Cover Story
Rushed to judgment: Water board names new TCE source near SLO Airport; previously accused family demands exoneration
Over the past four years, San Luis Obispo County resident Janice Noll and her family wore the odious label of “TCE polluter” in their rural neighborhood south of the SLO Airport. Each month since 2020, they’ve gone door-to-door to their neighbors on Buckley Road to change the water filters that are protecting them against trichloroethylene…
SLO city, People’s Self-Help Housing aim to turn local motel into transitional housing
A one-star motel in San Luis Obispo could soon become the site of a transitional housing complex for homeless families under a new city plan. The city of SLO and People’s Self-Help Housing are partnering on a Project Homekey grant application that, if awarded, would provide up to $18 million to buy the Homestead Motel…
Numbskull, Good Medicine, and KCBX present the three-band BarrelHouse Jam on April 29
The White Buffalo’s newest, Year of the Dark Horse (2022), finds towering frontman Jake Smith in the mood to shake things up. “You think we’re a country band? A folk band? Americana? Rock? What the fuck are you gonna say now?” he asked in press materials. “With this album, I wanted something outside of what…
Morro Bay reduces water restrictions after winter storms curb drought
For the first time in two years , Morro Bay will receive 100 percent of its state water allocation—one positive result from a series of devastating winter storms. On April 25, the Morro Bay City Council unanimously approved easing some of the water restrictions it implemented during the drought for the upcoming 2023-24 water year.…
Ballet Theatre of San Luis Obispo’s Theresa Slobodnik celebrates human expression through dance
Come to the show See Theresa Slobodnik’s latest creative showcase of human emotion on May 19, when Ballet Theatre San Luis Obispo presents The Wizard of Oz at the BlackBox Theatre (located at 3566 S. Higuera St., No. 207, SLO). For more information on future works and ballet classes, visit the Ballet Theatre’s website at…
Arroyo Grande City Council rejects Visit SLO CAL mural design
The subjective nature of art recently became a roadblock for a potential mural trail in SLO County. Arroyo Grande’s City Council and Architecture Review Committee gave a thumbs-down to two iterations of a mural design that hoped to adorn the exterior wall of a private property on Branch Street. Visit SLO CAL is helming the…
Arroyo Grande artist Laurel Sherrie holds solo show in Atascadero
Starting on Monday, May 1, Joebella Coffee House in Atascadero will be showcasing a collection of scenic landscapes by local oil painter Laurel Sherrie. The new solo exhibition is scheduled to remain on display at the cafe through Sunday, July 31. Based in Arroyo Grande, Sherrie is a plein air painter best known for capturing…
SLO County taps retired Kern County head as interim chief administrator
On the eve of losing its top administrator of six years, San Luis Obispo County found an interim successor who county supervisors say fits the bill perfectly. John Nilon, a retired chief administrative officer (CAO) for Kern County, will take the reins as interim SLO County CAO on May 1. He’ll hold the job for…
Mystic Nature showcases paintings by Fred Ventura in Nipomo
A solo exhibition of paintings by artist Fred Ventura premiered at Mystic Nature in Nipomo in mid-April and is scheduled to remain on display through Wednesday, May 31. In conjunction with Ventura’s exhibit, titled Nature’s Harmony, an artist reception will take place at the gallery on Friday, May 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. According…
Atascadero moves forward with creek restoration
On April 25, the Atascadero City Council allocated $360,000 to the planning phase of an Atascadero Creek restoration project after winter storms tore through the creek bed. “The storm events in January and March resulted in water levels in the Atascadero Creek that had not been seen in decades,” Atascadero Deputy City Manager Terrie Banish…
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant offers a powerful testament to combat camaraderie
GUY RITCHIE’S THE COVENANT What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? Colony, Downtown Centre, Park, Stadium 10 Co-writer Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes; Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) directs this story of U.S. Army Sgt. John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his Afghan interpreter…
Correction
• In last week’s cover story, “Movie Magic! The SLO International Film Fest is ready for its close-up,” two names—Judd Hirsch and Scott Spiegel—were misspelled. New Times regrets the error. Δ
The Last Thing He Told Me
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Apple TV PLUS Jennifer Garner stars as Hannah, a successful artist who lives with her husband, Owen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and stepdaughter, Bailey (Angourie Rice), in Sausalito in a houseboat. Owen goes missing under mysterious circumstances, and on closer inspection, it seems his past may be messing…
Ghosted
What’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Apple TV Plus Dexter Fletcher (Eddie the Eagle, Rocketman) directs this rom-com action-adventure about Cole (Chris Evans), who falls in love with Sadie (Ana de Armas), who turns out to be a secret agent. They’re soon embroiled in a mission to save the world. It’s been…
Psychologists give opposing opinions on whether convicted murderer Stephen Deflaun knew right from wrong
A 20-year-long double homicide case is nearing its legal end as the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court entered the sanity phase of the trial on April 20. Stephen Deflaun—the man the jury found guilty of multiple murders in the first degree and of assaulting a law enforcement agent with a firearm—is awaiting a second…
Bear witness to the past
Twenty-five years ago, I stood at Auschwitz, experiencing the power of 6 million lives gone because of fear. Fear of outsiders, fear of those who were different. I was 15—the same age that my grandmother, Maria, was when she was forced to work in a Nazi labor camp—but I was free, participating in an event…
A big thank you to Paso Robles voters
Thank you to everyone in our community who voted for me in the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District special election. I am sincerely grateful to all of the individuals who supported my campaign through volunteering, donating, providing encouragement, or contributing in any other way over the last several months. While the election results did…
Exxon’s corroded pipeline
Exxon’s asking Santa Barbara County to allow it to reopen a 123-mile-long pipeline that caused the 142,000-gallon Refugio spill in 2015. The pipe is more than 30 years old, is eight years older now than when it caused that great destruction, and has not been fully inspected and repaired in all this time. Rather than…
Waterboarded
When I was a wee shredder, I vividly remember my shredder mom blaming me for something I didn’t do. I mean, sure, most of the time when I got blamed for something, I did it. I’m a shredder after all, but this one time, I was totally innocent and despite my protestations, the blame remained…
Grover Beach approves a $750,000 increase to fund fire services
The future of fire services in a post-Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) scenario is clear for the cities of Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande: The Five Cities Fire Authority needs more money. Cemented by a final report from outside consulting agency Baker Tilly, the analysis determined that funding for the fire authority was inadequate. Baker…
Sunshine Poker League brings the community together while supporting charities
About five years ago, a man who goes by Donnie Sunshine moved to Santa Maria from Philadelphia and started a free local poker league called Sunshine Poker. Sunshine fell in love with the game while playing in a Philadelphia bar league called River Chasers. He decided to start one of his own on the Central…
