Cover Story
Doing what it takes: How SLO County theater owners are out to prove that their properties are more than a relic of the past
It’s San Luis Obispo in the early 1960s and somewhere on the corner of Palm and Toro streets a film-obsessed kid opened up his very first movie theater—in his family’s garage. “I practically had to pay kids to come in and see what I was showing,” laughs Larry Rodkey some 50 years later. He’s sitting…
If at first you don’t succeed …
When democracy doesn’t give you the results you want, try more democracy, right? That seems to be SLO City Vice Mayor and District 3 County Board of Supervisors candidate Dan Carpenter’s approach. He wants to put SLO’s Rental Housing Inspection Ordinance up to a vote by the people even though the ordinance was already passed…
Grover Beach Mayor fined for campaign finance violations
The ghosts of campaign finance past are haunting at least one candidate in Grover Beach’s 2016 municipal elections. Grover Beach Mayor John Shoals will have to pay a fine of $1,101, after the California Fair Political Practices Committee (FPPC) found that he failed to report late donations to his campaign war chest during a 2014…
Villa San Juliette’s 2014 Rose and Tin City Cider Co.’s Original Cider
With its grand towers and graceful statues, San Miguel’s Villa San Juliette may feel like a stately, Old World winery. In one sense, this is true: The bulk of the wines are varietally to character and even elegant. However, the winery also deserves a bit of street cred with its new 29-year-old head winemaker, Dan…
Mark your calendar
Juicy news: The heirlooms are ripe and ready for slurping! The Heirloom Tomato Festival is kicking off at Templeton’s Windrose Farm this Sept. 20 to 21 with more than 40 tomato varieties in every color, shape, and texture. The festivities also include a multi-course meal paired with tempting herbal concoctions, fabulous wines, and live music.…
Wild spirits: Three outdoorsy Cal Poly alum remix craft booze at Calivore Spirit Co.
I’ve just taken my first sip of a fancy, spicy rum cocktail dubbed “Sudden Depth” when it suddenly hits me—I mean really hits me. This is what Calivore Spirits Co. owners Luke Beaton, Aaron Bergh, and Raleigh Nejame mean when they say, “craft spirits with a California twist.” It’s about more than the fact that…
Husband and wife led Tedeschi Trucks Band plays Sept. 4 at Avila Beach Resort
Vocalist and guitarist Susan Tedeschi and shredding slide guitarist Derek Trucks both had successful but separate careers going when they decided in the summer of 2010 to put together a touring band so they could spend more time together with their young family. Drawing players from both their respective bands as well as a few…
Bingeable: Chef’s Table
Where? Streaming on Netflix. There are two things that stayed with me after I wrapped up watching two seasons of Chef’s Table: inspiration and a need to feed. Really, you can’t go wrong. Each episode of the Netflix original series Chef’s Table profiles one famous chef (although, not to me, because I’m not enough of…
Watercolor workshop at Art Center Morro Bay teaches water-in-motion techniques
Love the look of paintings of rushing rivers that look so real you swear the water is flowing? There’s a demo for that. Learn to paint with watercolors with award winning artist, Sarah DeLong on Sept. 12 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Art Center Morro Bay. Painting the motion of water can be…
Catch artist Carol Goldmark’s Fleurs Mortes at SLOMA
It’s hard being a flower, loved at the peak of your beauty and tossed aside the minute a petal gets droopy. But artist Carol Goldmark makes a compelling spin on decaying blossoms in her exhibit Fleurs Mortes, up at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art through Oct. 2. Goldmark uses flowers and insects in…
Support dance and drink wine at Ballet in the Vineyards benefit
Drink the night away and enjoy some dance (without embarrassing yourself), all for a good cause. Ballet Theatre San Luis Obispo hosts its annual benefit Ballet in the Vineyards, an evening of wine, food, and dance, on Sept. 10 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Talley Vineyards tasting room in Arroyo Grande. Guests will be…
Public pressure forced Morro Bay’s hand
Your story, “Candidates challenge mayor in Morro Bay” (Aug. 25) appeared to indicate that Betty Winholtz did something wrong when she announced her candidacy for mayor during public comment at a City Council meeting. The story quoted City Attorney Joe Pannone as saying that such announcements “weren’t allowed during city meetings.” Pannone was wrong, and…
Media should report on independent party candidates
Bob Cuddy asks “What is Balance?” (Aug. 25), but what he wants is not more balanced reporting. It is reporting that favors his candidate and what he considers acceptable ideas. If he truly cared about balanced political reporting, he would be calling for the media to report on the two other presidential candidates. American voters…
