia Street, 12 1720 17th Street, 16 providing housing for seniors
seniors. the first and, currently, two- and three-bedroom permanently affordable 62 and over. A Section 8
Oak Forest Apartments only affordable housing town homes for low-income apartments. Two, three, guarantee insures that the
163 South Elm Street, 20 development available in San families. and four bedroom units residents will never have to
affordable multi-family Luis Obispo County’s north Pacific View Apartments are included. Occupancy pay more than 30% of their
apartments developed in coastal area. 485 Main Street, a successful is restricted to households income for housing.
partnership with the City of buyout of a Farmers Home earning at least 50% of their
LOS OSOS PISMO BEACH
Arroyo Grande. Administration (FmHA) “at income from farm labor.
Sea Breeze Apartments Sea Haven Apartments
Juniper Street Apartments risk” project, which averted the ORCUTT
1251 Los Olivos, a beautiful 211-251 Addie Street, the only
119 Juniper Street, 14 displacement of the tenants, Mariposa Townhomes
garden setting for 29 one- permanently affordable rental
permanently affordable rentals many of whom are low-income. 218 Park View South, 80 two-,
bedroom units. housing in the City of Pismo
with onsite recreational A number of these tenants had
South Bay Apartments three-, and four-bedroom units Beach.
facilities for Arroyo Grande lived in the building since it constructed in townhouse style.
1351 P. Los Olivos, a 75-unit SAN LUIS OBISPO
lower -income families. was built in 1976.
apartment complex. PASO ROBLES Brizzolara Apartments
ATASCADERO OCEANO Creekside Gardens
MORRO BAY 537 Brizzolara Street, 5-unit
Atascadero Gardens Belridge Street
Oceanside Gardens 401 Oak Hill Road, a family rental complex.
7480 Santa Ysabel, a 17 unit Apartments permanently affordable rental
2612 Elm Street, 21 garden- TEMPLETON
apartment complex within 1261 Belridge Street, 12 community for seniors in
style apartments providing Templeton Place
walking distance to all major townhome style apartment Paso Robles, offering 40
affordable housing for senior 1005 Petersen Ranch Road, a
services in Atascadero. units providing multi-family one-bedroom, garden-style
citizens. 29-unit apartment complex for
housing to low-income area
CAMBRIA Ocean View Manor apartments in nine single-story
senior citizens.
residents. The units consist buildings.
Schoolhouse Lane 456 Elena Street, 40 garden-
of 1 two bedroom flat, 5 two

Women’s Press November/December 2005 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org Page 5

Women’s Stories …
A Cultural Contrast
Shared Over Tea
BY ANNE RAHILL DUNBAR
An emerging global
consciousness calls to all of us
to connect. Our opportunity
lies in diversity. When we
interact with our neighbors,
we have a chance to ask good
questions, thus weaving the
fabric of our lives into a
community. Svetlana
is my neighbor. Her
family emigrated from
the former Soviet Union
nine years ago. We met
over tea.
Early on in our tea the
subject of Motherhood
came up. I was surprised
to learn that in Svetlana’s
homeland, a pregnancy
is not a source of joy
and congratulations.
The hot cups in our
hands, a story was told. Far
away from the Central Coast,
a new mother is quiet for
months before she shares
the news of her pregnancy
with family and friends. They
receive it with concern, even
fear. People think, “How will
we survive?” Families share
crowded apartments. Health is
a concern. Doctors are solemn
and talk negatively.
All babies are born in
hospitals as far as Svetlana,
her mother and her
grandmother know. Members
of the family are not allowed
into the hospital building.
They must drop the mother,
Personal chefs are not just for
the rich and famous
BY AUTUMN PATRICK
If you thought that having your
very own Personal Chef was
only for the Rich and Famous,
better think again! Granted
it does have the ring of opu-
lence, but if living the life of a
millionaire eludes you for the
moment, you will be pleasantly
surprised to learn that procur-
ing a Personal Chef is not only
affordable, but in my particular
case, has shaved enough money
off my food bill in one month
for a exhilarating weekend in
Las Vegas! Shall I explain?
I met Personal Chef Lisa
Lovett through a mutual friend
who had hired Lisa to prepare a
gourmet vegetarian Thanksgiv-
ing Dinner last year. My friend
was thrilled with the results.
From that point Lisa became my
friend’s Personal Chef.
Good friends secretly share
the identity of their Personal
Chef like they would that of a
skilled plastic surgeon. Thus,
word of mouth is the best way
of finding the exceptional Per-
sonal Chefs. Now that Lisa has
Page 6 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org
about to give birth, at the
door. No one keeps them
informed of her condition.
When the baby is born, a
notice is posted.
The new mother enters
the hospital alone and can
remain alone throughout her
delivery. She enters a world
where there is no compassion,
where rudeness and severity
greet her at every turn. Taken
to a room full of iron beds; the
mattresses piled high upon one
of those beds, she must pull
down a mattress, alone, make a
place for herself and wait. No
one comes to advise her.
When asked about the
option of birthing at home,
Svetlana spoke of the women
in her family. Their stories
speak only of hospitals. The
old ways of midwifery are gone
from their memories. There
are no choices. Svetlana’s
grandmother gave birth to
become my Personal Chef we
meet bi-monthly to discuss the
next two weeks’ worth of meals,
new recipes, budget, and my
goal to shed 30 pounds before
my next high school reunion.
Lisa then designs a personalized
menu for the my approval. Now
the real work begins. She shops
for the best values for fresh
produce (usually at Farmer’s
Market), goes to meat and fish
markets, bakeries, delis, and
ethnic markets.
Preparing the food takes
place in my own kitchen on an
assigned “cook” day and is what
Lisa truly loves. She brings all
of her own culinary tools in-
cluding pots and pans to be as-
sured of having what she needs.
The food is prepared, packaged
(in serving-sized portions pre-
designated beforehand) and
labeled with heating instruc-
tions and dated. My kitchen is
left clean and the freezer full
of healthy meals to pop into
the oven or microwave. The
thought of what to fix for din-
her mother during the Nazi
occupation outside of Moscow.
There is a family story that the
treatment was kind. Of course,
we are only seeing a small part
of a large picture. This is one
woman’s story.
She knew a society closed
mentally, not due to
ignorance rather due
to a lack of exposure to
ideas. It’s an intellectual
world, serious and
grave. Strangers avoid
each other’s eyes and
do not smile. There is
no safe place, no good
neighborhood,and
dangerous people
everywhere.
Here in the United
States, Svetlana has a new way
of being. It took a long time for
her to get used to the smiles,
the “hellos” from people she
did not know, the relaxed
way of life that we take for
granted. She traveled back to
the former Soviet Union some
years ago, looking forward to
seeing her home again and
was overwhelmed with the
negativity and fear present
there. Upon taking her return
seat in an airplane, she felt
great relief to find a healthy,
young man in the next seat,
an American, who smiled, said
“hello,” and proceeded to chat
with her.
ner is taken care of for the next
couple of weeks!
Before having a Personal
Chef, I poured dollars down
the drain every week on
spoiled or dried up food, fruits
and vegetables. That amount,
coupled with wasteful spend-
ing on junk food and eating
out in delis, restaurants all the
time was ridiculous. I’ll also
admit that I had no willpower
when it came to eating junk.
As for nutrition and portion
control, a “well-balanced diet”
to me meant a gallon of ice
cream in one hand and a whole
chocolate cake in the other.
With Lisa’s expert guidance, I
now understand portion con-
trol and by having delicious
food ready to eat in a mo-
ment’s notice have refrained
from the feeding frenzy of
a bag of Fritos and block of
Velveeta cheese for dinner.
Most surprising but best of all,
I’ve discovered the fact that
…I’m worth having my own
Personal Chef.
The Continuing
Adventures of the
Mighty Dodge
BY SHELLEY SPRANZA
Four rear ends
hung out of
the engine
compartment of
the Dodge when
I arrived to pick
her up from a
routine tune-up
and oil change.
Mechanics from
three neighboring
shops were giving
advice, like
specialists called “Pick her up Monday,” he
in on a heart transplant case. tells me.
“Whazzup?” I ask. Carlo, my Monday night is a re-run of
mechanic, shoots me a look of Saturday. Carlo looks grayer
frustration. than when I last saw him.
“It’s running like crap,” he “It’s better, but I can’t get
says. the timing right,” he says in
I felt his pain. I dropped the a strangled voice. I pat his
car off on Thursday night. It arm consolingly.
was Saturday. In the end I pay him and say
“Did you check the wiper thanks. As I pull away from
fluid?” I ask. a light, the engine makes a
Quick grins all around. They horrible noise. I go around the
know I’m joking. I have “cool block and pull back in to his
chick” credit with them. shop. He’s gone. I leave the car
The brand-new distributor and a note.
cap Carlo installed was part of “I heard a scream this
the problem. morning,” I tell him when I
“I put the new one on, call the next morning. “I can
it runs like crap. I put the only assume it was you finding
old one back on, and it runs my car back in your lot!”
better.” He laughs. “There was a
I roll my eyes. Whatever hole in your muffler. It’s fixed.
happened to quality control? Come get your car!”
Lisa’s Vegetarian Chili
8 servings
�T. olive oil
2 med. onions, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
� green pepper, chopped
� red and/or yellow pepper, chopped
2 T. canned jalapeño chilies
� 6 oz. can diced green chilies
� 28 oz. can tomatoes in puree
�/2 t. ground coriander
�/4 t. ground cloves
�/4 t. ground allspice
2 t. oregano
2 T. brown sugar
2 T. chili powder
2 T. ground cumin
2-�5 oz. cans kidney beans, drained
�-�5 oz. can black beans, drained
�-�5 oz. can pinto beans, drained
� pkg. (�2 ounces) Morningstar Farms Burger
Crumbles, Yves Ground Round (�2 ounces), or other
soy ground meat substitute
Salt and pepper to taste
I n a Dutch oven, heat oil and sauté onions, garlic, peppers,
and chilies until softened. Add tomatoes, seasonings, beans,
and meat substitute. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Cover the pan
and simmer 30 minutes.
Don’t let the list of ingredients scare you. They’re mostly spices.
This is a quick and easy recipe that tastes even better the next
day. It also freezes and reheats beautifully, so make extra.
Women’s Press November/December 2005

