Cover Story
Get to know me
In the neighborhood known as upper Monterey—or uptown—the sidewalk seems to have more cracks than it does elsewhere in San Luis Obispo. The stores are quirky and unique. The area feels like a haven for the individual entrepreneurial dream in action. Though there’s no formal definition of what uptown is and exactly where it starts…
Clubs
Goin’ South … COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF: 750 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach, 773-6420. Music Night every Sat., 6:30-8:30pm. ELMO’S NIPOMO SALOON: 131 South Thompson Road, Nipomo, 929-5362. Karaoke on Thurs. and Fri. at 8pm. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: 750 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, 773-1892 or mclintocks.com. Live music every Fri.-Sat., 6-9pm. Tennessee Jimmy Harrell, Doc Stoltey.…
Give peace another chance
All I don’t want for Christmas is another mass-produced pair of pink sweatpants, undies, a tote bag, or a T-shirt screen-printed with neon-colored peace signs. The peace symbol is everywhere, and most of us are suckers for the stuff. Slap a peace symbol on a reusable shopping bag, and I’ll buy it. Paul Ogren, founder…
What’s your favorite dinosaur?
Geri Beaman public health worker, San Luis Obispo “The brachiosaurus—the dinosaur that sneezed on the kids in Jurassic Park. That seemed pretty endearing, and the dinosaur seemed friendly.” Caitlyn Curran Paso Robles High School senior “Tyrannosaurus rex, because its little arms are funny.” Max Baker Washington State student “Tyrannosaurus Rex, because it’s aggressive and won’t…
Keep that thing away from me
On Dec. 3, Megan Maloney, a spokeswoman for French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, sent a fairly bizarre fact sheet to hospital employees. It was chock full of useful information and tidbits on the flu vaccine provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fact: Influenza is the No. 1 world-wide vaccine…
Chemical warfare
After years of debate and strong opposition from scientists and environmental groups, the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) gave final approval on Dec. 1 to using the pesticide methyl iodide on California’s strawberry crops. Methyl iodide, also known as iodomethane, is listed by the state as a carcinogen under Proposition 65. It’s a fumigant…
You voted (or not), they appeared
Walk into any city hall this month, and you’re likely to run into a few fresh-faced elected officials beginning their careers as maverick public servants or potential insufferable windbags. And a lot more of the same old politicians are coming back. Grover Beach had only one new face to swear in at the Dec. 6…
Schwarzenegger goes coastal on Reiss
Former Pismo Beach mayor and Realtor Mary Ann Reiss is heading to the California Coastal Commission. Lame duck Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he’d appointed her on Dec. 8, along with a list of other last-minute swaps to state commissions and committees. Reiss, a 70-year-old Pismo Beach resident, will fill the seat of Katcho Achadjian, a…
Atascadero man convicted in bar slashing
A late-night argument over politics and race at an Avila Beach bar in February ended with one man in custody and another in intensive care with a severe laceration to his throat. On Dec. 7, after a weeklong trial, a jury convicted Michael Simmons, 44, of Atascadero, of two felony counts of attempted murder and…
Smart Meter controversy comes to Morro Bay
As of press time on Dec. 8, the Morro Bay City Council was expected to pass a resolution declaring the city’s concerns about further installation of Pacific Gas & Electric’s new digital meters within city limits. While the measure is more “symbolic,” according to Councilwoman Betty Winholtz, and not quite as hard-nosed as moratorium ordinances…
Speak up or pay up in Los Osos
Los Osos residents have until Dec. 14 to raise a fuss over proposed rate charges for a new sewer. As of press time, 78 property owners had protested rates and charges put on the table by the San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department. In order to override the proposed rates, there need to be…
De Vaul appeal goes to court
Dan De Vaul turned to a reporter before his hearing began in a small room in the back of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. “Got your camera out?” he asked with a grin, and then thrust his hands toward the bailiff, mimicking the infamous photo snapped when he was cuffed and taken into…
Lighthouse caretaker passes away
Marlin Stebbins, caretaker of the Port San Luis lighthouse for 31 years, died on Dec. 3. Stebbins started working with the Port San Luis Harbor District in 1966 and became the caretaker for the lighthouse in 1989. He and Nina, his wife of 56 years, lived there until the day he died. He retired from…
Ring, meet my hat
My name is Shredder, and I would like to be your next SLO City Council person. Please accept this as my informal formal application. I do have a résumé, but it got ruined in the wash after my dog ate it. Even so, I hope you will still accept my humble application to your deplorable…
Have you No Shame?
