Cover Story
Exploratory theater: Cuesta’s Drama Program pushes students to become a part of the plays they collaborate to create and perform
Black walls and echoed steps are all that’s left of the Ghost Ship. The mast no longer swings toward audience members sitting a little too close for comfort. The sounds of swashbuckling, a raging sea, ghosts, and murder are gone. Flashing lights and wafting smoke disappeared along with the piles and planks of a rickety…
Paso Robles Youth Arts holds Tarzan auditions
The Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation is holding auditions for its upcoming production of Tarzan, a stage musical based on the Disney animated film, on Monday, March 4, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Students ages 7 to 18 are welcome to audition with a prepared monologue (one minute or shorter). The show is scheduled to…
High costs, neighbor opposition put Sinsheimer Park tennis court lighting in jeopardy, again
Tennis advocates in San Luis Obispo have been lobbying to install court lights at Sinsheimer Park for so long now that Scott Cleere has all but given up on tracking the saga’s timeline. “I don’t think 20 years is a big exaggeration,” said Cleere, who’s the director of tennis at Templeton Tennis Ranch and a…
Supervisors reject all-mail election, other measures to boost voter turnout
Elections in San Luis Obispo County will look the same in 2020 as they did in 2018. Following a recommendation from SLO County Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong, on Feb. 26, the SLO County Board of Supervisors opted against spending $406,120 to administer an all-mail election in 2020. In addition—and against Gong’s recommendation—the board denied funding to…
Guilty Pleasures: Mute
When? 2018 What’s it rated? TV-MA Where? Netflix Lately we’ve been bombarded with films that have the same eerie dystopian message: Something ridiculous took over the planet and what’s left on Earth are the remnants of what was. Then you follow some age-old storyline of finding out what went wrong, why this technology is going…
Cuesta, Hancock colleges entice local students with Promise programs
Current Allan Hancock College student Kailia Villanueva has big dreams for her future. “I see myself down the line as an entrepreneur, and I want to own a business,” Villanueva said. Going to college was always part of that dream, but it wasn’t until Allan Hancock College established the Hancock Promise in 2017 that Villanueva’s…
Atascadero increases charges on recycling and green waste program
China’s initiative to cap pollution in 2018 has translated to strict regulations on what goes in the blue recycling bin in the U.S. and is resulting in increases to local recycling service rates. On Feb. 26, the Atascadero City Council unanimously approved an increase in recycling program rates for residents and commercial businesses that will…
Make America Less Embarrassing Again!
Everyone’s freaking out over the Green New Deal, which will turn America into a socialist dystopia or make America great again. NYC Congresswoman Alexandria “Hot Damn I Can Dance” Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts Senator Ed “Hot Damn AOC Can Dance” Markey put forth the Green New Deal that’s filled with “radical” ideas like renewable energy, living-wage…
The Wood Brothers bring their soulful folk to the Fremont Theater on March 3
Anyone with a passing interest in contemporary jazz has no doubt heard of Medeski Martin & Wood, the avant-jazz-funk trio formed in 1991. What you might not have known is that Chris Wood has a brother, Oliver Wood, and back in 2008 they invited multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix to join them as the folk trio, The…
Melodrama celebrates female performers with ‘Steel Magnolias,’ vaudeville revue
Last call Steel Magnolias will be onstage at the Great American Melodrama through March 10. Tickets range from $23 to $30. Visit americanmelodrama.com for more information. “Women just aren’t that funny,” says every wannabe comedian bro on Twitter. But you know what, y’all? It’s 2019, and election time is just a mere 21 months away.…
Class time
Did you know that you could become a certified UC Master Food Preserver? But only, like, if you’re into that sort of thing—being passionate about local produce, preserving food, educating others, and meeting your neighbors. The UC Cooperative Extension is offering a 10-week volunteer certification training in Los Alamos beginning on March 14. You just…
Do this right
Pismo Beach is the lead agency and promoter for Central Coast Blue, a wastewater recycling project designed to provide an additional, sustainable source of water to the Five Cities area of SLO County. Because the Five Cities area discharges approximately 3.8 million gallons of treated wastewater into the ocean every day, recycling the water makes…
Get with the season!
The wildflowers aren’t here yet, but they’re coming thanks to all of this seemingly endless rain! You can celebrate their coming at Condor’s Hope Vineyard’s Wine & Wildflowers Celebration on March 30 from noon to 5 p.m. in the Cuyama Valley. Join farm owners Robbie Jaffe and Steve Gliesman and enjoy a locally sourced luncheon…
Start small
I would like to respond to Mark Henry’s opinion piece “Green Dreamin'” (Feb. 21) with a letter I recently sent to U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara): Dear Congressman Carbajal, I have reviewed the goals of the Green New Deal recently proposed as a congressional resolution. Although I agree with many of the overall goals…
Film Listings, 2/28/19 – 3/7/19
ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth? Matinee Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy, Park, Stadium 10 Pick Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi, Spy Kids, Sin City, Planet Terror) directs Rosa Salazar as Alita, a half-human, half-advanced cyborg, who finds vengeance for the people of the post-apocalyptic world, Iron City, while finding out…
Socialism for the loss
History has proven that socialistic promises such as in the Green New Deal are empty promises. Socialism always ends in an authoritarian police state. Americans only need to look today to Venezuela where the government’s security forces are firing on their own people who are demanding food. Venezuelans are suffering starvation, misery, and despair. This…
Go thee to the castle!