Unsung Heroine:
INTERVIEW BY BARBARA RICARDO
Annie Dunbar is a vocalist,
artist, playwright, and
composer. She and her husband
have traveled widely through
the United States and Europe
as entertainers. She is an
accomplished artist. Her plays
have been performed here
on the Central Coast and she
has conducted theatre, vocal,
and face-painting workshops
for adults and children. She
has introduced Non-Violent
Communication to the YMCA
and the Rotary Club in San
Luis Obispo County and has
been the featured speaker at
various functions.
Annie does extensive
professional and volunteer
work to help people improve
their lives. She is also an
experienced, certified
Facilitative Mediator with
over 500 hours experience in
Superior Court.
Q: Annie, what exactly is
a Facilitative Mediator?
A: A Facilitative Mediator
functions as a neutral
party who provides a safe,
confidential environment for a
meeting between people who
are in conflict. Mediation is
protected in its confidentiality
by law. A mediator cannot be
called into court as a witness
and anything said in mediation
cannot be brought into a court
situation.
Q: Who would use a
mediator?
A: Families, roommates,
neighbors, business associates,
friends, spouses, anyone who
is in conflict and needs help
resolving it.
Thank you, Rebecca. Help!
Our layout designer, Rebecca
Brown, is leaving her post at the
Women’s Press. Over the last
two years, she has applied her
knowledge, skills and resources
to advancing the papers visual
appeal. Under her skilled
hands, the paper has become a
publication that invites readers
in to read and enjoy.
See page 2 for subscription information.
Page 7 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org
Annie Dunbar
bringing clarity to conflict
Q: Where does mediation
take place?
A. It is important that the
mediation space is neutral
and confidential. It should be
neutral for all parties, including
me. A neutral space is not
someone’s home, for instance.
You don’t want to have phones
ringing or people coming to the
door. You don’t want personal
objects around, which could
create distractions. It can be
an office space, a room in the
library, a conference room;
any space that is neutral and
impersonal. There are lots of
options.
Q: Do you mediate with
teenagers in conflict with
parents?
A: Absolutely. I think
mediation can make a
difference in their entire
lives. I believe in pro-active
mediation. While working with
the probation department, I
began to envision providing
mediation before a conflict
reaches such a level. Often,
by this time, a split occurs
between teenager and parent
that may last decades. I
have developed a program
called Proactive Mediation,
She has challenged her editor
to focus on the visual appeal of
the paper, not just the content,
and been willing to offer
constructive and challenging
comments on how the paper
could be improved. All of us
who enjoy the paper thank
her and wish her well with her
future graphic design work.
Delivered by mail
Do yourself a favor and subscribe to the
Women’s Press. It’s a convenient, reliable
way to stay abreast of local women’s news
and views. Just $20 a year.
A subscription to the Women’s Press would
make a thoughtful gift for friends and family
this holiday season.
which helps open lines of
communication between
people in conflict. Many times,
Proactive Mediation keeps the
conflict out of the courts.
In a court setting, there
is little time to speak and
decisions are made by a Judge.
In mediation, the playing field
is balanced and everyone in
the room is equal. Everyone
gets equal time. They get to be
heard. Teenagers thrive under
these conditions. Very often
parent and teenager reach an
agreement with each other.
When people have a part in
drafting their own agreements,
very likely they uphold it.
Q: What about children?
A: Mediation is helpful for
children. Children feel urgency
when there is unresolved
conflict. They’re in pain and
may not even know it, but it
shows in their eyes. Children
are naturally inclined to resolve
conflict. There is healing when
they connect with someone
who helps them when they
have not been able to help
themselves.
Q: Any parting words for
us?
A: Conflict occurs when
communication breaks down and
people begin to imagine what is
going on with the other person.
Issues become lost in a conflict
dialogue. Mediation brings
clarity to the situation. Chances
of resolution are excellent when
the mediator helps people to
hear and be heard.
Annie Dunbar can be
reached at 805-441-7391 or
proactivemediation@yahoo.
com
NOTE: Rebecca’s moving
on leaves us without a layout
designer for the paper. At this
time, we cannot pay for design,
but next year hope to do some
fundraising that will provide
at least a small stipend for
the work. If you have skills in
InDesign or Quark or know
someone who does and would be
willing to volunteer to lay out the
paper, PLEASE call 474-6444.
… Women’s Stories
The Clutter
BY ELIZABETH MCGREGOR
Sometimes, to get through
my day, I imagine myself as
one of those sit-com moms
of decades past. Remember
them? Happy women raising
spotless kids in immaculate
homes. They were always
so carefree and in control,
it seemed like even their
houseplants smiled at them
when they walked by.
It is not like that in my
house. My plants are so fed
up with me that they would
hurl themselves at me if not
for their weak, neglected
condition.
I can work all day, get my
kids to and from school,
keep milk in the fridge, even
manage to have a friend or
two and a family that still
speaks to me. But there
is one thing over which I
cannot seem to gain control.
If you are a parent, chances
are you know it well. It is
The Clutter.
I have convinced myself
that if I could get my clutter
problem under control,
everything else would fall
into place and I could take
back my life. Alas, not only
am I hopelessly losing the
fight against The Clutter, I
am also dangerously close
to the point of not caring
anymore.
The people who invented
small, cheap toys must be
stopped. You know what
I am talking about: Those
pesky little items disguised
as party favors, fair prizes,
and Happy Meal toys. Those
insidious objects that find
their way into our homes
and cars, into our kitchen
drawers, under sofas, in
bathtubs--anywhere they
can hide for a few days
while they procreate.
I just know that the
manufacturers of
these things are
sitting back in their
orderly mansions,
laughing at us and
reveling in the fact
that they
Women’s Press November/December 2005
never had children.
Maybe if we parents all
band together we can stop
the proliferation of the
cheap toy. Are you with me?
Think of the difference it
will make in our lives! Our
children can experience the
simple joys our grandparents
had; playing outside with
rocks and sticks. Those must
have been the days. Dirty
kids, clean houses. Heck of
a trade-off, I say! Let’s bring
back those austere times,
and the sooner the better.
Then the only clutter we
will have to deal with will
be junk mail and laundry
trails. Oh, and dirty dishes
(in every room except
the kitchen), and rock
collections, abandoned juice
boxes, closet avalanches,
trash-filled cars…oh, never
mind.
Maybe I am just looking
at it the wrong way. Perhaps
instead of condemning The
Clutter in my living room,
I should celebrate it! After
all, there are hidden benefits
to having a messy home: I
never have to worry about
those pesky HGTV people
dropping by to do a segment.
That annoying Type A
neighbor does not stop by
unannounced. And just think
of all the time that I could
free up in my schedule if I
let go of the house cleaning
completely!
So I say, lets go for it! Let
us wear it like a badge of
honor. Feel neither guilt nor
remorse; for The Clutter
in our lives is a symbol
of the most precious and
unpredictable challenge of
them all: Motherhood.
 Holiday thoughts
What is
‘Sizzling Family Togetherness?’
BY YVONNE DURAN
Once, husband, two-year
old son, and I had lunch at a
Chinese restaurant. Our nap-
free son tested the ideal of
family time by knocking over
his water and bouncing from
high chair to booster seat. As
we ordered, we noticed an
entree called “Sizzling Family
Togetherness.” Not wanting
to pass up a serving of fresh
irony, we ordered it. I can’t
recall what was in the dish, but
the humor of this memory has
often been our saving grace.
One year, as we prepared for
our traditional family portrait,
our son vacillated between
asserting his will and having
extraordinarily intense, tear-
filled meltdowns. As I evaluated
the rapidly diminishing
possibility of a quality family
photo, I asked myself “Why
are we doing this?” Oh, yeah,
we need it for the Christmas
card! After weighing the net
importance of this in the life
of my child, I resigned to tone
down my expectations.
Much to our surprise, our son
did everything the photographer
asked of him and got a huge
kick out of saying, “Stinky Feet.”
When it was time to write
our “personalized” greeting, I
realized that we’d just made it
through some Sizzling Family
Togetherness, the kind that
tests, but reaffirms your love.
That year, we wished everyone
Sizzling Family Togetherness,
not with the hope that they too
would experience a challenging
day with a three-year old (or
sibling, spouse, parent).
But to share
how having a
sense of humor
helped us keep
perspective
during the
holiday
season.
From Where I Stand
BY ELIZABETH MCGREGOR
From where I stand
Last year we took our family
I can see fair days and silent nights
portrait with my son and
and gentle seas to wash away my fright.
our four-month old daughter
Grace will be the sweet air that I breathe
cuddling in bed. This year
and the smile that I offer when it is right.
we will opt for another low
maintenance portrait and
From now on,
recall the words a wise boy
I’ll have hope to keep me warm,
once said, “To good food and
there will be rainbows after the storms,
good families” (Maximus, age
the pot of gold will be a focused sigh
3). Happy Holidays!
and I won’t be content
Yvonne Duran is the
until I fly.
mother of Maximus, age 5 and
Odessa, age 14 months
Starting now,
the wind can hold me up,
or keep me down
and only I can make the choice
to whimper or rejoice.
When my life begins anew
I will live whole
and give away control.
I’ll have complete faith in me
and never forget where I have stood...
as if I could.

