Cover Story
Not so sunny: Conflict, code violations, and uncertainty overshadow longtime SLO County addiction treatment nonprofit Sunny Acres
Dan DeVaul’s motorized wheelchair announced his arrival before he zoomed out of the barn at Sunny Acres. When the cherry-red machine’s steady hum stopped, DeVaul started talking. “Like John Wayne said: ‘Mis raices estan aqui.’ It means my roots are buried here,” DeVaul said. With his outback hat shading his eyes from the sun, the…
SLO Mayor Erica Stewart announces election campaign
San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart is running to keep the office she was appointed to last year—announcing on April 25 her candidacy for mayor in the upcoming November election. A member of the SLO City Council since 2018, Stewart stepped into the mayor’s seat last October following the resignation of then Mayor Heidi Harmon.…
Federal infrastructure dollars could fund SLO County transit, traffic flow improvements
California continues to have the highest gas prices in the nation by more than 40 cents a gallon—and the San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles metropolitan area currently holds the state record for the highest recorded average price of gas, according to AAA data. But with a lack of accessible public transportation in the county, driving is…
SLO County Public Health lab director retires at 78: ‘He brought us into the new century single-handedly’
In 2007, at age 64, Dr. Jim Beebe took over the job of lab director at the San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department—adding a late chapter to an already decorated career, which included serving as the state of Colorado’s public health lab director. Fifteen years later, Beebe is finally retiring for good—but only after…
Mellow Banana strikes the perfect balance between delicious and health-conscious
Go bananas Mellow Banana is located at 1474 E. Grand Ave. in Arroyo Grande. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. It’s rare that someone’s childhood career ambitions become their reality as an…
Wax and paint converge into art from international artists at Art Center Morro Bay
Wax, don’t wane Visit Art Center Morro Bay seven days a week from noon to 4 p.m. at 835 Main St. Catch Convergence – Wax on the Water through May 23. Learn more about the International Encaustic Artists at international-encaustic-artists.org. Painting with hot wax is hard. You could burn yourself. You need the right tools.…
Needtobreathe brings their lush and soulful rock sounds to Vina Robles
You don’t need to be a Christian to love Needtobreathe. The band frequently releases material with no reference to their Christian faith, and though they’ve won more than their fair share of Gospel Music Association Dove Awards with 15, they’ve also been nominated for a Grammy and a couple Billboard Music Awards. Though they’re favorites…
R.A.C.E Matters SLO and SLO International Film Festival co-host short film program, Make Your Move
In collaboration with the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (SLOIFF), R.A.C.E. Matters SLO will present Make Your Move, a free program of five short films, at the Fremont Theater on Saturday, April 30, at 12:30 p.m. Although admission is free, pre-registration is required to attend. Each of the five films will be available to…
Hospital of the future
Contrary to the unfortunate opinion of some (“Duplication isn’t better,” April 21), French Hospital Medical Center is proceeding on a sustained and progressive path to enhance the quality of care for all members of our community. It remains French Hospital’s goal to raise the level and standard of care through innovation and the adoption of…
By the Sea Productions holds staged reading of Fireflies
By the Sea Productions will present three performances of its next staged reading—Fireflies, by Matthew Barber—on Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 8, at 3 p.m. The production will be held at St. Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church Hall in Morro Bay. The plot of Fireflies follows…
Martyr syndrome
The mythos of Dan DeVaul is that he’s a good man with a cantankerous streak who’s generously devoted himself and his ranch to those struggling with addiction, helping them overcome their problems to lead clean and sober lives. Saint Dan bravely jousted—Don Quixote-style—with the uncaring SLO County bureaucracy as it cruelly made his compassionate vocation…
Paso Robles City Library hosts upcoming discussion on Everything Is Illuminated
The public is welcome to participate in a Zoom discussion of Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel, Everything is Illuminated, on Thursday, May 19, from 6 to 7 p.m. This virtual book talk is led by the Paso Robles City Library. Pre-registration for the event is required. The novel is available in various formats through the Black…
My Dead Dad screens as part of the SLOIFF
MY DEAD DAD What’s it rated? Not rated What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? April 28 in the Fremont in SLO at 2 p.m.; April 29 in Downtown Centre Cinemas in SLO at 7:45 p.m.; April 30 in the Cuesta College Performing Arts Center at 4…
Sweet Disaster
What’s it rated? Not rated When? 2021 Where’s it showing? April 28 in Downtown Centre Cinemas in SLO at 7:30 p.m.; April 29 in The Palm Theatre in SLO at 7 p.m.; April 30 in Downtown Centre Cinemas at 7:45 p.m.; May 1, virtually at noon Laura Lehmus directs this dramedy screenplay by Ruth Toma…
The Falconer
What’s it rated? Not rated When? 2021 Where’s it showing? April 29 in Downtown Centre Cinemas in SLO at 4:45 p.m.; April 30 in The Palm Theatre in SLO at 1 p.m.; May 1 in Park Cinemas in Paso Robles at 10 a.m. Writers-directors Seanne Winslow and Adam Sjoberg helm this drama about best friends…
Lawsuit accuses SLO County Child Support Services of workplace discrimination
Four current or ex-employees of the San Luis Obispo County Department of Child Support Services are accusing the department’s higher-ups of race and age discrimination in a lawsuit recently filed in SLO County Superior Court. The plaintiffs—all women of color over age 40, each with a decade or more of experience in the department, including…
Arroyo Grande, SLOCOG apply for grants to fund Brisco interchange project
What do the limbless knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, going to college on a scholarship award, and buying a house with your parents’ help, have in common? They’re all like investing in the long-deliberated Brisco/Halcyon interchange project, according to some Arroyo Grande City Council members. “Brisco’s just not dead yet, I guess.…
Local nurses say hospital staffing is dangerously insufficient
As pandemic surges have come and gone over the past two years, health care providers have been on the front lines of it all. An already stressful profession became even more taxing, leading some nurses to leave the profession altogether. According to the California Nurses Association, Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton lost 40 percent…
SLO RTA opens new bus operation and maintenance facility
Buses under the San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (RTA) now have a new home thanks to the agency opening a new bus operation and maintenance facility. “The problem that we had with our previous facility that we leased was it was too small. It was inefficient and not a good design. We needed better…
