Cover Story
Who to honor? Halted Roosevelt monument project ignites debate about public art, history in SLO
Like so many debates these days, this one started with a social media post. In January, as a group of San Luis Obispo residents honed plans to install a monument in Mitchell Park of former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt—who stopped by SLO in 1903 and gave a speech along his tour of the West—SLO Mayor…
‘Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile’ is more interested in how Ted Bundy maintained normal relationships than in what motivated his crimes
EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL, AND VILE What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Stream it What’s it worth, Glen? Stream it Where’s it showing? Netflix Joe Berlinger (Brother’s Keeper, Whitey: United States v. James J. Bulger, Cold Blooded: The Cutter Family Murders) directs Elizabeth Kendall’s script based on Michael Werwie’s 1981 true crime book…
Roosevelt deserves to continue being memorialized
I’d suggest that Theodore Roosevelt deserves as much recognition today as he did when he was included among other great presidents who were memorialized on Mount Rushmore. His legacy includes changing the nation’s political system by placing emphasis on the presidency as a public centerpiece of our nation, despite what Donald Trump has done to…
Bingeable: Barry
When? 2018-present What’s it rated? MA Where’s it available? HBO Go, HBO Now, Amazon Prime If you’re a Saturday Night Live fan of any kind—like, even if you just stumble upon a sketch on social media once every few months—you probably know who Bill Hader is. He’s the brain behind unforgettable, larger-than-life character Stefon, a…
Ride-On ends senior shuttle
Ride-On has been providing door-to-door rides for seniors for the last 13 years for $3 a ride. Last July, SLOCOG redirected the $250,000 funding for Ride-On’s senior shuttle to fund its own Senior Go! service. For the past 10 months, we have funded our senior shuttle without any SLOCOG funding, but we cannot afford to…
Film Listings, 5/9/19 – 5/16/19
APOLLO 11 What’s it rated? G What’s it worth? Full price Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre Pick Todd Douglas Miller (Dinosaur 13) directs this documentary about the historic 1969 mission to land on the moon. Using archival footage, you’ll witness Cmdr. Neil Armstrong and pilots Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins on their amazing eight-day mission…
Republicans had their chance and blew it
Let me remind Jan Lipski (“We need solutions,” May 2) that both houses had a Republican majority for two years under President Barack Obama and for two additional years under the current administration, and no legislation was passed on immigration reform even though a majority of voters agreed that it was needed. The complicated mess…
Seeds of love: Saturdays in spring mean rolling up our sleeves as volunteers at Firstfruits Farm in SLO
Takes one to grow one The growing season has officially begun for Firstfruits Farm in San Luis Obispo, and the entirely volunteer-run organization always needs helping hands. There are work days on Tuesdays, Friday evenings, and Saturday mornings. For more information and to sign up, visit firstfruitsslo.org. It’s just about noon, and my back is…
Let’s get moving
I don’t purport to be an expert on traffic solutions, but I believe that roundabouts are a much needed means to keep traffic flowing. I have been all over Europe on many occasions and find roundabouts to be much better solution than signals. Many roundabouts are a half mile or less apart and pose no…
Excuse to brunch
Mother’s Day: Is there a better reason to grab breakfast-lunch than celebrating the person who brought you into this world—and can take you out of it, too? Opolo Vineyards in Paso is ringing in May 12 with Mimosas for Mom from 10 a.m. to noon. Mimosas and sangria are complimentary for your mother dearest, so…
Diablo Canyon already produces clean energy
I see the Mothers for Peace is once again assuring us that PG&E will keep its word and replace Diablo Canyon Power Plant’s production with a cost-effective, greenhouse-gas-free portfolio of whatever (“Our energy future doesn’t include nuclear,” May 2). I assume they are referring to the same PG&E that promised it wouldn’t start any more…
Newbs
Just opened: Joliene Bakery is now baking its little heart out in downtown SLO’s Creamery. Open from Wednesday through Sunday starting at 6:30 a.m., Joliene is pushing out European style baked goods. Get ready for freshly baked bread, original breakfast pastries, lunch sandwiches, and European style sweets (570 Higuera St., suite 180) … Cal Poly’s…
Equal application of the law
Every Fourth of July, we wave around American flags with great pride. Those flags are a symbol for something. That something is our Constitution. A brave experiment holding that we flag-waving citizens can govern ourselves with the rule of law. For this brave experiment to work, our laws have to apply equally to everyone. Everyone.…
Brussels and blue cheese
I don’t normally eat at Sidecar Cocktail Co. If I go, it’s usually during happy hour and I’m only there for a cocktail. But on a recent Saturday, my friend and I were hungry, so we stopped in to check out the menu. I realize that this might be old news to some, but it’s…
Clean air is an everybody issue
At a recent congressional hearing, in response to accusations that climate change and the solutions proposed in the Green New Deal are issues for “rich liberals from … California,” U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) reminded us that climate change is “not an elitist issue; this is a quality of life issue.” The New York…
Earth urgency
When will the Central Coast really get going on protecting our climate? Some folks are doing everything they can. Most of us, though, are either picking at climate solutions or pretty much ignoring this catastrophic and looming problem. We are still burning fossil fuel like it is going out of style. With our mega pickups…
Templeton could soon vote to fund its fire department, county opted not to help
