Cover Story
The ins and outs of realignment: Nonviolent offenders who would serve sentences in prison find new opportunities in county jail
Under the low hum of fluorescent lighting, 10 women in blue and black shirts sit in a circle before a blank white board, pink textbooks resting in their laps. They’re sharing small talk and a few laughs, but a hush falls over the room when two reporters walk in accompanied by a correctional deputy. It’s…
Painting with wine
San Luis Obispo’s Granada Hotel and Bistro has recently announced Art Bar, an evening of creativity, booze, and camaraderie. Held at Granada on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 7-9 p.m., Art Bar consists of a painting class led by a local artist, who selects a work of his or her own and teaches patrons…
FOLLOW THAT BIRD
These cell phone photos show an unidentified woman trying to wrangle an emu running wild in a San Luis Obispo parking lot. The incident reportedly occurred just after noon on Aug. 24 between the Food 4 Less and U.S. Bank branches on South Higuera. That’s all we know.
Just breathe: A police report and city memo counter CalCoastNews founder Karen Velie’s account of her arrest and conspiracy claims
There are a lot of opening lines in this story. From a police report, written Aug. 13 by SLOPD officer Joshua Walsh: “I was dispatched to a 911 hang up call when I was nearly struck by [suspect] Karen VELIE.” From Velie’s own news website, published Aug. 20: “CalCoastNews reporter and co-founder Karen Velie was…
SLO Downtown group takes on Christianson
Following a unanimous San Luis Obispo City Council vote to reject the concept of a moratorium on new bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, a citizens group that has led the charge against downtown alcohol outlets has taken aim at an “obvious target:” rookie council member Carlyn Christianson. The alcohol vote took place at an…
Republicans are dividing our nation
I’m surprised and disappointed that New Times published the Aug. 8 “commentary” by Otis Page including his conclusion that our president is “strongly biased” and plays the “race card.” Such comments are typical of the Grand Opposition Party. I commend President Obama for doing the right thing and speaking out on the Zimmerman trial. This…
Talk about L.A. drivers!
We’ve all been to L.A. at some point: 75 mph to a full stop, freeway traffic, cars everywhere. Recently, while heading to L.A., my eyes were opened. Just north of Santa Maria, traveling at 75 mph in the left lane with a car in the right lane two car lengths ahead, two large pickups came…
An ode to criminalization
Week after week I sleep in the creek, Employment and change is all I seek, Why not help me if you can, I’m an intelligent, grateful, and honest young man, I’ve just been dealt an unfortunate hand, But for 23 years my record remained spotless with no tickets or fines, Until just today, being homeless…
Playing the Race Card is wrong
Jim Griffin in his commentary (“Racism is still alive and well,” Aug 14) commenting on my opinion piece (“The economy is paramount,” Aug 1), ignores a number of important facts. Obama proved his bias and played the Race Card when he spoke about the matter before Zimmerman’s indictment, before the trial! Obama said Trayvon Martin…
Bring back Mary!
I recently attended Why Do Fools Fall in Love at the SLO Little Theatre. Since it was billed as a fundraiser, I expected a fun, lively show. However, it was another in a series of disappointing fundraisers directed by Kevin Harris. Not only were there empty seats at the beginning of the show, one person…
This act is a commonsense bridge
The Affordable Care Act is the first step toward all Americans having health care, which is a right. It provides benefits that we would not otherwise have received without the legislation. The ACA does have some problems, and they should be addressed, but doing away with it completely is not the solution when improving it…
Leaders: Act quickly!
The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County has studied water issues in our county since 1969. As our population has grown and water usage patterns have changed from dry farming to more irrigated acreage, we have consistently supported policies and actions that provide for the protection and efficient management of our water…
We need to control the desert
I’m not sure about certain county supervisors, but it seems to me that the water code is pretty clear in that the policy of the state is that the use of water for domestic purposes is the highest use of water and the next highest is use for irrigation. By having residents bear the burden…
Enough with the blaming
To all those who continue to speak out in fear and disgust against the “untouchables” of our county (Re: “Stop,” Aug. 15). “That person panhandling at the stop sign would not be there if” our society was actually structured so as to support and care for people in need. In a culture that worships the…
Will warrior women end U.S. hunger?
