Cover Story
Three for 4
This race was never supposed to happen. San Luis Obispo County’s 4th District—which includes Arroyo Grande, Oceano, Nipomo, and small communities along Highway 166—was firmly in the grasp of Supervisor Paul Teixeira. Like Katcho Achadjian before him, Teixeira was a beloved South County moderate Republican who represented his district with folksy aplomb. It was widely…
A solar company sues … itself?
On April 9, High Plains Ranch filed a lawsuit against High Plains Ranch. Specifically, High Plains Ranch II filed a complaint with the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court against High Plains Ranch IV. The two LLCs are former subsidiaries of SunPower, one of a handful of companies associated with the California Valley Solar Ranch…
No more prayer in Pismo Beach
After deliberating for more than five months, the Pismo Beach City Council unanimously agreed during its April 15 meeting to settle a lawsuit objecting to the city’s public prayer practices. As a result of the settlement, the city chaplain position—previously occupied by Pentecostal preacher Dr. Paul Jones—will cease to exist, all types of prayer at…
Pulitzer Prizes are announced, and Cuesta students read polyglot poems at the 11th Annual Poetry in Translation event
As you may remember from our April 3 National Poetry Month roundup, the announcement of the Pulitzer Prizes coincides with “the cruellest month.” On Monday, April 14, at 3 p.m. Eastern time (that’s noon Pacific time, for those of us following along at our desks on the left coast) the winners were announced from the…
It’s a group thing: The “VFA 3rd Annual Group Show” brings the Paso Robles village vanguard back to Vale Fine Art
When you arrive at a gallery to see paintings by Bret Brown and Lena Rushing standing guard on opposite sides of the entrance, you know you’re in for something good. Neal Breton, who curated the “VFA 3rd Annual Group Show,” kindly opens it up for me on a hot Sunday afternoon. Vale is an intimate…
Phonetography: The Central Coast Photo Society’s “Going Mobile” at SLOMA moves photography out of the pocket and onto the gallery wall
From Instagram to Tumblr, selfies to sexting, we all know that the revolution won’t be televised—it’ll be shot on a smart phone and streamed live. Answering this relatively new but already inexorable trend in image making is “Going Mobile,” the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art’s second exhibit of mobile phone photography. “This year elicited…
Pismo ballot initiative moves forward
After three weeks of successful signature gathering, members of Pismo Beach activist group Save Price Canyon officially submitted 919 signatures to Pismo Beach City Clerk Elaina Cano on April 15 for their ballot initiative that seeks to preempt overdevelopment in Price Canyon. Cano confirmed to New Times that the group had submitted the signatures and…
Firefight: After months of sparring, critics and supporters of a fire assessment await the final outcome
Depending on where you stand, the proposed assessment district for the Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) is either an essential step to maintain vastly improved fire services or a misdirected, onerous tax increase designed to bail out irresponsible spending. Although the FCFA—a consolidated fire service that’s served the communities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and…
What would you most like to find in an Easter egg?
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What’s all the HUBbub?
Among the new additions to ThreadHUB’s inventory are brands like HUF, 10 Deep, Pink Dolphin, Popular Demand, Young and Reckless, Dimepiece, Joyrich, Forte, and Cote de Nuits, many of which are hugely popular with up-and-coming celebrities. The store likewise deals in designer jean brands including Rock Revival, Crooks & Castles, and Dream Monstar while also…
We could talk to Cal Fire
The misnamed Five Cities Fire Authority, which represents the cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and the community of Oceano, is a newly formed bureaucracy that is asking the homeowners and businesses to OK a tax measure worth $1 million for now and in the future, with an escalation clause per year. It amounts to…
Start your adventure
Now that I have worked in libraries for more than 10 years, I thought I would share my thoughts that not being a library patron anymore makes me slightly envious. Sure, I have walked into public libraries for the last seven years on the Central Coast and used these libraries just as you would have…
Numbers don’t lie
Retired since 2006, former Arroyo Grande/Grover Beach Fire Department fire Chief Terry Fibich (“Support the benefit assessment measure,” April 10) attempts to “clear up some misconceptions” associated with recently extended the Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) assessment vote. He suggests the 2010 formation of the FCFA was formed not “just” to save money. Fibich personally…
Cougars & Mustangs
Well, Cuesta, you finally made it. It may be several years too late, (or is it weeks? I can’t tell these days), but here it is, your very own Spring Break! Now, unless I’m mistaken, there’s a higher likelihood of your populous knowing the area well enough to not need advice on where to go…
