Cover Story
The ‘me too district’: Lucia Mar Unified has been calling itself that for years due to the across-the-board raises it gives staff, faculty, and administrators
Teachers at the largest school district in San Luis Obispo County are now the highest-paid educators in the region, but their pay raise sparked equity concerns. “In years past, when comparing other districts in our county, our superintendent was paid at or near the top, and our teachers were at or near the bottom,” district…
28th Annual “Winning Images” Photography Contest
A photograph can capture a moment in a way that words simply can’t. Since 1994, New Times Media Group has invited local photographers to show us the moments they’ve captured in our annual Winning Images photography contest. The categories are: Animals, Flora, Land/Seascapes, People, Travel, Open, and In Motion. See more detailed rules below. We…
Morro Bay Harbor could get emergency funding for dock repairs
Warped wood pushes boats out of line and makes it hard for anyone to pull their boats into the Morro Bay Harbor, let alone step onto the docks themselves without fear of falling into the water. This isn’t a new issue: Morro Bay’s docks have needed repairs for years, but Morro Bay Harbor Director Ted…
Pismo Beach debars construction company for second time
A five-year-long battle between Pismo Beach and a construction company ended in the latter’s debarment, but legal unrest between the two is ongoing. “We agree with city of Pismo Beach Councilmember Stacy Inman. Based upon the applicable legal standards and facts at issue in this matter, debarment is not applicable and not warranted,” attorney Patricia…
County rejects plan to subdivide SLO synagogue property
A proposed subdivision of Congregation Beth David’s property on Los Osos Valley Road was met with stiff opposition from county staff at a March 23 Planning Commission meeting. “The property has no subdivision potential,” County Planning Division Manager Airlin Singewald told commissioners. “Agreeing with the applicant’s rationale on this project … would set a dangerous…
A Bridge of Hope aspires to keep seniors in their homes through care coordination and subsidies
Nipomo resident Janice LaMere found her life’s calling through an all-too-relatable personal ordeal. When her father was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2011, he moved into her house for long-term care. There wasn’t a better option—at least not one they could afford. “My parents lived in Paso Robles and I lived in Nipomo,” LaMere…
Fix your leaks
It’s springtime, the time of year when Californians work on repairing their lawns and restoring their gardens with bright and colorful plants before the hot days of summer set in. The first day of spring marks when communities throughout America observe the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Fix a Leak Week (which was March…
New redistricting plan is good for SLO County
This is a note of congratulations to San Luis Obispo County Citizens for Good Government (SLOCCGG) for an enormous achievement in settling its redistricting lawsuit with the county. It demonstrates that: • Wisdom prevails • Logic prevails • Perseverance prevails • Democracy prevails The citizens of SLO County should be grateful that they now have…
Community choice energy is a scam
It appears that our San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors has decided to unilaterally embroil their constituents into the community choice energy scam, which involves purchasing clean energy from existing out-of-state sources and claiming it as one’s own. Meanwhile, on paper, the carbon emissions from the power actually produced and consumed in California magically…
Morro Bay Art Association holds talk with lecturer John Seed
Disrupted Realism, a book on contemporary painters by lecturer John Seed, will be the topic of discussion during an upcoming talk at Art Center Morro Bay. The event, presented by the Morro Bay Art Association, will be held on Monday, April 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. Admission to the program is free. To find…
A trio of wine industry veterans—all female—lead Chamisal Vineyards into its 50th year
Sip and celebrate Chamisal Vineyards’ tasting room at 7525 Orcutt Road has been temporarily closed for maintenance but will reopen in April. Taste and toast its 50th year from noon to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The adjacent Malene Airstream at 7767 Orcutt Road opens…
John Wick: Chapter 4 is beautiful ballet of violence
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? Colony, Downtown Centre, Fair Oaks, Park, Stadium 10 Former stuntman-turned-director Chad Stahelski helms this fourth installment of his John Wick franchise, about a retired assassin who was drawn out of retirement in…
Civic Ballet of SLO dances to the beat of innovation to make musical theater more accessible
Dancing delight Get info on upcoming shows and how to experience the productions of the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo by following them on Instagram @civicballetofslo or by visiting civicballetslo.org. The dance hall is empty. Soft fluorescent lights illuminate the stage with a faint hum. All of a sudden, tapping shoes shatter the peace…
Boston Strangler
What’s it rated? R When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Hulu Perpetually overlooked female journalist Loretta McLaughlin (Kiera Knightly) has a story on her hands. Usually given lifestyle pieces and appliance reviews, she can’t seem to get any traction. But when women start turning up strangled, Loretta and her fellow reporter, Jean Cole (Carrie Coon), are…
No foolin’: Duane Betts brings his Southern rock to SLO Brew Rock April 1
It can’t be easy having a famous father, especially one that casts as long a shadow as Allman Brothers founding member Dickey Betts does. Lucky for Duane Betts, he’s the real deal, an amazing singer-songwriter and guitarist on par with his groundbreaking father, who rewrote the book on how rock guitar can be played. He…
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
What’s it rated? Not rated When? 2022 Where’s it showing? HBO Max Novelist Toni Morrison said, “The best art is political, and you ought to be able to make it unquestionably political and irrevocably beautiful at the same time.” I think Academy Award-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras (Citizenfour) and her subject for this film, the photographer…
Four authors team up for local group book signing
On Sunday, April 16, the Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay will hold a book signing and dramatic reading event with four novelists. The program starts at 1 p.m. and will feature appearances from Los Osos author Anne R. Allen, Santa Ynez author Lida Sideris, Santa Maria author Tony Piazza, and Los Angeles author Mara Purl.…
The blame game
Math is hard, right? Multiplication, percentages, pie charts—it’s all so hard, even school districts have a hard time with it. Lucia Mar Unified School District seems to believe that giving the same percentage wage increase to every teacher, staff member, and administrator means everyone is being treated equitably. District administrators are so pleased with themselves…
SLO County settles redistricting lawsuit, will replace Patten map
The community battle over San Luis Obispo County’s redistricting might finally be reaching a truce. After more than a year in court, SLO County and two citizen groups announced a settlement agreement on March 24 that sets the stage for the county to repeal and replace its disputed Patten map, which made dramatic changes to…
Grover Beach adopts ordinance to regulate homeless camping
Grover Beach’s attempt to align with San Luis Obispo County’s five-year plan to reduce homelessness resulted in a new ordinance adoption and a bevy of upset residents. “I’ve reviewed the draft and 200 feet will LEGALLY put the encampment even closer to our home,” resident Camille Trinkle wrote in a letter to the Grover Beach…
