Cover Story
Still marching: SLO’s Women’s March, one year later
Correction: The date for the “Hear our vote” rally was incorrect. This story was changed to reflect that the rally will be held on Jan. 20. Jan. 21, 2017, was cold, windy, and rainy. Just one day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, between 7,000 and 10,000 people gathered under the darkening sky at…
Eckles to challenge Gibson for 2nd District supervisor seat
Citing concerns over growing animosity and division on the SLO County Board of Supervisors, 53-year-old Morro Bay businessman Jeff Eckles will run against incumbent 2nd District Supervisor Bruce Gibson in the 2018 elections. Eckles told New Times that his final decision on the matter came after he floated the idea on his Facebook page in…
From the inside out: SLO Rep’s ‘A Little Princess’ shows power of kindness
A class act A Little Princess will show at the SLO Repertory Theatre through Jan. 28. Tickets range from $17 to $25. Visit slorep.org for more information. It’s easy to be nice when everything is fine and dandy. But what kind of monster would most of us be on the worst possible day imaginable? SLO…
Utilities commission rejects Diablo’s community settlement
San Luis Obispo community leaders are turning to Sacramento for solutions after the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Jan. 11 rejected an $85 million settlement between PG&E and SLO County agencies that would’ve cushioned the economic blow of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant’s looming closure. In its final vote on the matter, the CPUC…
Cambria hosts Art and Wine Festival
Enjoy three days celebrating two things the Central Coast does well at the Cambria Art and Wine Festival Jan. 26 through 28. The event features a kickoff party with a seated five-course dinner with wine pairing, a two-day art show and wine tasting, plus many off-site activities including an art auction and additional wine tastings.…
Albertsons files legal complaint against Paso petitioners
Grocery store chain Albertsons LLC filed a civil complaint in SLO County Superior Court, claiming that individuals standing outside its Paso Robles location to gather signatures are creating a nuisance for shoppers. The complaint, filed on Jan. 9, claims that several unknown individuals were trespassing on the premises of the Paso Robles location, as well…
Learn the art of memoir writing
If the best story you know is your own, consider attending Cal Poly’s Memoir Writing workshop on Jan. 27. The event is from 9 a.m. to noon and will be led by led by New York Times bestselling memoirist Franz Wisner. Perhaps your life story has the makings of a great book. Or maybe you…
Paso changes zoning to allow booze crafters downtown
Brewers, distillers, and winemakers can now set up shop in downtown Paso Robles. The Paso City Council revised its downtown zoning code on Jan. 16 to allow for breweries, wineries, and distilleries—businesses that were all previously barred from the downtown area since they were labeled as “manufacturing.” Due to the rising popularity of mixed-use, “micro”…
Bach live at Mission Plaza
Wrap up Cal Poly’s Bach Week with a night out on the town on Jan. 20. Bach Week concludes with Bach in the Mission VIII: Bach and the Italians from 8 to 10 p.m. at downtown SLO’s Mission Plaza. Cal Poly’s Early Music Ensemble, members of the Cal Poly Symphony, and faculty join with professional…
Grover Beach man confessed to roommate’s 2016 murder, officer says
A Grover Beach man accused of murdering his roommate and setting the body on fire confessed to the crime moments before his arrest, according to the testimony of a San Luis Obispo police officer. During a pre-trial hearing on Jan. 16, SLO Police Department officer Quenten Rouse recounted his interaction with 43-year-old Manuel Jesus Perez…
Correction
In the Jan. 11 article “Coming soon: SLOMA displays Jeffrey Bacon’s iconic movie posters,” Goldie Hawn should have been listed as the lead actress for the film Private Benjamin.
Old Juan’s Cantina joined the effort to build a universally-accessible park in Nipomo
Just before hitting the dunes in Oceano, locals stop for their favorite meal at Old Juan’s Cantina. The restaurant has been around since 1976. It was founded by John “Old Juan” Verdin with a few key principles: “familia,” “comida,” and “servicio.” The cantina has stayed within the family and is now operated by John’s grandchildren,…
Celebrate peace, inclusivity, and the Women’s March with a Jan. 20 fundraiser, “Grrrls in the Hall,” at the SLO Guild Hall
Bust out your pink pussy hats and “Women’s Rights are Human Rights” signs because this Saturday, Jan. 20, is the SLO Women’s March Voices of Resistance Rally in the SLO Mission Plaza from noon to 4 p.m. Though there will be no actual march this year, folks will gather to hear speakers and celebrate a…
‘The Post’ tells the stirring story of publication of the Pentagon Papers
THE POST What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Bay, Downtown Centre, Park, Stadium 10, Galaxy Steven Spielberg (Jaws, The Color Purple, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, Lincoln) directs this true story about Kay Graham (Meryl Streep), the first female newspaper publisher, and…
Time to speak out
There’s something smarmy, almost prissy about the way opponents of SLO County’s 3rd District Supervisor Adam Hill chastise him because he has a short fuse when he sees powerless people being manhandled and government being grotesquely abused. It’s almost as though they expect him to say, “Oh, dearie me, we really must stop urinating on…
Bingeable: Black Mirror (Season Four)
When? 2017 What’s it rated? TV-MA Where’s it available? Streaming on Netflix Ranking episodes of Black Mirror is like trying to decide which Beatles song is your favorite—there are just too many good ones. Every season has a few big standouts of course and the fourth, released last month, is no exception. If you haven’t…
Home is where you can’t afford it
Laura Mordaunt (“Re-elect Supervisor Compton, supporting all county citizens,” Jan. 11) asks, “Why does everyone have to live here instead of understanding that we all have choices based on reality?” Ms. Mordaunt, shouldn’t we make it possible for the low-wage workers we depend on to wait and bus tables, clean hotel rooms, staff retail counters,…
Film listings, 1/18/18 – 1/25/18
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME What’s it rated? R Where’s it showing? The Palm It’s the summer of 1983 in the north of Italy, and Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a precocious 17-year-old American-Italian, spends his days in his family’s 17th century villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Esther…
Profound nonsense
Contrary to the opinion of comedian Al Fonzi, the challenge to America in 2018 is not to build more nuclear missiles and enlarge our “military industrial complex,” (“The coming challenge: part I,” Jan. 4). We were all warned against this more than 60 years ago by President Dwight Eisenhower. The U.S. military already spends more…
Learn to cook with Chumash Herbs this Feb. 3
Chumash wisdom in your kitchen Develop a deeper relationship with Central Coast native plants while learning new methods for incorporating more indigenous foods into modern dishes and your life at the Chumash Kitchen Winter Health and Trinity Plants event held at SLO Botanical Garden Feb. 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A Friday prep-day…
We need a new 4th District county supervisor
The Oceano of the future has a vibrant downtown. Cars slow when passing an attractive sign that welcomes visitors to Oceano Beach. A tree-lined plaza and wide sidewalks dotted with planters and benches invite strollers to linger. Paths with clear crosswalks provide safe access to the nearby beach. After dark, streetlights cast a cheery glow…
Beer me!
