Cover Story
55 Fiction: Our annual short story contest results are in
It doesn’t sound like much, but writers can do a lot with 55 words. They can kill someone, love someone, and surprise someone. And this year, yes, people from around the world submitted stories about the Trump administration, discrimination, and COVID-19. Some were cheesy, some were mushy, and some were dark. But only a select…
Local doulas call on hospitals to ease visitor restrictions
When COVID-19 first hit the Central Coast in mid-March, local hospitals cracked down on visitor policies in an attempt to limit person-to-person contact and stop the spread of coronavirus. In maternity wards, expecting mothers were in most cases allowed a single visitor during childbirth, forcing patients going into labor to choose between family, friends, partners,…
Harmless algae compound detected in Santa Maria water could alter smell, taste
The city of Santa Maria announced on July 13 that harmless algae compounds recently entered the state water supply through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which contributes to the city’s water. Director of Utilities Shad Springer explained that blue-green algae blooms leave behind compounds in surface water. The city’s water supply is a combination of water…
Governor orders additional businesses to close in Santa Barbara County
As the result of a steady increase in the spread of COVID-19, more businesses are closing in Santa Barbara County. During a press conference on July 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that indoor fitness centers, places of worship, offices, personal care services, hair salons, barbershops, and malls are required to close in the 30 counties…
California shuts down some operations statewide; SLO County placed on state monitoring list
On July 13, California Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted that the state is closing indoor operations statewide for restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, museums, bars, and cardrooms. Additionally, bars, breweries, and pubs must close all operations—indoor and outdoor—statewide. Newsom announced the closures due to what he called “alarming rates” of COVID-19…
Special districts left out of COVID-19 relief funds, support bill for future assistance
In the state of California, community services districts (CSDs) are feeling the effects of COVID-19 but unlike other local government entities, they were left out of coronavirus relief packages. And that’s why Central Coast CSDs are submitting letters of support for federal legislation that would make them eligible for future relief funds. House Resolution 7073,…
SLO County begins planning for vote-by-mail-centered November election
The San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is gearing up for the Nov. 3 election, which is in for some changes due to COVID-19, including a reduction in physical polling locations and more vote-by-mail ballots. A new state law requires that counties send mail-in ballots to every registered voter ahead of the election, whether the…
Smell that controversy!
Something stinks at Cal Poly, and I’m not talking about the about-to-bloom corpse flower located in the Tropical House in the Horticulture Unit adjacent to the Poly Plant Shop. It could pop any day now and will only be open for about 48 hours. No, I’m talking about Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong’s decision to…
Perry Mason is a a stylish origin story for the famed criminal defense attorney
PERRY MASON What’s it rated? TV-MA What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? HBO Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald created this origin story about gritty LA private detective Perry Mason (Matthew Rhys). Set in late 1931 and ’32 during the Great Depression, the story takes place long…
Intimate sounds: Small live concerts are your safest bet
Big concerts are still forbidden, but small live music gatherings continue to happen. Married couple Sharine Borslien and Ron Hagadone, who perform as a duo under Sharine & Ron, have been offering up intimate concerts in Atascadero restaurant and bar, LaDonna’s, every Thursday, as they will this Thursday, July 9, and next Thursday, July 16,…
The Last Kingdom
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2015-present Where’s it showing? Netflix Beginning in 866 A.D. and covering more than four decades through the fourth season, the series follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon), a Saxon noble captured by the Danes as a child and raised first as a slave and then as a son. He becomes…
Lenox Hill
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2020 Where’s it showing? Netflix Netflix’s new series follows four doctors at New York City’s renowned Lenox Hill Hospital—two are neurosurgeons who take on the tough cases that have been turned away elsewhere, one is an emergency room physician, and the fourth is a chief resident OB-GYN, the latter of…
55 Fiction 2020: Our annual short story contest results are in
It doesn’t sound like much, but writers can do a lot with 55 words. They can kill someone, love someone, and surprise someone. And this year, yes, people from around the world submitted stories about the Trump administration, discrimination, and COVID-19. Some were cheesy, some were mushy, and some were dark. But only a select…
Former New Times Arts Editor David Vienna launches his first podcast
Tucked into the hills of Los Angeles, a man sits inside of a closet whose walls are covered with thick black blankets to dampen any sounds going in or out of the cramped space. He knows what he has to do to get out of that claustrophobic cage, so he takes a deep breath, counts…