The Templeton Community Services District board will decide at its May 21 meeting whether to hold a special election to fund its fire and emergency services department. On May 7, the board held a workshop to inform the community about the lack of funding and resulting service lapses that the department is currently dealing with.…
Cries for help remain unanswered
There are several biblical references that most Americans should be familiar with, the first being the story of the “Good Samaritan” told by Christ when asked “who is our brother?” Samaritans were an outcast sect in ancient Judea, despised by the Jewish community. The story tells of a man beset by thieves, beaten, and left…
Americana and alt country act The Creston Line releases new album on May 10 in Bristol’s Ciderhouse
The Creston Line frontman Jon Bartel starts his new eight-song album, Fool’s Gold, with his Yoko moment about a relationship that changes the protagonist’s imagined life trajectory: “Your daddy took one look at me and he gave me the evil eye/ But you like to sweep the gutter so you come down here to die/…
Caltrans will begin work to close El Campo intersection
Caltrans is planning to close four intersections along Highway 101 between Los Berros Road and Traffic Way starting on May 13. Colin Jones, a Caltrans spokesperson, told New Times that the project will eliminate left turns at El Campo Road, a private un-named road, Tower Grove Drive, and Hemi Road. “I think this is going…
Teddy (laid) bare
To monumentalize or not to monumentalize? That is the question! The answer seems to be, “Yes,” if you’re willing to be selective about history, and “No,” if you want to think beyond “monuments to white men.” The controversy surrounds erecting a monument to 26th U.S. President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt in SLO’s Mitchell Park, to commemorate…
SLO Rep brings back a haunting rendition of ‘Blithe Spirit’
On stage Blithe Spirit will show at the SLO Repertory Theatre through May 19. Tickets range from $20 to $36. Visit slorep.org for more information. Blithe Spirit runs for approximately 2 1/2 hours, including one 15-minute intermission. Visit slorep.org for more information. Be careful what you wish for, the old adage goes. The actors of…
Grover Beach approves permit for volatile manufacturing of cannabis
On May 6, Grover Beach City Council approved a commercial cannabis permit for volatile manufacturing at Lab Tested Grover Beach LLC. The City Council first adopted amendments to the commercial cannabis laws to include this sort of manufacturing in May 2018. Known as Type 2 manufacturing, volatile solvents like butane and propane are used to…
Sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts on our May 2 news story, “Department of Interior to hold meeting in SLO on fracking plan.”
Melodrama’s ‘Treasure Island’ shines, dazzles audiences
At the theater Treasure Island and the Soda Shop Jukebox Vaudeville Review will show at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano through June 16. Tickets range from $23 to $30. Visit americanmelodrama.com for more information. You’re minding your own business, running an inn with no customers, when an about-to-be-dead pirate runs in, gives you a…
SLO saw major uptick in sex assault reports last year
The number of rapes and sexual assaults reported to San Luis Obispo police spiked 41 percent in 2018, a trend that the city attributes to higher rates of reporting amid the #MeToo movement. According to the city’s 2018 crime report, rape reports increased from 39 cases in 2017 to 51 cases in 2018. “It’s increasing,”…
By the Sea Productions presents ‘Silent Sky’
Morro Bay’s By the Sea Productions is staging Silent Sky, beginning Friday, May 10, at St. Peter’s By-The-Sea Episcopal Church. Kelli M. Poward directs this iteration of writer Lauren Gunderson’s play, which explores the true story of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. In 1900, Leavitt had the opportunity to work at Harvard University but initially received no…
Emergency bystander trainings offered in wake of Oceano shooting
It’s been about a year since Santa Maria resident Scott Hunter retired after 30 years in firefighting and started offering free classes to Central Coast residents on ways to block massive bleeding injuries during violent incidents. The classes are part of a national awareness campaign called Stop the Bleed, which Hunter said was first launched…
Studios on the Park seeks artists for two exhibitions
Studios on the Park in Paso Robles invites artists of all styles and media to enter two upcoming exhibitions. The first, Mapping Out, runs Thursday, May 30, through Sunday, June 30, and will feature works that celebrate maps of every kind. Guest curator Ellen November encourages artists to submit paintings, drawings, sculptures, or works of…
Locals and park goers workshop draft plan to reduce dust emitted by Oceano Dunes
It’s been more than 50 years since Jim Suty’s family first started traveling from the Bay Area to the Oceano Dunes. Since then, he can only remember three Thanksgiving dinners he’s spent away from the beach. To Suty, the debate over the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is about more than just riding dirt…
Art Center Morro Bay opens Born in the USA
Born in the USA, a group show celebrating immigrants, their descendants, and both the challenges and joys surrounding the American Dream, runs at Art Center Morro Bay from Thursday, May 16, through Monday, June 24. An artist reception takes place on Sunday, May 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Call (805) 772-2504…
Out-of-state companies work with local growers to improve their soil
The state of California has big goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and safeguarding the state from impacts of climate change by protecting and managing natural and working lands. According to the California Air Resources Board website, state and local efforts are being made to manage land for carbon sequestration to work with existing plans…
New and improved: Reservoir Canyon gets an upgrade
Get moving The Reservoir Canyon trailhead is located at the end of Reservoir Canyon Road. Learn more by visiting San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation’s ranger services page at slocity.org. I’m having a hard time recognizing where I am as I pull down to the end of Reservoir Canyon Road, a spot I’ve been dozens…
