Cover Story
Sucking air: How one vineyard caused a North County community to defend its water supply, exposing a flawed system of oversight
Steve and Leslie Reilly were scared. The retired couple, living on an acre in the tiny town of Roblar—a cluster of small acreage properties a few miles west of Templeton—already went through the disturbing and expensive experience of seeing their well go dry in the summer of 2014. The ordeal cost them about $30,000. “We…
Salty old town: Avila artist Colleen Gnos talks bikers, abalone, and the hot beach bods through the ages
There is an Avila Beach that isn’t depicted much in press releases, but is still remembered vividly by those who lived there “back in the day.” In the ’70s and ’80s, the seaside town wasn’t simply a “fun tourist stop” or “great place to retire.” Avila was a real place. And like any real place,…
What’s an issue you hope new Mayor Heidi Harmon will tackle in 2017?
Darlene McMillin retired “The gum situation, there’s usually gum on the streets and left on trashcans. It’s really a thoughtless gesture that should be addressed.” Ariana Brandao Cal Poly student “Meetings about how our town can reclaim our energy whether it be by solar energy methods and to talk about the concept of renewable energy.”…
Scootin’ around the Central Coast: Scooties Inc. in Grover Beach can rent you wheels
As a coastal local, you’ve probably seen it before: Tourists riding around on every dorky kind of bicycle imaginable, from the ones that can seat your whole family to the ones that you can ride on the beach while lying down. Maybe you find a few Segways among them as well. However, now there’s a…
Saving a drying out resource: Conserving water is nothing new for San Simeon
On Highway 1 right in between Big Sur and San Luis Obispo lies San Simeon, a community that prides itself on its water conservation efforts that date back to the 1980s. Most recently, the San Simeon Community Services District (SSCSD) approved a newly updated water conservation ordinance on Dec. 14 in order to align local…
Finding the culprit: Investigators return to three properties in Buckley Road water contamination case
It’s been more than a year since the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board launched its investigation into how high levels of a toxic chemical solvent leaked into groundwater wells in the Buckley Road area of San Luis Obispo, but new testing later this year could provide additional insights. After a battery of tests ruled…
SLO fines former Mayor Marx for campaign violation
SLO city fined its former three-term Mayor Jan Marx $300 for violating a local election law during the course of her failed bid for re-election in 2016. On Dec. 30, City Attorney Christine Dietrick sided in favor of a citizen complaint filed by Kevin P. Rice alleging that Marx accepted donations from Cory Black, founder…
SLO progressive Democrats vie for party’s future
Fresh off her victory in a close race for SLO city Mayor, Heidi Harmon and a slate of self-styled progressives are seeking election delegates to the state’s Democratic Party. Harmon was one of 14 candidates running for the delegate positions under a “SLO Progressive Slate,” some of whom gathered outside the Fremont Theater Jan. 3…
Jet fuel tanks in Morro Bay hot seat
The removal of two jet fuel tanks was the spicy topic at Morro Bay’s Planning Commission meeting Jan. 3, but for the fourth time, a decision was not made on the project. The project is seeking approval for a coastal development permit, conditional use permit, and environmental report, but once again didn’t get it. The…
Carbajal takes oath amid House rules dust-up
After a hard-fought election, Democrat Salud Carbajal was finally sworn in as the congressman for California’s 24th District Jan. 3 in Washington, D.C. But the day held far more than just the pomp and circumstance of swearing in new members of Congress. Overshadowing the ceremony was a botched attempt by Republican members of the House…
SLO city looks to go plastic bottle-less
At a Jan. 3 meeting, all five SLO City Councilmembers had reusable water bottles with them on the dais. And they want you to join them. In an effort to take the lead on sustainability, the SLO City Council gave its unanimous support for the development of a ban on the sale and distribution of…
Coastal Commission to tackle Oceano Dunes
The California Coastal Commission is coming to SLO County this month, and it has plans to take on one of the area’s biggest sources of controversy. Among a number of items on the Jan. 12 agenda for the commission’s upcoming meeting is possible action on several staff recommendations related to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular…
Everything’s against the law
Drop that single-use plastic water bottle and back away slowly!” Add disposable plastic water bottles to the list of things SLO Town bans: smoking, single-use plastic bags, Styrofoam to-go containers, aggressive panhandling, overly long public bench sitting, skateboarding, peeing in public, tagging, hunting the homeless with assault rifles. Harrumph! What repression! It’s just like Billy…
Girl power
Not so fun fact: In 2015 only 22 percent of main characters and only 19 percent of all directors, writers, producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the industry’s leading films were female. In response to this dismal news, filmmakers Sara Landas and Hollie Rae decided to hit the road and interview more than 100 women from different walks…
The media doesn’t understand business
When it comes to business, most journalists and commentators are like eunuchs in a whorehouse—they observe not knowing what it is really like. They may be informed, like an MBA graduate without any experience where the application is the true learning. Their opinions about business matters are narrow subjective views. They have never had the…
Stop your whining about Diablo
I cannot believe the businesses and the whiners that are complaining about PG&E shutting down its nuclear power plant at Diablo Canyon! Some of these complainers are the ones that did not support nuclear power in this area. And I feel sorry for these folks and businesses that say they will be losing money when…
City progressives vs. county conservatives
There will be a lot of impacts for the country and the world flowing from the recent U.S. national election. But locally, many effects will also be felt from our SLO City Council and mayoral results, and from the SLO County Board of Supervisors races. For the city, there is at least a slight tilt…
Look to the U.S., not Russia
Lately, we have heard claims that Russian/Putin influence has tainted our last elections. Even if true, the impact has actually been minor compared with U.S. activities overseas and at home. Overseas, think Iran in 1953, Guatemala in 1964, Chile in 1974, and Iraq still ongoing—just to name a few. At home, for decades the U.S.…
Two different justice systems
Recently, a horrific loose dog attack took place against two senior citizens on the streets of Grover Beach. The 64-year-old man died two days later. The aggressive, unleashed dogs were owned by, believe it or not, a Grover Beach police officer. After some days and many public complaints, the identity of the cop was made…
Make us great again
In an Arizona hotel room eating a holiday leftover dinner that I reheated in the microwave, I nearly spit out my bite of green bean casserole when the evening news highlighted another disturbing trend in America—“this year may go down as one of the worst years for drunk-driving deaths.” Just one more disturbing trend in…
Can we skip to 2018?