The Santa Man

BY ELIZABETH MCGREGOR
There was a man today,
standing at the exit of the mall.
He was thin, with white beard
and worn clothes. He was
You are the gift holding a cardboard sign.
“Hungry, homeless...”
Holiday Volunteer Opportunities Out of habit, I reached over
to lock my car door, then felt
ashamed. My mind flashed
Big Brothers Big Sisters back to the store; where only
of San Luis Obispo County minutes ago I had been casually
writing a check for Christmas
We are looking for Mentors willing to spend a minimum of 6-8 hours a month for presents my kids would take for
one year with a child. We are in dire need of male volunteers in the North and South granted. The stop light turned
County. green.
Please call for more information, 781-3226. I fumbled in the passenger
seat for two granola bars left
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing behind by my children. As I
Will need wrapping and sorting of donated toys, clothing etc. from Toys for Tots. rolled my window down, I
Contact Annette at 781-3088 ext 457 pushed the door lock.
“Sir?” I said, as I held out the
Transitions Mental Health Association cereal bars. He was surprised.
Volunteers to work in Growing Grounds Downtown, our new garden and gift store on
“Bless you,” his voice was low
Chorro in SLO, particularly Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. Possible payment
and gentle. No smile, but a
in cut flowers and plants. Should be willing to work with the public, sell garden-related
genuine kindness.
items, use a cash register and benefit people with mental illness. Volunteers for various
I fumbled for words,
bulk mailing projects. Contact Shirl Freed at 541-5144, ext. 120.
“These...my kids...um, Merry
Volunteers to work at TMHA’s Growing Grounds Farm in SLO. Various
Christmas....”
activities. Contact Craig Wilson at 543-6071.
His cold fingers touched
If you have questions, please call me or Jill Bolster-
mine as he took my gift. His
White at 541-5144, 104.
skin was as soft as cashmere
against mine; cracked and
rough. That irony stays with
me. Our eyes connected and
through the intense blue in
his I saw sadness, but also
comfort and reassurance, as if
he understood the unease that I
was feeling.
“Merry Christmas, ma’am.”
The green light beckoned,
and I reluctantly pulled away,
still watching him in my rear-
view mirror. He clutched the
granola bars as if they were
gold bullion. I wanted to turn
around, invite him home with
me, feed him a hot dinner, and
take care of him. I wanted to
show him that there is still
warmth and love and joy in the
world.
“Merry Christmas,” I had
said to him, like he had been
an acquaintance I had run
into while shopping – “Merry
Christmas!” For the first time
in my life, I felt betrayed
by those words. I felt as if
I had insulted him or made
fun of him. He would have
no Christmas at all, let alone
a “merry” one. And why did
I lock my door and wait for
the light to turn green before
I opened the window? I felt
enormously sad and empty
inside.
I struggled with the idea
that this man was once some
woman’s precious baby. This
man with cashmere skin and
eyes so blue--how could such a
man become the man I pitied
– and feared – today? I thought
of my own son, now only four.
Who knows what the future
holds for any of us? Why was
that man there? What had
happened to him that brought
him to that lonely place?
I know that my slight gesture
didn’t change his life; but he
surely changed mine. I think
of him often, especially when
I look at the toys I bought for
my son on that day.
My son – who has the softest
skin and the bluest eyes I have
ever seen.

Page 8 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org Women’s Press November/December 2005

Viewpoint of an Elder
Thanksgiving Dinner Need Never Be Solo!
BY BETTY BRANCH
Older Women Alone (OWA)
are discouragingly numerous.
As a widow, I’ve thought about
it. Statistically we outlive our
life partners, of course. And
I’m not the only OWA who,
after raising a family, found
the transition back to cooking
for two boring and wasteful of
time, money, and effort.
Even though it may seem
a relief to women like me to
cease cooking “3 squares” a
day, other kinds of OWAs take
casseroles to Older Men Alone
– even the most unpleasant
ones. (I know stories, but they
don’t belong here). Further,
older men alone feel enlivened
when they marry women
somewhat younger. Similarly,
older women feel revitalized
Don’t Quash That Squash!
BY SUSAN STEWART
As the holiday season careens
toward a gastronomic
crescendo, December tables
from Nipomo to San Miguel
spill over with fruited pies,
traditional tamales, savory
stuffings, merry men made
of gingered pastry, a golden
bird, rack of lamb, or crown
roast, and the inevitable
fruitcake. So where in this
cacophony of culinary bounty
does the humble squash fit
in? Anywhere it wants is my
equally humble opinion.
Although this gorgeous
gourd is on the “ick” list of
foods children are most likely
to leave on their plates, squash
deserves a special spot on our
winter menus, both festive and
otherwise. Beginning with the
first blustery days in October,
when the most famous of
squashes, the pumpkin,
announces the end of summer
for sure, squash satisfies
appetites in a surprising
number of ways.
Did you know, for instance,
that pumpkin can be used for
more than just pies? Or that
the bright orange flesh of
acorn squash makes a spicy and
tempting soufflé? Add some
anise, cardamom, and lemon
to the dense and hearty flesh
of a butternut squash and turn
supper into a winterfeast. The
sweet and tender chayote,
mashed with sautéed onions
and grated Parmesan can be
stuffed back into its own shell
Page 9 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org
marrying younger men, but
that is not apt to happen to
mouthy non-cooking women
like me. (Plus, few single
older men, unless they were
satisfactorily married, would
prove compatible as elder-
spouses.)
I trust I made my point.
Now, on to holiday festivities.
Once the nest is emptied of
sons and daughters, they marry,
etc. – with varied results for
the holidays. The year may
come when all one’s offspring
are committed to spending
Thanksgiving dinners at
other tables faraway. While
thoughtful friends often invite
OWAs to be the lone older
single on some hospitable
for a fabulous side dish or
lunch entrée. One of the more
whimsical ideas I found was
a recipe for pumpkin soup
that comes to the table in its
own shell, ready to ladle into
waiting bowls.
Summer squash is equally
versatile. And because this
is California, the moist and
tender zucchini, crookneck
and pattypan are available year
round for grating raw into
salads (unbeatable for texture
and nutritional value); sautéing
for omelettes; currying,
stewing, or baking en casserole.
There’s Asian style squash
rings with ginger, soy sauce
and honey; penne pasta tossed
with thyme-flavored Hubbard
squash; a spicy squash and
black bean stew; even squash
pancakes with nutmeg and
cinnamon. Chef Christian Raia
has created a truly spectacular
use for squash. His roasted
acorn squash and mascarpone
raviolis with a sage and walnut
sauce will turn that warm
winter menu from satisfying
to sublime. The recipe, easily
adapted for home cooks,
follows this article.
If you’re waging war with
pasta, lay down your weapons
and your will power, and make
peace with the spaghetti
squash -- nature’s gift to the
incorrigible fork twirler. Just
pierce this large, canary yellow
winter squash with a fork and
bake or steam it whole until
Bt wish for the holidays and for the new year
from the WCC Board & the Staff of the Women’s Pr
occasion, there’s no guarantee.
Once I did have the prospect
of a solo Thanksgiving.
Having always been a
hospitable soul, I decided to
populate my own table with
other OWAs. I could think of
more than half a dozen friends
whom I thought would be
happy to tell me if they’d been
invited elsewhere. Five of them
had not. I ended up with a
potluck for five including me.
I furnished the turkey, and
parceled out the rest of the
meals to others. I think we all
cooked our part of the potluck
at that time. Since I am now in
my later eighties, nowadays we
might all go to delis.
At my jolly table for five,
tender. Then halve it, remove
the seeds and fibers, sprinkle
the stringy surface your favorite
Italian herbs and some fresh
grated Romano and garlic, and
dig in. A fork will twist out the
long strands of flesh and you’ll
be able to savor the aesthetic
delights of pasta without the
fat and carbos of the egg and
flour variety.
All squashes are gourds:
fleshy vegetables with seeds
on the inside and protective
rinds outside. Time-Life’s
“Vegetables” says that in
summer varieties, the rinds
and seeds are tender and
edible because the squashes
are harvested when they are
immature.
Winter squashes like
Hubbard, acorn, pumpkin, and
butternut have tough seeds
and hard shells. Nutritionally,
all squashes are high in fiber
and plentiful in vitamins and
minerals. And the best thing
about them is their limitless
versatility going from the
ground to the plate. They’re
kind of like mushrooms that
way; they have a unique texture
and flavor of their own will take
on whatever combination of
spice, herb, oil, or condiment
you can think of.
So as the year winds down
and the New Year dawns, never
underestimate the power of the
squash. Eat well and be happy.
we caught up on each other’s
grandchildren, what each was
doing to help humankind,
prefaced by “What each of us
has to be grateful for still.” I
surprised myself by enjoying
more fun on that particular
Thanksgiving than when
empathic younger friends had
me as a guest (and only elder).
So, consider the idea – it’s up
for grabs.
Roasted Acorn Squash Ravioli
with
Walnut, Sage, and Red Pepper Cream Sauce
(Serves 4 as a main course or 8 as an appetizer)
For ravioli:
2 acorn squash
1⁄2 c. mascarpone cheese
2 shallots, roasted and chopped
1 T. fresh sage
pinch ginger
salt and white pepper
1 package round wonton papers
1 egg
For sauce:
1⁄2 c. walnuts
2 roasted shallots, chopped
generous dash julienne sage
1⁄2 c. marsala wine
1⁄2 stick butter
pinch nutmeg
1 roasted red pepper (seeded, skinned, & julienned)
1⁄2 cup fontina cheese
Halve, seed, and roast the squash (cut aside down) in a
375° oven for about an hour. Scoop out flesh and mix with
all but wonton wrappers and egg. Fill each wonton round
with quarter-sized spoonfuls of mixture. Brush perimeters
with eggwash and place second wrapper on top; crimp sides
to seal, pushing out all air. Cook in boiling water 3 - 5
minutes; strain under cold water; coat in oil and reserve.
Make sauce: Saute shallots in 1 T. oil 3 minutes over light
heat; add walnuts for 1 more minute. Add roasted pepper
another 2 minutes; deglaze with marsala. Reduce by 3⁄4; add
sage, cream, butter, nutmeg, and cheese. Cook until bubbles
form on entire surface. Add ravioli to the pan and place it
in oven, pre-heated to 400° for 3 - 5 minutes. Garnish with
fresh sage, walnuts, and roasted peppers.
Women’s Press November/December 2005