Any Art Bash regulars out there might be a bit surprised to see a new name under the headline. Don’t be scared. The great Glen Starkey left for a multi-week vacation that I like to imagine will include a lot of motorcycles speeding through explosions. He’ll be back, bashing away, first thing next month, so…
The Nutcracker 7.0
“I was transfixed,” said Drew Silvaggio, describing his first impressions of live theater. His eyes got really wide. “It was like an airplane was taking off right in front of my face! … I feel bad for people who don’t get to see live theater.” The Civic Ballet’s reigning artistic director, Silvaggio has spent his…
Wax and wane no more
Artist Heidi Franscioni placed a gray blob the size of a child’s head—the melted-down drippings of her encaustic wax creations—on her studio table. “There’s a photograph and a nest in here,” she explained. At her reception the following day, she planned to display the waxen blob next to a heat lamp, allowing the wax to…
Lovely Rita
“Well, I just got home from New York City, Kris and Rita done it all,” croons Willie Nelson on “Devil in a Sleepin’ Bag.” “Raw perfection there for all the world to see/Lord, I heard an angel singing in that Philharmonic Hall/Rita Coolidge, Rita Coolidge, cleft for me.” Coolidge, the Grammy award-winning angel of whom…
SLO Food Not Bombs wants you
As the economy has declined, middle-class families have been forced to seek help from food banks and other social services, while ironically these services have been cut to reduce federal and state deficits. Though the working class suffers, the U.S. military budget oddly remains well funded. Food Not Bombs, an all-volunteer group, provides free vegan…
Scrooge lives among us
Dickens had to tolerate the likes of Scrooge demeaning and scoffing the memory and message of Christ. Things haven’t changed. Today we have the ACLU and far-out “libbies.”
What’s good for Wikileaks is good for Dick Cheney
I am as disturbed as others about the current tsunami of leaked classified U.S. State Department documents that are showing up on wikileaks.com. I do not see Julian Assange as any sort of hero. I am not sure how damaging the leaked information is since I, like billions of others, am not privy to the…
Pismo Rocks could be our future
The U.S. Army declares war on Pismo Beach. At least the Corps of Engineers does. It recently sent a select few property owners a DVD containing a 349-page document (files.me.com/thegardendude/63jask) proposing armoring six coastal sites in Shell Beach. I am aware of no public notification other than this. A friend received his less than two…
Don’t keep the appointment
The San Luis Obispo City Council is currently considering replacing a council member who became mayor. The Tribune reported that the council will do this by appointment. The democratic process in a representative republic, which is what the San Luis Obispo City government is, requires that citizens vote for said representatives. Having council members select…
Check your family tree
After reading Justin M. Ruhge’s opinion letter (“Sophisticated defense doesn’t come cheap,” Nov. 25) I felt compelled to submit a response. Mr. Ruhge’s proclamations were some of the most ignorant, misguided statements I have read in some time. Mr. Ruhge makes a number of offensive assertions, including accusations that “The Muslims have been the menace…
I can’t wait to get rid of Capps
Regarding the Lois Capps commentary on Dec. 2 (“We must extend unemployment benefits): This woman must think people in her district are uneducated and ignorant. It was her camp that brought about punitive and confiscatory taxation, freedom-robbing, and liberty-stealing policies. It is her Democrat government that took a Congress-generated $2 trillion deficit and turned it…
More, better info on ASH could lead to more support
Regarding Colin Rigley’s Dec. 2 article “A history of violence”: I’m a little concerned that some relevant information was omitted from the article. I’m a senior psychiatric technician at Atascadero State Hospital and have worked there for nearly a decade. While I don’t disagree that there has been an increase in violence at the facility,…
Santa Claus aka Father Christmas and Winter Saint
NEW TIMES Happy holidays, Santa! How are you enjoying the warmer weather on the Central Coast? CLAUS Ho, ho, ho! It’s quite the temperature change from what I’m used to. I have to keep wearing my suit just to keep up appearances, but it’s still a beautiful area! NEW TIMES Glad to hear it!…
Chandon Brut Classic NV California
I love bubbly—even inexpensive ones, if they’re well made. This bargain-priced bubbly is getting great reviews from the nationally published wine critics. Wine Enthusiast described it well: “elegance at an affordable price.” It has classic flavors of pear and apple, with notes of yeast, lime, and almond. A good choice as an aperitif with appetizers…
Symphony 2007 Syrah Paso Robles
I discovered this classic, ripe Syrah while shopping for a free-range turkey at Grande Foods. It’s a special wine made specifically to help support SLO Symphony music education. The label was designed by a student in the youth symphony, and the bottling was provided by many contributors. The wine, grown at Margarita Vineyard, was donated…
Cool like a fever
Versatile singer and two-time Grammy winner Rita Coolidge first hit the national spotlight in the ’70s, as both a solo recording artist and a hugely in-demand session vocalist for the likes of Delaney & Bonnie, Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, Leon Russell, and Joe Cocker, among others. She was invited to join Joe Cocker’s famed Mad…
Find seasonal shopping year round
Our local farmers markets are more attractive than ever now that they’ve expanded their offerings to include an array of good foods, both raw and cooked. It reminds me of the awesome Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco, which attracts 25,000 shoppers weekly (it takes place three days a week.) With the Morro Bay…
Find seasonal shopping year round
Our local farmers markets are more attractive than ever now that they’ve expanded their offerings to include an array of good foods, both raw and cooked. It reminds me of the awesome Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco, which attracts 25,000 shoppers weekly (it takes place three days a week.) With the Morro Bay…