I’ve long since given up on making New Year’s resolutions, usually because life keeps getting in the way of my plans. For some, last year was a year that couldn’t end soon enough: At worst, their year was marked by personal tragedy; for others it was a year of angst and disgust. Political candidates delved…
Bingeable: The Crown
When? 2016 | What’s it rated? NR | Where’s it available? Streaming on Netflix. It’s a bold, risky move to make a historical show about a monarch who’s still alive, but that gamble paid off nicely for the Netflix Original Series The Crown, which follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) of England…
Words of power
The times they are a’ changing, but for better or worse? After the contentious U.S. presidential election and U.K. Brexit vote, many are still wondering just that. Across the country and Europe, writers are coming together in the spirit of compassion, equality, free speech, and the fundamental ideals of democracy for Writers Resist: Louder Together for Free…
A belated white Christmas
While the holidays have come and gone, it’s not too late to enjoy a little winter wonderland magic. Frolic in the snow at the SLO Farmers Market Snow Night on Jan. 12 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Have fun with a sledding hill for all ages and play area for children 5 and under. Visit…
Canyon-land: More than a peek over the Grand Canyon’s South Rim
Each footstep leaves a boot print squished into the rusty-hued mud coalescing in the middle of the wide, well-worn Bright Angel Trail. It slurps at the bottoms of my hiking boots, daring me to look at what I’ve descended into rather than straight at the ground. Space slips straight down into a cavern inches to…
Heading to the gun show: Paso art show tackles gun massacres and Second Amendment rights
Within the schoolhouse walls was once a place where it seemed nothing truly bad could happen. Then the Columbine High School shooting massacre happened in 1999, claiming 15 lives, and everything changed. That loss hit home recently for Paso Robles artist Deprise Brescia while leaving a school in the San Luis Obispo County area after…
Award-winning Western singer-songwriter and raconteur Dave Stamey performs Jan. 6 in Morro Bay’s Coalesce Bookstore
The Old West is long gone, replaced by strip malls, concentrated feedlot operations, and dressage lessons for dot-com entrepreneurs’ daughters, but that hasn’t stemmed our appetite for tales of the Old West, whether in films like In a Valley of Violence and The Hateful Eight or TV shows like Lonesome Dove and Longmire. We’re still…
Slurpin’ USA
Poppin’ bottles of pop: Give a warm welcome to SLO’s own Sunshine Bottle Works! Handcrafted sodas will be available on local shelves around the county starting this month, including cream soda, root beer, and Spezi (see Hayley’s picks for details on this orange-cola creation). Plus, I hear a ginger beer flavor will be available soon…
Sunshine Bottle Works’ Spezi and Root Elixirs Lavender Strawberry Soda
If the idea of an “orange and Coke” freaks you out a bit, just hold your horses and listen up. Local soda purveyor Sunshine Bottle Works has unleashed SLO’s first-ever Spezi, a drink beloved by Europeans for decades (and for good reason). This exotic mix of spicy cola and creamy orange extracts is more than…
Pismo’s wine watering hole: Puffer’s of Pismo has become an instant local hangout for a reason
Charlie Puffer is the kind of guy you want tending bar. He’s got big stories, bigger hand gestures, and a big, bold Chicago accent that’s as exotic as it is engaging. After years of owning and working in bars in some of the noisiest cities (Los Angeles and Chicago) the entrepreneur found a new calling.…
Clubs 1/5/17 – 1/12/17
Goin’ South THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Rd., Shell Beach, 773-5000, cliffsresort.com. FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN BREWING CO.: Singer/Songwriter Night every Wed. from 7:30-10pm. 1462 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande, 474-8525, figmtnbrew.com. 1/6: Kenny Taylor Band from 8:30-11pm; 1/7: Counterfeit Kings from 8:30-11pm. HARRY’S NIGHT CLUB AND BEACH BAR: Cypress and Pomeroy, downtown Pismo Beach, 773-1010.…
