Cover Story
May I have some more, sir?
In his own words, Mark Delaplane “killed a guy,” and for the last 32 years, he’s been paying for the crime. He’s gone through all the programs and certifications; he has seemingly been a model prisoner. He exudes an obvious intelligence and reads management books on corporate quality control theories for fun. Yet when he…
Preserving the Light
Despite the advantages of communications satellites and cell phones, it’s important to preserve the technology of the past. Two local organizations have teamed to do just that. The Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers, in conjunction with the San Luis Obispo Painters for the Environment (SLOPE), will be hosting “Lighthouse Impressions” on Sunday, Sept. 21, at…
Paso Robles’ Newest Steakhouse
Very little has changed at Paso Robles’ grand old hotel in 144 years, although it was rebuilt after a fire burned down everything except the ballroom in 1940. From the beginning this popular “hot springs hotel” has been a destination for those in need of the hot springs’ healing powers. And the inn has remained…
Feel the Pulse, Scratch the itch
Steel Pulse? Totally awesome! Lee “Scratch” Perry? Totally awesome! Pozo Saloon? Again, totally awesome! This Wednesday, Aug. 27, Pozo Saloon hosts this Downtown Brew-organized concert with Steel Pulse and special guest Lee “Scratch” Perry during an evening show that will open with DJ sounds of Kephas and KatchiFiya, followed by Resination, Perry, and then Pulse.…
The peoples’ stew
Festival attendee (and expert), Rachael Manuele New Times Is anything new happening this year at Stone Soup? Rachael Manuele We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Dune Run Run, which kicks off Stone Soup. Toyota will have a hybrid car there for people to look at. We will have the health fair again. The…
A Valentine to Botso
Wachtang “Botso” Korisheli is rather unlike your average 87-year-old. For one thing, Korisheli hails from Georgia, a small Eastern European country, from which he was forced to flee after his father’s execution at the hands of Josef Stalin’s regime; his father had been a prominent actor who believed that an artist’s purpose was to serve…
Travels with Isadora
Three months ago, San Luis Obispo native Ashley Friend began a cross-country road trip that has had her bouncing from Brooklyn to Wisconsin, back to Brooklyn, and westward toward San Luis Obispo, with her soft-coated Wheaten terrier Isadora—named after the incomparable modern dancer, Isadora Duncan—in tow. Inspired by John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, Friend would…
What is your favorite summer Olympic sport to watch?
Beto Gonzalez executive chef “Basketball: It’s so competitive now with other countries.” Sherrie Brown property manager “I would like to watch the archery, but they’re not showing it on my channel! So … synchronized diving.” Tony Barretta retired winery worker and Hearst Castle volunteer “Well, what you get is what they show you, and I…
Geyser Peak 2007 Sauvignon Blanc California
One of my favorite good-value brands from Sonoma County, this food-friendly wine is low-priced but well made. It’s versatile enough to pair with everything from chile-verde chicken enchiladas and ceviche to vegetarian salads and sushi. This vintage offers forward aromas and flavors of grapefruit, grass and fresh lime, yet it’s not too racy to enjoy…
Bishop’s Peak 2005 Syrah Edna Valley
This impressive Syrah is a very good value at $18 in Talley’s tasting room in rural Arroyo Grande. It’s 100 percent Syrah with enticing aromas and flavors of black berries, plums and wild boysenberries weaved with earth, leather, smoke, and spice notes. It’s perfectly ripe, yet restrained in its forward fruit flavors. I crave this…
Fast facts
The first session of Cuesta College’s Astronomy Research Seminar (Physics 193 CRN 70873) will take place on Wednesday evening, Aug. 27 in room 2108 at the San Luis Obispo Campus. †The seminar leader, astronomer Dr. Russ Genet, will give a slide show talk on “Scientific Research with Small Telescopes,” while a highly experienced student researcher,…
Diablo fire has Mothers for Peace concerned
A fire at Diablo Canyon Power Plant on Aug. 17 is cause for concern, according to SLO Mothers for Peace, a local non-profit group that monitors activity at the plant. A report issued to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by PG&E, which owns and operates the plant, stated that the fire occurred shortly after midnight and…
SLO County athletes stand front and center in China
Of seven athletes with ties to SLO County competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, two have won medals and more medals are on the way. Arroyo Grande High School and Cal Poly graduate Stephanie Brown Tafton won a gold medal in women’s discus on Aug. 18, making her the first American woman to earn a…
SLO alliance lobbies American Airlines
San Luis Obispo County is one of only four airports nationwide that will lose its American Eagle flights. American Airlines’ local American Eagle service will take its last flight out of the SLO County Regional Airport on Nov. 1. The move will leave 84 people without a job, ground three planes, and, combined with announced…
