Cover Story
Change of scene: Atascadero cracks down on homeless encampments, partners with providers to offer services and shelter
Learn more Visit echoshelter.org to contribute to the El Camino Homeless Organization or learn more about the team that is helping Atascadero’s efforts to house the homeless population. This has been a record-setting year for the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) crew. “ECHO has helped 117 men, women, and children find stable housing in our…
Cambria’s 15th annual scarecrow festival supports the community
Pumpkins may be a fall emblem, but for 15 years running, Cambria has ensured that scarecrows have their day in the sun too—quite literally. Throughout October, themed scarecrows will dot the seaside town thanks to the annual Cambria Scarecrow Festival. It started in 2009 with 30 scarecrows and has now grown to approximately 300 made…
Watching the watchdogs
At the risk of oversimplifying a super not-simple issue, peeps over the Paso groundwater basin are hosed. They’ve got reports from all directions with bad news, years of not-great policies, the prospect of different fees coming down the pike, and some elected officials crying fowl about other elected officials trying to undo those not-great policies.…
Looking for impartiality
I read Stephen Siemsen’s letter in the latest edition of New Times, “An open letter to the secretary of state” (Aug. 31). His use of a quote he attributes to President Trump caught my eye. It seemed too outrageous not to have been covered by mainstream media, especially as media these days are driven by…
Presumed Pismo Beach City Council leak alleges Brown Act violation
An alleged leak from the Pismo Beach City Council about a supposed violation of the Brown Act put city officials on the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office’s radar. Over a heated exchange of emails spanning May 22 to July 21, City Attorney David Fleishman and Deputy DA Ken Jorgensen debated the reported presence…
Take local steps to combat climate change
When I read “the sea is boiling hot” in Lewis Carroll’s famous poem “The Walrus and The Carpenter,” I imagined a hot tub near the ocean. I never thought it literally would be our ocean or our beloved Maui burning to the ground. I wonder whether Carroll was thinking about climate change when he wrote…
Correction
In the Aug. 31 commentary, “Open letter to the secretary of state,” a quote was written as being stated by Donald Trump. New Times learned after publication that the quote was not factual but was first published in the satirical column The Borowitz Report in The New Yorker’s Dec. 22, 2022, issue. New Times regrets…
Supervisor Arnold takes issue with Paso water basin grand jury report
Despite heavy rainfall in January and March of this year, the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin still faces sustainability issues and low groundwater levels. A recently released report from the SLO County grand jury found that rural residents who pumped water from the basin remained at risk of having their wells dry up, that there has…
Democrats are listening to younger generations, fighting for their issues
I joined several hundred local Democrats at the annual Labor Day Barbecue at Atascadero Lake Park. For almost 50 years, I’ve attended our SLO County Democrats’ BBQ on that holiday dedicated to working Americans and the continuing struggle for economic justice. We cheered for elected Democrats like Congressman Salud Carbajal, State Sen. John Laird, and…
Sunny Acres receivership requests additional $150K to fix issues
The proposed price tag for abating the code violations left behind by Sunny Acres founder Dan DeVaul rose by an additional $157,997, bringing the total to a little more than $200,000. The latest report from the court-appointed California Receivership Group—which is tasked with addressing unpermitted electrical, plumbing, septic improvements, and the accumulated debris on the…
Paso Robles to appoint a replacement for Mayor Steve Martin on Sept. 7
As the city of Paso Robles continues to mourn the passing of Mayor Steve Martin, the City Council began its process to find his replacement for the remainder of his term at its Sept. 5 meeting. “The city can either appoint someone to fill that seat or call for a special election,” City Attorney Elizabeth…
Local theater group holds Stage and Slice Soirée in Los Osos
Exit Pursued by a Bear, a Central Coast-based theater group, will hold its Stage and Slice Soirée at Brightside Pizza in Los Osos on Saturday, Sept. 9, starting at 5 p.m. During the event, the group will enter audience suggestions into ChatGPT and perform the plays generated by the app on the spot. Admission to…
The Equalizer 3 is a fitting finale to this rebooted trilogy
THE EQUALIZER 3 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, Park, Stadium 10, Sunset Drive-In Antoine Fuqua (The Replacement Killers, Training Day, King Arthur, Shooter, Brooklyn’s Finest, Emancipation) returns to direct this third installment in the film franchise based on…
Cypress Beach House offers al fresco dining atop Pismo’s Inn at the Pier
Tide change The reimagined Cypress Beach House at Inn at the Pier, located at 601 Cypress St. in Pismo Beach, is open daily for midday service from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. The bar closes at 11 p.m. Brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on…
Painkiller
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Netflix In 2021, Hulu brought us the mini-series Dopesick, which took us to the boardrooms, courtrooms, and living rooms of those inside the opioid crisis. 2023 brings us Painkiller, another look at the crisis, the cover-up, and the eventual rulings against Purdue and the Sackler family.…
Great American Melodrama’s Gold Fever at the Rough and Ready is a gold mine of laughter
Ready or not The Great American Melodrama presents its production of Gold Fever at the Rough and Ready through Saturday, Sept. 9. The theater is located at 1863 Front St., Oceano. Call (805) 489-2499 or visit americanmelodrama.com for tickets and more info. To describe the Great American Melodrama’s latest offering as based on a true…
Special Ops: Lioness
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Paramount Plus In my mind, writer Taylor Sheridan can do no wrong. He’s penned compelling action films such as Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind River, and since turning his attention to TV, he’s created series such as Yellowstone and its spinoffs 1883 and 1923,…
Paso Robles City Library showcases late 19th century portraits
A collection of portraits by 19th century photographer R.J. Arnold is currently on display at the Paso Robles City Library. The exhibit, presented by the Paso Robles Area Historical Society, opened in early September and will remain open through the end of the month. According to press materials, Arnold operated a photography studio in San…
Common Kings and Steel Pulse bring their reggae sounds to Vina Robles Amphitheatre on Sept. 13
Wow, has it been 10 years since Vina Robles Amphitheatre opened as the premiere live music venue on the Central Coast? Why yes, yes it has! “We’re thrilled to celebrate 10 seasons of fabulous concerts on California’s beautiful Central Coast and look forward to finishing the 2023 season with many more marquee names,” Vina Robles…