Beat those January blues: BarrelHouse Brewing Co. in downtown SLO is featuring a slew of good music and great brews this month, including a hip-swinging vinyl night featuring The Ideals this Jan. 18, Chris Beland on Jan. 24, and Son of Dad on Jan. 31. Also check out pint night each Tuesday, if you’re feeling…
Arguments over nuclear power make my eyes glaze over
The debate over nuclear power just goes around in circles, and it makes me tired. I have my personal biases just like the next guy, but when I read the defenses put forth by its proponents, my eyes start to glaze over. For me, there is one issue that supersedes all others and renders them…
Winning winter
Cold weather calls for a sunny drizzle: Try Creston based Olivas de Oro Mandarin Orange Extra Virgin Olive Oil for perfectly cheery waffles, salad dressings, and more. Follow @olivasdeoro … Winter citrus means epic lemon meringue tarts from Sweet Pea Bakery in Arroyo Grande that are so pretty you’ll be afraid to eat them (1200…
The coming challenge: part II
Part I of this commentary (Jan. 4) discussed the dangerous national discord in our politics and placed it in historical perspective. This discord undermines our national security, especially our ability to contain an emerging North Korean existential threat to America. All diplomatic initiatives and military “show of force” operations have not diminished this growing danger…
News nibbles
Save some dough, eat some dough: Flour House in SLO is offering 20 percent off each Wednesday for hospitality industry pros (690 Higuera St.). You deserve congratulations for surviving the holiday tourist influx … Do you like to mix it up? Get ready for the annual Blendfest on the Coast slated for this Feb. 9…
Celebrate by crying
I’m so glad that everyone took the time to remember Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 15, honoring a man who put so much of himself into advocating equal rights for all that he was assassinated for his trouble. Well, some people marched in the streets. Others just acted like idiots on social media.…
Hot tamales!
If you aren’t excited about an entire festival dedicated to mouthwatering Mexican tamales, you just aren’t alive. Sweet, savory, gourmet, and traditional morsels wrapped in warm corn meal await you at Atascadero’s third annual Tamale Festival held this Jan. 20 at Sunken Gardens from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drop the kids at the bounce…
Neighbors take Morro Bay, auto shop to court over permit
The building at 340 Jamaica St. in Morro Bay has been an auto repair shop for 36 years. Its newest owner is trying to keep his business while fighting with a neighbor over a conditional use permit. The shop was established before the city of Morro Bay was incorporated, and the shop’s previous owner obtained…
How did you enjoy the beautiful weather on the Central Coast last weekend?
Regen Williams baker “My boyfriend and I took a hike at the Harmony Headlands. It was absolutely beautiful.” Kaila Simmons flower shop clerk “I went to Morro Bay and watched all the surfers. It was really crowded.” Adam Keif surfer “I went surfing in Cayucos and Shell Beach. There’s a swell coming in right now.”…
Hidden oasis: A quick getaway can be found at the tranquility of Montaña de Oro State Park
Just up the coast For more information about hiking and camping at Montaña de Oro, visit parks.ca.gov. It’s a beautiful 75 degrees in the city of SLO in early January, and I’ve hiked the trails that the city area has to offer a number of times. I want to go on a small adventure in…
SLO City Council approves ‘night hiking’ pilot program
Local hikers, bikers, and trail runners can look forward to using San Luis Obispo open space after dark next winter, as the SLO City Council approved the city’s first-ever “night hiking” pilot program on Jan. 16. The council voted 3-2 in favor of the policy—with Councilmembers Carlyn Christianson and Andy Pease dissenting with concerns about…
Paso Robles Art Association explores what makes a hero at Studios on the Park
Figures to admire The Hero exhibit can be seen at the Studios on the Park in The Showroom until Jan. 31. Visit studiosonthepark.org for more information. John Nielsen has 33 years of experience working in the fire service, and as fire chief of the Camp Roberts Fire Department, he’s dealt with life-threatening situations. What Nielsen…