Campaign reform hits the Web in Atascadero
Atascadero has become the first city in San Luis Obispo County to put campaign contribution reports online. By law, political candidates need to publicly disclose who gives funds to their campaign and where it’s spent. Paper records of campaign statements—Form 460—are available at city and county clerk’s offices. But posting the information online gets tricky.…
Oceano businessman vows to appeal flood lawsuit
A South County nursery owner has lost the first phase of his lawsuit against various government agencies over flooding that allegedly forced him to close his business. He intends to appeal. Bill Bookout, owner of the Oceano Nursery located off Highway 1 in Oceano, sued the county, Caltrans, Union Pacific Railroad, the Pismo Beach Vegetable…
Sheriff deputy charged with possessing child porn
A SLO County deputy sheriff who once worked as a school resource officer has been arrested and charged in a sweeping federal child-porn sting. Bryan Jon Goossens, 47, of Atascadero and two other SLO County men were among 55 charged as the result of an FBI-led investigation. Goossens and Jeremy Neubauer, 30, of Nipomo were…
Woe upon woes
Morro Bay city leaders held a special meeting Aug. 13 to discuss how the town can stay financially afloat. The situation is so dire, according to an independent report, they may have to consider un-incorporating if drastic action is not taken. Assembled in City Hall at the Wednesday afternoon meeting, four council members, including one…
He jazzed up the Hamlet
Your cover story about the Famous Jazz Series in Cambria (“Jazz echoes through the Cambria Pines,” July 31, 2008) was missing one very critical part—the man who started it all, Norm Hamlet. Norm and his wife Maggie brought the Hamlet to the Central Coast, starting in Harmony and then by remodeling an old nursery and…
Check the numbers
Istar Holliday, in his letter to the editor (“Change the tax structure,” Letters, Aug. 14, 2008), suggests that we “return to the principle of a progressive tax, wherein those who benefit the most pay the most.” I would suggest that he should first attempt to achieve some measure of factual correctness, because the implication that…
GOP pumps Americans at the pump
It’s no wonder that the GOP is becoming known as the Gang Of Pirates. I just received a brochure in the mail from Central Valley Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy, who says that we can “immediately” lower gas prices by increasing production of oil and gas, in other words, by more drilling off of our coasts…
Oil companies getting richer
More oil drilling will not lower gas prices or create energy independence. It will only make the world’s richest oil companies richer. The United States sits on less than 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves. Even if we drill in every corner of America, the oil will amount to a drop in the bucket…
Discount marketers
Gee, I don’t know much about a ‘Water Reclamator’ device (“Investor, business partner abandon Reclamator,” July 31, 2008), but if it works and produces clean water, I’m all for it. However, the essential part of electricity that I do understand tells me that it runs my microwave and shocks me when I stick a fork…
Get a job
While I agree with helping Mr. Smith’s homeless children to get to school and to eat is very important, what is most troubling is that Dad is “thinking” about going to Cuesta to learn welding (“Homework without a home,” Aug. 14, 2008). This implies, to me at least, that Dad is not currently working, just…
I will help
Bravo, New Times, for Kathy Johnston’s heart-wrenching article on the plight of school children who are homeless in our county. Her excellent research and comprehensive writing once again, serve to educate all of us about this important issue. I personally had no idea of the gravity of this dilemma in our community. I hope that…
ECHO helps homeless families
You mentioned in your cover article (“Homework without a home,” Aug. 14, 2008), about children who are homeless, that the North County has an even higher percentage of children whose families lack housing than San Luis Obispo, but then did not mention the shelter that serves them. Left out of the ‘How you can Help’…
Ray Russell – We Olive owner
NEW TIMES: What inspired you to open an olive-oil store? RUSSELL: “Well, for the most part it was the healthy lifestyle, the food of the Mediterranean diet. It’s quick, easy, delicious and healthful.” NEW TIMES: From where do you acquire the majority of your merchandise? RUSSELL: Actually, 85 percent of it is from artisans in…
Pot and porn
A couple of New Times folks had the chance to sit down with Sheriff Pat Hedges the other day and, at his invitation, talk over the various state laws governing medical marijuana. First of all, let’s just put it out there that Hedges must be a fairly good sport. He gets his mug all over…
Marching on Washington
It was August 1963, and I was a college junior. I had a summer job in New York City, and each day I took the commuter train with my father. On one such trip, I looked at the New York Post and was surprised to learn that college students had gone down south to help…
