Cover Story
Madonna in charge
Phyllis Madonna’s favorite holiday memory is getting married to her husband, Alex, 55 Christmases ago. It was actually a surprise for both of them: Mutual friends lured them to Las Vegas under the pretense of a holiday celebration. Both of them had grumbled a little over the prospect of having to take time away from…
Sewer delay is driving cost up even more
The Regional Water Quality Control Board’s letter of Dec. 7 to LOCSD states Los Osos must get on with the sewer. “Controllable project delays, such as delaying construction to re-evaluate project and treatment technology alternatives, including relocation of the site … would clearly be within the CSD’s ability to control … if the CSD violates…
‘Morally superior’ values?
Re: “It’s time to revoltâ€? by Bill Denneen, Dec. 9-16, and letters titled “Bill Denneen: hypocriteâ€? by Michael Larrea and “Love it or leave it, Billâ€? by David E. Baskett, Dec. 16-23: Mr. Larrea believes we should cease federal and state funding of universities because “88 percent of all college professors are Democrats.â€? Well, that’s…
Thanks, Hot Dates!
Thank you so much for printing a photo of our “goodwill ambassador,â€? Mahoney (Hot Dates, Dec 2-9), to highlight Animal Shelter Adoption Partners’ monthly adopt-a-pet at Farm Supply in San Luis Obispo. The article brought many of your readers to the adopt-a-pet, and resulted in finding homes for four homeless animals who were long-term residents…
Body found in bushes near Madonna Inn
A Madonna Inn employee doing routine maintenance around the Inn’s front sign made a gruesome discovery on Tuesday morning: the dead body of a 40ish-year-old man. Two hours after the discovery, San Luis Obispo Police Department spokesman Rob Bryn said the man appeared to be a transient and while there were no outward signs of…
Cambria’s tank plan tanked
Courts will not allow Cambria to go ahead with its plan to build new water storage tanks on land that is protected by a conservation easement. A San Luis Obispo Superior Court judge denied Cambria’s plan to build the tanks, and urged Cambria to find a solution that would satisfy the California Coastal Commission and…
Quake effects still rippling
It’s been one year since the San Simeon earthquake shook the county, killing two people and damaging buildings, but many, especially farmers and ranchers, are seeing an unexpected manifestation of the quake. Those who are familiar with local creeks have noticed a change in water flow that they attribute to the San Simeon quake. The…
Feds propose smaller plover habitat
The public has until Feb. 15, 2005, to comment on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) latest proposal concerning the threatened Western snowy plover habitat along the coast. The new proposals come after a federal judge ruled that the service didn’t fully take economic impact into account when drafting how many acres would be…
There are two sides to every story
I am dismayed at the negative, hostile letters sent to you regarding the wonderful new restaurant Shawn’s on Main in Morro Bay. My husband and I are fans of this restaurant and its innovative, highly trained, talented chef, Shawn Washburn. His ability to prepare and serve some of the very best food on the Central…
Nipomo CSD plans to sue SLO county
At its regular board meeting on Dec. 15, the Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) voted to sue San Luis Obispo County for lifting planning restrictions in Summit Station, a rural area of about 150 people located in greater Nipomo. Days later, Jon Seitz, the NCSD’s SLO-based attorney, said he was in the process of drafting…
Dime-toting fairies Scrooged
San Luis Obispo is attempting to put a stop to benevolent meter-feeding during the holiday season. A loosely knit group of insurgent storeowners banded together to ensure that their customers would not get parking tickets, but the city says it won’t allow it. The group, calling itself Dimes for Downtown, feeds change into downtown parking…
You can stop the estuary hunting
In response to the letter from Karen Lyga in the Dec. 16-23 issue, expressing dismay and disgust regarding hunting on Morro Bay, I would like to add my support. The California Dept. of Fish and Game seems to justify this activity because of its long tradition. They consider amendments to their regulations annually and may…
Grounds for complaint
Randy Coates, owner of Uptown Espresso, could complain about the pandemonium of cement mixers and jackhammers that aggravate his loyal customers day-in and day-out. But who would listen? He could raise hell about the parking nightmare created by six years of construction surrounding his cozy coffee bar. But what good would it do? So instead…
Miracle on Higuera Street
I’m going to come right out and say it: Let the fairies do their job. At a time of the year when the steady stream of Christmas carols on the radio makes you want to deck the halls out of the first person who mentions a partridge in a pear tree, any bit of genuine…
U.S. needs to stop exploiting California
Thank you for the article by Bill Denneen (“It’s time to revolt,â€? commentary, Dec. 9-16), in which he suggests that we need a new revolution. It should certainly begin here. According to a report by the governor’s office, California is what is called a “donorâ€? state — we put far more into the federal budget…
It’s people, not food, that make or break business
I just finished reading the latest comments regarding Shawn’s on Main in Morro Bay written by Tobie Charles and Nancy Johnson (letters, Dec. 9-16). Since I was one of the 20 people left standing out in the cold the night Shawn was a no-show at the prearranged dinner, I would like to add a word…
Where’s the police oversight?
Sheriff Pat Hedges, following the 1997 in-custody death of Donal Schneider, stated, “We teach CPR, but not to someone who has been handcuffedâ€? (“County settles wrongful-death lawsuit,â€? Dec. 9-16). Deputies neglected to remove handcuffs from Schneider before CPR. After CPR failed on a handcuffed Jay Vestal, asphyxiated in 2003 by deputies during an overzealous arrest,…
Presidential Medal of Incompetence
In what could only be viewed as acknowledgment of their breathtakingly gross incompetence, George W. Bush awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former CIA director George Tenet, former Coalition Provisional Authority administrator J. Paul Bremer, and retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks. What’s baffling, however, is why Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, National Security Advisor Condoleezza…
Farmers have till Jan. 1 for ag waivers
Local farmers and ranchers who own or operate irrigated land to produce commercial crops have until Jan. 1 to enroll in the ag waiver program. The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) adopted the Conditional Waivers of Waste Discharge Requirements from Irrigated Lands (ag waiver) program on July 9. The program involves education…
Coffee is not a crime
I thought I was free. I thought I could purchase a coffee and drink it in peace. But oh no — not according to the management of the Downtown Centre Cinema. We are not allowed to bring coffee into the theater — only a cold beverage that has passed the inspection of the cinema tyrant.…
Where are Christians during the war?
I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, “What part of Thou Shalt Not Kill do you not understand?â€? It might have referred to abortion, the death penalty, murder, or war. With the exception of the Pope, I realized that I haven’t heard any churches publicly denounce Bush’s unprovoked attack on Iraq that…
Judge for yourself
I have been reading the reviews regarding Shawn’s on Main in Morro Bay. I have been to Shawn’s several times and love the décor, ambiance, and quaintness. I find Shawn’s is an excellent place to relax and enjoy fine dining with a wonderful selection of California, French, and Italian wines. The menu and wine list…
