Cover Story
Between land and sea: Morro Bay’s eelgrass population needs help
Each slow, carefully placed step forces saltwater to ooze from volcano-shaped holes about the size of a thumbnail. Gingerly, Faylla Chapman moves through the mud flats exposed at low tide, heading toward Windy Cove’s temporary shoreline and trying not to lose her shoes in the process. The Morro Bay State Park docent, who was once…
Young at heart: Los Osos author Robin Mellom pens children’s novels
Ah, middle school. It was the worst of times, it was … well it mostly just sucked. But Los Osos middle grade and young adult author Robin Mellom (who also works as a para-educator at Los Osos Middle School) thinks a little more fondly about that transitional time between elementary and high school. The former…
Planting Inspiration: Kids Art Smart program exposes students to the arts
Long after the pitter patter of little feet dissipated, signaling the end of art class, Veda Baker, a first grader from Virginia Peterson Elementary School in Paso Robles, diligently continued working on her crayon and watercolor painting of a crab one rainy Friday morning in April at Studios on the Park. “I like it because…
Folk rock legend David Crosby plays Vina Robles Amphitheatre on April 25
Writing about David Crosby always feels fruitless. Everyone knows who he is; knows he’s the founder of both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, & Nash knows he’s a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer; knows he’s the progenitor of the ubiquitous folk-rock sound; and knows his distinctive and arresting voice. People even know about…
Buy that DIY
You may not have what it takes to craft DIY Pinterest-worthy creations, but you can buy it from those who do at the Mojo Flea + Makers Market on April 29 in SLO. The event will be held downtown at Ruby Rose from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy a curated collaboration of vintage flea…
Her story
It’s easy to overlook marginalized perspectives, but Cal Poly’s Gender Equality Center aims to change that on April 28 with the production of OWN: Original Women’s Narratives. This unique and innovative theater production highlights the power of storytelling by exploring the experiences of female-identifying Cal Poly students regarding culture, body image, sexual orientation, and more.…
Thoughts from Earth
It’s never too early to instill a love of nature and poetry into the next generation. That’s why Cayucos-based author Kime recently published a book of poems called Our Earth Has a Voice. This book of rhymes depicts nature’s beautiful creations. Kime envisioned this book as a quiet-time read for children ages 3 to 7…
Whereas, we’re idiots who don’t know what we’re doing …
Petitions are great. They allow regular Joe and Jane Q. Citizen to effect real change in government when their elected officials would rather sit on their hands. Petitions also suck. With enough signatures, their edicts must either be enacted or put to a vote … sometimes an expensive one. Remember the petition that demanded an…
Fast and loose facts
In his April 13 op-ed “When words become weapons,” Al Fonzi has once again dipped into his inkwell of alternative facts. One in particular stands out: his claim that Hillary Clinton violated “a host of national security laws, regulations and policies … .” As I recall, the FBI found that she violated no laws. Mr.…
Oceanfront property in Arizona
Yes, California could fall into the Pacific but not from any earthquake. As of Nov. 1, 2017, we could all be sucked into Senate Bill 1 quicksand. In effect, the program is not simply a huge $52.4 billion transportation program for 10 years; it’s a massive and unending confiscation of the people’s resources. The taxes…
Not a ‘natural’ death
I am shocked by Sheriff Ian Parkinson’s statement concerning the death of Andrew Holland. The sheriff states in his report that, “though the seated position, dehydration, and self-injury were all possibly contributory to the cause of death, the formation of the intrapulmonary embolism was a natural response in the body.” Yes, death is a “natural”…
Happening now
Shiver me timbers! Kraken Coffee Co. will soon open for business at 310 Front St. in Avila Beach. Created by the minds who brought you the popular Kreuzeberg Coffee Co., this cozy coastal outpost will serve up baked goods and third wave caffeine brewed with the strength of a salty sea monster (follow on Facebook…
What do you think of President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to federally funded science programs (like the EPA and the National Health Institute)?
