Cover Story
Undue influence: SLO County grapples with the fallout from the Helios Dayspring/Adam Hill bribery scandal
When news broke last month about the explosive charges that late San Luis Obispo County 3rd District Supervisor Adam Hill took bribes from local cannabis magnate Helios Dayspring, SLO County Democratic Party chair Rita Casaverde’s instinct was to issue a swift public statement condemning Hill’s alleged misconduct. But after checking in with members of the…
Trash talk
If you want to see a microcosm of how government doesn’t work, look no further than the board overseeing the utter shit show that is the Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA)—the public agency that manages SLO County’s garbage, recycling, and hazardous waste disposal programs. The IWMA board consists of the five county supervisors, a representative…
Surf punk progenitor Agent Orange plays The Siren on Aug. 22
Has it really been 41 years since a 1 minute and 45 second song called “Bloodstains” ushered in a new, decidedly West Coast strain of punk rock? Yep. Agent Orange, the progenitors of surf punk, released a 7-inch, three-song EP that contained “Bloodstains,” which fell into the hands of KROQ DJ Rodney Bingenheimer, who played…
Studios on the Park showcases glass artists in new group show, Luminous Landscapes
Eight glass artists are participating in a new group exhibition, Luminous Landscapes, at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles. The exhibit premieres on Tuesday, Aug. 31, and is scheduled to remain on display through Monday, Nov. 1. Guest curated by glass artist Stephanie Wilbanks (whose artwork is also featured in the exhibit) and wood…
SLO Movement Arts Center presents The Little Prince at the PAC
Performances of The Little Prince, presented by the San Luis Obispo Movement Arts Center, will be held in the Spanos Theatre, at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 29, from 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets to this family-friendly ballet range between $20 to $35.…
County waste authority debates how to move forward after Board of Supervisors votes to leave
SLO County’s Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) started its Aug. 11 board meeting in a state of shock. On Aug. 10, the SLO County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to do what its conservative majority threatened to do several months prior: to part ways with the agency that manages solid, hazardous, and green waste and…
Wine Country Theatre hosts outdoor musical revue, Back in the Saddle Again
Tickets are now available in advance for Wine Country Theatre’s next original production, Back in the Saddle Again, held at the Harris Stage Lines Event Center in Paso Robles. The show premieres on Friday, Sept. 3, and is scheduled to run through Sunday, Sept. 12 (with performances taking place on every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday…
Mixteco Indígena Community Organizing Project turns 20
After opening an office in Santa Maria in 2019, the Mixteco Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) quickly became a fixture in northern Santa Barbara County communities, particularly known for its translation and outreach services that helped get critical information to local residents during the pandemic. This year, as the organization starts to expand its efforts…
New bakery SLO Delicious is a labor of love that features treats of all flavors
Pastry particulars Visit SLO Delicious Wednesday through Monday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 1129 Garden St. or online at slo-delicious.com. Follow the company on Facebook and Instagram @slo_deliciousbakery. Follow food blogger Nancy Waltz on Facebook and Instagram @cookingwithasideofsunshine. If you’re interested in making rather than purchasing baked treats, visit slo-delicious.com for a complete…
Chapman Estate gets support for more events
Since the late Clifford Chapman gifted his Shell Beach home to the city of Pismo Beach upon his death in 2012, the Chapman Estate has been open to the public for around seven months and 18 special events each year. Soon, though, the private residence turned public venue will be open year-round for up to…
Hospitals offer COVID-19 vaccines to all inpatients
After nearly squashing COVID-19 this past spring, San Luis Obispo County hospitals are seeing the coronavirus return with a vengeance, this time in the form of the Delta variant, filling up emergency room beds to levels not seen since before vaccines were available. “I think the general public is unaware of how bad this new…
It could happen here
I was looking forward to traveling this summer, and travel did prove to be invigorating after the many months of COVID-19 restrictions. However, my visits to Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area provided a shock I wasn’t prepared for. Homelessness there has reached crisis proportions, and cities are in a quandary as to how…
Vote no
If Gavin Newsom does not receive more that 50 percent of the vote on Sept. 14, one of his opponents can become governor with as little as 5 percent of the vote. That’s right, a majority is needed to vote Newsom out of office, but a majority is not needed to choose his successor. The…
Santa Barbara County releases ExxonMobil oil trucking project EIR
Almost as soon as Santa Barbara County made the final supplemental environmental impact report (EIR) available for ExxonMobil’s proposal to truck oil along highways 101 and 166, environmental advocates were ready with a response. “ExxonMobil wants to put California communities and motorists in harm’s way, just to restart its dirty and dangerous offshore platforms,” Center…
Governor recall ballots hit mailboxes
San Luis Obispo County—and all of California—will decide over the next month whether or not to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. Gubernatorial recall ballots hit SLO County mailboxes over the week of Aug. 16, and completed ballots are due back by Sept. 14—the official election day. Voters can also vote in-person on Sept. 14 at an…
Ted Lasso flips the ‘ugly American’ cliché on its head
TED LASSO What’s it rated? R When? 2020-present Where’s it showing? Apple TV Plus What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Created by Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, Bill Lawrence, and Joe Kelly, this series now in its second season follows folksy American college football coach Ted Lasso (Sudeikis) as he’s…
The White Lotus
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2021 Where’s it showing? HBO Max This miniseries opens as a mystery with preppy guy Shane Patton (Jake Lacy) looking utterly worn down in an airport, waiting for his plane ride home. A friendly couple starts politely questioning him about his stay. We soon learn the reason for the plane…
Val
What’s it rated? R When? 2021 Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime Co-directors Ting Poo and Leo Scott helm this documentary about the daily life of actor Val Kilmer, using never-before-seen footage spanning 40 years. The directors dug through roughly 800 hours of home movies, some shot by Kilmer, and the voiceover narration are Val Kilmer’s…
The Great American Melodrama returns with Comedy Tonight, an original musical revue filled with song, dance, puns, and parodies
See the show Tickets for Comedy Tonight at the Great American Melodrama are available online at americanmelodrama.com or by calling the box office (open noon to 6 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m., Sundays) at (805) 489-2499. The theater is located at 1827 Front St., Oceano. Tickets start at $25. Comedy Tonight…
What ’30 by 30′ is not
The 30 by 30 plan is a big deal, as I’ve mentioned a time or two in this space. The Biden administration’s recognition of the need to conserve 30 percent of the nation’s natural lands by 2030 to head off mass extinction and the worst effects of climate change entails a big plan, and it…
