Cover Story
Starting over: Prisoners face uncertain future after release under state’s realignment law
The letter was written on a single sheet of ruled notebook paper. Neatly folded and just four paragraphs long. The words, penned in a looping cursive, were hopeful but pleading. “I am in need of a stable, clean and sober living environment,” it stated. “I am totally committed to living life in a productive manner.”…
Pismo cancels City Council elections after no one files to run against incumbents
Pismo Beach voters may notice something missing from their ballots when they step into the voting booth on Nov. 6. Members of the City Council voted unanimously to cancel elections for mayor and two council seats at an Aug. 21 meeting. The decision was the result of a total lack of candidates filing to run…
I’d double tap that
We’re all pro photographers these days! Even grandma has mad skills when it comes to snapping a pic of her morning oatmeal creations. I mean, she gets more double taps than you’d probably like to admit. If you are over 21 and think you think might be an iPhone camera wizard (or real-deal camera wizard)…
Women’s Equality Day is this month
Aug. 26 is designated as National Women’s Equality Day to honor the women who fought tirelessly for the commissioning of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. The day also stands as a strong reminder that we need to continue to advocate for the equality of all women. Prior to the signing…
Mudslides, fires, and the closure of Highway 1 affected business and foot traffic on the North Coast
Driving from Morro Bay to Big Sur takes about three hours. The 108-mile trek on Highway 1 lends itself to not only soaking in the scenic route but also pit-stopping along the way. The highway re-opened at the end of July after being closed for 14 months, and its closure took a toll on businesses…
‘Alpha’ is a charming but flawed film for adolescents
ALPHA What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Anna? Rent it What’s it worth, Glen? Rent it Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy, Park, Stadium 10 Albert Hughes (Menace II Society, From Hell, The Book of Eli) helms this adventure story set 20,000 years ago in the last Ice Age, about a young man named…
The high-speed rail is still worth the money
We received a mailer trashing the proposed high-speed rail system for California. Funded by the Republican Caucus (lookup ASMRC on the internet), the piece bore Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham’s (R-San Luis Obispo) name. The same piece was probably sent out under the name of every Republican candidate for the Assembly in California (this is speculation). The…
All eyes on G: Campaigns for and against the initiative to ban new oil and gas wells in SLO County take shape
San Luis Obispo County voters will decide in November whether to enact a countywide ban on fracking and new oil drilling, by passing or rejecting Measure G at the ballot box. As election day nears, the campaigns to shape public opinion on both sides of the issue are building momentum and funds—and the people behind…
Give me a sign: Canned Pineapple Co. leaves a mark on downtown SLO signage
Read between the signs For more of Buddy Norton and Shelby Lowe’s work, visit cannedpineappleco.com or follow @cannedpineappleco on Instagram. If you’ve been to downtown San Luis Obispo, you’ve seen it. Over on Broad Street, tucked away on Garden Street, up Marsh Street, and all over the Creamery Marketplace are the marks of Buddy Norton…
Central Coast taxpayers deserve better
The high speed rail project is a failed project that has nearly doubled in cost, and could balloon to nearly $100 billion. Central Coast taxpayers deserve better than a train that will never benefit our district. Rather than throw good money after bad, we should invest in our roads, schools, and water infrastructure. Voters should…
Cambria resends water rates to the community
The Cambria community can once again check their mailboxes for a Proposition 218 notice about proposed water rate increase. The first mailer contained noticing errors, a mistake that some community members blame on the Cambria Community Services District’s general manager. The initial notice, mailed out on July 13, failed to specify whether the three rates…
Bingeable: House
When? 2004-2012 What’s it rated? TV-14 Where’s it available? Amazon Prime, iTunes, Black Gold Library System Hugh Laurie (A Bit of Fry & Laurie, Sense and Sensibility) stars as the titular character Gregory House in the medical mystery drama/comedy House, which follows the talented yet drug-addicted doctor through mysteries that he solves with the help…
My white life
I live in a segregated society. I grew up in a white family in the white suburbs of the Bay Area. I was educated by white teachers in white elementary and high schools. My college was largely white; my employers have all been white; my friends are white. Whiteness has been so pervasive in my…
Settlement in dog attack lawsuit will move forward
Correction: This article was changed to accurately reflect Geiger’s plea of “not guilty” in his criminal case. The landlords of a home where a former Grover Beach police officer’s dog escaped before attacking two people, killing one, will be able to settle with the victims and their families. In an Aug. 16 ruling, SLO County…
Steynberg Gallery reopens as The 4 Cats Café and Gallery
Here kitty, kitty Stop by during Art After Dark on Sept. 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. for the opening reception of the Tracy Taylor and Friends (Persons of Interest) show at The 4 Cats Café and Gallery. Visit the4cats.com for more information and future happenings. What’s old is new again. After more than a…
Social media sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts our Aug. 16 commentary by Senior Staff Writer Glen Starkey, “Democracy demands a free press: Without journalism, America as we know it would cease to exist.”
