Category Archives: Gareth Kelly

Gareth Kelly

Bucket Busters

gareth 4Story by Gareth Kelly
Photos courtesy of Music Motive

Anyone can play the drums right? Wrong. It takes skill, commitment and dedication to play the drums well. One organization aiming to produce a future Ringo Starr or Phil Collins and help provide music scholarships to kids who may not otherwise be able to take music lessons is Bucket Busters.
Bucket Busters started in around the mid 1990’s and was the brainchild of Music Motive owner Steve Hilstein (formerly of the Drum Circuit), well kind of.
Bucket busters 3“I remember watching this guy, Larry Wright who was the first Buddy Rich Memorial scholarship recipient,” said Hilstein. “He came out on stage with three 5- gallon plastic buckets and just started playing. It was amazing and it really got to me. I remember sitting in my studio surrounded with probably over a hundred thousand dollars of music equipment and thinking to Continue reading Bucket Busters →

Gareth Kelly, Healthy Living, Profiles

Quantum Waves Hypnotherapy

Gareth Head-Shot-Oct-10Story by Gareth Kelly
Photos courtesy of Quantum Waves Hypnotherapy

When many think of hypnotism, people running around a stage clucking like a chicken or barking like a dog spring to mind. However, with recent advances in neuroplasticity the stigma surrounding hypnotherapy and hypnotherapists is beginning to erode and the real benefits of this type of treatment are finally beginning to be seen.
Quantum Waves Hypno Therapy started by Los Osos resident Gila Zak is one such business.
“My daughter has Lyme disease and she got really sick,” said Zak. “We tried everything and finally I took her to a hypnotherapist, and what I watched was amazing. Along with bio feedback and hypnosis we were able to rid her of her chronic stomach pain and the associated stress.” Continue reading Quantum Waves Hypnotherapy →

Gareth Kelly

Hiding in Plain Sight

gareth 4By Gareth Kelly

Today I made the decision to come out. Out of the shadows and into the light. I have lived in America for the past 12 years of my life and consider this great nation my home. I live in a fantastic community and have felt blessed by the life I have been able to live in San Luis Obispo, named “Happiest Town in America” on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
However, for approximately the past 6 years I have lived with a secret few knew.  I, along with 11.5 million others, am considered an ‘undocumented immigrant’. Trapped in a quasi paradise of this great land without the ability to leave its borders for fear of not being able to return and every day living with the stress of potentially being picked up and deported. Continue reading Hiding in Plain Sight →

Gareth Kelly

Lights, Camera, Action!

gareth 4Story and Photos by Gareth Kelly

A long time ago in a valley not so far away, Creston specifically, Todd Fisher bought a 44-acre ranch. It’s not visible from the road, and without ever visiting the property most would never realize the wonder and amazement this ranch holds. Fisher is the brother of Carrie Fisher, author, producer and actress best known for her role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. Todd is himself a renowned producer, director and writer having worked in the Hollywood movie industry since he was DSC_0014a small boy. The son of Singing in the Rain star Debbie Reynolds and crooner Eddie Fisher, Todd fell in love with the Central Coast 26 years ago and has been quietly working on the facilities at his ranch, home to the Hollywood Motion Picture Experience or HMPE. Continue reading Lights, Camera, Action! →

Business Matters, Gareth Kelly

Hoppin Plaza

gareth 4Story by Gareth Kelly
Photos courtesy of SLO Downtown Association

Every Friday throughout the summer there is only one place to be. Between 5.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. the Mission Plaza in downtown San Luis Obispo becomes a concert venue and host to the annual Concerts in the Plaza series. Celebrating its 20th year this unique venue has become the place both locals and tourists alike kick off their weekend, “let down their hair and boogie down” to the sounds of a wide ranging selection of bands including many local ones such as Damon Castillo and the world renowned Young Dubliners.
Continue reading Hoppin Plaza →

Business Matters, Gareth Kelly, Profiles

Native Herbs and Honey

DSC_0351Story and photos by Gareth Kelly

Violet Cavanaugh and husband Aaron Pruitt have been beekeepers for many years; Cavanaugh is a seventh generation keeper. They have been fixtures at many local farmers’ markets, events such as the Renaissance Faire and everything in between where they could sell their honey, soaps, balms and lotions. However recent events started to take a toll on their business.
“This is the worst drought anyone can remember, said Cavanaugh. “It’s been devastating. Bees need a cold winter period to help kill mites but those cold winters haven’t happened. Coupled with this, the drought has left less flowers, less food and more yellow jackets. It’s all contributed to a really bad time for beekeepers. We realized we needed to change and diversify our business.” Continue reading Native Herbs and Honey →

Gareth Kelly

Older Edna

Gareth ednahallStory by Gareth Kelly
Photos courtesy of Old Edna

Nestled between Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo, just along state Highway 227 lies the small quaint township of Old Edna. Settled around 1887, Old Edna was for many years a dilapidated assortment of antiquated buildings on the side of the road that no one really noticed. That was until 1998 when Pattea Torrence decided to take a chance, follow her dream and lease the site.
“I remember spending time here as a kid when I was 16,” said Torrence. “I had an affection for the place and decided to lease it in 1998 not sure what I was going to do. I had very little money and no idea where the journey would take me, but the more time I spent here the more I fell in love with it. Eventually I bought the site, and today I could not be more proud of what it has become. Not only my little town site but the whole of the Edna Valley.”
Continue reading Older Edna →

Business Matters, Gareth Kelly, Profiles

New Earth Superfoods

gareth 4Story and photo by Gareth Kelly

Gunter Ternes grew up in Germany in a wealthy family and later went to school to study medicine. One day while driving on the autobahn, Ternes witnessed a horrific car accident. This was in a time before seat belts, and Ternes witnessed both the driver and passenger being flung from the car. Stopping to help, Ternes found the driver, a male, was dead. Turning Gareth new-earth-superfoods-logohis attention to the other passenger, a female; she grabbed him and asked, “My husband is he ok? Is he dead?” Even though his medical training had taught him to lie, Ternes couldn’t, and he informed the lady that her husband was indeed dead. Continue reading New Earth Superfoods →

Gareth Kelly

On the Planet of Culture – with Shanna May

Screen Shot 2015-05-19 at 1.28.56 PMStory by Gareth Kelly
Photos courtesy of Shanna May

Some time ago we introduced you to Zhanna May. Originally from Kazakhstan, May had just finished as runner up in the Mrs. Asia USA contest in 2014. Meeting many people from all over the world and from many different cultures, May was inspired to share some of these and many other stories.
“After doing the pageant, I realized how much fun I had meeting people from other cultures,” said May. “I thought it would be great if I could share some of these experiences with others. That’s when I had the idea of a TV show.” Continue reading On the Planet of Culture – with Shanna May →