Feedback / Dec/Jan 2012
Notes
HOT LEAD
Dear SLO LIFE,
I wanted to tell you about this interesting SLO couple. Susan and Joel Westwood are doing some really great things for our community. Susan started a program called PEAK (Providing Extracurricular Activities for Kids) at Pacheco Elementary School. This is a program designed to allow children to participate in activities outside of school (soccer, boy scouts, art, etc...) by assisting with costs, transportation, and equipment. These families would not be able to afford it otherwise. You can learn more by visiting the website at www.peakslo.org. Joel is a Cal Poly professor that helps students by fixing up bikes and lending them to students while they are living here. This seems like a great idea for students with little resources for a car and that live close enough to bike in to class.
One of the things I love about living the SLO life is meeting so many people that have such amazing ideas about giving back to the community and working together to build each other up. I am constantly amazed by the generous hearts around us.
Thanks,
Meka Rudd
San Luis Obispo
We are constantly amazed too, Meka. And your note piqued our curiosity, so we asked Demitria Castanon to go out to Pacheco to have a look around. Many interviews and several drafts and a couple of edits later, we decided to run the story in this issue [see “The Tenth Sister” on page 39]. We really appreciate your thinking of us, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank others of you who have submitted story leads to us through our website (if you haven’t done so already, simply go to slolifemagazine.com and click the “Tell Us Your Story” button on the home page). Although we receive many more story ideas than we are able to print, please know that if you do not see yours published, it does not mean that we will not do so in the future… so keep ‘em coming!
OFFICIOUS INTERMEDDLER
Dear SLO LIFE,
Love the magazine. It is slick and looks great. You give ink to the people and places in SLO. My question, as “an officious intermeddler” is how do you and the magazine get your own ink and get picked up and get libraries and others to carry you. I think you have it on the Central Coast. Cal Poly, their scientists and programs may be a good way to get the magazine international exposure.
Paul Lichtman
San Luis Obispo
We like how you think, Paul. Maybe you can help us go international someday! For now, we are content to continue expanding circulation right here on the Central Coast. But, please do keep us posted on whatever great ideas come to mind and know that we do not consider you to be “intermeddling” at all! In fact, your note spurred the idea to offer a special holiday deal. Be sure to check out page 38 where we are running a subscription promotion… maybe we can convince those super smart Cal Poly professors to buy Christmas gift subscriptions for their friends who live outside the area (hint, hint).
MOM LOVES AMBIANCE
Dear SLO LIFE,
I think that you should do a profile on my daughter Kannyn January. She purchased Ambiance Boutique in 2001 after graduating from Cal Poly, and she has followed the economic storm of uncertainty into making her boutique fit into what consumers can afford and remain unique and stylish. Kannyn is an asset to downtown SLO. When so many national chains are moving into our unique downtown, Kannyn has stayed the course and provided a place where local artists, jewelry designers and fashion designers can sell to the public. Kannyn is definitely a SLOtown jewel!!!
Marian Willingham
Cambria
Thanks for your email, Marian. Although we figure you are probably just a tad bit biased, we applaud your daughter’s commitment to making Downtown SLO the cool, hip place that it is. We hope to drop by and introduce ourselves to Kannyn and pick up a gift or two in her boutique. In the meantime, we’d like to encourage all of our readers to shop our local retailers as much as possible this holiday season. It’s great for our local economy, plus where else can you find such unique gifts and fantastic service? Shop local, it’s good for all of us.
FOOD CONNECTION
Dear SLO LIFE,
Would you mind forwarding this message to Tiffani Ayers in response to the “Local Food by Local People” article about her in last month’s magazine:
Tiffani, My grandparents went to Hong Kong in 1903 and my parents, my siblings and myself were all born there. Unfortunately for me, I was 4 when we left Hong Kong so my Cantonese consists of the foods I like and of course, “Aiya”! I was able to spend last weekendlistening to my family talk, tell jokes and generally have a great time in Cantonese while we celebrated my mother’s birthday. It was interesting though that when it came time to order food in Seattle’s Chinatown, they all placed me by the push cart aisle and turned to me for food recommendations. The article really hit a note as the “Chinese food connection” is what I have to pass on to my sons. In fact, for their birthday dinner they normally pick a Chinese restaurant or ask me to cook lap cheong and choy at home! Thank you for sharing your almond cookie recipe, you can be sure that it will be tried this weekend.
Mandy Leastman
CFF, CPA EVP/Chief Financial Officer
Founders Community Bank
We just thought this note from Mandy was so cool, and, although it was written for us to pass along to Tiffani, we asked her if it would be okay to publish here. Tiffani’s feature in the last issue “Local Food by Local People” was a big hit with many readers as it was really more about about the way people connect through cooking than it was about her grandmother Fong Gong’s almond cookies – although they were phenomenal! Thank you, Tiffani, for sharing the story, and the recipe and thank you, Mandy, for your note. If either of you ever need any taste-testers in the future, we are located at 4251 S. Higuera Street, Suite 800.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Dear SLO LIFE,
We thought it might be interesting to do an article on all the people who play a role in putting your magazine together. I know there must be quite a few involved. My wife and I eagerly await each issue of SLO LIFE and read it cover to cover each time, but we can’t help but wonder who is behind the scenes.
John G. Anderson
Arroyo Grande
You know, John, we get this question quite a lot. So, we figured it was time to introduce you to our amazingly talented contributors. Please turn the page and get to know the people that make it happen.
IT WORKS!
We knew that we needed to do some marketing, so we looked around at our options. We always love reading SLO LIFE, and we know lots of other people that are really into the magazine, so we thought why not try advertising in it. We gave them a call and the publisher came out and spent some time with us one afternoon. He asked a lot of questions and really took an interest in our business and what we were doing to try to grow it. He put together an advertising program for us that ended up costing a lot less than we had expected. All I can say now is… Wow, we have had an amazing response so far! We are so happy that we hooked up with SLO LIFE.
Karen Cipolla
Dream Dinners
PHONE TAG
You guys are running some killer ads on T.V. right now… what’s the deal with those guys, The Bucket Busters?? Those kids rock!! I have a couple of questions. Can you give me a call? My number is…”
Randy
Voicemail
Hopefully you received our return call, Randy, we did leave a voicemail message. But, in case you didn’t get it, we would like to direct you to page 36 where you can learn all you want and more about the Bucket Busters. And, you are definitely right, those kids do rock!!
