Cover Story
Holiday Guide 2018
New Times’ annual Holiday Guide is here! I know. Some of you have been counting down the days to Christmas since Labor Day, and the majority of you are rolling your eyes. Luckily, this little guide is about about more than Christmas. You can craft cards for your loved ones; check out Winterfest in Morro…
Eat together
They feed our community; let’s brighten their hearts: You may already know that last month, an electrical fire started on the second floor of 1255 Las Tablas Road in Templeton. But did you know that right below is the location of the nonprofit organization The Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center? Thanks to local firefighters, the…
Pismo revokes Alex Bar-B-Q project coastal development permit
Pismo Beach City Manager Jim Lewis made one thing very clear during the Nov. 13 Planning Commission meeting: He wasn’t going to allow city staff to issue any building permits to the Alex Bar-B-Q restaurant project. “I have given direction to the staff … to not issue building or other permits for the Alex Bar-B-Q…
SLO Green Goods presents EcoWatch film series
Three EcoWatch films will be screened as part of a new Thursday night film series at SLO Green Goods. Screenings take place on Nov. 15, 29, and Dec. 6. Each showing starts at 6 p.m. Guests are encouraged to dress cozy and bring lawn chairs and blankets. Admission to each film is free. Visit the…
Toast to your crazy uncle
So, some of the people you’re technically related to are coming into town for the holidays. I’m not saying this should cause you to drink, but at some point you probably will want to. Instead of making a scene and locking yourself in a closet with the cooking sherry, why not take the whole gang…
State asks $4.8 million for shuttered Paso Robles youth prison
Paso Robles and the state of California are in the final stages of negotiations on a sale of the Estrella Juvenile Correctional Facility, the shuttered state prison on 137 acres that the city hopes to acquire and repurpose for community uses. But the change of hands won’t come cheap for Paso. The state is asking…
Happy little trees: A relaxing day of learning to paint
So this column is called “Get Out,” but the weekend after the election, I decide to stay in and turn one small corner of my apartment into an art studio. For the last month or so, I’ve become engrossed in a new hobby: learning to paint. As a kid, I spent a lot of time…
The NIMBY who stole Christmas
Every SLOcal in SLO loved Christmas a lot, But the NIMBY, who lived near downtown, did not! He’d heard plans from the city while out on a lark, To put a big Christmas tree in his neighborhood park. While the SLOcals exchanged gifts and holiday greetings, The NIMBY railed against the tree at the City…
Morro Bay discusses on uncounted Prop 218 votes
At the beginning of each Morro Bay City Council meeting, councilmembers are given time for general comment. On Nov. 13, City Councilmember John Headding took the opportunity to open up a conversation about previously uncounted Proposition 218 votes on the sewer rate increase. “In speaking with a large number of constituents in regards to the…
Trouble right here in Morro Bay
Friend, either you’re closing your eyes to a situation you do not wish to acknowledge or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated by the presence of a sewer/water rate hike in your community. Well, ya got trouble, my friend, right here. I say trouble right here in Morro Bay! Just listen…
SLO Jewish community to hold annual ‘Hanukkah Downtown’ in wake of Pittsburgh massacre
Mission San Luis Obispo may be best known as a landmark of Catholicism, but for eight nights in December, Mission Plaza transforms into an ecumenical hub. The 5-foot-tall wooden menorah holding burning candles stands right next to a towering lit-up Christmas tree. A “spin the dreidel” station is steps away from Santa Claus’ house. Traditional…
Locals to get first dibs on SLO wastewater project
Trade workers on the Central Coast will get first priority for work on the massive renovations planned for San Luis Obispo’s wastewater treatment plant, as the SLO City Council adopted its first-ever Community Workforce Agreement on Nov. 13 for the project. The agreement formalizes an employment structure that will prioritize the hiring of local contractors…
Need some Christmas spirit? Hire professional carolers!