Being at Peace
This Holiday Season
BY LAURA HYDE
When you think of the
upcoming holidays what comes
to mind? Family get-togethers?
Spending money? Stress? For
most of us, singing to the tune
of the “holiday blues” seems
more realistic than “Joy to the
World.” Depression occurs
more frequently during the
holidays than any other time of
the year. Although the holidays
present us with a wonderful
chance to bond with each
other, to celebrate the spirit
within each and every one of
us, they’re often imbued with
stress and anxiety.
Why? Because we’ve been
taught to succumb to societal
norms: spending time with
others and buying gifts is
expected. Yet whenever
we do something out of
obligation--versus pure desire
and willingness--we’re not
following our heart and stress
and anxiety are likely to ensue.
Obligation demands sacrifice
and sacrifice is in opposition
to love. And since most of us
have been raised to believe
that love requires sacrifice,
our perception of what we
should do, versus what we
truly want to do, has become
convoluted. Whenever we feel
obligated to do anything (this
applies to giving and receiving),
there’s a sense of sacrifice and
expectation.
The greatest gift we can give
another is our willingness to
be happy and at peace, which
means taking care of our body,
mind and soul. These “gifts”
are not only genuine and from
the heart, but they’re free.
This year, while contemplating
Towards a Feminist Spirituality for the New
Millennium: Religion and Spirituality
BY HEATHER MENDEL
“Who am I? Why am I here?
Where am I going?” are
questions that most of us ask
at some stage of our lives. For
some, the questioning comes
through personal experience
of trauma. For others, natural
curiosity or maturity motivates
these questions. We tend to
look inwards as we ponder
the meaning of our lives and
face our own mortality. The
journey on which we embark
as a result of the asking is
one of discovery, relating to
our unique life-story and our
spirituality.
For some, religion and
spirituality may be one and the
same. For many, this is not the
case. We can ask whether the
God or Higher Power to whom
we pray in the sanctuaries of
our own souls, on a daily basis
Page 10
Body and Soul
Laura V. Hyde, M.A., pro-
vides counseling and coach-
ing and is a national author
and speaker. Laura is also
the host of “Relationship
Wisdom” on Public Televi-
sion and may be contacted
at www.laurahyde.com or
805.748.7506.
what to give, consider first,
what you want to give, then
notice your body and your
energy. If your energy sags
while thinking about what to
give – stop It means you’re
considering something you
really don’t want to do and are
not following your heart.
Giving from your heart
means listening to it and
following it. As you access your
heart’s desire, your energy will
increase, leaving you inspired
and at peace. Think about
it; what better gift can you
give someone than your love?
Despite the commercialism
around the holiday season, the
greatest gift we can ever give
is our willingness to be ourself,
to be true to who we are and
extend that to everyone.
NEW COLUMN: Spirituality Matters
or only when crisis strikes, is
the same energy or force that
we read about in the prayer
books of the faith community
to which we belong or in which
we were raised.
For spiritual seekers
interested in world religions,
it becomes apparent that
the surface rituals of our
individual faiths may keep us
apart, while the underlying
essence or mystical core of
each religious tradition comes
from the same wellspring.
Like a cup, that needs both
its outer, material body
composed of clay, as well as
the emptiness within that
spherical shape, to function
as a cup, we each have an
outer physical body, individual
and totally unique, as well
as the inner, fluid spiritual
E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org
Using Yoga and Ayurveda
During the Winter Season
BY LISA JANSEN
AND HOLLY PADOVE
Y
oga and Ayurveda have
both been around
more than 5,000 years
and are two ancient healing
traditions from India that
complement each other; in
fact Ayurveda is considered
the healing side of yoga. Yoga
cleanses both the body and
mind through asana (postures),
pranayama (breathing
exercises), meditation, and
discipline. Ayurveda, which
means the “science of life,”
offers a natural, balanced
approach to optimal health.
The principles of Ayurveda
address all aspects of well-being
- mental, physical and spiritual.
Every decision that one makes
can be a beneficial choice
that encompasses Ayurvedic
principles, from the food you
eat and the time you go to sleep
and wake up to the colors you
surround yourself with, the
books you read, and the music
you listen to.
The fall is a time of change
as the weather shifts from
warm to cool, the wind picks
up, the sun sets lower in the
evening sky, and schedules are
tighter with the start of school
and less daylight to get things
done. Our bodies inherently
follow nature’s rhythm, and as
we get deeper into fall we begin
to require more nourishing,
warming foods, more sleep
and practices to support us in
maintaining our balance.
During this fall season, yoga
practitioners can do yoga with
Ayurvedic principles in mind.
According to Ayurveda, fall is
considered the “Vata” time of
year, where the air is cool, the
dimension that melds and
unites us as essentially one
and the same. Unique and
different and yet at the same
time, identical. Are we human
beings on a spiritual journey
or spiritual beings on a human
journey? The answer is yes.
Non-denominational
spiritual direction and
journeying is the process of
accompanying others on the
spiritual journey. Neither
psychotherapy nor counseling,
it is the opportunity for one-
on-one ‘God-talk’ that passes
through religious barriers
that may separate, moving
the journeyer deeper into the
“center space” of the cup, the
mystical and mysterious center
of our lives, bringing us closer
to Divinity. It is about sharing
the sacred stories of our lives,
wind is high and nature begins
to pull her energies inward in
preparation for winter. This is
a time when many of us begin
to feel off-balance, as if we are
pushed in all directions by the
windy conditions!
Because many of us are
feeling symptoms of the
Vata season, from anxiety
to spaciness to feeling cold
to constipation, we can
incorporate yoga asanas that
help to “ground” and warm us.
According to Ayurveda,
each person has a unique
constitution, or “dosha” and
therefore Ayurveda takes
into account an individual’s
particular needs in order to
create balance and health in
her life. Each of us is either
Vata, Pitta or Kapha, or a
combination of all three.
Vata is comprised of air
and ether, Pitta of fire and
water, and Kapha of earth
and water.
These types of asanas include
gentle yoga that promotes
warming, circulation and a
downward movement of energy
to help provide a foundation
and balance us. Examples
include slow sun salutations,
squats and asanas that engage
the legs such as warrior 1,
camel, and bridge pose.
Forward bends are also great as
they help us to relax.
In addition to warm
“comfort” food and grounding
yoga asanas, you can subdue or
even eliminate Vata imbalances
with soothing music; a nice
warm bath using aromatherapy
oils such as jasmine, clary sage
or rose; warm and soothing
the coincidences that spark
our curiosity, bearing in mind
the old French proverb that
suggests coincidence is God’s
way of remaining anonymous.
For women particularly, the
time is now, to speak our truths
and take hold of our lives.
Spiritual direction is the
storytelling of, and deep
listening to, the sacred nature
of our lives that motivates us
to sense God’s presence in our
everyday, mundane experiences,
translating the ordinary to
extraordinary, leading us
to know peace, to live with
compassion, and find the joy
that is our human birthright.
As this column will now
be a regular feature, we will
welcome your questions of a
spiritual nature for discussion
in future publications.
Women’s Press November/December 2005
colors such as gold and green;
and of course centering
meditation. Self-reflection and
gentle walks versus marathon-
like runs are also helpful.
Once a yogi understands the
basic principles of Ayurveda
and his or her own rhythms and
needs, he or she can tailor these
principles to meet their needs
on a year-round basis. In fact,
a seasoned practitioner will do
just that. Through the Yoga
Sutras (yogic scripture) , a yogi
is asked by Patanjali (father
of yoga) to honor and support
one’s system by choosing foods,
activities, work, and social
situations that increase one’s
balance rather than deplete it.
In other words, being in
agreement with the Yoga
Sutras, a yogi would choose a
lifestyle that not only maintains
her health and well-being at all
times, but permeates into the
world in which we live. This
has a positive effect on all other
sentient beings that we come
into contact with.
There’s more to it than what
Westerners originally realized
when they approached this path
to self-realization! It’s more than
a discipline; it’s a lifestyle.
Luckily, we have the rest
of our lives to understand,
practice, and enjoy! As I tell my
students, “It’s all about process;
stay engrossed in that and
unattached to any outcome. The
fruits of labor will start to seep
their way into your daily lives.”
Lisa owns Central Coast
Yoga and teaches to students
of all ability levels.
Holly is a practicing
Certified Ayurvedic
Specialist and teaches Yoga
at Central Coast Yoga.
Heather Mendel, author
of “Towards Freedom: a
feminist haggada for men
and women”, has focal-
ized women’s spirituality
groups for the past 15 years.
A calligraphic designer
and artist, she is able to
combine her love of the
written letter and painting
with her ongoing studies in
universal spiritual teach-
ings. She can be contacted
through her website at
www.wordartist.com,
E-mail: heathermendel@
charter.net or called at
544-4933 or 201-2932.

