Cover Story
Their stories: After living in fear and isolation for years, women who claim to have been stalked, harassed, and abused by Josiah Johnstone are joining forces and speaking out
Reach out • For information on or help with domestic and intimate partner violence situations, stalking, and harassment, including help obtaining a restraining order, visit standstrongnow.org or riseslo.org. • If you need emergency help in one of the above situations, call the 24-hour crisis hotline at (855) 886-RISE (7473). • If you are interested in…
Jubilee by the Sea brings hot jazz to Pismo and Arroyo Grande on Oct. 24 to 27
It seems appropriate that the very first Jazz Jubilee by the Sea music festival was back in 1976. After all, that was America’s bicentennial, a celebration of our country’s first 200 years, and jazz is America’s quintessential music—a uniquely American art form that’s been embraced around the world. For the last 42 years, local nonprofit…
Shame and judgment
In one of his on-air rants, comedian Bill Maher suggested that “fat shaming” should be brought back. Not surprisingly, there was a lot of outraged push-back, but perhaps Maher has a point. And not just about fat-shaming, but about shaming generally. But, before you jump to the conclusion that I am one of those insufferably…
Grover reverses bike plan
There’s been a lot of squabbling among Grover Beach residents over the recent installation of buffered bike lanes on several blocks of Newport Avenue. Heeding public outrage, the city now plans to rip out the raised curbs that currently separate lanes for cyclists and vehicles, a project detour that is expected to cost roughly $20,000.…
Water wars!
As Mark Twain said, “Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting,” and the various participants in the ongoing Paso Robles Water Basin fight ought to think about gathering ’round the same table, cracking open a bottle of Jack Daniels’ Old No. 7, and seeing if they can reach a consensus before the state of…
Atascadero Unified accused of not protecting students
Six Jane Does filed a complaint in federal court claiming that the Atascadero Unified School District did not protect its students against a former teacher alleged to have taken up-skirt images of his female students. Chris Berdoll, who was a sixth-grade teacher at the Atascadero Fine Arts Academy, was arrested on Sept. 10 and posted…
Sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts on our Oct. 17 news story, “Cal Poly faces scrutiny over photo of alleged students ridiculing immigrants.”
Supervisors react to ag board letter
San Luis Obispo County supervisors offered their reactions on Oct. 22 to a recent California State Board of Food and Agriculture letter that levied criticism against the county’s approach to groundwater management in Paso Robles. The Sept. 30 ag board letter shared concerns about “limited” ag industry involvement in developing sustainability plans for the Paso…
Wine consumers will feel the effects of tariffs
The Trump administration’s national tariffs on European goods are affecting the only wine importer on the Central Coast, and consumers will feel the effects through price increases. Ken Jacques, owner of Evaki Imports, said a 25 percent tariff went into effect on Oct. 17 and was immediately imposed on wine shipments en route to his…
Arroyo Grande vaping ban could include consequences for minors
Soon it could be illegal to sell vaping products and electronic cigarettes in Arroyo Grande, and kids could be cited for having them. The Arroyo Grande City Council voted at its meeting on Oct. 22 to develop an ordinance that would ban the sale of all vaping products and electronic cigarettes not approved by the…
Kurtis Blow and The Hip Hop Nutcracker come to San Luis Obispo
On stage: The Hip Hop Nutcracker will have one show in SLO, at the San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center on Nov. 10. Tickets are available through the Cal Poly Ticket Office (tickets.calpoly.edu). More information about the production can be found at hiphopnutcracker.com. Editor’s note: This article has been edited to correct that Kurtis Blow is not…
Orcutt-based painter Sheryl Knight focuses on the Central Coast’s signature sceneries
On display Sheryl Knight’s featured exhibition at Park Street Gallery in Paso Robles will hang until Oct. 31. She is also represented locally at Pismo Beach’s Seaside Gallery and Cambria’s Bronze, Silver & Gold Gallery. Visit sherylknight.com for more information. Having lived in Orcutt for the last 43 years, painter Sheryl Knight is no stranger…
SLO Motion screens Climbing Out of Disaster documentary
SLO Motion hosts an outdoor screening of Climbing Out of Disaster at Mission Plaza in downtown SLO on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. The event is part of Climb On, SLO Motion’s ongoing series of screening short, climbing-inspired films in an outdoor setting. Climbing Out of Disaster tells the story of climbers in San…
