Cover Story
All hands on deck: SLO County addresses a farm labor and housing shortage
More than two years have passed, but the image is still fresh in the collective consciousness of the San Luis Obispo County agricultural community: The anger and threats that led to a destructive fire and then, ultimately, the abandonment of seven homes in Nipomo. They were nearly ready to house 112 foreign strawberry field workers…
Crack a cold one
May the best brewer grin: The California Mid-State Fair and the Central Coast Brewer’s Guild announced that Brendan Gough, head brewer of Central Coast Brewing in SLO, has been named Brewmaster of the Year at the first-ever Craft Beer Tasting Night and Awards. The inaugural event celebrated the ever-pioneering Central Coast craft beer industry that…
Forest management is the culprit
Al Fonzi, great opinion piece in the Aug. 2 New Times (“False narratives”). Having worked in the timber industry all my life, I know that the primary reasons for natural disasters are not global warming or changing climates! They’ve been happening since the beginning of time and have been worse and not so bad as…
Freshly tuned
You can find a lot of surprising things at the downtown SLO Farmers’ Market these days. Ancient grains and superfoods you didn’t know you needed in your life? Sure! Cured meats, fine cheeses, and even growlers of craft beer? Heck yes! Your old high school boyfriend? Awkwardly true as well. However, you should not (at…
Change is coming
Nancy Bast (“Ulterior agendas,” July 26) researches some potential reasons for placing the Morro Bay Wastewater Reclamation Facility (WRF) at the TRI-W site, and determines that it may be because city leaders are scheming to see surrounding property developed for some nefarious motives. The fact is that the TRI-W site was determined to be the…
Life is about choices
Corky Richardson’s letter suggesting that her granddaughter might choose not to attend Cal Poly because graduation speakers urged more diversity (at the most lily-white CSU campus) causes me to hope that the granddaughter does choose to go elsewhere. We do not need more students from families with these attitudes if we are to increase tolerance…
Cunningham bucks Trump’s efforts to roll back vehicle efficiency standards
Central Coast Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) is joining a growing group of California lawmakers opposed to a proposal by the Trump administration that would end the state’s ability to set its own emissions and fuel efficiency standards for vehicles. Cunningham introduced a resolution on Aug. 6 supporting California’s independent vehicle efficiency standards. Speaking…
After Diablo: back to the land
Decades before it was built, when it was just a gleam in PG&E’s eye, the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant triggered an explosion inside the Sierra Club. The detonation resounded from 1966 through 1969, split our national board of directors into opposing factions, split the regional Sierra Club chapter into two chapters, and led to…
Abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement becomes an issue in Central Coast elections
On June 30, a crowd of 1,500 people flooded the plaza outside the SLO County courthouse. They’d come to protest the Trump Administration’s now defunct policy of separating undocumented immigrant children from their parents at the United States’ southern border. They brought signs, of course. Some simply demanded that the government reunite the families, but…
Trump logic
Only a genius would see the problem so clearly! If you want to save energy, make automobiles less fuel efficient, and then drivers will drive less because it costs too much! Thanks, Trump! Why didn’t California think of that? Out here on the Left Coast, we’ve been operating under the silly assumption that more efficient…
SLO County investigates Abel Maldonado for alleged cannabis or hemp grow
As San Luis Obispo County ramps up enforcement against illegal cannabis grows in the area, officials say they are investigating what appears to be a large, unlicensed cannabis farm on land owned by former Republican Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado. Discovered recently by the SLO County Sheriff’s Office, the farm in question is “at least 30…
Social media sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts the Aug. 2 commentary, “Chorro and Marsh: Allowing a seven-story building downtown in exchange for so-called ‘affordable housing’ is ridiculous.”
Fire engineer sues Five Cities Fire Authority for wrongful termination
A former Five Cities Fire Authority fire engineer claims that Fire Chief Steve Lieberman fired him in retaliation for speaking out about potential labor violations. A lawsuit filed on July 13 against the fire authority, the city of Arroyo Grande, and Lieberman, alleges that Jarrid Boyer was terminated after he discovered that the Fire Authority…
Local singer-songwriter Craig Nuttycombe releases his new album on Aug. 17 at Painted Sky Studios
Craig Nuttycombe has mortality on his mind. Now 70, the local singer-songwriter has lived quite a musical life. While a Hollywood High School student in the early ’60s, he played rhythm guitar with the surf band The New Dimensions, and in the mid ’60s he played around the Sunset Strip with a bunch of other…
Judge increased bail for sexual assault, burglary suspect
A 40-year-old Arroyo Grande man accused of breaking into a San Luis Obispo home and attempting to sexually assault a woman at knifepoint is in jail on $1 million bail after prosecutors argued that his family might use drug money to bail him out and help him flee. In court documents, SLO County prosecutors stated…
SLO mayor and Bluebird Salon collaborate on lipstick that benefits RISE
Pucker up To purchase Mighty Lips in Heidi is Mighty red, stop by Bluebird Salon, Ambience, or Len Collective in SLO or visit mightylips.myshopify.com. Every morning, San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon starts her day the same way: Before heading out the door she puts on a few swipes of her go-to lip color, Revlon…
Cayucos to see high water rate increases
Water bills in Cayucos edge ever closer to a minimum of $200 with the recent San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors vote to increase rates in the seaside community. Supervisors unanimously voted on an initial water rate increase of $45 with incremental increases to follow. At the Aug. 7 meeting during public comment, Cayucos…
