Cover Story
Becoming American: SLO County residents prep to change their citizenship status
Four people faced regional librarian Aracelli Astorga in a fluorescent-lit room where she stood in front of a dry-erase board. That day, Astorga was going over a portion of the application to become a naturalized citizen of the United States, a form known as the N-400. Her students range from 30 to 40 years old,…
Salud Carbajal talks H-2A program changes with farmers
Central Coast farmers are looking for an answer to labor shortages, and U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal is determined to give it to them. The Santa Barbara Democrat held a roundtable with farmers and other local representatives of agriculture in San Luis Obispo on Dec. 2. He was there to discuss the Farm Workforce Modernization Act,…
Blast from the Past: You’ve Got Mail
When? 1998 What’s it rated? PG Where? Blu-ray, Amazon Prime, YouTube One of my favorite holiday movies isn’t technically a Christmas movie, which means I can watch it any time of the year without my family shunning me or telling me I’m ruining whatever season it actually is. My criteria are pretty simple; to be…
Tesla rolls out new mobile charging unit at Madonna Inn
After heavy travel led to extensive wait lines at the Madonna Inn’s Tesla supercharger station over Thanksgiving weekend, Tesla engineers rolled out one of the company’s first mobile supercharger units—possibly the first megapack battery-powered mobile unit ever to be used. Tesla initially installed 10 public charging units at the Madonna Inn in May 2018, according…
Film Listings, 12/5/19 – 12/12/19
All theater listings are as of Friday, Dec. 6. AFTER CLASS (AKA SAFE SPACES) What’s it rated? PG-13 Where’s it showing? Galaxy New Daniel Schechter directs this comedy about an NYC professor (Justin Long), who spends a week reconnecting with family and defending his controversial behavior at the college. (93 min.) —Glen Starkey THE AERONAUTS…
Woman sues for ownership stake in 805 Beach Breaks dispensary
A local woman who says she co-founded Grover Beach cannabis dispensary 805 Beach Breaks is suing her former business partners, claiming they wrongfully denied her an ownership stake in the company. Wendy Cronin alleges that she, Brian Touey, and Erich Haas together started 805 Beach Breaks back in 2016, which later opened as the first…
AG City Council pushes its own pay increase back to 2022
Current members of Arroyo Grande’s City Council might not get that 60 percent raise after all. After a second discussion regarding a proposed pay increase for its members and mayor at a meeting on Nov. 26, the City Council walked back support for putting the raise into effect on Dec. 1, 2020, and instead voted…
Roots rocker Nikki Hill brings her fiery sounds to The Siren on Dec. 10
‘Tis the season for the students to be taking final exams and then leaving town and for locals to be busy with holiday family stuff. So your live music opportunities aren’t quite as vast as usual, but one club that’s got you covered is Morro Bay’s The Siren. It has three especially good shows this…
Calling all roomies!
Well, you guys, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s opponent Andy Caldwell is finally right about something. “People should wonder about Salud’s judgment,” Caldwell wrote in a statement, “he consistently endorses candidates that don’t even have support in his own party.” You have to admit. It is pretty funny. Carbajal endorsed Beto O’Rourke as the Democratic nominee…
SLO Library’s Sign of the Times exhibit takes viewers on an artistic journey through our country’s political history
On display Sign of the Times: The Great American Political Poster 1844-2012—an exhibit featuring more than 40 political posters from American history—will be on display at the SLO Library until January 19. Election season is just around the corner, but a new exhibit at San Luis Obispo Library is focused on candidates of the past…
Studios on the Park’s annual Handcrafted for the Holidays show features fine crafts for holiday shoppers, and benefits a good cause
Feel the spirit Handcrafted for the Holidays at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles will be available for viewing and shopping through Dec. 29. Featuring the works of 21 California craftspeople, the sales help benefit Studios’ Kids Art Smart program for elementary students. During the winter season, fine art gallery Studios on the Park…
Seasonal eats
Apple Farm booked the jolliest fellow for Supper with Santa from 5 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 12 (and again Dec. 8 and 15 from 4 to 7 p.m). The holiday dinner buffet includes pot roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, mac and cheese, chicken fingers, corn chowder, cornbread, and green salad, as well…
Grover Beach-based dance studio hosts Grinch production
The Studio of Performing Arts presents Grinch, a musical adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande on Saturday, Dec. 14. Performances will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. This family-friendly, theatrical iteration of the classic Dr. Seuss book…
Eat and learn
The Cass Winery culinary team is hosting “Pinterest-worthy” Cookie Pairing + Decorating Class on Dec. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. that includes three wine tastings paired with gourmet sweet creations (21 and older: 7350 Linne Road in Paso; $45 at my805tix.com) … Or you can go to the cutest little hamlet in the state…
