Cover Story
Rock out with your cross out
On Aug. 28 of 2009, I—along with what felt like nine million of my peers—made the pilgrimage to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco for the 2nd annual Outside Lands music festival. It was a torrid, three-day affair where I often found myself pressed flush against an industrial-sized speaker, trying to stem the blood flowing…
Hopeless romantics
“Music is very jealous.” This is the conclusion at which Spanish classical guitarist and composer José María Gallardo del Rey has arrived. Born in Seville, Gallardo del Rey picked up the guitar at the age of six, giving his first concert at nine. And music, that jealous creature, quickly became the lens through which he…
‘Wild and Free’ in Pozo
What is it about Pozo that makes it such a perfect place for reggae? Must be the laidback rhythm, with a touch of rebellion, plenty of roots, and an abundance of sunshine! Reggae on the Range brings Ziggy Marley and Steel Pulse back to the Pozo Saloon for the fourth time. Fresh from a sold-out…
Goodnight, sweet prince
I’m drunk, and I’m sad. Colin Rigley, our news editor and part-time sous chef, is no longer either of those things. The man resigned last week, with class of course. Rigley wouldn’t bounce without a two week’s notice. In fact, he threw an extra couple of weeks our way, like a gentleman, which gave us…
“Aquarius” celebrates watercolors’ slippery beauty
I love the way watercolors melt. It’s like letting color go renegade; to let them do whatever it is they please. In other painting mediums, as well as in life, it is correctness that one strives for; crisp lines and reliable chromaticity. But watercolor is other paintings’ wild and kooky, yet lovable, cousin. Watercolor embraces…
Morro Bay’s beer house
When your liver has naughty dreams, they take place in the Libertine Pub, every time. And who can blame the filthy, little organ? This waterfront tavern has beers like Cal Poly’s English Department has future fry-cooks: Too many to count, and yet each one is a special snowflake. At any given time, there are 20…
Cracking down on fracking
Rancher Steve Lyons couldn’t help thinking something was strange, as he drove past the active oil wells on his sprawling ranch and vineyard near Los Alamos in northern Santa Barbara County—where Venoco pumps crude from the company’s underlying mineral rights. Lyons had inadvertently discovered the first “fracking” in the county. Also known as hydraulic fracturing,…
Proceed with caution
The way she tells it, the road closure came out of nowhere. Judith Baron, a retired woman living in the outskirts of Paso Robles, said she was heading home from San Miguel on Aug. 12, taking a short cut down a narrow, rural road under the summer sun. Her large truck was towing a horse…
Arroyo Grande’s police station woes continue
Though the City of Arroyo Grande failed to convince two-thirds of its resident voters to approve a June bond measure to fund a much-needed new police station, the city isn’t giving up. In a special meeting Aug. 14, the city council voted to hire a consulting firm to explore how to best pursue either repairs…
Sweet Springs eucalyptus safe–for now
Roughly 120 non-native eucalyptus trees have been spared from the chopping block at the Sweet Springs East nature preserve in Los Osos. In light of the preserve’s ongoing restoration project, recent studies have shown that removal of the trees would have an impact on migratory monarch butterflies. The Morro Coast Audubon Society will continue to…
One in custody following suspected Cambria murder
Foul play is suspected in Cambria, where sheriff’s deputies found the body of resident Tyler Daniel Hanks. The 20-year-old was initially reported missing at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 26 but was found roughly eight hours later on a property near his home on Leighton Street, according to a sheriff’s department press release. Investigators searched the…
Morro Bay goes “on the record” against PG&E studies
In case you haven’t heard, the City of Morro Bay is opposed to Pacific Gas & Electric’s plan to conduct seismic studies off the Central Coast. On an otherwise lengthy and oft-contentious city council meeting, all five council members found common ground in making sure they went on the record opposing the proposed studies before…
At least they’re not in the creek, right?
Until last week, casual observers wouldn’t have suspected that Morro Bay had a homeless problem. The only visible reminders of the very poor were a few panhandlers that could sometimes be seen in the Albertson’s shopping center and the road-ragged hitchhikers standing alongside Highway One looking for rides. For the most part, homelessness was kept…
Bites: The fortune cookie has its day!
