Cover Story
Re(de)fining safety
Today, if you sit down across the table from Steve Swader and introduce yourself, little evidence remains that the very hand you’re shaking was once shrouded in molten sulfur—as was his face, head, and neck. And it could have been a lot worse. But in the morning hours of April 5, 2008, he was fortunate…
God’s gift to humanity!
They’re irresistible and irrepressible. They’re The Aquabats, and they return to SLO Brew on Saturday, Dec. 15 (7 p.m.; all ages; $16 presale or $18 at the door) to deliver an evening of their patented nerd-core new wave. If you’ve never seen these masked crusaders live, it’s a hoot. Their set is accompanied by a…
A grand old time
Well the weather outside isn’t frightful, and the parade looks like it will be delightful. We’ve got some friends to see, so let it be let it be let it be. It’s Friday, Dec. 7, the date that will live on in infamy and also the evening of the SLO Holiday Parade. My wife Anna…
Go clubbing
There’s a new student art club at Cuesta College, and going by the group’s first exhibit, its membership is slim yet talented. The art club’s new show features two- and three-dimensional works depicting, well, clubs—like what cave trolls carry around. Curated by the group’s advisor, David Prochaska, “The Club” is on display in the beautiful…
Portraits in the dark
Finding a few words to sum up the work of Los Angeles artist Kathryn Jacobi is a fool’s errand. “Intense” easily describes much of Jacobi’s striking portraiture, which comprises half of the artist’s current Steynberg Gallery exhibit. Figures emerge from blackness or abstraction to stare the viewer in the eye, or wrestle with one another…
Era apparent
At the risk of coming across as pedantic and overly cultured, I’m going to sum up my feelings about the film version of It’s a Wonderful Life by quoting Phoebe Buffay (beloved Friends airhead): “It should have been called it’s a sucky life and just when you think it can’t suck any more—it does.” As…
Clubs: 12/13
Goin’ South … BRANCH ST. DELI: 203 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 489-9099. Live music Fri. from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 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…
Welfare is a spirit killer
The welfare food stamp and Section 8 handouts have been a disaster for our country. What happened to working hard to get ahead, and relying on family, neighbors, friends, churches, and charities for help? Welfare kills the American spirit and allows slackers to work the system. We must end the 50-year-old failed social experiment, welfare,…
I’m not celebrating Obama
For about a month, Democrats have celebrated the re-election of Barack Obama, who overcame billions in attack ads to prevail. As a lifelong Democrat, I am not among the celebrants. Why? While I agree that Mitt Romney would have been a disaster, President Obama’s second term will slow, but make no appreciable dent, in this…
The environment is a priority
I have read a number of articles lately that discuss what the Democrats should do with their supermajority in California. The first thing they should do is declare a state of emergency. Things are that bad. Since propositions 30 and 39 passed, there is a glimmer of hope, but much more needs to be done.…
No, we don’t need more alcohol
I really love living on the Central Coast, but there are some politician and law enforcement priorities that I really question. We have a full-blown methamphetamine and heroin problem that seems to be ignored, and homeless that are harassed, and yet they focus on cigarette and tobacco stings. The town of Santa Margarita is less…
I wouldn’t complain …
I was extremely disappointed in the commentary “When dreams won’t come” (Nov. 22) by Ana Korgan. I am a college student aspiring to be a journalist. I live with my mom to save money. I am on the newspaper at my college. On top of all that, I am also a barista. If I had…
You called concerned citizens curmudgeons
I am one of the members of the volunteer Save Our Downtown group referred to recently by the Shredder as “curmudgeons” (“Who you gonna save?” Nov. 8). This by the writer who cowardly hides his own identity behind a pen name presumably to disguise his own degree of curmudgeoness. The Shredder wrongfully describes Save Our…
Don’t wait till it’s too late
Concerning the recent political cartoon in New Times representing members of COLAB as monkeys holding signs reading “Agenda 21 plot” and “Atlas Shrugged” (Hodin, Dec. 6), the cartoon is mocking the people who helped inform the many real people whose private property is at risk from the land use change. This was critical, as the…
Bravo for the applause commentary
Regarding your piece, “Thank you, you’ve been a terrible audience” (Dec. 6), you have our gratitude. As the sole (surviving) trustee of a once large family trust dedicated to several issues—the performing arts being one of them—we routinely gave inner-city children the chance to experience the beauty that performances had to offer, and prior to…
Questions For: Melody Mullis
NEW TIMES Where did the idea for the Star Wars replica exhibit come from? MULLIS The idea came from a suggestion by Earl Cisco of Studio Replicas who came to the museum a few months ago and contacted the display committee. He told us it was the 35th anniversary of the original Star Wars movie…
Ho, ho, boo!
Like most sensitive souls with feelings and thoughts I just can’t keep bottled up, I keep a diary. You’d have to be a ninja-spy-genius to find it, so don’t bother. Unless you’ve already been through my underwear drawer, in which case, happy reading. Now if your résumé did, in fact, read “ninja-spy-genius,” you’d find an…
Baker & Brain 2010 Pinot Noir Central Coast
When it comes to special meals, during the holidays or any other time, my first choice is always Pinot Noir. That said, this is one of those Pinots you’ll want to have on hand when you want to impress your dinner guests. I totally enjoyed this delicious Pinot Noir for it vibrant red and black…
Chefs’ recipes worth repeating!
