Cover Story
Education Today 2022
Before kids returned to campus after COVID-19 shutdowns, San Luis Coastal Superintendent Eric Prater started designing a summer education program to meet students’ social and academic needs. For our Education Today issue, Assistant Editor Peter Johnson talks to district officials and parents about the free Summer Experience program, which wrapped up its six-week debut on…
The yo-yo of high gas prices
Here we are again, suffering through high gas prices because oil is above $100 per barrel. This happened in 1973, 1978, and several times since. Every time this happens, we conserve more, we buy cars getting better mileage (or today, electric cars), and our oil companies frantically drill for more oil. Over several years, demand…
I also grew up with guns
Ken Haggard’s opinion piece from July 28 titled, “Growing up with guns,” like so many others, misses the point, although he does brush up against it. He says, “It never crossed our minds to actually point these weapons at anyone, much less load and shoot at a person.” It is not the change in guns,…
Hey Debbie, can you turn wine into water?
There is something fishy up here in North County, and it has to do with wine not fish! They say we are in a drought, and I see it with my own eyes every day. I used to have several swimming holes I would go to when I needed to cool off up here in…
War or unity?
I’ve been a student of our American Civil War since I was 10 years old. I first delved into that conflict in Mr. Greer’s fifth grade class in 1965, when the nation observed the centennial of Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, effectively ending the war. That summer, our family visited Gettysburg National Battlefield in Pennsylvania. I…
Lies, damn lies, and statistics
Did you hear the good news? The SLO County homeless population decreased by 2 percent! That’s right! Since the last SLO County Point-in-Time Homeless Count and Survey (aka—PIT Count) in 2019, a whopping 35 fewer people were counted as homeless. God bless, you 35 lucky Americans! So, how many millions do we spend on this…
Dayspring claims he bankrolled other SLO cannabis dispensaries; companies and city push back
As convicted local cannabis businessman Helios Dayspring gets ready to spend nearly two years behind bars for bribery and tax evasion, he’s still attempting to show in civil court the extent of his power and influence in the San Luis Obispo pot industry. In recent filings made as part of the litigation between his former…
Paso Robles man arrested on federal charges for counterfeit pills sale
Federal powers recently intervened in San Luis Obispo County’s opioid overdose problem. On July 28, special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested 24-year-old Paso Robles resident Timothy Clark Wolfe for selling counterfeit prescription pills containing deadly fentanyl to a 19-year-old from Atascadero two years ago. The teenager fatally overdosed from the synthetic opioid. Wolfe…
SLO County’s 2022 data shows fewer homeless people than in previous count
Almost six months after conducting its Homelessness Point in Time (PIT) Count and Survey, San Luis Obispo County released data on the single-day snapshot of transiency across the region. The verdict: The number of homeless people counted this year compared to the previous 2019 count decreased by 2 percent. This year, the team of 80…
Nonprofit wants to build beds for children in SLO County
Colleen Grant was driving through Lompoc one day when she heard a voice say on the radio, “No child deserves to sleep on the floor.” Although she doesn’t remember the ad’s original intent, she said the message resonated with her. “I taught preschool for 30 years and worked firsthand with a lot of families in…
Atascadero Printery Foundation holds inaugural talent show, North County Has Talent
North County Has Talent, a local talent show hosted by the Atascadero Printery Foundation, will take place on Friday, Aug. 5, at 6:30 p.m. The show is open to all ages and will feature live music acts, singing, and dancing. Cash prizes will be awarded to the show’s winners. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit…
Dana Adobe’s Heritage Day features crafts, live music, dance demos, and more
On Saturday, Aug. 6, the Dana Adobe and Cultural Center in Nipomo will host Heritage Day, which includes a variety of family-friendly programs between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Activities at the event include crafts, tortilla making, dance demonstrations, and more. Attendees of Heritage Day can also expect to enjoy live music, tours, and historical…
Regained opportunities: San Luis Coastal school district offered totally revamped summer education and enrichment classes—for free
In January 2021, when schools were still shut down and pandemic fatigue was at an all-time high, San Luis Coastal Unified School District Superintendent Eric Prater was busy scheming to overhaul a system he felt had always been a “lost opportunity” in education: summer school. Whenever the COVID-19 fog lifted and students returned to school,…
Nope is more clever sociopolitical commentary in the guise of horror
NOPE What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Colony Cinemas, Downtown Centre, The Palm, Park, Stadium 10 Writer-director Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) helms this sci-fi mystery about the Haywood family, who owns a struggling horse ranch providing horses to the film industry.…
Less of a yawn: School districts in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties prepare for school days with a later start
Kids across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties are set to get a few extra minutes of shuteye when their school year begins later this month, and they have Senate Bill 328 to thank for it. Approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October 2019, the bill required the school day for California middle and…
Pieces of Her
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Netflix Based on Karin Slaughter’s book, Pieces of Her directed by Minkie Spiro follows Andy’s (Bella Heathcote) quest to find out about her mother’s (Toni Collette) murky past and discover the truth of where she came from. After mom Laura takes down a rogue gunman, she…
Continuing education: Keep learning after school and on the weekends
Lean in to the bounty of activities, both indoors and out, that the Central Coast has to offer this school year to keep your kids’ hearts and minds engaged—and off the screens. Here’s a short list of some of the places that are waiting for you. The animal channel Central Coast Aquarium: Learn about the…
The Gray Man
What’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Netflix Co-directors Anthony and Joe Russo helm this spy thriller about a convicted murderer recruited by the CIA as part of its covert Sierra project of trained assassins. Dubbed Sierra Six (Ryan Gosling), the icy killer under direction from his mentor Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton)…
Entries for the 2022 New Times Music Awards are due Monday, Aug. 8, at 5 p.m.
Alright all you musicians, songwriters, and band members, all you rockers, hip-hop playas, jazz cats, country folks, blues and R&B dudes and dudettes, and you impossible to categorize artists—your window for submitting to the 2022 New Times Music Awards is closing. Monday, Aug. 8, at 5 p.m. is the deadline to submit to this 14th…
Tim Veatch’s Wayward Bakery takes Los Osos on a winding road to confection heaven
Sweet stroll Wayward Baking is open to the public three days a week. Walk into the bakery at 1001 Santa Ynez Ave. in Los Osos on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Grab pizzas on Mondays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Keep up with their timings and rotating menu on Instagram @waywardbaking.…
The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival’s Cyrano De Bergerac runs through Aug. 14 at Filipponi Ranch
Be transported! The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival presents Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano De Bergerac at Filipponi Ranch Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through Aug. 14. Visit centralcoastshakespeare.org for tickets. On Fridays, they offer pay-what-you-can nights. Bring lawn or beach chairs and pack a picnic. No outside alcohol, but wine can be purchased on-site. We park in a…
