Cover Story
Testing positive: A local nonprofit looks for funding to get the word out–youth HIV cases are on the rise
When David Kilburn moved to San Luis Obispo, he was preparing to die. A positive HIV test was a death sentence in 1985, and the Central Coast seemed like a nice place to spend his last days. As it turned out, however, those days were not his last. Medical breakthroughs enabled him and hundreds of…
Judge says Pasolivo barn may fall
The iconic centerpiece that brought rural neighbors together to oppose the expansion of an olive oil facility will soon be dismantled. A judge ruled on Aug. 4 that the red barn standing on the property of Pasolivo, an olive oil company on Vineyard Drive in the Adelaide area west of Paso Robles and Templeton, may…
How do you feel about public breastfeeding?
Silvester Perez retail employee “I don’t mind it. It’s normal and something a mother has to do.” Hayley Mae manager, Luna Red “More power to you for making people become more comfortable with it.” Dave Gerszewski sous Chef “I think it definitely needs to be not be as taboo as it is.” Heather Gray artist…
Ottmar Liebert brings his amazing instrumental new age world music to SLO Brew on Aug. 6
In truth, there are only a handful of performers who are true global sensations, but without a doubt, Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra is one of them. It seems no matter where they perform, they have a legion of fans. It doesn’t hurt that Liebert himself is a true citizen of the world. “Born in…
Clubs 8/6/15 – 8/13/15
Goin’ South 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 music at the Pismo Beach location every Fri. and Sat. from 6-9pm. Tennessee Jimmy Harrell and Doc Stoltey play on alternating…
Hands Gallery presents the birdhouses of David Bruce
Being a bird isn’t easy business. You’ve got to get up early, you’ve got to “get the worm,” and you’ve got to sing your heart out, sunrise to sunset. Thanks to Phoenix artist David Bruce and his bold birdhouse handiwork, our feathered friends can catch a break now and then. Stop by Hands Gallery during…
The Gallery at the Network showcases glass artists
Rubies? Diamonds? Marble? Gold? You can keep ‘em. I’m more interested in sparkling, light-reflecting glass works of art created by SLO County artists galore. The Gallery at the Network is currently featuring a cascade of stunning, shimmering creations through September, including glass works by Bryn Bridenthal, Melissa Campbell, Larry Le Brane, Diane Miller, Richard Mortensen,…
Ragtime, a collective of recycled clothing designers, shows its stuff Aug. 7
It’s Sunday, Aug. 2, and I’m in clothing designer Liz Rhoads Cordoba’s inner sanctum, the place where the magic happens. One wall’s consumed by a large set of shelves packed top to bottom with plastic storage bins, each packed with the tools of Cordoba’s trade—scrap material, used clothing, and anything she might need to turn…
Irreverent 21st Century LOLs show runs through August at Left Field Gallery
“Some of this art has a little deeper humor, some is a little slapstick humor, and some just makes you laugh,” Left Field Gallery Owner Nick Wilkinson says. Backdropped by the freshly painted white walls of his artist’s alcove tucked away on Monterey Street, Wilkinson appears extra colorful. The artist speaks with his hands and…
Luck of the draw: Lucky B Design letters signs the old fashioned way
View a slideshow of Lucky B Design. David Bond embraces the paintbrush like an old friend. With classic country crooning on the stereo, he deposits a thick black line with cool precision—a technique decades in the making. Some artists grapple with the blank page: Bond contends with whole sides of buildings, sprawling glass windows, gleaming…
Tobin James’ Dream Weaver Sparkling and Cutruzzola Vineyard’s 2011 Riesling
I recently had a few friends over for mimosas in the backyard (putting to use a few pounds of oranges harvested from my garden). You can’t have mimosas without something bubbly, and thankfully, we had a chilled bottle of Tobin James Dream Weaver on hand. Ripe, rounded, and light enough for a dreamy a.m. brunch,…
Cool beans
Nosh is open for business in the old Artisan location, 1401 Park St. in downtown Paso Robles! Esther Abobo, former chef at Vegas’ Paris and Monte Carlo casinos, wants to bring traditional breakfasts, gourmet burgers, and local wines to the unique locale. Plus, most entrees range around $10! … We locals know that Santa Maria-style…
Savor the Central Coast is back Sept. 24-27
A shimmering abalone shell. The salty spray of Morro Bay waters lapping against a fishing kayak. The soulful eyes of a massive Clydesdale. The vineyards at Halter Ranch at the very height of harvest. String these moments together and you get the very essence of Sunset and Visit SLO County’s SAVOR the Central Coast. There’s a…
After 14 years, it’s time to approve the Laetitia development
The Reserve at Laetitia has been in the planning process for nearly 14 years. The family owners of Laetitia Vineyard and Winery have worked to meet every request the county has made for this Ag Cluster project: archeological studies, road improvements, land buffers near homes, restricted landscaping, site plan reworks, emergency access, and an onsite…
I Yelp therefore I am!
