Cover Story
Take a ‘Sideways’ look at Santa Barbara County
The buzz My wife saw Paul Giamatti — or at least someone who looked like Paul Giamatti — driving in Buellton the other day. Up until a month or two ago, such an event wouldn’t have registered on her radar. Heck, hardly anyone — locals included — would’ve understood the full scope of that sentence.…
Keep our Shell Beach path open
I was one of about 20 speakers to address the Pismo Beach City Council on Dec. 21, 2004 on the topic of the recently blocked access path to the beach in the St. Andrew’s By the Sea section of Shell Beach. My message was simple: My family members and I have frequently used the path…
Yeah, a rule is a rule
Reading these letters about the hot coffee in the cinemas makes me ask one simple question: Whatever happened to “obey the rules�? If you obey the rules, you won’t have a problem. So, kudos to the cinema. Bob Miller San Luis Obispo
Here’s an idea …
After living in Los Osos 20 years, we moved a couple of years ago, but a friend has sent me newspaper clippings indicating the bureaucratic sewer madness continues. The latest estimates are for an average hookup cost of $3,000, plus a $250 annual property tax increase, plus a $120-$137 per month water charge. First, consider…
Thank you, Los Osos and Baywood Park
With all the bad news about how Target did not let the Salvation Army put their kettles in front of their store, I want to share some good news. It is gratifying to report that because of the kindness of Vons and Ralph’s of Los Osos, the Salvation Army was allowed to place their familiar…
Democrats making things worse for themselves
Just got through listening to local radio talk show host Dave Congalton. One of today’s topics happened to be about the Ohio recount. Make no mistake about it — I am a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. There is something sad, however, about a once proud political party collectively going mad. The proponents of the recount use all…
Thanks for the tip, Kathy
Kathy Marcks Hardesty’s recent recommendation of The Black Cat Bistro in Cambria (“Just the Dish for Cool Cats,â€? Cuisine, Dec. 23-30) has resulted in the most memorable experience I have had in a very long time! New Year’s Eve I took a group of very picky friends to The Black Cat where we enjoyed the…
Disagreement isn’t hate
In the Jan. 6-13 issue, Ray Matthew asks, “Why does New Times hate Christians?â€? I really doubt that anyone hates fundamentalist evangelical Christians, Ray. To me that paranoid manner of thinking echoes that which far too many folks have engaged in since 9/11: Anyone criticizing the president or the government is a traitor, aids terrorism,…
Soaked in San Luis
Three more days of rain have wreaked further death and destruction on SLO County.A week after a rain-swollen creek took the life of David Calvin Finley, Audrey Richards was killed when the sailboat she was in ran aground off of San Simeon. Responding to the distress call, one of the small Coast Guard boats dispatched…
Under the bridge downtown
You can’t always believe everything you read. For instance, the Bible says that Noah took seven pairs of certain kinds of animals on his ark, despite the fact that everyone knows he only took two of each. Just ask anyone. It’s common knowledge. Whoever wrote Genesis should’ve run the book through a few more fact…
A Wave of Support
In the wake of last month’s Asian Tsunami disaster, individuals and business throughout San Luis Obispo are teaming up to raise money for international relief groups. Sherry Jiminez of Salon 544 is leading a coalition of west end businesses who will take part in an all-day fund-raising effort on Sunday, Jan. 23. Throughout the day,…
Thanks, Mr. Raincloud, sir, we’re done now
Enough already. Enough of the “It’s raining and even if it’s a pain in the ass, I know we need it.â€? Enough of the sky-is-gonna-fall headlines, the post-adolescent TV weather-talkers waving their arms at a screen while they’re reading from another screen 90 degrees off camera. Enough of the lousy driving conditions, the umbrella blown…
Downtown Centre Cinemas’ rules are reasonable
I have been following the letters published in New Times regarding the Downtown Centre Cinemas’ (DCC) no-coffee policy, and feel obligated to point a few things out to those in opposition. The DCC is very reasonable in their policies, more so in fact than most theaters in California. Every other theater I’ve been to in…
Don’t put up with bad mail service
My hope is that you can help the long-suffering folks of Los Osos with a problem other than the wastewater sewer. Our mail delivery service has been bad for some time and is getting worse. Plans and promises were made but never happen. Excuses are clever and varied, at times verging on stretching the truth.…
Quit yer cop-bashing
All you local newspapers just love cop bashing, and to you Jerry Lenthall is a victim of “once a cop always a cop.â€? Sheriff Hedges has been brutally hammered, and in all cases, after multiple investigations, these stupid charges were unfounded. You heroes should consider this. Were I a cop, any cop, I would study…