Petting therapy: SLODOG’s Caring Canines provide stress relief to firefighters
They show up in teams. Fur with deep blue handkerchiefs and jeans with light blue T-shirts walk into the Mid-State Fairgrounds around the afternoon shift change. Firefighters wait in the food line—either coming in from a long day out on the Chimney Fire at Lake Nacimiento or preparing for a long night of flame fighting—and…
TAAG, you’re it: A fight over procedure splits Templeton’s advisory group
If you’ve watched a few morning sessions of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meetings, you’ve probably laid eyes on Bill Pelfrey. Donning a mustache and glasses, jeans, boots, a brown jacket, and a brown brimmed hat that’s usually removed at the public comment podium, the Templeton resident will try to stir the…
Medicated: Many children in SLO County foster care are prescribed psychotropic drugs
Each year, thousands of children pass through foster care systems in the state of California—and many of those children are prescribed powerful drugs for psychological and mental health conditions. According to a report released by the California State Auditor’s Office Aug. 23, more than 17 percent of the children in SLO County’s foster care system…
Dan Carpenter takes on SLO’s rental inspections
While Dan Carpenter’s six-year run on the San Luis Obispo City Council will conclude at the end of this year, he’s not finished trying to influence city policy. His primary target: the city’s controversial Rental Housing Inspection Program, which is amassing pushback from both renters and landlords as the program is rolled out. The council…
Viewer DIscretion: Shots fired in Arroyo Grande
SHOTS FIRED One man is in the hospital after an officer-involved shooting in Arroyo Grande Aug. 26. Arroyo Grande Police said the suspect, 46-year-old Christopher William Allen, was shot multiple times after he allegedly charged at an officer while brandishing a knife. PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM
What’s your favorite local movie theater and why?
Brian Lawson local business enthusiast “The Palm! Because it’s local and not corporate-owned. And it’s solar-run, … and they have fair priced popcorn.” Emy Authier hairstylist “I love the Palm. It’s just classic. It’s the movie experience. Very nostalgic.” Trevor Gates busser “The Movie Experience [Downtown Centre]. Provides excellent service. Kind people. Reasonable prices.” David…
The new leg of the Bob Jones Trail is an easy and relaxing ride
Instead of the typical summer gray-shrouded morning, my wife—Anna—and I awake to clear skies on Sunday, Aug. 28, and decide to ride the newest section of the Bob Jones Trail between Prado Road and the new Los Osos Valley Road overpass. First, of course, we need some fuel, so we peddle from our Laguna Lake…
Full Circle: LA artist Don Suggs rearranges the wilderness
If you’ve seen one landscape photograph or painting, you’ve seen them all. Until you’ve seen one done by Los Angeles-based artist Don Suggs. An example of a classic Suggs’ piece is a black and white photograph of a gorgeous, gushing natural hot spring, with a large, multi-colored circle placed smack-dab in the middle. It’s glaring.…
From seven to 70: SLO Little Theatre celebrates its 70th season, looks to the future
Opening night jitters swarmed the actors at a small rented hall on Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo. To top it off, they didn’t know if anyone would even show up. It was 1947 and a group of seven thespians gave it their all as they spoke life into the comedy Blithe Spirit, featuring an…
Clubs 9/1/16 – 9/8/16
Goin’ South THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Rd., Shell Beach, 773-5000, cliffsresort.com. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: Two locations: 750 Mattie Rd. in Pismo Beach and 133 Bridge St. in Arroyo Grande. 773-1892 or mclintocks.com. Live music at the Pismo Beach location every Fri. and Sat. from 6-9pm. Tennessee Jimmy Harrell and Doc Stoltey play on…
Mayor Marx steers SLO in the right direction
A Heidi Harmon for San Luis Obispo mayor supporter recently wrote that Heidi wants to inspire people to participate in the process because the city is at a crossroads. We are, and have been, at a crossroads. Mayor/Councilmember Jan Marx has helped us safely navigate that crossroads for more than a decade. Her persistent efforts,…
Cunningham’s the man for state Assembly
Jordan Cunningham truly understands the needs of our local community. Jordan was raised in Atascadero, played youth sports locally, and went through the public school system as a graduate of Atascadero High School. His parents are still locals, having lived in the same house for the past 40 years. Now, Jordan and his wife, Shauna,…
Liberals. Am I right?