On an August afternoon 36 years ago, my world flipped upside down. I was 27, mother to a 3-year-old and an 18-month-old. My college career was on hold while my husband considered a graduate degree. But that wasn’t going to happen because on this one August day a deadly accident terminated our dreams. This accident…
‘Central Coast Bandit’ suspect is arrested, charged, and pleads not guilty
After the Central Coast Bandit evaded authorities for nearly eight months and robbed six banks in three different California counties, a six-day whirlwind of law enforcement activity resulted in the discovery, arrest, and arraignment of Cristina Fernandez Padilla, 50, who authorities allege is the culprit. In a crowded San Luis Obispo courtroom early Aug. 28,…
Blowhard
County Supervisor Adam Hill made me do blow in college. Why the admission? Before I get too far into this week’s column, I need to get a few things off my chest. My therapist said it would be good for me. CAPSLO Homeless Services Director Dee Torres made me cheat on my love pillow—with another…
Arroyo Grande gets a dose of chic with Luxe Boutique
Move over Anthropology, the Village of Arroyo Grande has its own store, which is locally owned and operated, making a splash. On June 1, Lynda Beshwate opened Luxe Boutique, featuring not just name-brand clothing, but local artists’ wares, and antique furniture — strictly one of-a-kind items. When I first looked up the website for Luxe…
What is your favorite show or movie that is prison related?
Alexus Galassi student “The Shawshank Redemption; I’ll know how to break out now.” “NCIS and Psych.” Albe McCombe student “Definitely Breaking Bad.” Nico Hoehme student “Prison Break.”
Cougars & Mustangs
Jane Lehr, associate professor of ethnic studies and women’s and gender studies; Helene Finger, Women’s Engineering Program director; and Beverley Kwang, ethnic studies alumna; have been recognized by the American Society of Engineering Education for their research into increasing the number of college women who enroll in engineering disciplines. Their research has been collected in…
Delay of game: Counties say they need more help with Medi-Cal expansion from distracted state health officials
The most populous state in the Union plans to become among the first to implement Congress’s 2010 Affordable Care Act—assuming California can make its own deadlines. Gov. Jerry Brown scheduled the health-care exchange Covered California to go live for enrollment on Oct. 1, with coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Brown and state Democrats intended for…
CEQA reform movement falters
Gov. Jerry Brown set out this year to overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to prevent what he called systemic abuses of the 43-year-old law. That cause now appears virtually lost with no major CEQA reform proposals on the table and only two weeks remaining in the legislative session. CEQA establishes a planning review…
Paso groundwater basin wins a breather
Paso groundwater basin wins a breather SLO County supervisors finally managed to unanimously approve an “urgency ordinance” to reduce water demand on the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, after arguments filled a marathon nine-hour hearing Aug. 27. The room was packed with North County residents on both sides of the contentious issue until the late-night end…
The pinot puppy: Flying Goat Cellars introduces a new addition to its family
Ed. note: This item is outside of the usual Bites coverage range, but, you know, puppy! Wine just got a new best friend. Cooper is a 12-week old chocolate lab that can now be seen frolicking around the tasting room of Flying Goat Cellars in Lompoc. Owners Norm Yost and Kate Griffith feel a…
Tablas Creek 2012 Rose Dianthus Paso Robles
Winemaker Neil Collins consistently makes outstanding Roses for Tablas Creek. Although I love Spanish wines, I couldn’t resist enjoying this fine pink wine during two of our meals at La Cosecha. The 100 percent certified organic grapes, 60 percent mourvedre, 25 percent grenache, and 15 percent counoise, are grown in the winery’s estate vineyards. This…
La Cosecha offers exotic flavors in Paso Robles
Simplicity is seriously under-rated and one need only experience the fabulous tapas of Spain created by the precise hand of chef Jose Andres to recognize this fact. In Andres’s cookbook, Tapas a Taste of Spain in America, he salutes the egg and notes its popularity in a variety of Spanish meals: “Eggs transform even the…
CLUBS – 8/29-9/5
BRANCH ST. DELI: 203 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 489-9099. Live music Fri. from 5:30-8:30pm. 8/30 Open mic night; 9/6: 5 Cities 5. THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: Two locations: 750 Mattie Road in Pismo Beach and 133 Bridge St. in Arroyo Grande. 773-1892 or mclintocks.com. Live…
The New Times Music Awards honors the best local musicians as five fight to be crowned Best Live Performer
Five will enter, but only one will leave crowned as the Best Live Performer during the 5th Annual New Times Music Awards this Thursday, Aug. 29 at SLO Brew. Who will it be? Maybe Fialta, the band that grew out of Sherwood, the SLO-based act discovered by Tom Anderson of Myspace and signed to the…
Café Musique joins the SLO Symphony for Pops by the Sea!
For many of we lowbrow types who prefer a Pabst to a Pinot Grigio, classical music can be a challenge. Sure, we might be able to identify some of the major classical pieces such as Beethoven’s 5th and 9th symphonies, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Handel’s Messiah, or Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, and sure, we can tell the…
Evocative, brave, gross, awesome
Three hundred and three pieces were submitted to the 2nd biennial “California Sculpture SLAM,” an exhibit of fine sculpture by California artists. Thirty-eight made it in, and are currently on view at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art. The SLAM, it would seem, requires a great deal of painful cutting away to reveal…