Martin Klassen painter “I think it’s ridiculous.” James Dodge mariner “I’m all for social programs and science. It’s better if our taxes go to stuff like that.” Scott Johnson retired “Science is important for younger generations. If we don’t evolve further, how do we find out what’s going on?” Karolyn Liljeberg teacher “It’s going to…
A real good time: SLO Tease Burlesque builds up the heat at Transformations show
On Easter’s eve, my friend Nicole and I are pulling up to a pitch-black church parking lot in Los Osos. Then, we promptly walk down the street to catch SLO Tease Burlesque’s Transformations show. Sorry, Jesus. We were long overdue for a girls night, so after a drink at the Baywood Ale House, we make…
Underrated: Only God Forgives
When? 2013 | What’s it rated? R | Where’s it available? DVD, Streaming on Amazon. Writer-director Nicolas Winding Refn re-teams with Ryan Gosling (Drive) in this bloody neo-noir revenge tale, bathed in neon and gorgeously filmed in Bangkok. Gosling stars as Julian, a drug smuggler who killed a man a decade earlier. Julian now runs…
Eat less meat for Earth Day
Are you composting, recycling, upcycling, and using reusable bags each time you shop your local farmers’ market? Good. Whew. Now, it’s time to enjoy the Earth Day festivities while knowing you’re leaving the Earth better than you got it. Of course, not all of us can save the planet every single day, but there are…
Magically nutritious: Planted to open in the Village of Arroyo Grande
What words would you use to describe a carrot to an alien from a distant planet? Orange? Crunchy? Nutritious? By comparison, Planted owner/chef Jessie Essen, 26, sees the humble vegetable through a multi-dimensional kaleidoscope that knows no earthy definition. See, there’s a ho-hum carrot, and then, there’s a carrot sautéed with spices, sprinkled with flaky…
Volunteers for the earth
On April 22, 41 state parks will be participating in the 19th annual California State Parks Foundation’s Earth Day. Since 1998, Earth Day has allowed the community to give back to California State Parks. This year at Montaña de Oro, volunteers will help build bridges, split rail fences and boardwalks, conduct cleanups, restore trails and…
In the zone: Grover Beach expands the size of its cannabis business district amid fears of pot biz bubble
The city of Grover Beach makes no bones about wanting to become a welcoming place for California’s bourgeoning marijuana industry, but finding the physical space to accommodate the potentially lucrative industry could prove to be difficult. The city Planning Commission voted 4-1 April 12 to recommend that the City Council approve a revised plan to…
Missing links: Hundreds of Los Osos properties are not yet connected to new sewer
If everything went as planned in Los Osos, all 5,000 or so properties mandated to connect to the new Los Osos Wastewater Plant would have done so as of a March 18 deadline. But instead, as the one-year grace period to hook up expires, up to 700—or about 14 percent of the community—still aren’t connected,…
Arroyo Grande is crowdfunding for new police dog
The Arroyo Grande Police Department is looking to add another K-9 officer to it roster and is turning to a popular fundraising website to ask the public for help. The department started an online crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe to raise $30,000 to purchase the dog, a male German shepherd named Tig. “Neither our department nor…
Poly pays security fees for Muslim Student Association event
Cal Poly’s taken a small step toward changing the way it supports vulnerable groups on campus. That’s according to religious studies professor and advisor to the Cal Poly Muslim Student Association (MSA), Stephen Lloyd-Moffett, who has been calling out the university since Milo Yiannopoulos spoke at the university in January. Cal Poly didn’t charge the…
Grover Beach approves memorial for man killed in dog attack
“Hero,” is how David Fear’s family remembers him. The word stood out on the backs of the white T-shirts they wore to the April 17 Grover Beach City Council meeting; Fear’s face was printed on the front. The man who died in December 2016 after being critically injured while protecting Betty Long, his 85-year-old neighbor,…
Fledgling Shandon water district under FPPC investigation
The dust just refuses to settle in North County water politics. Less than a week after 68 landowners around Shandon held an election to form the Shandon-San Juan Water District, the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) announced on April 17 that it was opening an investigation into whether the proponents of that water district…
SLO ‘non-discrimination’ housing ordinance heads to special election
A ballot initiative to repeal and replace San Luis Obispo’s rental housing inspection program is headed for a special election. The City Council unanimously decided against adopting the initiative outright on April 18. It’s not the “repeal” that’s the issue: The City Council voted on its own last month to repeal the rental inspection program.…
Jail deaths spark independent investigations
After two recent inmate deaths placed the SLO County Jail under a public microscope, Sheriff Ian Parkinson has called for an independent investigation. Parkinson made the announcement at a press conference held following the death of 60-year-old inmate Kevin Lee McLaughlin, who died after complaining of shoulder pain while in custody at the jail on…
Increased cost
I read because of Senate Bill 1, California’s tax on gasoline is going to be raised by 12 cents per gallon; the diesel excise tax will be increased by 20 cents per gallon with the sales tax on diesel increasing by 4 percent (with an inflation adjustment); and a new annual vehicle fee is going…
Self-reflection
In reading Mr. Fonzi’s latest missive (“When words become weapons,” April 13), I must admit that I totally agree with his premise. Words can result in events spiraling out of control and beget violent confrontations that become worse over time. The political left and right have always been at some level of conflict, but over…
North County treasures
We who live in the North County are blessed with a wildly beautiful coastline, seemingly endless skies stretching over rolling hills dotted with rangelands and vineyards—and our very own symphony orchestra, “Symphony of the Vines.” Today, at the end of the 2016-2017 concert season, I would like to thank the entire orchestra for making this…
Automatic opposition
I can agree with Al Fonzi about the political parties of this country (“When words become weapons,” April 13). Notice I said parties; it’s not just one party. Especially when you have the extreme right-wing talk-radio guys, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and the rest making statements like “liberalism is a mental disorder,” falling in lockstep…
Hell awaits
There is currently the idea in our culture that it is all right not to practice or to believe in human birth control. That is insane. Until the last 200 years, our species had a population less than a billion, and most of human cultures or belief systems could seek to multiply human numbers. But…
Safeguards against insurrection
Last week, my colleague Al Fonzi claimed that my questioning whether our constitutional democracy would survive President Trump’s authoritarianism was “absurd in the extreme.” Mr. Fonzi offered two points to try and substantiate his claim: 1) the Trump administration has largely obeyed a federal court’s rejection of his latest reformulation to limit immigration from predominantly…
Clubs 4/20/17 – 4/27/17
Goin’ South THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Rd., Shell Beach, 773-5000, cliffsresort.com. FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN BREWING CO.: Singer/Songwriter Night every Wed. from 8-10pm. 1462 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande, 474-8525, figmtnbrew.com. 4/22: Jacob Westfall from 8:30-11pm; 4/29: Noach Tangeras Band from 8:30-11pm. HARRY’S NIGHT CLUB AND BEACH BAR: Cypress and Pomeroy, downtown Pismo Beach, 773-1010.…