I just checked, and I can’t believe I don’t have any Yelp reviews. What’s going on, people? Sure, emailed death threats are nice and all—I mean, keep ’em coming—but no one else can see them. How are people looking for incisive, thoughtful political commentary going to know to run screaming from this page if you’re…
It’s time for a third party
The 2016 field of candidates for U.S. president is a clown car and a collection of phonies and spewers of empty platitudes. The Democrats aren’t quite as bad but are also no prizes, particularly the wife of “slick Willy” (aka Bill Clinton)—who I’ll call “slick Hilly” (Hillary Clinton). Bernie Sanders seems the most honest and…
Bernie Sanders is a political revolutionary
In his July 30 letter to The Shredder (“Dear Shredder, you’re a liberal comrade”), Greg Larson misses the point of Bernie Sanders’ Political Revolution. Bernie has worked his whole life for the people who elected him. Now he is ready to take on all the special interests that keep Washington in a perennial logjam. His…
The dignified choice
State Sens. Bill Monning (D-Carmel, whose district San Luis Obispo County), and Lois Wolk (D-Solano) introduced Senate Bill 128, the End of Life Option Act, in January 2015. Popularly known as “death with dignity,” the bill sailed through the state Senate. However, the lack of support from a majority of the Assembly Health Committee members…
Bruno’s Greenhouse is a destination in Nipomo
A customer utters the words “gorgeous,” “majestic,” and “beautiful” as she browses through the foliage along a meandering path at Bruno’s Greenhouse, an indoor/outdoor plant nursery in Nipomo. It’s the type of reaction that owner Christine Bruno intends when customers come to her greenhouse, or nursery. It’s actually both, but it’s mainly a nursery, since…
Cougars & Mustangs
Oh boy. This is it. The last week. It crept up on you, and now you’ll be painfully aware of each passing day until its pursuer—the heralded fall 2015 semester at Cuesta College—arrives. This hasn’t exactly been a kind year to you, with an exceedingly nerve-wracking summer break … in which the eponymous breakage refers…
Milk-makers unite: SLO lactivists host a group nurse-in
At the 30-second mark, an assembled group of moms arranged their fidgeting kids into starting positions. Toddlers and infants were deftly positioned across laps and chests as the moms readied their breasts. Then the countdown began. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Latch on! The room fell quiet, and one by one, the breastfeeding moms raised…
SLO lawyer sues former client over online reviews
Was your dinner served cold or undercooked? Was the waitress rude? Did the mechanic who fixed your car overcharge you? These days, letting the whole world know about your dissatisfaction with a business is as easy as jumping on a laptop or smartphone and leaving a scathing review. But can such reviews cross the legal…
Correction
• The July 30 Shredder, “Journalism, where for art thou?” incorrectly characterized Scott Brennan’s disclosure regarding his previous employment with News Media Corporation. Brennan noted that he worked for the company when he first wrote about the voicemail from John Tompkins.
Local salvage yard cleans up its act
A Paso Robles salvage yard charged with violating the Clean Water Act is set to be compliant before the next rainy season. The owner of A1 Metals & Auto Salvage was cited in late 2014 for exceeding the acceptable threshold of pollutants, which flowed into the nearby Salinas River, according to a complaint filed by…
Grover beach on track for rail safety discussion
The shadow of the controversial Phillips 66 rail extension project loomed over the Grover Beach City Council’s Aug. 3 meeting, as three of its members agreed to discuss rail safety. Mayor John Shoals and two City Council members agreed to place the discussion on the agenda for the council’s Sept. 21 meeting. The decision came…
Paso Robles kills penalties for excessive water use
The Paso Robles City Council decided against pursuing passage of an ordinance that would set monetary penalties for water users who exceed mandatory conservation limits. The council’s Aug. 4 decision to reject the plan followed a process of revising the ordinance that was designed to help the city meet mandatory conservation requirements issued by the…
Acquitted man sues SLO County over 2012 assault case
A man acquitted of molestation, assault, and other criminal charges in a 2012 case is suing SLO County, the Sheriff’s Office, and several of its investigators. The suit, filed July 29 in SLO County Superior Court, claims that the man, Michael Aaron McGrew, suffered physically, financially, and emotionally after he was wrongly arrested and spent…
MindBody says it’s on a ‘path to profitability’ despite drop in stock value
SLO-based MindBody Inc. is optimistic about its future and profitability in the competitive world of wellness and fitness technology, despite a steep drop in the company’s stock price following its initial public offering. The global company, which sells web scheduling and marketing software to health- and fitness-based businesses, held a conference call Aug. 4 to…