Zest it Up holds holiday floral workshop
Monterey Street Market in San Luis Obispo will host Zest it Up’s Holiday Floral Arranging Workshop on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. Participants of the class can enjoy wine and snacks while learning about floral design techniques. The subject matter of the course focuses on winter seasonal blooms and covers tips on…
Negranti Creamery ice cream sandwiches
I feel like every time I locate a place that offers Negranti Creamery ice cream sandwiches I’m obligated to obtain one for everyone in my family. It’s like putting your change in the red Salvation Army bucket. It’s what you need to do. Of course the best way to enjoy Negranti is by going to…
SLO Rep presents A Christmas Story
The San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre’s annual production of A Christmas Story opens on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. The show is based on Jean Shepherd’s memoir, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, which spawned the 1983 classic film, A Christmas Story. The plot follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker’s (played by Coen Carlberg)…
Invest in renewables
The ferocity of wildfires in California has stunned us again this year. The most recent terrifying examples include the Kincade fire and deadly Maria fires. Fires are a part of California’s history, but their size and intensity have increased dramatically in recent years because of climate change. We hope that fire-wrought devastation does not happen…
Local documentary takes a look at Tin City, SLO County’s fastest growing food and wine borough
A toast to tenacity Welcome to Tin City, as detailed by director Dina Mande’s new documentary of the same name. The film, which was celebrated at the San Luis Obispo Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, and LA’s LaFemme Film Festival, is now available through Amazon on Prime Video, DVD, and Blu-ray. For more on…
A response to ‘Honor and betrayal’
Portraying the reluctance of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors to leap aboard the Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) bandwagon as a betrayal of the future of humankind is a bit of a stretch (“Honor and betrayal,” Nov. 28). Perhaps the board is simply suffering a rare attack of sensibility. MBCP claims to…
The same old song
Amy Hewes’ article, “Honor and betrayal” (Nov. 28), is the same old song, like listening to the same department store Christmas medley for the thousandth time in a month. Her observations about the impeachment hearings endlessly replay every progressive-Democrat, hyper-partisan cliché about Republicans, Trump, “we’re all going to die” climate hysteria, and the current conservative…
Democrats ruined California
Many find it easy and satisfying to volunteer “others” to make a sacrifice, and Mr. Donegan nails it in his column “Harsh realities” (Nov. 21). Property rights (the foundation of capitalism) are under attack from the left. The mantra of the elite left is, “Do as I say not as I do.” My profit, my…
Sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts on our Nov. 28 news story, “Carbajal backs California’s Kamala Harris for president.”
Let’s license bicycles to pay for safer riding
There has been a lot of talk lately about making bike helmets mandatory. It seems that most riders don’t want to wear helmets; they are more worried about having a safe place to ride. I got to thinking. Money for infrastructure is always in short supply. How about we license bicycles, maybe $20 a year,…
New dispensary on the Central Coast opens its doors in Grover Beach
The cannabis community continues to grow on the Central Coast as it welcomes its newest dispensary, Urbn Leaf. The San Diego-based company opened its fourth location last month in Grover Beach, the third dispensary in the coastal town. The dispensary’s grand opening is slated for Dec. 6-8 where the first 100 customers get rewarded with…
Shackled by government services!
The Ronald Reagan quote that Andy Caldwell (“Why I’m running for Congress,” Nov. 28) led off with—” … one of these days you and I are going to spend our sunset years telling our children, and our children’s children, what it once was like in America when men were free,”—was spot on. Reagan first gave…
SLO, Grover Beach pass emergency tenant protections as evictions spike with new state law
First it was a 47 percent rent increase. Then an eviction notice. When San Luis Obispo tenant Linda Kelly received these notices back-to-back for her rental of more than 20 years this fall, she knew her landlord was looking for a loophole in a new state law that sets stronger tenant protections throughout California. Assembly…
Knives Out delivers a thorny humor-filled plot
KNIVES OUT What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy, Park, Stadium 10 Writer-director Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper, Star Wars: Episode VIII—The Last Jedi) helms this whodunit about Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), who’s investigating the death of renowned crime novelist Harlan…
New concerts and festivals at former Santa Maria Raceway stir controversy among neighboring residents
When Erika Bylund and Mike May bought their $700,000 Nipomo home in May 2017, they knew a stock car raceway was nearby. But they didn’t know how much the then struggling track would change over the next two years, and how deeply it would impact their lives. Situated in the Costa Pacifica housing development just…