Celebrate the
Special Election
Results 2005
BY ANGIE KING
It’s not often progressives
get to celebrate after an
election, but the recent
special election results are
a cause for celebration. All
the propositions went down
to defeat! Even here in SLO
County.
Proposition 73, the parental
notification restriction on
abortion for minors, squeaked
by with the closest margin,
but was defeated nonetheless.
The other close race, the
public workers’ union check-
off measure, also went down
to defeat.
The early returns showed
Propositions 73, 74, and 75
initially being approved,
but as returns came in, the
margins got smaller and
smaller, and by 11 PM, the
tide had turned and from then
on there was never a doubt.
The other propositions were
defeated by big margins.
One thing I noticed in
watching the returns is that
the first three measures
were the only ones ever in
contention; it’s as if voters got
that far in the booklet and
said the hell with it and voted
no on the rest. Is it ironic or
Your business card here
$35 /ONE ISSUE • $150/YEAR (6 ISSUES)
CALL 544-9313
Page 11
Local Perspective
intentional that the measures
affecting the state’s three
most vulnerable populations
were placed first, drawing
voter attention?
The election cost us all
a lot of money and time–
collectively, the state spent
more than was spent in the
last presidential election
nationwide – and what did
we get? Was it worth it?
YES. We actually got a lot
for our efforts. We proved we
could stop the machine. We
might even have reversed the
trend towards rampant right-
wing autocratic paternalistic
government. We mobilized
large numbers of people
in an off-year election,
people we hope to count
on to continue pursuing
progressive policies. Our
victories will make those
in other states who were
counting on California as the
beginning of a nationwide
campaign to limit civil
rights pause and re-think
their strategies. And, we did
protect the rights of women
and teachers and public
workers, and that is no mean
feat. So let us celebrate.
E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org
Cynic's Corner
BY JACQUELINE TURNER
A long time ago, after my fi rst
divorce, I stopped believing
in marriage. Due to a broken
heart and stolen dreams, my
idea of wedded bliss was given
over to disillusionment and
disappointment. Marriage,
to my mind, was for co-
dependents, conformists,
and business majors. No self-
respecting cynic would want
a government-sanctioned
sanctuary that required a
license, tax assistance, and a
legal correspondent.
However, last week I
attended a garden wedding
that was so beautiful, and so
enchanting, that it brought
tears to my eyes, and elation
to my skeptical heart. The
fact that it was my youngest
daughter’s wedding may have
Circling the Square
BY DOROTHY SEGOVIA
Gender-based biases are what I
call “projection erections.” Just
the other day, I found myself,
a columnist for a women’s
newspaper, buying into the
tired boring societal belief that
powerful women are shrews,
gold diggers, and plain old
nasty. I had to bust myself for
a projection erection, which
is believing that the one with
the penis gets to be strong,
assertive and named powerful,
but the one without a penis
and the same qualities is named
“bitch.” Or worse.
I remember once hearing
two male coworkers talking
about a particularly beautiful
sales rep that had a car they
coveted. Divorce, they assumed
knowingly, as she roared off in
her silver Porsche
“Do you know that she got
the car through divorce as a
fact or are you just jealous?”
I asked. Of course, if this
astute lady did get the car in
a divorce settlement, it would
automatically discount her
college degrees and hard work
that got her the job of account
representative in the first place.
A projection erection is
buying into a fear-based idea
and accepting it as truth. The
idea comes to us from society,
parents, and television. Power
as unfeminine is a belief that
‘I DO’
added to the appeal, but even
for an old cynic like me, joy
was the theme of the day.
Seeing my daughter (who
took her husband’s name, by
the way) and my new son-
in-law looking so buoyant,
and so dizzyingly in-love,
I realized that although
marriage time had passed for
me, there was still something
extremely captivating about a
hopeful future and a lifetime
of promise. Standing with
an array of our east-coast/
west-coast guests who flew,
drove or somehow shlepped
to Nipomo (where? the New
Yorkers asked), I felt that the
time had come for me to drop
my pessimism regarding the
fifty-percent marriage success
(failure) rate, and my suspicions
is learned. Yet all
powerful means is
that a person knows
what they want and visions a
path to their goal-a path.
Assertive, strong, and
confident are the words used
to describe men’s qualities.
Supportive, kind, feeling, and
emotional are the stereotypical
words used for women. When
women are assertive and
strong, they are unfeminine.
Unattractive. Too smart, too
strong, too independent.
Unable to be both feminine
and powerful. Until Wonder
Woman burst on the scene,
powerful females were the
witches and evil stepmothers in
fairy tales.
Water cooler office politics,
oftentimes engaged in by
women, further combines
with our programmed psyches
to perpetuate the myth. If
men are doing the gossiping
(because men are still seen as
the ones in the know), then the
rhetoric they are spewing about
the head of the department,
company, etc, must be true,
right?
The real danger lies in letting
such statements seep into
our psyche uncontested. Not
knowing myself well enough
had me believing the biased
statements I learned about a
Women’s Press November/December 2005
regarding the conventionality
of the institution of marriage.
So, maybe a cynic is just
a disenchanted idealist or
romanticist; maybe being
cynical is something a person
becomes after they are
disappointed a few (hundred)
times and cannot fight back
without giving/losing their
hearts again.
Or maybe, a Cynic just
needs to go to her daughter’s
wedding, in a beautiful garden,
in the middle of heaven,
surrounded by loving family
and friends from all over the
country, seeing her daughter
in the most magnificent
Cinderella gown, watching love
blossom and hearts opening
with joy, and take a deep
breath and say “I DO,” too!
powerful woman who was my
teacher for a very short time.
Once I realized that I had let
those biases into my psyche,
I was able to let them go. The
stories were just stories; I was
able to get in touch with my
own reality.
The truth is that for one
short moment I was blessed
enough to stand along side this
wonderfully strong, confident,
direct, kind and gracious
human being who inhabits the
body of a beautiful woman.
And once I got over my scared
self, I realized that power lives
in a female body like mine.
May you and your daughters
live powerfully.
Namaste.
Dorothy Segovia asks you to
claim power against the next
prejudicial joke or statement
you hear against women.
Power can take the form of
noticing, commenting or
writing down your own fear-
based beliefs. She is currently
writing a book about
female power and invites
you to share your stories.
All e-mails will be held in
confidence. Send your stories
to writeinside@kcbx.net.
 Local Perspective

BY ANNE WARNER-HOWE
Growing on #’s Having a Personal Life During the Holidays
Mind Your Business
BY ANDREA ZELLAR

