Cover Story
Forever candidate: Donald Hedrick has run for office in the city of SLO since 2006
San Luis Obispo artisan welder Donald Hedrick has lived an action-packed life. At 78, he’s hardly pumping the brakes. He served on the board of poverty-fighting nonprofit Grassroots II, donned the role of treasurer of the Economic Opportunity Commission, became a familiar face during City Council meetings, sculpted—and saved—a famed four-ton whale for a Morro…
Morro Bay needs and additional revenue sources
In September, Morro Bay is celebrating the 60th anniversary of becoming a city. The power plant enabled Morro Bay to become a city with its own fire and police departments. In 2014 the power plant stopped producing electricity, and that large revenue source was gone. Since then, the city has continued to operate, but our…
Nate’s on Marsh and Irie Ites Neighborhood Kitchen in SLO drop unique, delicious brunch menus
Off the beaten breakfast track Nate’s on Marsh, located at 450 Marsh St. in San Luis Obispo, offers brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also explore its lunch and dinner menus Thursday to Monday from 11:30 to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m. For more details, visit natesonmarsh.com and follow…
Beware of ballot initiatives
It seems like on all of our election ballots, we are presented with initiatives to vote on. That is because in California, citizens have the power through ballot initiatives to directly propose and enact laws, make or change local ordinances, and even make amendments to the state Constitution. Usually, individuals or groups resort to the…
Everyone deserves access to clean, affordable energy
As the country and the rest of the world experience another year of scorching heat waves, private for-profit utility companies—which we rely upon for our basic necessities, like heating, cooling, and electricity—are keeping us reliant on climate-wrecking fossil fuels while reporting record profits. When they work well, utilities exist in the background of our lives:…
Supervisors fail to adopt resolution to close Bob Jones Trail gap
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors must find an alternative to eminent domain to acquire the missing piece of land required to complete the long-awaited Bob Jones Trail. “Any other project, I’d be saying the same thing: The use of eminent domain to me violates the property rights pillar element that I just…
Libertine Brewing is set to rebuild in Morro Bay including a restaurant, hotel, and new coastal access
Morro Bay’s old Libertine Brewing Company location will look very different within the next year. The waterfront venue recently received a permit to build a new restaurant, hotel, and public plaza on Embarcadero. Spending more than two years in the process of obtaining permits—one of which was deferred by the Morro Bay City Council and…
Cal Poly and Cal Maritime will officially merge after CSU trustees vote
To help end a financial and enrollment crisis and keep the specialized institution afloat, California State University Maritime will merge with Cal Poly SLO. Over the past seven years, Cal Maritime’s enrollment has declined by 31 percent and it currently has a little more than 700 students, according to a California State University (CSU) board…
Templeton CSD elections nixed again due to lack of candidates
For the second election cycle in a row, Templeton isn’t holding an election for its Community Services District board after being short on candidates for open seats. Templeton Community Services District (CSD) General Manager Jeff Briltz told New Times he assumed it was due to the process of campaigning against opponents, considering residents have shown…
OCSD discusses solutions for faster emergency services
The Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) isn’t ceding its fire services to the county without looking for workarounds as it continues to discuss ways to improve emergency response times. San Luis Obispo County and the Five Cities Fire Authority will enter a contract starting on Jan. 1, 2025—if the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission approves…
Paso schools offer free meals to all students this year
Paso schools will offer free breakfast and lunch for every student in the 2024-25 school year to help ensure students are properly nourished and to alleviate pressure on parents to pack food each day. Under California Universal Meals, all K through 12 schools are mandated to provide students with two free meals per day, regardless…
The Central Coast Railroad Festival kicks off Oct. 4
The time to celebrate one of the most influential entities to shape the Central Coast is almost upon us: The 14th annual Central Coast Railroad Festival. From Oct. 4 to 6, the festival will celebrate the Central Coast’s vibrant history of trains and their tracks by hosting events at several locations throughout San Luis Obispo…
Power of the public
Something about being an elected official these days just means you can double down on your own statements—even if they’re wrong—and everything will be fine. Everything is fine. Your supporters will believe you no matter what, right? Because they’re idiots, too. And nobody has the ability to process information that’s contradictory to what they already…
Robert Plant and Allison Krauss play Vina Robles Amphitheatre
There’s a pretty good chance that by the time you read this, your opportunity to score inexpensive tickets to the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss show on Saturday, Aug. 24 (7:30 p.m; all ages; $192 to $722.15 at ticketmaster.com) has dried up and blown away. The show was almost sold out as we went to…
A prince, a girl, and a quest for equality comes to the Wine Country Theatre stage
When the clock strikes midnight The Wine Country Theatre presents Cinderella: The Prince is Giving a Ball is through Sept. 1 at 1232 Park St. in Paso Robles. Be sure to dress light, as the building is old and without an air conditioner. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit winecountrytheatre.org. A handsome prince,…
Alien: Romulus returns to the original’s formula and nails it
ALIEN: ROMULUS What’s it rated? RWhat’s it worth, Anna? MatineeWhat’s it worth, Glen? MatineeWhere’s it showing? Colony, Downtown Centre, Park, Stadium 10, Sunset Drive-In Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe, The Girl in the Spider’s Web) directs this new installment in the Alien sci-fi horror franchise. In this go-around, a group of young space colonizers—Rain…
Multiple local venues hold screenings for 27th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival
Oodles of avenues across several countries will double as temporary movie houses during September and October, in conjunction with this year’s global Manhattan Short Film Festival. Participating venues in California include some libraries in both San Luis Obispo County and the Santa Maria Valley, as well as one senior center in the latter region. Central…
An Evening of Surf Films
What’s it rated? Unrated When? Sunday, Aug. 25, at 5:30 p.m. ($17.91 at esterobaykindnesscoalition.org) Where’s it showing? Bay Theatre of Morro Bay The Kindness Coalition presents an evening of surf films, screening Stoker Machine (2023; 12 min.) and Big Wave Guardians: First Responders of the Sea (2022; 91 min.). The event is a fundraiser for…
Right to speak
The Arroyo Grande City Council on Aug. 13 made an unprecedented move to limit public comment for items not on the agenda to just 60 seconds, even though the meeting’s agenda did not include reducing public comment (“Arroyo Grande council changes public comment on non-agenda items to one minute,” Aug. 15). The city’s consent calendar,…
A League of Their Own
What’s it rated? PG When? Saturday through Monday, Aug. 24 to 26, at 7 p.m. Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo Penny Marshal (Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Big, Awakenings) directs this 1992 sports dramady offering a fictional account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954), which formed when World War…
