Story and photo by www.PhotoByVivian.com

Founded in 1984 by Jeffrey Purchin, the 5 Cities Swim School has been teaching children how to swim for more than 30 years. They offer programs for seniors and adults, recreational swimming, swim classes for toddlers and the pool is even available to rent for parties.

When Purchin attended a swim school conference in North Carolina, he visited a facility that had colorful fish sculptures that caught his eye. They were made by a French sculptor Jean Pierre Feral. It just so happened that Purchin had a trip planned to visit France, so he made arrangements to meet Feral. Through an interpreter, Purchin told him about the 5 Cities Swim School and that they wanted to bring the magic of the artist’s work into their facility.

Purchin later sent Feral a photo of the facility at 425 Traffic Way in Arroyo Grande, and Feral designed 38 fish to be displayed in the swim school.

Jean Pierre Feral’s sculptures can be seen in many countries as well as Disney World in Paris, and right here in Arroyo Grande.

Story and photo by www.PhotoByVivian.com

Fire season is upon us and with little or no rain this season, the hills of SLO County are full of dry weeds and brush that pose a risk of unwanted fires.  Lately, you may have seen herds of goats along the freeway, on the sides of hills, in fields and yards and wondered what they are doing there.  They are all hard at work clearing brush. No need for chemicals, tools, rototillers, heavy equipment or backbreaking labor, goats provide environmentally friendly vegetation management. It’s a simple process. The goats just need to be contained to the area to be cleared and for their protection they need a watchdog.  Goats love weeds and brush, they enjoy steep terrain, they can graze areas too difficult for machinery to reach and they even love poison ivy!  As the goats do their work they actually aerate the soil and they fertilize as they graze. It’s a win-win.

Story and Photo by www.PhotoByVivian.com

We are once again graced by the migration of Humpback Whales here on the Central Coast. A species of Baleen Whale, Humpback Whales as a whole are very friendly and curious animals. Some Humpback Whales referred to as “friendlies” will approach kayakers and boats many times staying with or under them.
A Humpback’s lifespan is about 50 years and an adult Humpback weighs on average about 80,000 pounds and can reach up to 60 feet in length. They are known for their long pectoral fins, which can be up to 15 feet and used to maneuver, slow down and even back up! The females are larger than the males. They only eat in the summer and can eat up to 3,000 pounds or more of food per day, primarily krill, plankton and small fish. It is believed the Humpbacks are here in the bay a month earlier than their usual migration due to the large numbers of available anchovies.
Humpbacks have some interesting habits. They breach, lobtail and spyhop. A Humpback will spyhop to take a look around. It is not clear why they breach or lobtail. It could have a social meaning, it could be to loosen parasites or they may simply be playing. Humpbacks sing and are the most vocal and nosiest of all whales.