If I’m searching for a new recipe, I always seek out the best versions from professional chefs. That pretty much guarantees a better-than-average result. During the holiday season, most of us are cooking special meals for our family and friends. That’s why I called on two passionate local chefs and asked them to share their…
Bites: It’s the gift that keeps on giving
In case you were unaware, New Times headquarters is in a cozy basement somewhere on Marsh Street in SLO. Down here, the writers are prone to a litany of maladies, including (but not limited to) Vitamin D deficiency, partiality for British television dramas, woman’s hysteria, osteoporosis, and frugality. The latter can make the holidays an…
Bravo for the applause commentary
Regarding your piece, “Thank you, you’ve been a terrible audience” (Dec. 6), you have our gratitude. As the sole (surviving) trustee of a once large family trust dedicated to several issues—the performing arts being one of them—we routinely gave inner-city children the chance to experience the beauty that performances had to offer, and prior to…
Cougars & Mustangs
O, studious Cougars, your finals are hitting you hard. But are you reeling from the blow just a little too much? As important as studying is, it’s also important to take a break every now and then. I’ll grant that some of you have probably been doing that the entire semester, but the point still…
Art surprise
On Sept. 19, after years of primarily selling art on Etsy, local urban-style artists Daniel Woehrle and Jake Garcia opened the Vapor Gallery in a San Luis Obispo location that formerly housed a silk-screening shirt company. The gallery consists of two spacious rooms, one of which contains a wall with the collaborative graffiti of dozens…
Free wheelin’
Pedaling to a downtown café for a cup of joe and some lively conversation is hardly unusual in SLO Town—unless your rig happens to be an eye-catching, hand-powered tricycle that doubles as a wheelchair. Specially designed by Greg O’Kelly so he could move easily around San Luis Obispo, the unusual wheelchair-trike has sat idle in…
More to the story?
A felony case playing out in San Luis Obispo Superior Court could hinge on whether a jury believes a man feared for his life when he came to the aid of another man being beaten by a group of reportedly intoxicated males. Austin Sarna, 22, originally of Vallejo, has not yet entered a plea to…
Semesters totally whack, says Poly task force
Cal Poly released its Semester Review Task Force’s recommendation on Dec. 11. Members advised against converting the college calendar from the quarter system. “Although there are merits to the semester calendar, the cost, stress, and negative impacts of conversion outweigh the merits,” the 135-page report said. The task force estimated that a conversion would cost…
Atascadero loses Clay in council seat shuffle
The vacant council seat created by Tom O’Malley’s landslide (unopposed) victory as Atascadero’s first elected mayor was given to former planning commissioner Heather Moreno on Dec. 11, despite the fact that the highly praised, outgoing Councilman Jerry Clay wanted the spot for two more years. The shift from allowing council members to serve rotating stints…
Paso picks a new top cop
A finalist has been announced in the search for Paso Robles’ new police chief, essentially ending the controversial Lisa Solomon saga—except for those three lingering lawsuits filed by officers who claimed the former chief was guilty of sexual harassment, retaliation, and instigating ticket quotas. After reviewing more than 60 applications, the city held two days…
Power plant to stay in Morro Bay
Following months of negotiations between its operator and the city, it looks like the aging Morro Bay Power Plant will stay for now. At a special Dec. 5 meeting, the Morro Bay City Council approved an amendment to its outfall lease agreement with Dynegy Morro Bay, LLC, which runs the plant. The new agreement will…
Suspect rejects plea deal in Morro Bay bar brawl case
Though a deputy district attorney was willing to forgive several charges (including a felony) against him, Joseph Ian didn’t want to deal during his Dec. 10 court appearance. He told New Times he was confident and willing to fight to prove his complete innocence. Ian stands accused of battery against an officer, resisting arrest, public…
Local activist dead, husband arrested
A prominent local activist was recently found dead and her husband was arrested in Montaña de Oro State Park. At about 11:26 p.m. on Dec. 10, a state parks ranger made contact with George Leigh Taylor, 86, as Taylor sat in his car near the dead end of Pecho Road in the coastal park. According…
Jury convicts Yepez for Salgado murder
A dozen of Gabriel Salgado’s friends and family members choked back tears of relief as the court clerk read guilty verdicts on all counts against Armando Yepez, 21, for a drive-by shooting in Oceano last year that left the 17-year-old Salgado dead and another juvenile wounded. Yepez was convicted of six counts in all, including…
Dozens are arrested in a North County gang and drug sweep
More than 20 people are facing federal drug trafficking charges after an early morning sweep throughout the county on Dec. 12 by a multi-agency task force looking to stem a local gang-affiliated narcotics ring. The intended targets of the operation were people listed in federal indictments handed down this week in regard to a Central…
What skill has been the hardest to learn?
Cindy Figueroa hairdresser “Raising kids. Being a tough parent and being consistent are hard, but the rewards are amazing. My kids are great.” Terri Cook sales/psych tech “Oh my god, mothering. Each child has a different personality, so right when you think you’ve got it, another one comes along and changes everything.” Yhoss artist “Sculpting.…