Port San Luis takes interest in Diablo Canyon assets
As Diablo Canyon Power Plant gears up for its decommissioning process, the Port San Luis Harbor District is eyeing some of PG&E’s assets. At an Aug. 21 special meeting, the district compiled a list of Diablo Canyon land and facilities that would potentially benefit the port. One area of interest is Wild Cherry Canyon, a…
Pajama party in Paso
The Downtown Paso Robles Main Street Association presents Pajama Movie Night on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. at Park Cinemas in Paso Robles. The 1969 Western comedy Support Your Local Sheriff will be screened. While gun holsters and cowboy boots grace the screen, pajama pants and slippers adorn the audience, as guests are welcome…
County to explore funding options for affordable housing
Local housing advocates and builders have calculated a $2 million to $4 million annual gap in funds needed to produce sufficient affordable housing units in San Luis Obispo County. In response, on Aug. 21, the SLO County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to study new county revenue measures that could fill the gap. “We have…
Photography by the bay
The Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay presents a new photography exhibit showcasing the work of photographer Carlo Christian. The exhibit opens Saturday, Sept. 1, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 29. Christian, a Cal Poly grad and chemist, likes to incorporate both human and natural history into his photography. Some of his favorite photography…
Newcomers campaign for Paso Council seat
Three newcomers are vying against incumbent John Hamon for two open Paso Robles City Council spots in the November election. Maria Garcia, one of the co-founders of the Hispanic Business Association in Paso Robles, a pharmacy technician, and a saleswoman for Mary Kay Cosmetics, said she is running to bring a diverse voice and representation…
Film Listings, 8/23/18 – 8/30/18
A.X.L. What’s it rated? PG Where’s it showing? Park New In his feature-length debut, writer-director Oliver Daly helms this family-friendly sci-fi adventure about Miles (Alex Neustaedter), who discovers a top secret robotic dog named A.X.L., which stands for Attack, Exploration, Logistics. Miles is a shy outsider, but after he and A.X.L. bond thanks to the…
County saw spike in whistleblower complaints
Complaints to a hotline set up to receive anonymous reports of financial waste, fraud, and abuse in the county government more than doubled in the last fiscal year. According to a new report from the SLO County Auditor Controller’s Office, the county’s whistleblower hotline saw a 111 percent increase in complaints for the fiscal year…
Tunes and lights at Baywood Art Show and Lighted Boat Parade Sept. 8
Big, Big SLO is teaming up with other local organizations to present the second annual Baywood Art Show and Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 3 to 9 p.m. The event kicks off with a showcase of local artists in the gardens of the Blue Heron Baywood Restaurant. The boat parade begins around…
Corrections
• In the Aug. 2 news brief, “Pismo Preserve Project completion is waiting on funds,” it incorrectly states the record of a Northern Chumash cemetery. The archeological work revealed it as unrecorded. • The Aug. 9 Strokes and Plugs, “Solve puzzles together,” incorrectly states the date of a family vacation. The vacation occurred in 2014.…
Wine and windmills: Solvang is more than just kitschy charm
It’s easy to tell when you’re close to Solvang. When you exit Highway 101 in Buellton, the silhouette of the Sideways Inn (named after the wine-centric 2004 movie that made the area famous) windmill let’s you know exactly what you’re in for once you head East on Highway 246 and into the quaint little town…
Three cheers for Morro Bay’s AvoMarg Fest Sept. 7 and 8
Pit Crew The AvoMarg Fest festivities kicks off with Taste of the Grove on Friday, Sept. 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. The intimate cocktail evening will be held at the Morro Bay Packing Shed and will include farm-to-table feasting, avocado munchies crafted by local chefs, and wine. The festival, slated for Saturday, Sept. 8,…
Credibility challenged
