Cover Story
The invisibles: SLO seniors face financial uncertainty
Peta Rimington describes her life as “extraordinary” in a bright British accent, and it’s hard to argue with her assertion. Rimington, 82, said she was a small child in her grandmother’s home in England when it was bombed during World War II, trapping members of her family under the rubble of the house. She’s lived…
Divided by the grade: SLO County rejected Trump, but by precinct the election results tell a different story
Looking at where the citizens of SLO County stood in the 2016 presidential election, one takeaway is clear: Most were turned off by President-elect Donald J. Trump. With 3,153 votes still to count countywide, Trump garnered 40.9 percent of the SLO County vote. Hillary Clinton won the county by more than 8 percentage points, receiving…
It is about race
I am glad that the New Times is featuring Al Fonzi’s commentaries. His words give the public a chance to see the rage and the persecution complex of today’s movement conservatives and the false premises on which those two feelings are based. In his most recent commentary (“It’s not about racism,” Nov. 24), Fonzi declares…
Was politics a hot topic at Thanksgiving dinner?
Nyla Padgett sales representative “No, we wanted to avoid family feuding with our family because our views are divided.” Julie Nittman SLO resident “No, we did not talk about it; everyone avoided the issue like crazy because we have Trump supporters in the family. It was almost like taboo.” Beth Garver health care “No, because…
Recognizing leadership: SLO Social Services’ assistant director receives honors
Two statewide organizations are honoring Tracy Schiro, the assistant director of the San Luis Obispo County Department of Social Services, for her dedication and contribution to child welfare and foster care services. The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) and the Youth Law Center are recognizing Schiro’s work at the county and state level. On Oct.…
Building debt: California voters pass more than $30 billion in local and state school bonds
San Luis Obispo County joined state voters in wanting to spend locally in the 2016 election, passing four school district bonds totaling a little more than $274 million. Across the state, only 14 out of 184 local school funding measures failed, raising more than $23 billion for construction and modernization projects in 170 school districts,…
Brisco ramps to reopen in Arroyo Grande
It’s been a long and bumpy road for the city of Arroyo Grande when it comes to addressing problems with the city’s most notorious traffic issue. After being closed for more than a year, the Arroyo Grande City Council voted 4-1 at their Nov. 22 meeting to reopen the on- and off-ramps at Brisco Road.…
Cambria CSD board president loses her seat
After campaigning on a platform of transparency, a 33-vote advantage gives Harry Farmer a seat on the Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) board, while incumbent board President Gail Robinette gets the boot. Robinette has served on the board since she was appointed to fill in the remaining year of Frank DeMicco’s term in 2011. She…
Milo Yiannopoulos to speak at Cal Poly in January
Milo Yiannopoulos, a prominent voice of the “Alt-right” conservative movement who has espoused inflammatory viewpoints like one of Muslim immigrants’ “signature delicacies” is “gang-rape,” is scheduled to speak at Cal Poly on Jan. 31 at the request of the Cal Poly College Republicans student club. Cal Poly confirmed Nov. 29 that Yiannopoulos will be on…
Brothers sentenced in Nipomo gang assault
Two brothers who viciously beat a community college student in a gang-related assault could face two very different punishments for the crime. SLO County Superior Court Judge John Trice said he wanted more time to consider the sentence of Javier Chang, 20, at a Nov. 29 hearing shortly after sentencing the man’s older brother, Noe…
SLO Mayor-elect Heidi Harmon pushes for net-zero emissions
Trailing incumbent Jan Marx by more than 5 percentage points after Election Day, SLO Mayor-elect Heidi Harmon stubbornly—and as it turned out, wisely—pushed back when New Times called her for a concession statement on Nov. 9. “There are still a few thousand votes to count, so I’m not sure what you want me to say,”…
Make Cal Poly great again?