May this year-end season find you
and those you hold dear healthy,
appreciative and anticipating our
collective progression.
Whether you celebrate our
annual transition in a traditional,
new-age or personally designed
way - or not at all, do find time to
honor YOU and acknowledge all
the growth you have experienced
during 2005. Whatever the effect
of your most gratifying encounters
or the extent of your challenges,
know that under the universal
influence of #7, every experience
you encountered served to augment
the use of your intuition, self-
knowledge, and ability to perform
–as only you can.
Having evolved to the 8th phase
of a 9-year numerological cycle,
during 2006 you will be called upon
your wellbeing is the primary
concern in your relationships,
for without your own true Self
in tact, there is no way that
you can give or receive the love
and caring that you are capable
and worthy of.
T HREE: It’s highly
probable that you will
enjoy many opportunities to
reveal and/or become better
acquainted with your-own-
true Self. Whatever creative
experiences you initiate or
choose to explore, do so bent
on self-expression. Whatever
your profession or personal
involvements require, you will
be wise to read all of the small
print and between the lines
before joining.
matter. Embrace the discovery
and recovery of your innate
treasures.
S EVEN: Since it is highly
probable that you will
be tempted to explore some
realm(s) of the forbidden,
choose those experiences
that represent your most
enlightened understanding
and possibilities. Because the
decisions you make today
determine how your future
unfurls, use clear-headed
confidence as you reconsider,
redefine, and refine your
aspirations. Pursue moderation
in all you do.
E
IGHT: When a personal
year # equals a universal
year #, you can expect one
Is it possible for the
self-employed to have a
personal life?
This question becomes
more relevant as the
holidays arrive and each
of us are struggling to do
it all – especially women!
Women typically take on
responsibility for holiday
traditions – engaging
the children in creative
activities like baking
holiday cookies, making
decorations, or, for the
really ambitious, making
personal holiday gifts and,
oh, then there’s our desire
for those special romantic
times with our significant
other.
All this and manage a
2. Set priorities and
plan ahead. Once you
have your personal mission
defined, you are focused
and better able to align
your priorities. What
are the top ten things
you want to accomplish
through the holidays?
Write a schedule to
achieve your goals.
3. Increase your self
esteem. Know who you
are and what you are really
good at.
3. Protect your time
and manage your
relationships; be they
clients, family or friends.
Respect yourself and
don’t over commit. Set
boundaries. Some small

to choose between behaviors that
represent quick, fun fixes and those
which facilitate the very best life
has to offer. The influence of the #8
may appear, at times, to tear things
apart, compelling you to reexamine
how you relate with yourself,
sustain your relationships, pursue
your goals, and choose your path.
Rely on your skills of discernment,
be true to you, and relish the fruit
of your wisdom.
While the influence of #8 will
touch us all, your personal year #
provides your specific guidelines
for 2006. Add your birth month#
+ your birth day# + 8, and
then reduce this # to one digit.
Remember?
O NE: Have fun with this
new beginning. The
transitions you faced in 2005
have cleared the way for a more
original, enlightened approach
in your life. Your choices
create openings for improved
circumstances. If you can avoid
making ego-centered decisions,
how you design this first year of
this new cycle will support your
dreams coming true. You may
be called upon to lead.
F
OUR: On the ground
floor of your evolutionary
cycle, you are in a position
to capitalize upon, with and
through your circumstances.
Many of the choices you face
will be related to your finances.
You may want to consider that
in order to improve the flow
in your direction, a generosity
of spirit that facilitates sharing
and giving will make room for
more and better in your life.
F
IVE: In this position you
are primed to expand
upon your 2005 efforts. If
you have been conscious and
genuinely caring about the
people and circumstances you
encountered, you have every
reason to anticipate rewards
that appreciate and augment
your value. Many opportunities
to broaden your sphere of
influence are yours. Do avoid
being too full of yourself to
believe and behave wisely.
S
IX: While the only person
you can modify and
improve is you, your gentle
influence can contribute to
resolving many situations that
of the most rewarding and,
possibly, challenging years
of your life. To realize the
powerful potential of this
configuration and enjoy the
benefits available to you,
making and sticking to a plan
will support your process. This
plan should help you make
the right decisions at the right
time with the right people
under the right influences if
you concentrate on maintaining
balance. While a numerological
consultation can really benefit
you at this stage, whether you
choose this option or not,
avoid extremes.
N
INE: You are set to corral
and rid yourself of any
leftover, useless or otherwise
unhealthy pieces of your past.
It’s time for you to clear the
way for your future endeavors
and make room for more
satisfying living. Whatever you
may be concerned about losing
will definitely be replenished
more fully as 2006 moves
into 2007. Decide and do
– consistently.
It has been an honor and an
small business, too?!
Studies indicate that
more than 50 percent of
small-business owners
work more than 60
hours a week. Are we
really holding reasonable
expectations of ourselves?
Ask yourself, can you really
maintain all the personal
attention on the home
front as well as working
those 60+ hours a week? It
is important to keep these
expectations in check
and keep life in balance
– especially through the
holiday season.
“How do we do that?”
you might ask. I believe
the answer is in planning
ahead, holding yourself to
reasonable expectations,
and in setting priorities
and boundaries.
1. Develop a personal
mission statement.
Attend the free Brown
Bag Dialogue workshop
Dec. 9 from noon – 1 pm
at the Creekside Career
Center in SLO. Call 595-
1357 to register. Or visit
business owners believe
they must jump at
everyone’s whim: doing
so lowers your value in
other’s eyes because it
shows you don’t value
yourself. Clients, in
particular, like to know
they are seeking products
and services that are in
high demand – so let
them know that you’d
love to do their work
but that you are already
committed. Then suggest
an alternative deadline.
4.Take time for re-
creation. Time away
from work allows you to
re-create yourself and
regenerate the batteries
which feed the sparks of
creativity. Making exercise
a priority creates windows
of time for re-creation.
Brainstorms that come to
you from re-creation time
can revamp your business
and lead to increased sales.
Ultimately, holidays are
for celebrating love and
thanksgiving for our gifts.

T WO: Interactions with
others carry a great deal
of weight for you. You may
find it necessary to choose
between those who nourish
you reciprocally and those
who do not. Keep in mind that
concern you. With whom and
how you choose to share your
gifts determines the extent of
your delight and succeeding.
Your intentions and good
deeds will be noticed and
appreciated by those who
absolute privilege to share my
numerological experience with
you. You have my appreciative
best wishes for joyously happy
holidays and the very best and most
beneficial of everything you seek
during the coming year.
www.franklincovey.com/
missionbuilder/index.html
for a free wizard to help
you write your personal
mission statement and/or
a corporate statement
as well.
Begin the celebration of
love and thanksgiving
within yourself, then
channel the abundant
overflow to those around
you. Bountiful peace and
good will to all!

Andrea Zeller, Executive

Director of Mission Com-

FYI:
munity Services, coordinates
Women’s Business Partners
(WBP), which serves every-
one interested in establish-
In San Luis Obispo County, 26% of families with a female head of household ing self-sufficiency through
and no spouse present had incomes below the poverty level. small business ownership
—American Community Survey Profile, US Census Bureau, 2003 while primarily focusing as-
sistance towards socially and
In 2000, the median income for women in California was $20,527 while the economically disadvantaged
minimum annual salary a woman needs to be self-sufficient with one child in women. WBP can help those
any county in California is $22,132. who speak only Spanish. Vis-
—US Bureau of Labor Statistics it www.MCSCorp.org or call
595-1357 to find out more.

Page 12 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org Women’s Press November/December 2005

 Community Bulletin Board

• Workshops •
Hospice Workshop
“Coping With the Holidays”
The holidays are a very dif-
ficult time for those who have
recently dealt with a death, or
the impending death, of a loved
one. Hospice of SLO County
is offering a Holiday Workshop
(on two separate evenings) to
help support those who are
dealing with a loss.
The workshop takes place
Relationship
Wisdom
on Tuesday, November 15, from The TV show that inspires
5:30-7 pm and Tuesday, Decem- awareness & growth
through relationship.
Spialists in women’s
ber 13, from 5:30-7:00 pm at health for all ag
the Hospice Office, located at –
SLO Public Access, Ch 2
1304 Pacific Street in San Luis Hosted by national author, Low-cost/no-cost
Obispo. There is no charge to speaker & counselor reproductive health servic
attend the workshop. for women, men and teens
Please call the Hospice of- Laura V. Hyde –
fice for further information, www.laurahyde.com Minor urgent care
544-2266. 805.748.7506

Mon-3:30PM • Wed-7PM San Luis Obispo 542-0900

Sat-4PM Pismo Beach 773-4500
The Basics of Atascadero 610-8865

Money Management
CONDUCTED BY CARMELA VIGNOCCHI
CO-SP ONSORED B Y THE WOM EN’S COM M UNITY CENTER
Bi-monthly at the Goodwill Building
880 Industrial Way, SLO
7 to 9 p.m.
$20 per session (Scholarships available)
Session 1 – Getting Financially Organized:
Where are you now? Where do you want to be?

Call 805-543-9313 to save a space. 1345 Broad Street, SLO

• Lifestyle Management
If you have an ad or a listing you would like to • Certified Applied
appear in Workshops, call 805-544-9313
Kinesiology/TBM
• Sports/Work Rehabilitation
• Certified Sacro-Occipital
• Nutrition Counseling
• Gentle Care
• Massage

ok ing for Then look to your good neighbor

Lo State Farm® agent. Through an
unbeatable alliance with
Fortis Health*, I’m offering flexible
and affordable insurance coverage.
If that’s what
you’re looking
for, come see
me today:
Code Pink meets the second Monday of every month at ECOSLO, corner of
Marsh and Nipomo in SLO from 7-8:30 p.m. Susan Rodriguez, Agent
Call for details on coverage, costs,
Lic.# 0D30697
Current activities include putting together Soldier Care Packages (contact restrictions and renewability.
*Coverages issued and underwritten 1317 Broad Street Suite A
Shelly at mzoff@calpoly.edu), helping a Katrina displaced family living in Santa Maria by Fortis Insurance Company,
San Luis Obispo, CA
a Fortis Health member company,
(contact Vivian at cpinkviv@sbcglobal.net), and countering military recruitment Milwaukee, Wisconsin. No member 805-783-7050
at local high school campuses (contact Sherry at picky@slonet) The group is also of the State Farm family of
companies is
working on getting a resolution passed at each city council requesting the National financially
responsible for the
Guard be brought home (contact Dawn at dawnortizlegg@charter.net).
Items needed for the troops: lotion, AA & AAA batteries, pop tarts, sun screen
Individual Medical
Coverage product. Like a good neighbor,
(SPF 30+), magazines, cup-o-noodles, shampoo, conditioner, canned soup, Spam,
Fortis Insurance
Company is not an
State Farm is there.®
cookies, trail mix, envelopes (no stamps), crackers, candy (not chocolate, it melts), affiliate of
statefarm.com®
State Farm.
stationery, canned fruits, tuna, feminine products, beef jerky. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
Home Office: Bloomington, Illinois
For information contact Vivian 801-0466 or Dawn 544-0826. P01421 11/02