I purposely ignored the Democratic Convention but thoroughly enjoyed its aftermath—the chairman fired, angry supporters after the anti-Sanders rigging was exposed, and the organization Black Lives Matter shouting down a moment of silence for assassinated policemen. Democrats have often accused the Republican Party of being angry, chaotic, and divided, but apparently this is the new…
It’s all connected
Oak woodlands are an integral and invaluable part of San Luis Obispo County’s natural landscape. This summer, conversations in our local community and media outlets have been dominated by Justin Vineyard and Winery’s removal of oak woodlands on their Sleepy Farm Road property in the Adelaida area. The loss of oak woodland in such a…
Correction
• The Aug. 25 news brief “Candidates challenge mayor in Morro Bay” incorrectly stated the time Morro Bay Mayor Jamie Irons has served and his reaction to campaign announcements at meetings during public comment. Irons has been mayor for four years, and only City Attorney Joe Pannone said the mayor should not allow public commenters…
Chimney Fire containment expected by Sept. 3
After incinerating 49 houses and 46,344 acres of land around Lake Nacimiento, the once untamable Chimney Fire finally appears to be petering out. On Aug. 31, Cal Fire announced that the nearly three-week-old blaze was 85 percent contained, reported minimal spread in recent days, and estimated that the fire would be fully contained by Sept.…
Paso Robles gets ahead of recreational marijuana with new regulations
Retaining local control of marijuana is, once again, on the agendas of SLO County’s municipalities. In an effort to get in front of Proposition 64—the Adult Use of Marijuana Act—which, if passed in November, would legalize and tax recreational marijuana in California for adults 21 and older, the Paso Robles Planning Commission voted 4-3 on…
New water districts proposed for Paso basin
After being dealt a crushing defeat in a March special election, proponents of forming a water district over the sprawling Paso Robles Groundwater Basin are back at it again. This time, however, they’re taking a different approach. Two separate groups made up of prominent viticulturists are attempting to create two California water districts. The Shandon-San…
Hotel valet in Pismo handed drunk driver keys, lawsuit claims
A Pismo Beach hotel and its employees are under fire, accused of handing the keys to a intoxicated patron who caused a drunk driving accident that injured a pedestrian and damaged multiple vehicles two years ago. An attorney from the SLO-based Harris Personal Injury Law Firm filed a lawsuit against the Cliffs Resort in SLO…
Residents near SLO airport object to county plan for composting facility
Trucks—noise, exhaust, leaking liquids, the smell of refuse—are what Kathy Borland envisions will come along with the composting facility recently approved by the SLO County Planning Commission. “All I see here is more trucks, more trucks, more trucks,” Borland told commissioners during the Aug. 25 hearing on an anaerobic digestion facility planned for Waste Connections’…