I had a very good friend visit recently from Montana, and we basically spent one of her days here visiting the various castles in the area. Yes, there is more than one. Although, there might actually only be two. We went to Hearst Castle, of course. And after that, we headed to a much more…
SLO’s new building codes sound great
It’s great that current San Luis Obispo leaders are committed to green building initiatives, although I seriously doubt, as Erin Veium stated (“SLO plans new building codes, programs to curb emissions,” Feb. 21), that our little city will have much impact on China! Retrofitting existing properties should take priority since there are so many. Here…
An interruption in the rain (and snow?!) demands a trip to the Bob Jones Trail
Blue skies. Mid-60s temperatures. A gentle ocean breeze. Folks out and about with friends, family, and loved ones—on bikes, on runs, in strollers, in shorts and short sleeves. Dogs galore. This is the San Luis Obispo we all know and love! After weeks of rain, whipping winds, and cold air, which seemed to climax with…
Things that matter
I don’t often quote biblical texts, but this one in particular strikes home as I watch the news: “Rescue those being led away to death; Hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, but we knew nothing about this; Does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?” —Proverbs 24:11-12 Venezuela’s military fired on…
Get comfortable: Photographer Jeffrey San Juan captures candid moments
If you visit photographer Jeffrey San Juan’s website, you’ll notice there isn’t an “about me” page. There is an “about us” page, however. The “us” doesn’t refer to San Juan’s colleagues or collaborators. It actually refers to his family. Rather than try to sell you on what makes him the right guy for your photography…
Sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts on our Feb. 21 news story, “Lack of public input in Diablo Canyon decommission plan is a worrying sign, SLO County says.”
Cave Landing park plan aims to preserve parking
SLO County officials are hoping that a low-scale project at the Cave Landing parking lot above Pirate’s Cove can put to rest a years-old dispute with coastal access advocates over how to address continued safety concerns at the site. The county’s latest plan involves putting in trash cans and bike racks, informational signs, and ADA…
Tapestries in The Empathy of Patience explore shared humanity
On display The Empathy of Patience art exhibit, featuring the tapestries of fiber artist Michael Rohde, will be on display at the SLO Museum of Art through March 17. Visit sloma.org for more information. It all started with a shirt. It was a very nice, hand-woven linen shirt, to be fair, that caught the eye…
Grover Beach investigates ‘destructive devices’ in city
Grover Beach police continue to investigate just who is responsible for placing and detonating “destructive devices” in one area of the city. They are asking the public to help them find a person of interest in connection with the case. According to police department officials, the investigation began after they discovered two devices placed at…
SLO Public Libraries announces Book to Action pick
Hey Kiddo, a graphic memoir by author Jarrett J. Krosoczka, has been selected as the 2019 Book to Action pick by the County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries. The book, a National Book Award finalist, illustrates Krosoczka’s childhood growing up in a family grappling with his mother’s heroin addiction. The book is intended for…
‘Fighting with My Family’ is a terrific family dramedy
FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY 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 Writer-director Stephen Merchant helms this biopic dramedy about pro wrestler Saraya “Paige” Bevis (Florence Pugh), who grew up in a wrestling family that made its living from wrestling…
Paso Unified talks budget cuts
Without touching teachers or classroom programs, Paso Robles Unified School District is on schedule to shave off $2.1 million from its budget this year. At the Feb. 26 district meeting, the board adopted a list of 17 expenditure reductions that include an early retirement incentive (for 30 teachers and nine classified staff members); eliminating tech…
SLO Jewish Film Fest screens ‘Miss Representation’
The SLO Jewish Film Fest and Cuesta College Cultural Center plan to co-host a screening of Miss Representation on Wednesday, March 13, at 11 a.m. at the Cuesta College Associated Student Center. This documentary focuses on how mainstream media contributes to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power. A discussion, facilitated by Cuesta College…
Carbajal backs Green New Deal bill
U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) has thrown his support behind a resolution calling for sweeping action to combat climate change, drawing praise from local progressives and condemnation from area Republicans. Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) is one of 89 Democrats who cosponsored U.S. House Resolution 109, more commonly known as the Green New Deal. The non-binding…
Time to go sour: Sourdough bread is a great way to get into home baking
Sour times California Folk School offers classes on sourdough baking as well as other artisanal and homesteading skills. For more information, visit cal-folk.com/. One of my personal commitments for 2019 is to have a better relationship with my food. By that I mean, to understand where it comes from, what it is made with, and…
Correction
• In the Feb. 21 news brief, “Court upholds restitution for man who made threat against school,” New Times incorrectly described what the acronym “ADA” stood for. The correct description is “average daily attendance.” Δ