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing seeks sculpture concept proposals for new Tiburon Place project
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing is seeking to incorporate a public sculpture project for Tiburon Place, a new residential community of 67 rental units currently in construction. The company, in partnership with SLO County Arts, is now accepting concept submissions for the proposed sculpture, which should be complementary to the architectural character of the Tiburon Place site.…
SLO Veg box signups are on the rise during the pandemic, and the farmers have been planting more
Farm to you Depending on your needs, you can choose from four SLO Veg harvest box sizes, select add-ons, and choose your delivery method. Visit SLO Veg online at sloveg.com, email service@sloveg.com or call (805) 704-8230. Co-owners of SLO Veg and husband-and-wife team Rachael Hill and Bartimaeus Alan tripled their business when COVID-19 struck. “Holy…
Vehicles temporarily banned in Oceano Dunes to protect plovers
There won’t be any camping or off-roading allowed in a vast majority of the Oceano Dunes until at least October, the result of a recent legally binding agreement between the California Coastal Commission and State Parks created to address concerns about endangered birds in the park. In a consensual cease and desist order that was…
Locals create Facebook groups in response to vandalism, looting in other parts of the country
San Luis Obispo’s first Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest in the wake of Minneapolis resident George Floyd’s death was dispersed by tear gas on the evening on June 1. Hours later, in what the SLO Police Department determined was an unrelated incident, a group of males in a white sedan shot out the windows of…
Proposed changes to Paso Robles Groundwater Basin boundaries draw anger and skepticism from landowners
After seven years of water restrictions over the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, San Luis Obispo County is redrawing the basin’s boundaries, which will subject hundreds of new property owners to a moratorium on irrigating and other rules. The revised map is part of a package of changes to the county ordinance that regulates the 684-square-mile…
New ICE regulation affects international student visas
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:00 p.m. July 14 to reflect changes announced after New Times went to press on July 8. Update:On July 14, the Trump administration abruptly rescinded ICE’s regulation to send international students back to their respective countries if their U.S. college or university were offering only online classes. The…
Thousands of SLO County companies received federal loans
Between $396 million and $740 million in forgivable loans went to thousands of San Luis Obispo County businesses through the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), newly released data shows. Launched in late March at the onset of COVID-19, the $660 billion PPP enabled businesses nationwide to apply for up to $10 million in forgivable loans…
Cal Poly criticized for recent hire’s connection to Larry Nassar case
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 12:30 p.m. July 9 to reflect changes announced after New Times went to press on July 8. Update: Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong announced on July 8 that Paulette Granberry Russell had rescinded her acceptance for the position of vice president for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cal…
Nesting plovers
For the past two months I’ve been documenting a remarkable comeback of Western snowy plovers at the Oceano Dunes. All it took for these federally protected shorebirds to expand their nesting area was to stop the dune buggies, RVs, and cars from driving along the beach and in the dunes. Now it’s time for state…
Morro Bay Police investigate hate speech and police involvement
The Morro Bay Police Department investigated an incident of hate speech that allegedly occured during a June 6 Black Lives Matter protest, as well as the officers who may have used foul language to break up the altercation. According to a July 2 post on the Morro Bay Police Department’s Facebook page, an investigation that…
Elusive equality
One thing is certain, Al Fonzi’s “After the anger” (June 18) isn’t the last of the anger. About 60 lines down from his 150-line commentary, he was making quite a bit of sense. The last line before changing course, “These incidents are national tragedies,” left room for some continued reasonable analysis. But I was disappointed…
Professional practice makes perfect: Local speech pathologist offers transgender voice therapy
When Nipomo resident Nichole Schmitz came out to herself as transgender in 2016, it was an intense and difficult process. Schmitz, now 69 years old, had been quietly grappling with her gender identity for essentially her entire life. It took time, patience, and a whole lot of internal work for her to truly accept herself.…
A flawed system
John Donegan’s piece “In cops’ shoes” (July 2), displays a deeply problematic view of a crisis that has been affecting American lives for decades. It represents a viewpoint that is directly responsible for preventing positive change in our nation, and the world at large. In this piece, Mr. Donegan utilizes snippets of truth to make…
Dana Adobe and Cultural Center’s new exhibit, All About Trees, showcases paintings by the late Milford Zornes
The Dana Adobe and Cultural Center will open its upcoming paintings exhibition, All About Trees, on July 15. This group show will showcase about 20 to 25 different paintings and will remain on display at the center through Sept. 25. The exhibit’s special featured artist is the late regional painter Milford Zornes (1908-2008), known for…
