The kind of leader we rarely see
In an era when public trust in government often feels like a lost cause, it’s easy to become cynical. But every now and then, you come across a leader who doesn’t just talk about values—they live them. For the last three years, I’ve watched Jimmy Paulding do exactly that. He isn’t chasing headlines or grandstanding.…
Central Coast newcomer Michael Freeman helms an ambitious culinary transformation at Paso Robles Inn
Born in Jackson, Michigan, and raised in Sarasota, Florida, renowned East Coast chef Michael Freeman is a year deep in helping to reimagine a trio of dining venues here in the West. Historic meets hauteSaunter into Paso Robles Inn’s Cattlemen’s Bar, located at 1103 Spring St. in downtown Paso. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m.…
Let’s elect a business owner who understands the struggle
San Luis Obispo County should be a place where small businesses can thrive, but currently, the red tape is thicker than ever. Local entrepreneurs are met with endless permitting delays and a customer service mindset that feels more like an obstacle course. This lack of efficiency is a failure of leadership and accountability at the…
Water Tower is among a dozen-plus acts playing Parkfield Bluegrass Festival May 7 through 10
If you’re in the mood for some pickin’ and grinnin’ on Mother’s Day weekend, it’s time to buy tickets to the Parkfield Bluegrass Festival, Thursday, May 7, through Sunday, May 10. More than a dozen groups will perform, including Water Tower, a punk-inflected bluegrass act led by Kenny Feinstein. “Oh man, we’re so excited,” Feinstein…
Conspiracy-whee!
A group that proposes separating California into two states—one that includes the Bay Area and portions of the Los Angeles and the Sacramento areas and one that includes all the rest—wants to review ballots from the 2024 presidential election and the 2025 Proposition 50 election for fraud. The Bay Area generates an estimated 40 percent…
Dynasty: The Murdochs examines media mogul Ruport Murdoch’s life and family
This four-part documentary series directed by Liz Garbus (What Happened, Miss Simone?) and written by Sara Enright (Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes) follows media mogul Rupert Murdoch as his children compete to see who will inherit his multibillion-dollar media empire. (four 47- to 56-min. episodes) DYNASTY: THE MURDOCHSWhat’s it rated? TV-MAWhat’s it…
SLO County DA warns South County group about breaking election law
Money problems hang over San Luis Obispo County’s 4th District Supervisor race that’s hurtling toward a June 2 showdown between incumbent Supervisor Jimmy Paulding and Oceano business owner Adam Verdin. Days after campaign finance disclosure forms revealed that Verdin returned controversial donations earmarked for the November general election to their respective donors, certain contributions to…
DTF St. Louis is a twisty mystery filled with promiscuity
I heard Jason Bateman talking about this series on his podcast Smartless as it was being made, so when DTF St. Louis hit HBO streaming, I thought I was ready for what was to come. I’d seen the trailer, I knew the premise, but hats off to creator Steve Conrad for a truly inventive, soulful, and…
PRJUSD school board advances possible bond measure for November ballot
Facing aging campuses and rising construction costs, the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District board of trustees moved a potential $180 million general obligation bond one step closer to the November ballot. The dollar amount presented by district staff on April 28 reflects an early estimate of total project costs outlined in a developing facilities…
Netflix’s Breakdown: 1975 offers a brief look at the best films of that era
Morgan Neville (Lorne, Man on the Run) directs this documentary he co-wrote with Alan Lowe (Mr. November, Lorne) that examines the year 1975 through the lens of the risk-taking movies released that year: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Dog Day Afternoon, Jaws, Shampoo, Three Days of the Condor, and more. There are some factual…
California Supreme Court curbs Coastal Commission’s block of Los Osos development permit
The California Supreme Court flexed its power over the California Coastal Commission, unanimously ruling that the commission unlawfully overrode a Los Osos building permit approved by San Luis Obispo County. “Shear’s proposed development is for one of the principal permitted uses of the site. The commission has no appellate jurisdiction over Shear’s permit application,” Chief…