There are several schools of thought as to the origin of the fortune cookie, which, despite what you may have been led to believe, did not originate in China but was invented by Japanese immigrants in California. In the 1890s, Makoto Hagiwara of San Francisco’s Japanese Tea Garden is said to have been the first…
Sinor LaVallee 2010 Pinot Noir Aubaine Vineyard
Grown in a unique, special little vineyard in south SLO County, it’s not far from Laetitia. This wine continues to develop and tastes better each time I’ve tried it over several occasions. A complex wine with definite ripe notes of blackberries, black cherries, and plums, it’s nicely nuanced with notes of spice and earth. A…
Halter Ranch 2011 Rose Paso Robles
This tasty, dry pink tastes of strawberries, tangy cranberries, and raspberries, made in an easy drinking style. It pairs quite nicely with foods like roast chicken, shrimp quesadillas, or a cheese and fruit plate. A very good value at $16 retail ($12.80 club price) in the tasting room, and it’s often found on restaurant wine…
Fresh from the Farm
I love the farmers market and would visit more often if they weren’t spread out so far around SLO County. I have some favorite farms which I always head to first like Johnson Farms and SLO Grown Produce. Once I’m stocked with those necessities I stroll around choosing fresh fruit and produce that catches my…
Clubs 8/30
Goin’ South … BRANCH ST. DELI: 203 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 489-9099. Live music Fri. from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 8/31: Collision Bulldogz at 5:30 p.m. THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: Two locations: 750 Mattie Road in Pismo Beach and 133 Bridge St. in Arroyo Grande. 773-1892…
Questions For: Mary Sage Sennewald
NEW TIMES Can you tell me a little bit about the Rumi’s Poetry w/ quartz crystal bowls event at the Sukha Wellness Center? SENNEWALD Barbara [Perry] plays 16 Alchemy (ruby, amethyst, white gold, emerald, and citrine) Crystal Bowls. Each bowl is a musical note and each note has a color that corresponds to our energy…
What is…?
Well, that’s it then. Summer’s essentially over. I don’t know where it went. One minute I was tossing back Easter egg Jell-O shots and the next it was practically Labor Day and I’m burning all my white clothes to avoid committing a fashion faux pas. I figure we could all use some mental stimulation after…
Homeless need compassion
Dear Ms. Pismo Beach: I’m sorry to say, but you have a seemingly narrow idea of reality. Your perspective on homelessness is quite tragic to say the very least. It was very evident in your three scenarios that you are not fully aware of what it means to be homeless. First and foremost the majority…
Dear Shredder,
When I read the comment left by Leela Sherbon about her frustration with the homeless individuals downtown, I’ll admit I laughed at her a little. I thought she was being a little dramatic and seemed to conclude all homeless people are on drugs and trying to take her child. However, after reading your article, which…
They’re here…they’re homeless
Having lived in New York City for 52 years, I moved to San Luis Obispo 13 years ago for the obvious reasons. In July 1999, there were some transients who came to town and hung out on their way to bigger and better things. At that time, the homeless population consisted of these wannabees and…
Dear Shredder,
Thank you for being a voice on behalf of those who could be without homes, those who could have mental health issues, those who might just need a smile and “hello”. Thank you for responding so eloquently to Mrs. Sherbon’s letter.
Homes hide addiction, too
Your issue, Aug. 30, on the homeless made be feel very sad! You did an excellent job trying t to cover all sides, “A night in their shoes,” “What Morro Bay is doing to their encampment,” “Dear City of SLO.” Then there was the letter to the editor by Leela Sherbon who is now afraid…
No happily ever afters
Fairy tales have princes, princesses, royalty, magic, and happy endings; Real life has tragedy, poverty, love, and struggle. My names is Jaime Jones and I’m a 22-year-old homeless ‘homo’ living in S.L.O. The city is beautiful, the people are beautiful, and the weather is beautiful but the homeless are not. We are considered and treated…
PG&E: Profits> Marine life
The three-person State Lands Commission (State Controller, Finance Director, and Lieutenant Governor) conducted what they called a “public hearing,” during which its Chair, Alan Gordon, sitting in for State Controller John Chiang, repeatedly interrupted members of the public who had traveled great distances to participate, trying to tell them what they could and could not…