California’s green energy scam
The definition of socialism is the government ownership, aka takeover, of the means of production. So take PG&E and the fact the environmentalists and the government have harassed them for the past 40 years. Diablo Canyon Power Plant opened in the 1980s. Environmentalists have pushed to stop clearing dead wood out of our forests for…
Open Canvas Gallery seeks artists of various mediums
The recently opened Open Canvas Gallery in downtown SLO is seeking art to display. Painters, sculptors, jewelry makers, textile artists, and ceramicists are welcome to apply by filling out an artist agreement form at ocgalleryslo.com. Applicants can then send the completed form and art samples to opencanvasgallery@gmail.com. The gallery is located at 1242 Monterey St.,…
Dear ‘sensitive receptors’
Reading the most recent “reefer madness” propaganda in New Times (“In need of change,” Oct. 10), it became evident that our local NIMBY watch group (arguing against land use rights) needs an education on the history of cannabis as a medicine in America and as a modern weapon of bigotry. I’m happy to oblige. Spanish…
Cayucos Community Art Gallery presents By the Sea exhibition
By the Sea, a fall exhibition at Cayucos Community Art Gallery, features photography and watercolor paintings by artist Patti Everett and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 20. The exhibit’s artworks depict views of local beaches and oceans. Admission is free. The gallery is open every day from 1 to 4 p.m., except Tuesdays, and is located…
FarmSLO transforms what children eat, starting with San Luis Coastal school district’s cafeteria line
United for food FarmSLO is a new program of Slow Money SLO, a nonprofit established in 2012, whose mission is to support the sustainable growth of small food, farm, ranch, and beverage purveyors to benefit the local food economy and the health of SLO County. The FarmSLO program includes working with San Luis Coastal Unified…
Seasonal eats
Feeling empathy for local businesses affected by recent Shell Beach construction? Mike McCarthy, who owns McCarthy’s car dealership in SLO, is bringing the community together to his seaside home, 1780 Ocean Blvd., Pismo Beach, on Oct. 26 from 3 to 7 p.m. to help the Shell Beach Improvement Group help these businesses grow strong, for…
Zombieland: Double Tap is another laugh-out-loud comedy-horror romp
ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy, Park, Stadium 10 Ruben Fleischer (Venom, Gangster Squad) directs this sequel to his 2009 comedy horror film, Zombieland, about four survivors—Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and…
Wine time
Eberle Winery invites you and your brave children to join them in their Haunted Caves for a spooky weekend, Oct. 25, 26, and 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. at their winery, 3810 E. Highway 46, Paso. Eberly goes all out, filling their 16,000-square-foot caves with surprises and scares around every corner. Plus, they will…
Hatewatch: Nailed It!
When? 2018-present What’s it rated? TV-PG Where? Netflix From the first time I heard about Nailed It!, I wanted to love this show more than I do. What’s not to love about a cooking competition that makes a point of embracing failure without (undue) shame? Unfortunately, like the icing on most of the contestants’ creations,…
Eat and learn
Live a day in the life of an olive farmer during an Olea Farm Olive Harvest Experience on Oct. 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or noon to 4 p.m.) at Olea Farm Olive Oil, 2985 Templeton Road. This is a rare opportunity to roll up your sleeves and participate in the harvest, then…
Film Listings, 10/24/19 – 10/31/19
All theater listings are as of Friday, Oct. 25 ABOMINABLE What’s it rated? PG What’s it worth? Rent it Where’s it showing? Galaxy, Park Jill Culton and Todd Wilderman come together for the first time as a director-duo to make DreamWorks’ Abominable. Chloe Bennet is the voice of Yi, a young girl who goes on…
Tablas Creek’s complete collection of Chateauneuf du Pape grapes
For the Rhone-wine lovers here in SLO County, your ears may perk up to what is going on at Tablas Creek. Chateau de Beaucastel is renowned for using all the permitted Chateauneuf du Pape varieties in their blends. Tablas Creek Vineyard has been working on a project bringing the complete collection of these varieties to…
Two siblings bring a floatation spa to the Central Coast
The average person is constantly moving from one thing to the next, checking phones and devices, and surrounding him- or herself with people. Sure, there are many hikes around San Luis Obispo County to get away from it all, but most people don’t really give themselves time to check out and recharge. A sibling duo…