I am responding to commentary published in New Times by Cynthia Hawley (“No public benefits,” Aug. 9). Ms. Hawley’s diatribe against the city of Morro Bay is based on a few facts that she used to spin into a story about how the city leaders are plotting a nefarious bait- and-switch in buying 30 acres…
That’s amore
Holy macaroni, Batman: Brian and Stephanie Terrizzi have opened a new pasta factory in Paso Robles’ Tin City, and we can’t wait to get the water boiling. Etto Pastificio is the product of Brian’s time spent studying pasta making in Italy, and now it’s ground-zero for picking up freshly made pasta on the fly (learn…
Car fluids drain straight to the ocean
I’m wondering why, in this day and age, certain businesses are allowed to pollute, quite obviously, and get away with it? Specifically, auto parts stores, although no doubt, there are others as well. I’m thinking of one in my city of Grover Beach on Grand Avenue. Now, it’s not that the store itself is polluting…
Brother-run Nautilus Surf Shop offers traditional boards and community events in Morro Bay
Morro Bay Boulevard is more often quiet than not. The sleepy street extends toward the ocean and is scattered with small shops and subtle charm. Most storefronts keep with the gentle status quo and don’t make noise beyond the occasional door swing and patron chatter. However, the seafoam green brick-and-mortar of Nautilus Surf Shop takes…
The irony of getting rid of committees
It’s ironic that Chris McGuinness’ article, “Arroyo Grande council to disband traffic, parks, and historical resource commissions” (Aug. 16) was adjacent to an article about the stalled Anholm Bikeway (“SLO Planning Commission opposes latest version of Anholm bikeway,” Aug. 16), a 2-year-old plan to redistribute traffic between downtown San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly. It…
Rising singer-songwriter Amalia Fleming plays SLO Brew Rock on Aug. 25
For kids all over the country, the Parkland School shootings became the last straw. Earlier this year, on March 14, students across the nation walked out of class and observed 17 minutes of reverence for those killed. They took to the mic and spoke, sang, and reminded each other that they have the power to…
FYI
Relax, man: Try Whalebird’s new CBD-enriched Purple Rain kombucha and just try to stress out about your inbox for the next hour (It can’t be done; available at SLO Natural Foods Co-Op and the new Nautical Bean and 2010 Parker St., among other places you find fine local booch) … I know this seems super…
Democracy is slow and messy, but it’s OK
Regarding a recent article in the New Times (“Arroyo Grande council to disband traffic, parks, and historical resource commissions,” Aug. 16) that the city of Arroyo Grande will decommission three of its citizen advisory bodies as a cost-cutting measure. I understand that budgets are tight and resources are limited, but I don’t think that eliminating…
Feel that stability
What happens when people don’t care enough about local politics to campaign for office? Nothing. In fact, a city government can save $10,000 if no one files to run against incumbents whose seats are up for grabs, according to a staff report presented at the Aug. 21 Pismo Beach City Council meeting. At that meeting,…
Something fishy
Raw power: Goshi’s remodel is complete, and they’ve been re-opened at The Creamery in SLO! Their new wrap-around sushi bar is a sight to behold (and their new sashimi lunch special is calling your name). Head to goshislo.com to see for yourself … SLO Fish and Barbecue on Marsh Street is serving up all your…
Community representatives who make the county better
I have just recently moved from Morro Bay to San Luis Obispo, and I am so happy to be able to support and vote for Mayor Heidi Harmon for re-election. I have never met another city leader who was so engaged with encouraging community participation, listening to all sides, and acting with integrity. Heidi is…
Emotional road manipulation by our government
How many of us drive a car or ride in one? Nearly everyone, so asking a person if they want our roads fixed is a pre-loaded question. Of course we all want our roads fixed. When the taxpayer gives money over and over again to fix our roads and the dollars pay for other things,…