As a kid growing up in Wisconsin, I remember carolers coming door to door. My mom would always have a plate of cookies around to hand out after they sang a carol or two on our front steps. These days the practice isn’t very common. In fact, I’ve never had carolers knock on my door…
Cambria votes against health tax
Voters did not grant the Cambria Community Healthcare District its special tax wish for the Nov. 6 election, and now the district is looking into other options to fill its funding gap. Each parcel would have paid $35.04 more in taxes, if two-thirds of the health care district’s residents had voted for the special tax.…
Season’s greeting: Local workshops celebrate the art of holiday card crafting
Dude, where’s my card? The next Stamp Camp event takes place Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m. at Suzy McBride’s home, located at 2424 Gerda St., SLO. There’s a $10 materials fee. Visit drsuzy.stampinup.net to register and for info on other upcoming workshops. There are only two kinds of people in this world: those who start…
Tight on Funbucks? Here’s your gift guide for the year 2049
Well, the year 2049 is nearly over. A lot happened: The last of the polar icecaps melted; the Interstellar United Nations finally signed a Peace Treaty with that huge swarm of sentient amazon.com drones we’ve been at war with; and our beloved Space Emperor Zorg—long may he reign—completed the construction of his massive intergalactic dreadnaught,…
Central Coast Community Energy dissolves; cities to join Monterey program
Central Coast Community Energy’s first official board meeting on Nov. 7 was also its last. The new Community Choice Energy (CCE) partnership between SLO city and Morro Bay collapsed as quickly as it coalesced, after an Oct. 11 regulatory decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) crushed the local program’s financial outlook. The CPUC…
‘Overlord’ mixes straightforward World War II action with campy Nazi zombies for a thrill ride
OVERLORD What’s it rated? RWhat’s it worth, Anna? Full priceWhat’s it worth, Glen? Full priceWhere’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy, Park, Stadium 10 Julius Avery (Son of a Gun) directs this action/mystery/horror story about two World War II-era American paratroopers—Boyce (Jovan Adepo) and Ford (Wyatt Russell)—who are dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day eve to…
My DMV visit
A couple of weeks ago I got a letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles that required me to take a written driver’s test in order to renew my license. You see I am old, and I guess they wanted to make sure I still knew the rules after more than 50 years of driving.…
Correction
In the Oct. 18 issue of New Times, the Hot Date titled “Wine and Dine” credited the wrong person for the photo. The photo was courtesy of Shannon McMillen. Δ
Bingeable: Maniac
When? 2018 What’s it rated? TV-MA Where’s it available? Netflix A psychedelic emotional roller coaster is the only way to describe Netflix’s latest original series, Maniac. It follows Annie Landsberg (Emma Stone) and Owen Milgrim (Jonah Hill), two strangers who are drawn to a pharmaceutical drug in its trial stages for their own personal gain.…
Fools Elect Fools
While musing over the inanity of the recent election results, my thoughts digressed to the classic one-liner by comedian Ron White: “You can’t fix stupid.” The lack of intellectual acumen among the people who continue to vote for liars, thieves, criminals, and incompetents indicates clearly that they have chosen precisely the reflection of their own…
Fighting hate: SLO’s Jewish community reacts to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting
While the deadly mass shooting that left 11 dead and seven others injured at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, occurred more than 2,500 miles away, for Lauren Bandari, the tragedy felt much closer to home. “We are not immune to hate, wherever we live,” said Bandari, executive director of the Jewish…
Winterfest comes to Morro Bay for its second year
For 33 years, the city of Morro Bay has held its annual Morro Bay Lighted Boat Parade. It’s a staple in the coastal community, where boaters decorate their vessels and travel up the bay for spectators to enjoy. But the city was looking for a way to expand the parade and bring in more activities…
Enough is enough!
How many more lives must be lost? How many more cities, homes, historical landmarks, businesses, and wildlife must perish before the governor, state Senate, state Assembly, Air Resources Board, the state Air Pollution Control Agency make forest management the No. 1 priority and protect California residents? What is it going to take? What is your…
Walk in the dark: SLO city allows evening access on trails
For the first time in 20 years, locals can enjoy some of the popular trails of San Luis Obispo open space after sunset, as part of a new city “evening access” pilot program that kicked off with the end of daylight saving time on Nov. 5. Until clocks turn back again in March, Cerro San…
Film Listings 11/15/18 – 11/22/18
Editor’s note: Listings for Regal Arroyo Grande Stadium 10 were incomplete at press time. Also, most other theaters’ films are subject to change on Wednesday, Nov. 21. Call the theaters for shows and times. BEAUTIFUL BOY What’s it rated? R What’s it worth? Matinee Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre (ends 11/20) Pick Felix van Groeningen…
The ‘disgruntled’ will not rest
Mayor Heidi Harmon told her supporters, “But we choose love” (“Harmon re-elected SLO Mayor, Christianson and Stewart on council,” Nov. 8), on election night. It seems intended to imply that the Gurnee team and voters do not choose love. Is it supposed to mean that Ken Schwarz, Dave Romero, Alan Settle, Dr. Tedone, and the…
The folly of nationalism
I once read a bestselling novel about the Great War called The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman. The author vividly describes the horrors of the costly and tragic conflict; however, she also provides invaluable historical context that ultimately reveals the underlying rot of nationalism. Not only was the Great War a failure in American…
Holiday Guide 2018
New Times’ annual Holiday Guide is here! I know. Some of you have been counting down the days to Christmas since Labor Day, and the majority of you are rolling your eyes. Luckily, this little guide is about about more than Christmas. You can craft cards for your loved ones; check out Winterfest in Morro…
The best vet ever
How about some good news, everyone? Pay attention if you or your friends or loved ones have animals! I just wanted to give a shout out to our local veterinarian Dr. Raffy Dorian from Central Coast Vet, who does home visits. I first read about him in a local paper. It seemed like a dream…
Sound off 11/15/18
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts on our Nov. 8 news brief, “DOJ to investigate jail as county faces another inmate death lawsuit.”