Page 13 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org Women’s Press November/December 2005

 Community Bulletin Board
COMPUTERROOTERS
We are a senior group where
you can get help on various
computer subjects. Meets 1st
Thurs. each month 10 a.m.
at Arroyo Grande Hospital,
Halcyon at the corner of Fair
Oaks in the conference room,
which is in the Annex.
Info: 528-3892 or
elisehenderson@charter.net
EQUAL SINGLES 60+
��������������������������
We are a zestful non-smoking
group of 60+ seniors who enjoy
������������������������ various lifestyles of tennis,
golf, dancing, theater, travel,
cards, dining, etc.
Info: 489-5481 or
dege1@juno.com.
�����������������������������������������������������������
World Dance Studio
The World Dance Company
specializes in promoting
and performing in benefits
and fundraisers for arts and
humanitarian organizations.
Your business card here The World Dance Studio and
Company has a new e-mail
address and server:
$35 /ONE ISSUE • $150/YEAR (6 ISSUES)
worlddance@sbcglobal.net
http://www.WorldDance.biz
Civil Marriage
Equality Coalition
The Civil Marriage Equality
Coalition of San Luis Obispo
is now organizing to defeat
the proposed California
Constitutional Amendment
to prohibit gays and lesbians
from civil marriage. The
initiative would also nullify all
domestic partnership rights.
This initiative is expected to
be on the June 06 ballot.
Long-Term Care We need help. If you would
Ombudsman Services like to volunteer, please
provide monitoring visits contact David Kilburn at
and resident advocacy for dkilburn@charter.net or
skilled nursing and residential 440-6487.
care facilities for the elderly
throughout SLO County.
Information and referral Women’s Shelter
available for families Holiday Baskets
considering placing a loved
The Women’s Shelter Program
one in long term care.
is currently soliciting items
Upcoming training for new
to fill their holiday baskets.
volunteers: January 2006.
Perishable items such as turkeys
Please call Jess at (805) 785- and/or hams and non-perishable
0132 with any questions.
items such as canned and
packaged food or market gift
cards would be appreciated.
Compassion & Choices
Contact Louise at 781-6401,
(formerly End of Life Choices) ext. 110 (Tues/Wed/Thurs.
has new phone numbers: 938- 9:30-3:00), for drop-off
7853 or 458-5328. location and times/dates.

‘Voices of Christmas’ CASA Benefit

EOC Health Services

Clinics provide low-income,
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLYSON MAGDA PHOTOGRAPHY.

uninsured, and underserved

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR KIDS
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY CENTER
Individual Therapy /Sensorimotor Groups
for Children with Special Needs
Sande Rutstein, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
145B Bridge Street Arroyo Grande, CA
Phone 805-541-7628 • Fax 805-528-5069
“Holding the potential of each precious child”
women with access to lifesaving
screening programs for early
detection of breast and cervical
cancers at low to no cost
Monday through Friday year-
round at two clinic locations.
In addition to clinical breast
exams, mammograms and Pap
tests, the San Luis Obispo and
Arroyo Grande Clinics ensure
appropriate diagnostic follow-
up, case management and
referral for medical treatment
when appropriate.
SLO Clinic, 705 Grand Ave.
South County Clinic, 1152 E.
Grand Ave. in Arroyo Grande
To make an appointment,
call EOC Health Services at
544-2478 for San Luis Obispo
or 489-4026 for Arroyo
Grande.
Mark Padgett, creator
and host of the Voices of
Christmas luncheon, joins
the children from the Joy
of Music Kids’ Choir for a
holiday song.
Mark Padgett will host he 11th Annual Voices of Christmas
luncheon benefit for CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates)
featuring Phoenix Fine Catering, The Uncommonne Carolers,
Usonia Jazz Band, silent auction, live auction and raffle of holiday
wreaths created by local designers.
When: Friday, Dec. 9, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Where: SLO Veterans Memorial Building,
801 Grande Avenue, San Luis Obispo
Tickets: $45 per person, $500 for sponsor table of ten
Call 541-6542 for reservations

Commiion rponds to community concerns

GE Task Force Expands
On October 17 the San Luis
Obispo County Health
Commission unanimously
voted to create a more balanced
GE Task Force.
The Task Force was formed,
at the request of the Board
of Supervisors to the SLO
Co. Health Commission,
to investigate the health
implications of genetically
engineered crops and foods.
This request came in
response to public awareness
about GE foods raised in last to investigate and gather
year’s election. information.
Measure Q, an initiative The Health Commission, on
aimed at keeping GE crops a motion from Dr. Don Pinkel,
from being grown in SLO unanimously voted to add three
Co., was defeated but many more members to the task
SLO Co. citizens remained force balancing the professional
concerned about the health, training of its members.
environmental and economic The Health Commission
impacts of GE crops being now seeks a biomedical
locally grown. The Board of researcher, a biomedical
Supervisors requested both ethicist, and a public health
the Health and Agricultural professional to join the task
Departments form task forces force.

Page 14 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org Women’s Press November/December 2005