Studios on the Park exhibit shows fine art side of quilts and fiber art
Cool threads The Good Fibrations exhibit will be on display through Aug. 26 at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles, with a Fabulous Fused Fabric Collage class on Aug. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m., and a Fabulous Fun with Fabric Paints class on Aug. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. Each class is…
Burgers with a view: Check out the sandy shore at Jalama Beach County Park
Discover your park To make your reservation at Jalama Beach or any other Santa Barbara County park, visit countyofsb.org. The interesting thing about San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties is that there are so many county parks scattered across them with camping amenities. These parks make the perfect day or weekend trip if you’re…
SLO supervisors adopt ‘governance manual’
Prompted by a squabble between a supervisor and one of his constituents earlier this year, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors now has a new code of conduct to follow. Supervisors voted unanimously on Aug. 7 to adopt a governance manual that lays out “practices that build and sustain positive board relationships and…
Whiz Kids! hosts family fun with gnomes
Whiz Kids! is hosting its family-oriented Woodland Gnome Party on Sunday, Aug. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This magical gathering features an arts and crafts station for attendees to enjoy and complete their own hands-on creations. There will be various activities to keep younger guests entertained. Children can try their hand at gnome…
‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ offers some action and laughs but little substance
THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Anna? Rental What’s it worth, Glen? Rental Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre Co-writer and director Susanna Fogel (Life Partners, Chasing Life TV series) helms this action-comedy spy spoof about 30-year-old besties Audrey (Mila Kunis) and Morgan (Kate McKinnon) who find themselves thrown into…
Solve puzzles together: The Puzzle Effect
In a purple room at 583 Marsh St. in San Luis Obispo, lies a magical bookstore, Grim Stacks. The owner of the bookstore has captured a mystical creature and plans to take revenge on the library. Your job is to sneak into the shop, find the creature, and rescue it before the owner’s plans are…
A night in drag at SLO Brew
SLOQueerdos invites the community to enjoy a night of glamour and fun during their performance of Theatre Queens: A Drag Revue on Sunday, Aug. 11, from 7 to 11 p.m. at SLO Brew. Tickets are $10. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Attendees can expect a combination of satirical sketches, songs, and dances…
Blast from the Past: Grease
When? 1978 What’s it rated? PG-13 Where’s it available? DVD and Blu-ray, On Demand What’s the word? Grease! That word brings back memories of singing—a lot of singing—along to an ultimately raunchy tale of high school love performed by, as one of my friends put it, “a bunch of 30-year-olds pretending to be teenagers.” But…
‘Beauty and the Beast’ at the Mission
The city of San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Department hosts an outdoor screening of Disney’s new, live-action version of Beauty and the Beast on Saturday, Aug. 18, from 8 to 10 p.m. This event is part of Movies at the Mission, an ongoing series, and takes place outside Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.…
Film Listings, 8/2/18 – 8/9/18
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it rated? Matinee Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy Pick Peyton Reed (Bring It On, Yes Man, Ant-Man) directs this next entry into the Marvel universe set after the events of Captain America: Civil War. Paul Rudd returns as Scott Lang and his superhero alter ego…
Historical narrative
After abstaining from response to Al Fonzi’s previous opinion pieces —spinning his own ludicrous narratives and butchering historical context—Al Fonzi’s “False narratives” (Aug. 2) was just one hypocritical step too far for this pre-Trump member of the former Republican Party and Cuesta College history major. While Fonzi’s thesis-like statement seemed to imply that society (and…
Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab is set to celebrate its quinceañera by honoring first customer
We all scream! Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab is located at 114 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande; 860 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo; and 725 E. Betteravia St., Santa Maria. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, go to docburnsteins.com.…
No public benefits
Nancy Bast hit the nail on the head in her commentary “Ulterior agendas” (July 26). The memorandum of agreement that she cites between the city of Morro Bay and Tri W Enterprises Inc. shows that the only beneficiary of building a wastewater treatment plant on the South Bay Boulevard site is Tri W Enterprises Inc.—at…
Uncorked
Barn raising: Alta Colina in Paso Robles will host a Rhones on the Range event this Aug. 9! Celebrate summer with a barbecue and barn dance featuring fine cheeses, local Rhone wines, dinner by Chef Jacob Lovejoy, and more. Call (805) 227-4191 for info or go to altacolinawine.com … Wine Wednesday at Pappy McGregor’s in…
It’s the sunshine, stupid
I wholeheartedly agree with Jeanne Kinney: A seven-story building has no place in downtown SLO (“Chorro and Marsh,” Aug. 2). Not for extra living space, or commerce, or anything else. Besides her people, SLO’s character is about three things: sunshine, mountains, and weather (particularly ambient air temperature). When we build up, we lose all three.…
Way cool
Bend over backwards: Yoga will strike a new pose at Avila Beach this Aug. 12 thanks to a new Yogafest event featuring live music and 40 artisan food and craft vendors. Drop-in communal yoga classes will be offered in open-air settings, beneath tents, and even on paddleboards. For tickets and information, go to events.avilabeachresort.com or…
The cost of college is unrealistic
In This Modern World’s Aug. 2 installment, Goofball thinks, “College should be free.” Galahad thinks, “This is extremely unrealistic.” Here is a statement from my 1961 UCLA admissions form: “Tuition in the academic colleges is free to every student who has been a legal resident of the state of California for a period of one…