Immigrants need our compassion
I would like to personally thank both Ed Chandler and Ryah Cooley for giving attention to the plight of immigrants (“Los Osos artist Ed Chandler depicts the struggle to belong at SLOMA exhibit,” Nov. 1). Our president has portrayed them as criminals. The truth has to be brought to the public in order to stop…
Cal Poly showcases local poet Michael Hannon in Pilgrim’s Process
Verse Los Osos poet Michael Hannon’s work, and the artwork inspired by it, will be on display at the fourth floor of Cal Poly’s Robert E. Kennedy Library through March 29. Visit lib.calpoly.edu for more information. “You can’t teach poetry.” It’s a controversial stance that local poet Michael Hannon holds firm on. It’s a lesson…
Downtown Donut Factory puts you in control, even if you can’t help yourself
Do it yourself doughnuts Downtown Donut Factory is open Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Josh Morrow was more than a little annoyed when the guy behind the doughnut counter uttered…
Give county workers a fair chance at fair wages
Thank you for your article, “SLO County employees threaten labor strike as pay lags” (Nov. 8). The Board of Supervisors are OK with imposing a 0.5 percent (yes, half a percent) wage increase for county employees. This isn’t even a cost of living adjustment (COLA). It’s insulting and abusive. There are too many children of…
Former Central Coast journalist pens wine country thriller
Sip on this Blood Red Syrah by Steve Corbett is available on Amazon for $19.99 for paperback and $9.99 for the Kindle version. The hills of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties are dotted with wine grapes as far as the eye can see. But in those twisted vines, former Santa Maria Times journalist…
Giftables
Just say no to commercial crap: With so many artisan products made right here on the Central Coast, there is no reason you need to look far to find crafty culinary gifts! Just in time for the holidays, the Nov. 23 Holiday Craft Bazaar features local arts, crafts, and handmade culinary goods from regional purveyors.…
Bang the Drum hosts a Nov. 16 fundraiser for DJ Manuel Barba
Thieves suck, and musicians and DJs in particular are susceptible to their treachery. They all have expensive equipment usually amassed in a small area like a car or practice space—equipment they need to earn a living!—so it’s easy to lose it all in an instant. Such was the case for Manuel Barba, who’s been a…
SWAP celebrates natural history writers with nature walk
Small Wilderness Area Preservation (SWAP) hosts Tuning in to Nature Writers, a nature walk on the Los Osos Elfin Forest boardwalk on Saturday, Nov. 17. The walk starts at 9:30 a.m. Historian Robert Pavlik will be guiding the group and reading selections from the works of natural history writers and poets including Robinson Jeffers, Wallace…
News nibs
We all scream! McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, a Santa Barbara-based ice cream company that uses organic ingredients, will open a new shop on Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo. The business also boasts locations in Los Angeles, Los Feliz, and Studio City—and has garnered plenty of fans across the West Coast and the country (this…
Use the force
On Nov. 7, six members of the public attended the inaugural meeting of the board of directors of Central Coast Community Energy at San Luis Obispo City Hall. You should’ve been there. The four-member board, in the course of a quietly undramatic one-hour meeting, saved from oblivion what will likely prove to be the most…
Fin’s hosts benefit dinner for 5Cities Homeless Coalition
Fin’s Restaurant in Grover Beach hosts Dinner For a Cause, a buffet dinner fundraiser, on Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 5 to 9 p.m. The event will also feature live music from Terry Lawless and Sound Investment, games, a raffle, and more. All proceeds will be donated to 5Cities Homeless Coalition to help families in need…