 Resources
ABUSE
ADULTS MOLESTED AS CHILDREN SUPPORT GROUP (AMAC) TALK/LISTEN - EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUPS
545.8888 489.5481 466.7226 (Atascadero/Templeton)
CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRANSFORMATIONS COUNSELING CENTER 481.7424, 473.1714 (Arroyo Grande)
781.6406 Free monthly workshops 541.7908 544.1342 (SLO)
NORTH COUNTY WOMEN’S SHELTER & RESOURCE CENTER, PLANNED PARENTHOOD
(inc. domestic violence support groups) FINANCE/BUSINESS SLO 549.9446
461.1338 CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICES STROKE SUPPORT GROUP
RAPE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP, SLO 800.540.2227 471.8102 (SLO)
545.8888 MISSION COMMUNITY SERVICES CORPORATION WOMEN’S SUPPORT/THERAPY V (GENERAL)
SARP (SEXUAL ASSAULT RECOVERY & PREVENTION) WOMEN’S BUSINESS PARTNERS 534.1101
545.8888 595.1356 www.mcscorp.org WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE SPECIALISTS
SUPPORT GROUP FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS 544.4883
545.8888 GAY & LESBIAN
WOMEN’S SHELTER PROGRAM OF SLO GAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE (GALA) POLITICAL
781.6400 www.womensshelterslo.org mariemoore05@sbcglobal.net CODE PINK
PFLAG.PARENTS & FRIENDS OF LESBIANS & GAYS ososousavile@aol.com
ADDICTIONS 438.3889 COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN
AA MEETING SOL (SINGLE OLDER LESBIANS) 545.8412; Dawn Williams
541.3211 Mostly socializing! Call 474.9405 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS (ACA) 543.2220
595.2695 HOSPICE NOW (NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN)
CAMBRIA CONNECTION (12 STEP SUPPORT) AIDS BEREAVEMENT GROUP (HOSPICE) 542.8242
927.1654 544.2266
CASA SOLANA HOSPICE OF SLO COUNTY READERS/WRITERS
Women’s Recovery Home 481.8555 544.2266 and 434.1164 ADULT LITERACY
COMPULSIVE EATERS ANONYMOUS, H.O.W.CONCEPT 541-4219
546.1178 JOBS/CAREERS NIGHTWRITERS
DRUG & ALCOHOL SERVICES AARP 788.2643 549.9656; contact Shirley Powell
781.4275 CAL POLY FOUNDATION SISTERS IN CRIME
NA 800.549.7730 Jobline 756.7107 http://SinC-CCC.blogspot.com
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS CAL POLY UNIVERSITY
541.3164 http://calpolyjobs.org 756.1533 SENIORS
SCA, SLAA & SAA (SEX, LOVE & ROMANCE ADDICTIONS) CUESTA COLLEGE ADULT DAY CARE
461.6084 http://www.cuesta.edu Jobline 546.3127 544-4355 ext.531
TOPS (TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY) THE CREEKSIDE CAREER CENTER COMPUTEROOTERS:
929.1789 www.slocareers.org Get help with computers.
WOMEN FOR SOBRIETY 788.2631 or 788.2690 elisehenderson@charter.net
http://www.womenforsobriety.org DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES:
215.536.8026 549.3361 In-Home Support to the Elderly/Homemakers
MISSION COMMUNITY SERVICES CORPORATION help with ADLs 781.1790
ARTS WOMEN’S BUSINESS PARTNERS nursing help for the terminally ill 781.5540
MOTHERTONGUE FEMINIST THEATER COLLECTIVE 595.1356 www.mcscorp.org EQUAL SINGLES 60+ MEET MONTHLY
For info call: 528.6827 PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL (PIC) 489.5481, dege1@juno.com
www.jobhunt.org 788.2601 FOSTER GRANDPARENTS.SENIOR COMPANIONS
CHILDREN & FAMILIES LEGAL 782.9200
CHILDCARE RESOURCE CONNECTION SENIOR PEER COUNSELING (LIFESPAN)
541.2272 or 800.727.2272 ACLU HELPLINE free, trained in.home counseling for 60+
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) 544.0142 549.0150
“A child’s voice in Court in SLO County” CORE MEDIATION SERVICES
541.6542 544.6334
medeee8@aol.com
SPIRITUAL (OR NOT)
CHILDREN’S SERVICES NETWORK A COURSE IN MIRACLES
781.1847 DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE – VICTIM WITNESS CENTER Mondays, 7 PM, Unity of SLO, 995.1390
FIRST 5: CHILDREN & FAMILIES COMMISSION 781.5821 AWAKENING INTERFAITH SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY
781.4058; ask for Susan Hughs FAMILY LAW FACILITATOR Sunday service, 10–11 AM; 772.0306
HOMESCHOOLING IN SLO COUNTY (HSC) 546.3769 CENTRAL COAST JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
462.0726; ask for Barbara LAWYERS REFERRAL SERVICES/LEGAL AID ALTERNATIVE 543.9452
LA LECHE LEAGUE 788.2099 MEDITATION GROUP
Moe 541.3471 PRO PER DIVORCE WORKSHOP Mondays, 7:30–8:30 PM; 772.0306
MIGRANT CHILDCARE PROGRAM 544.9313 NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH
544.4355 and 466.3444 SENIOR LEGAL SERVICES Every Sunday, Coalesce Bookstore, MB
MOMS CLUB OF SOUTH SLO COUNTY 543.5140 REIKI IN-SERVICE
489.6569 528.6996
PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN MEDICAL SUPPORT/SERVICES
541.8666; ask for Beth ALS SUPPORT GROUP (LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE)
772.5990
WOMEN’S CENTERS/SHELTERS
REAL F.A.C.T.S. (FORUM ON ABUSED CHILDREN) HOMELESS SHELTER
460.9016 ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT 781-3993
SOCIAL SERVICES 534.9234 (LO); 481.9364 (SLO); HOUSING AUTHORITY
781.1600 226.8669 (Templeton) 543.4478
SUPPORT FOR KIDS COPING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Caregivers of Early-Stage Alzheimer’s NORTH COUNTY WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER, SHELTER
473.6507 547.3830, 534.9234 (SLO/Los Osos) 461.1338
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY WOMEN’S COMMUNITY CENTER, SLO
EMERGENCY/CRISIS Paso Robles 238.9657 544.9313
HOTLINE ANOREXIA NERVOSA & BULIMIA SUPPORT GROUP WOMEN’S SHELTER PROGRAM OF SLO
www.slohotline.org 541.9113 549.8989 (crises), 781.6401 (business)
549.8989 or 800.549.8989 ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION www.womensshelterslo.org
SEXUAL & RAPE PREVENTION (SARP) 892.5556
545.8888 or 800.656.HOPE (4673) CANCER/ BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS
543.1481 ext. 3 for information
OTHER WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER & VICTIM WITNESS ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
PROGRAM 781.5821 CAREGIVERS OF AGING PARENTS 481.1039; Cici Wynn, President
547.3830 (AG); 927.4290 (Cambria); HADASSAH.SLO
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT 226.8669 (PR); 547.3830 (SLO)
ENDOMETRIOSIS ASSOCIATION
543.9452
A.D.A.P.T. (AID IN DIVORCE ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS TODAY) WOMEN’S NETWORK, SLO
543.0388 www.endometriosisassn.org 546.3727 www.womenslo.org
ALZHEIMER/DEMENTIA RESOURCE CENTER ENHANCEMENT, INC.
434.3061 or 534.9234 or 800.443.1236 (for breast cancer survivors)
771.8640 www.enhancementinc.com
OTHER GROUPS & GATHERINGS
CALL–CONCERNED AGORAPHOBICS LEARNING TO LIVE CENTRAL COAST PEACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
543.3764 EOC HEALTH SERVICES CLINICS 544.3399 or 783.2383
CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS (CODA) no or low cost reproductive health services COMPASSION & CHOICES (FORMERLY HEMLOCK SOCIETY)
542.0577 (SLO) 481.5093 (Grover Beach) 544.2478 (SLO); 489.4026 (Arroyo Grande) 938.7853 or 458.5328
927.1654 (Cambria) 466.8600 (North County) HEALTHWORKS OF THE CENTRAL COAST FRIENDS OF OCEANO
COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTER no or low cost reproductive health services 474.9094; fax 805.474.9096
543.7969 787.0100 (SLO), SLO GREEN PARTY
EATING DISORDERS SUPPORT GROUP 773.4500 (Pismo), http://www.slo.greens.org 544.1580
546-3774; free, meets weekly in SLO 610.8865 (Atascadero)
HOSPICE OF SLO COUNTY (inc. miscarriage/stillbirth LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN SERVICES OF SLO COUNTY
support) 544.2266 or 434.1164 772.3059 Please send additions, corrections or deletions to:
SENIOR PEER COUNSELING (LIFESPAN) LYMPHEDEMA EDUCATION & SUPPORT GROUP editors@womenspress-slo.org or leave a message
free, trained in-home counseling for 60+ 2nd Monday, 4:00-5:00 pm at the WCC: 805.544.9313. Last update 11/9/05.
549.0150 782-9300 for info

Women’s Press November/December 2005 E-mail the editors: editors@womenspress-slo.org Page 15

Women’s Community Center
880 Industrial Way
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805.544.9313 U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 95
DATED MATERIAL — PLEASE DO NOT DELAY SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA

Back talk
What is one of your favorite holiday traditions?

SKELTON
PHOTOS BY ANNE
Anne – “Doing a Sara – “Decorating the Kathy – “Making Vivian – “Leaving the Dorothy– “Making
really great jigsaw Christmas tree with Enlish toffee with country for Christmas!” cioppino for the
puzzle with friends loved ones.” my daughter at New Year’s Day get
and family over the Christmastime.” together.”
holiday season.”

Where to find Women’s Press

All SLO County Libraries
and the following exceptionally fine establishments!

NORTH COUNTY: Atascadero – Harvest Health Food Store,

North County Connection, Senior Center, Women’s Resource Center/Shelter
Office; Paso Robles – Community Thrift Shop, Paso Robles Health Foods;

LONGEVITY
Templeton – Twin Cities Hospital
NORTHERN COAST: Baywood – Coffee & Things;
Cambria – Cambria Connection, Gym One, La Crema, 7 Sisters;
HEALTHCARE CENTER Cayucos – Cayucos Super Market, Kelley’s Espresso & Dessert, Lily’s Coffee
House, Ocean Front Pizza; Los Osos – Baywood Laundry, Cad’s, Carlock’s
Bakery, Chamber of Commerce, Copa de Oro, Garden Café, Los Osos Deli,
Peter J. Muran, MD Valley Liquor, Volumes of Pleasure; Morro Bay – Backstage Salon, Coalesce
Bookstore, Coffee Pot Restaurant, The Rock, Southern Port Traders, Sunshine
Board Certified in Holistic Medicine
Health Foods, Two Dogs Coffee

Integrated Medicine Specializing in Cardiac, Brain,
Digestive & Immune Disorders and Healthy-Aging
Sexual Vitality
Menopause
Natural Hormone Balancing for Men and Women
Chronic Disease Care
Chelation, Detoxification and Nutritional Therapies
Reversing the Underlying Cause of Disease,
Not Just Symptom Management
SAN LUIS OBISPO: Cal Poly Library, Center for Alternatives to Violence,
Chamber of Commerce, Cuesta College Library, EOC Health Services Clinic,
French Hospital, Garden St. Essentials, HealthWorks, Healing Alternatives,
Jamaca You, Karen Hale Chiropractic, Laguna Laundry, Linnaea’s, Monterey
Express, Natural Foods Coop, New Frontiers, Nautical Bean, Outspoken
Beverage Bistro, Panache, Phoenix Books, Planned Parenthood, Rudolph’s
Coffee & Tea, San Luis Obispo Housing Authority Office, SARP, The Secret
Garden, Sierra Vista Hospital, SLO Perk Coffee, Spirit Winds Therapy, The
Studio Fitness for Women, Two Dogs Coffee, Unitarian Universalist Church,
Uptown Cafe, Yoga Centre
SOUTH COUNTY: Arroyo Grande – Act II Boutique,
Andreini’s, Central Coast Yoga, Corcoran’s Restaurant, Country Kitchen,
Curves-AG, Cutting Edge, EOC Health Services Clinic, Family Chiropractic,
Girls Restaurant, Grande Whole Foods, Hunter’s Landing, Kennedy
Club Fitness; Grover Beach – Back Door Deli, Cindi’s Wash House,
Nan’s Pre-owned Books, Therapeutic Body Center, 20-minute Fitness;

1405 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo Halcyon – Halcyon Store; Nipomo – California Fresh; Pismo
Beach – HealthWorks, Honeymoon Café, Pismo Athletic Club; Shell
805-548-0987
Beach – Seaside Cafe, Steaming Bean, Turning Point Acupuncture
Subscribe to Our Complementary Lecture Series and Newsletter at
www.longevityhealthcare.com SANTA MARIA: Café Monet, Hunter’s Landing, Library, Loading Dock,
Marian Medical Center