Organized opposition: Phillips 66 health and safety specialists allege they were punished for unionizing
On a late Monday afternoon in January 2012, a group of five health and safety shift specialists were called to meet with four managers of the Phillips 66 Santa Maria Refinery. And while the reason for the meeting was unclear before they entered the room, the five specialists got the distinct impression that it wasn’t…
Paso Robles City Council approves a series of infrastructural improvements and plans
The Paso Robles City Council moved through a series of agenda items at its April 15 meeting for some fine-tuning and grand scheming on the city’s infrastructure. In just about two hours, the council visited such common topics as sewer rates, recycled water, and road improvements—and even managed to talk tourism, recreation, and worship. The…
Skateboarding is not a crime; it’s a project
After a relatively short public hearing, capping off years of work and the hopes of local skateboarders, San Luis Obispo city staffers displayed the final slide of their presentation, which read, “It’s Happening, coming winter 2015.” On a unanimous vote at the City Council’s April 15 meeting, councilmembers decided to move forward with construction of…
SLO will decide if and how to vote on a Measure Y renewal
Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council are scheduled to hammer out details over a potential ballot measure to renew a one-half percent sales tax, and whether to invoke case law that could allow a narrow majority approval to do so. With a recent analysis from City Attorney Christine Dietrick—championed by Mayor Jan Marx—the…
Pickleball fever hits Paso Robles
After considering a series of serious matters involving infrastructure and city repairs, the Paso Robles City Council welcomed a bit of levity. The council chambers were crowded with people throughout the April 15 meeting, who this time weren’t there to assert pesky public oversight or scrutinize the spending of taxpayer money. Rather, they were there…
Feds continue to seek a five-year minimum sentence against former medical marijuana dispensary operator Charles Lynch
A federal appeals court has accepted the government’s “oversized brief” of 32,951 words in defense of the U.S. government’s position that former medical marijuana dispensary operator Charles Lynch should face a mandatory minimum five-year sentence. On April 11, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit accepted the government’s massive brief—roughly half the…
BITES
The block surrounding the historic Fremont Theatre in San Luis Obispo is filled with a striking array of excellent restaurants including sushi bar Aisuru (formerly known as Shin’s) and the upscale Italian cuisine of Buona Tavola, so the excellent service of Mexican gourmet restaurant Que Pasa, one of Monterey Street’s newest additions in dining, came…
In the house
It’s Saturday, April 12, 2014, and I’m back at Cal Poly. It’s like I never left. On my way to the Open House opening ceremonies, I run into my friend and fellow alumnus James Van Lommel, in town from Southern California to rehearse for an upcoming local ballet production. Then I see more…
CLUBS – 4/17 to 4/24
Goin’ South … THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. CUVEE BISTRO AND CHAMPAGNE BAR: 550 1st St., Avila Beach, 595-2245. Live music Thurs. and Sat. 6-9pm. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: Two locations: 750 Mattie Road in Pismo Beach and 133 Bridge St. in Arroyo Grande. 773-1892 or mclintocks.com. Live music at…
Organ grinder!
If you’re like me, the pipe organ reminds me of either going to church or watching horror movies like Phantom of the Opera—either way, there’s something stodgy about the booming, wheezing, immovable instrument. It’s either dorky or scary, but Cameron Carpenter seems to actually be making the organ cool! Crazy, I know! The Juilliard School…
Red king crab rules
If you love crab as much as I do, you’ll be eager to tackle the delicious big boy pictured above. And don’t let those sharp-spiked thick red shells scare you off. With the right kitchen pliers and sharp picks in hand, the shell easily breaks away to reveal its sweet and succulent meat. While many…
Felten Cellars 2011 Pinot Noir San Luis Obispo County
Winemaker Steve Felten has been making wine and consulting for his peers in Paso Robles for 40 years. This handcrafted wine, made like a good French Burgundy, offers tart cherry and ripe black cherry aromas and flavors with nuances of a spice box, leather, and earth. This is his latest release of pinot noir, and…
Baileyana 2012 Pinot Noir Firepeak
This tasty Edna Valley grown pinot noir is a lovely wine for sipping and pairing with food. It’s produced by winemaker Christian Roguenant who was born and raised in Burgundy and has been making wines in SLO County since 1986. This vintage provided a long growing season with even weather through the year. Although aged…
It’s 2014; do you know what year your senators are living in?
I don’t like to talk about national politics—not because I’m writing for a local newspaper, not because I feel it’s above my pay grade or interest level, but because it’s beneath me. When you’re a big-game-hunter-caliber professional sleazebag like myself, you don’t settle for any old sex scandal or instance of an elected representative calling…