Did you hear? Cal Poly students are being brainwashed by their Birkenstock-wearing, namby-pamby professors who are cruelly indoctrinating them in their commie leftist philosophies! I know. I know. You thought the majority of college-educated people are liberal or progressive because they understand how capitalism creates an underclass, how the U.S.—despite its famed American Dream—lacks upward…
It’s a privilege to live in America
In response to the Nov. 24 opinion piece by Johanna Rubba in New Times titled “The real America,” it’s hard to know where to begin. Anecdotal evidence indicates Rubba’s belief that America is a terrible country is wrong 46,000 times over; that’s the number of people attempting to illegally immigrate to America apprehended by the…
The Electoral College is ancient
Two million more votes for Hillary Clinton than for Donald Trump, and still counting. Those are the latest figures available as I write this response to Al Fonzi’s attempt (“It’s not about racism,” Nov. 24) to justify an ancient system that denies the presidency to a person who wins the popular vote. (Donald Thump once…
SLO’s overnight camping double standard
We are all aware of the SLO city ordinance that says there is to be no overnight camping within city limits (there is a sign that I drive by on Foothill each time I enter the SLO city limits). So I have been wondering why is it that the early bird shoppers camped out in…
Republicans need the Electoral College
I knew Al Fonzi was a hard right ideologue, but some of the points he made in his Nov. 24 commentary (“It’s not about racism”) were delusional. There was so much BS in that article I could go on forever. But let’s start here: Four million fraudulent votes for Hillary Clinton. Where did that come…
Home rules
We live in strange and dark times. But in this darkness, there are glimmers of hope. Those of us who value democracy above any particular candidate or party, above nationalism, and above ideology are having a hard time with a lot of this. We all wish President-elect Donald Trump the best, not because we wish…
Singer-songwriter Zane Carney plays Tooth & Nail Winery on Dec. 7th
Zane Carney may have started his entertainment career as an adorable child actor on the TV series Dave’s World (1993-1997) and the film My Giant (1999), but these days he’s fully submerged in the singer-songwriter/guitar god world. He’s well known for his work with John Mayer, the band CARNEY, and Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off the…
Guilty pleasures: Escape from L.A.
When? 1996 | What’s it rated? R | Where’s it available? Netflix, DVD. It didn’t take long after the reality of Donald Trump’s election to the nation’s highest office set in that calls for California to break away from the Union started. It was almost immediate. Even today, a group dead set on separating the…
For the nice list: An artsy present from Studios on the Park
It’s the most stressful time of the year: the weeks of dread leading up to Christmas that make up the annual search for the perfect, unique gift for everyone you know and love. That’s not daunting, right? Studio on the Park in Paso Robles is here to help. Until Dec. 30, they’ll be hawking the…
Rage against the artist: Cuesta debuts original play ‘The Emma Peel Game’
“Guitarist from punk feminist band found dead” could very well be a headline in today’s news as political divisions widen. Instead it’s the center of the plot from an original play with all too real themes debuting at Cuesta College this month. The Emma Peel Game, a product of a creative husband-wife team, written by…
Flying in a winter wonderland: Suspended Motion Aerial Arts presents Winter Showcase
Start December off right with a healthy dose of awe and wonder with a viewing of Suspended Motion’s Winter Showcase. The aerial arts show runs Dec. 2 and 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Watch local aerialists perform aerial dances on silk, hanging hoops, rope, and other cirque-style apparatuses choreographed…
Trip to the oasis: Oso Flaco Lake is a freshwater paradise full of human footprints
Fog hangs low, just above the short treetops of arroyo willows and wax myrtles with limbs that roof a short dirt road. Bears, mountain lions, and fish infested with the pesticide from local agricultural fields are noted along the trail as things to not run into. A steady stream of water interrupts the creaking of…
Mastering the strings: Laurence Juber brings Beatles influences to Morro Bay show
The peak of Beatlemania in England was a time to twist and shout to the rock ’n’ roll melodies that emerged from the fab four in 1963. It was also the year that Laurence Juber finally got a guitar for his 11th birthday after nagging his parents for one. This new band and the new…
Love letter to the wild: Paso artist Leslie Love Stone pays homage to California’s national parks
A field of perfectly symmetrical squares and triangles of greens, browns, blues, and even purple nearly sing out Yosemite National Park’s color palette. That was the intention of Paso Robles artist Leslie Love Stone, who visited each of California’s nine national parks, where she matched the colors of the soil and vegetation at each site…
Warm and fuzzy
Schöne Ferien! Beda’s Biergarten in SLO will host a festive evening in celebration of St. Nikolaus Day this Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. Enjoy Gluhwein (German mulled wine), hot chocolate, Stollen (German fruit bread topped with powdered sugar), and more. Kids are encouraged to bring a spare shoe, which will be filled with a special…
Tin City Cider Co.’s Main Squeeze and Libertine Brewing Co.’s Edna Table Saison
Deck the halls! A sleek, stylish can of Tin City Cider Co. makes the perfect stocking stuffer for the cider lover this holiday season. However, if you’re looking for more volume to share with family and friends, stop by their Paso Robles cidery and pick up a few swinging top bottles filled to the brim…
Breathe easy at Biddle Ranch: A minimalist wine escape puts full focus on Edna Valley enchantment
December on the Central Coast isn’t so unlike the rest of the country: Many of us are focused on pulling together our family ties, cooking like crazy, and tackling the frenzied goose chase known as “Santa’s list.” Unlike much of the rest of the country, however, the Central Coast is still very much “Wine Country.” …
Clubs 12/1/16 – 12/8/16
Goin’ South THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Rd., Shell Beach, 773-5000, cliffsresort.com. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: Two locations: 750 Mattie Rd. 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…
