Cover Story
Down for the count
The general inferiority of the city of Bakersfield might sound a lot like gospel to local residents enjoying the nightlife of San Luis Obispo. Unfortunately, a few recent visitors from the valley didn’t take to the news too well. According to Ride-On Transportation director Mark Shaffer, inter town hostilities sparked a melee April 15 on…
Fast Facts
A local brewery won champion brewery and champion brewmaster awards at the world’s largest beer competition in Seattle on April 14. For the second time in a row. Firestone Walker Brewery and master brewer Matt Brynildson were named champions at the World Beer Cup. “It is especially significant this year,â€? Brynildson says. “The second time around…
Courting the gourmet palate
Savor the finest in baking the Bay Area has to offer without leaving the Central Coast, thanks to Central Coast Cookie Co. and Gourmet Desserts, a new Atascadero-based company that brings gourmet cakes, desserts, croissants, and breads from top chefs in the San Francisco area to local restaurants, homes, and caterers.  # For three years, co-founders…
It was the Best Of times
I’m tired of this whole Best Of charade, stuffing listing after cheerful listing into one issue packed with enough spin to make the Earth turn faster. These saccharine-sweet writers could make even Ken Lay and Enron look like saints worthy of our devotion. They could make President George Bush’s ideas for quelling the mounting gas…
Letters
No cripples at Little Theatre Last weekend I was privileged to see The Cripple Of Inishmaan at the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre. What an amazing production! One word comes to mind to describe this flawless show: “Gorgeous!” This charming Irish play is wonderfully unique, fresh and completely professional in every way. The set, painting, set…
PISMO PD ALERT
There is a community in Pismo Beach where neighbors gather to have barbeques and luncheons. Recently, this suburbia peace was broken by fear of one of their new neighbors, a registered sex offender. Gary Holcomb was released from the California Men’s Colony on April 16. He returned to his Pismo Beach home, where he had…
Letter from SLO
Almost exactly a year ago, I arrived in SLO. At the time I thought I would have to say goodbye to my brother Steve, who had unexpectedly late last April. I was wrecked with grief for the loss of my hero, and I only vaguely recall that first week as my family and his many…
Cal Poly mealybug problem persists
Agricultural officials plan to begin sampling urban gardens in the neighborhoods surrounding Cal Poly to see if a troublesome mealybug pest has spread away from the campus, according to Brenda Ouwerkerk, SLO County chief deputy agricultural commissioner. Insect experts at a state lab in Sacramento have confirmed that passion vine mealybugs have now been found…
Activism 101
If you happen to see several hundred people with camping gear making the long trek from Mission Plaza to Santa Rosa Park, don’t be alarmed. They’re not transients and they don’t want your money; they just want your attention. They’re taking part in an event called “Global Night Commuteâ€? (GNC), and their parade and subsequent…
Clean water, dirty air
Requiring Los Osos homeowners to pump out their septic tanks every two months could cause serious public health risks, according to air quality officials. In a surprise move this week in the ongoing Los Osos sewer debate, the local Air Pollution Control District has asked the Regional Water Quality Control Board to delay its proposed…
Danger to society
He is a really bad dude, according to those who know him. He attacked a county employee with a chain in broad daylight for no apparent reason and laughed as he fled the scene. He brags to his cellmates of his violent exploits and vows to continue his rampage upon his release slated for this…
Superfund cleanup slated for mines
A polluted North County creek that turns bright orange-red during rainstorms will be running clear again, thanks to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to take over the cleanup of two abandoned mercury mines. The Klau/Buena Vista Mine in the Adelaide area near Paso Robles has now been declared a federal Superfund site, after years…
Wild Ride
Two Cal Poly students walked away without a scratch after crash landing a single engine plane in a small field 12 miles east of Atascadero near La Panza Road on April 23. SLO County Sheriff Sgt. Andy Rasmussen says, Jason Diestel, the 22-year-old pilot and his passenger Haley McCaffrey, 20, were watching a group of…
Wineries face lawsuits over wine glasses
Some local wineries have been using wine glasses decorated with paints containing lead or cadmium—without posting the required Prop. 65 warnings to their tasting room customers, a Bay Area law firm alleges. At least half a dozen local wineries with no posted Prop. 65 notices about the heavy metals have been threatened with lawsuits by…
