Cover Story
Female forward: Actor turned writer-director Heather Graham wins the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival King Vidor Award for Excellence in Filmmaking
A conversation with Heather Graham This year’s King Vidor Award for Excellence in Filmmaking is Heather Graham, who’ll speak about her new film, Chosen Family, in Hotel SLO on Saturday, April 27, at 1 p.m. Later that afternoon, at 5 p.m., Chosen Family screens in the historic Fremont Theater as part of the San Luis…
Ancestral Treats is a locally sourced single-ingredient dog treat brand with roots in Cambria
Canine comforts Purchase Ancestral Treats online at ancestraltreats.com/shop and at local spots like SLO’s Finest, Stolo Vineyards, Bob & Jan’s Bottle Shop, and eventually Soto’s True Earth Market. Founder Juan Luzuriaga also offers the treats for purchase at free dog training events around SLO County. Keep up with that schedule on the Ancestral Companions dog…
Vocal Arts Ensemble honors late founder, announces new director
In May, the Vocal Arts Ensemble will host concerts in both Nipomo and San Luis Obispo in honor of Gary Lamprecht, the ensemble’s founder and former artistic director who passed away earlier this year. Lamprecht was also a prolific teacher and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Choral Directors Association. For its…
Cinco de Mayo Senior Prom features live music from local band and students
The Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizens Club hosts its Cinco de Mayo Senior Prom, with live music from the Riptide Big Band, at the Elwin Mussell Senior Center in Santa Maria on Sunday, May 5, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The featured band will be accompanied by vocalists Bob Nations and Mitch Latting and band…
Ripping dance band Riff Tide plays the SLO Film Fest’s Surf Nite on April 26, in the Fremont
Bring your dancin’ flip-flops to the Fremont Theater this Friday, April 26, for the San Luis Obispo International Film Fest’s Surf Nite in SLO event, where in addition to seeing some mind-blowing surfing, you can show off your fancy footwork while dancing to the sounds of Riff Tide, which plays live before the screening of…
What a deal!
In January of this year, the state of California raised the minimum wage to $16 per hour, but this wasn’t good enough for some union leaders and the politicians they own in Sacramento. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has been trying to organize fast food workers but has failed, so they hatched a plan…
When is enough enough?
It’s time to admit white cisgender bigots are under attack, and they need our protection. They’re people too, and they don’t deserve to be triggered by a multicolored flag designed to make historically marginalized people feel like they’re equal to straight white men and women. Where’s their safe space? Is there a local Ku Klux…
Controversy erupts in Arroyo Grande, again, over City Hall Pride flag
Arroyo Grande residents flocked to the April 23 City Council meeting both to support and oppose flying a Pride flag at City Hall and Heritage Square Park for the month of June. During the meeting, council supported staff recommendations to fly certain specified flags on an annually recurring basis. Those flags included the Military Service…
Two residents sued Atascadero for flood damage, increasing the list of storm-related lawsuits in SLO County
San Luis Obispo County and its cities continue to field lawsuits from aggrieved residents about inadequate infrastructure and services more than a year after record-breaking atmospheric rivers unleashed one of the wettest winters in the region. On Jan. 26, 2024, Atascadero resident Twila Martin sued the city for nuisance, dangerous condition of public property, and…
Student journalist sues Cal Poly for California Public Records Act violation
A Cal Poly student journalist is taking the university to court for allegedly continuing to conceal email records more than a year after she filed public records requests to obtain them. Elizabeth Wilson, a Mustang News data and investigations reporter set to graduate in 2025, sued Cal Poly and its president, Jeffrey Armstrong, on April…
Race path for upcoming Morro Bay Ironman is still up in the air
With the Ironman triathlon set to return to Morro Bay in less than a month, the event is still working to finalize its running course, aiming to tread a path through Morro Bay State Park. “This is an important part of this run course to make this event what we envisioned in our eyes as…
Paavo Ogren resigns from managing the Oceano CSD after less than six months
The Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) no longer has a leader after the interim general manager it hired in January resigned. Paavo Ogren joined the OCSD on Jan. 1 after previous General Manager Will Clemens announced his retirement from public service during an Oct. 25, 2023, district board meeting. According to previous New Times reporting,…
Bike accident victim’s family sues SLO County, Caltrans, two South County cities
A fatal bike accident in an allegedly congested traffic lane brought San Luis Obispo County, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and two South County cities into a lawsuit filed by the deceased’s family. Last September, county resident James Baeker was biking on eastbound Grand Avenue—the borders of Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande—when the end…
Camera demonstrates the importance of mentors
CAMERA What’s it rated? Not ratedWhat’s it worth, Glen? Full priceWhat’s it worth, Anna? Full priceWhere’s it showing? The Fremont Theater on Monday, April 29, at 3:30 p.m. Jay Silverman (Girl on the Edge, Off the Menu, Saving Paradise) directs this poignant story—by Irish screenwriter Jamie Murphy—about nonverbal 9-year-old Oscar (Miguel Gabriel), who after his…
SLO County Public Libraries hosts Día del Niño festival in San Miguel Park
Children are a fun, energetic, and sometimes cranky part of our community, and the county is holding a day of festivities to celebrate them. On April 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the County of SLO Public Libraries will host a DÃa del Niño Festival in San Miguel Park. First celebrated in Mexico in…
Chosen Family
What’s it rated? Not yet rated When? 2024 Where’s it showing? The Fremont Theater on Saturday, April 27, at 5 p.m. Writer-director Heather Graham (Half Magic) helms the very funny new dramedy Chosen Family, about Ann (Graham), a yoga instructor with bad luck in love and with an impossibly difficult family that makes unreasonable demands…
Dawn of the Dead
What’s it rated? Unrated When? 1978 Where’s it showing? The Fremont Theater on Saturday, April 27, at 8:30 p.m. Written and directed by George A. Romero, Dawn of the Dead is a follow-up to his groundbreaking 1968 film, Night of the Living Dead, considered the first modern-day zombie movie. Dawn takes all the greatness of…