Happy, an art show, opens on May 2 in Casa Ramos Art Gallery
Are you happy? A lot might be bringing you down, but at Casa Ramos Art Gallery in Los Osos, proprietor Elena Ramos-Peffly wants to turn your frown upside down with Happy, an art show and an opening party on May 2. You’re invited!Casa Ramos Art Gallery (1034 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos) hosts a…
Study finds offshore wind facility not feasible in Morro Bay
Developing an offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) facility in Morro Bay’s harbor would amount to “significant regulatory, environmental, and social impacts,” according to a feasibility study presented to the City Council on April 28. The study, prepared by Mott MacDonald and Rincon Consultants and funded through a $1 million San Luis Obispo County allocation…
See Chicano artist Juan Fuentes at Pocket Gallery May 2
If you missed your chance to meet Chicano artist, longtime cultural worker, art teacher, social activist/poster maker, and printmaker Juan Fuentes the last time he made an appearance at Paso’s Pocket Gallery on Pine, you’re in luck. “Juan’s show was such a great success we held it over for the relaunch of the first Saturday…
Artful canine surfing comes to Pismo Beach on May 2
Pismo Beach hosts The World Dog Surfing Championships on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the north side of the pier. Free and open to the public, you can view the competition up close from the beach or get a bird’s eye view from the pier. Is it art? Dogs in…
Rural families bear the burden of Carrisa Plains’ lost middle school
At 5:20 a.m., Amanda Whitner Ruiz wakes her 13-year-old daughter, Lily, to catch a bus to Atascadero Middle School. By 6:20 a.m., Lily is on the bus for a nearly 50-mile ride into town. She won’t return until almost 5 p.m. “It’s a lot,” Ruiz said. “It’s a lot for my daughter. It’s a lot…
SLO County pumps the brakes on a separatist group’s attempt to seize voter records across the state
San Luis Obispo County rebuffed demands from a secessionist group that wants all county clerk-recorder’s offices and sheriffs in California to retain and investigate records related to the 2024 general election and the Proposition 50 special election. “This is a unique request, as I have not received anything similar from this group or others during…
Sea + Green and Lilija bring handmade and vintage goods, clothing to SLO’s Mission Mall Plaza
When she was little, Rebecca Biskaduros spent her days in the woods of Lancaster, Massachusetts, playing by the river and building forts. “Just as a young child, I loved to be out in nature and getting dirty and climbing trees,” Biskaduros said. “I was never the little girl with the dress on; I was very…
The true value of the Oceano Dunes
Regarding the opinion piece, “Help keep Oceano Dunes SVRA free of vehicles forever” (April 23), I have serious concerns. As a local who supports keeping access to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (ODSVRA) open, I’m curious who exactly the “local” residents and businesses behind the Oceano Beach Community Association are. A visit to…
My vote for supervisor depends on their stance on offshore wind
In perfect political double-speak, Jim Dantona, candidate for 2nd District supervisor, talks out of both sides of his mouth in supporting offshore wind energy while simultaneously opposing industrial ports proposed for Morro Bay and/or Port San Luis/Avila Beach. This position is pure fantasy. Mr. Dantona knows enough to understand that industrial ports on the Central…
Focus on infrastructure and getting back to basics
Living in the 4th District, we see the results of neglected infrastructure every day. From pothole-riddled roads to aging bridges, the county has allowed our foundations to crumble while focusing on niche pet projects. It’s a lack of accountability that affects our safety and our wallets. Adam Verdin’s back-to-basics platform is a breath of fresh…
Dear Shredder, about ‘Unsafe and insane’
In your April 23 opinion column, you state, “In Grover Beach, you could lose your house! Ridiculous, amirite?” Maybe an ordinance adopted by the city to fine users of illegal fireworks $1,000 could cause a homeowner to lose his home due to non-payment of the fine. But there’s a bigger picture here. Using illegal fireworks…
