Cover Story
It’s Cops … on a boat
On July 6, there was no shortage of liquid libations, shirtless guys tear-assing their speed boats, bikini-clad girls bouncing on the roofs of various craft, and 30-something radios creating an annoyingly jumbled mix of Notorious B.I.G., Guns N’ Roses, Tim McGraw, and some sort of dubstep thrown in for good measure at Nacimiento Lake. In…
Pie, pain, and patriotism
There’s something unforgettable about smashing your face, at high velocity, into a 3 1/2 pound olallieberry-apple pie. There’s the sound of it: a kind of emphatic squelch. There’s the sight of it: a crust and filling mishmash, right up close and personal. There’s also, of course, the taste of it: which is, well, pretty delicious.…
No closer to closure
At 6:20 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, 22-year-old Chelsea Brunelle was struck and killed by a Ford F-250 traveling on Highway 1 in the Arroyo Grande area. Everyone can agree on that. In the months since her death, a complex web of information, misinformation, emotions, and disputes has confounded law enforcement, mental health officials,…
Gun, badge swiped from A.G. police chief
Arroyo Grande Police Chief Steve Annibali’s gun, badge, and police ID were stolen from his unmarked take-home police vehicle late on July 7. Annibali said he violated at least one departmental policy, as he parked the vehicle on the street instead of in his driveway. Policy also stipulates that officers should remove all weapons from…
Artifacts
Shakespeare was a man of many words. I’m sure you expect me to describe his brilliance and command of the language with my own flowery brilliant prose, but that is way too much pressure for me, so … knock it off! The truth is that no one has come close to loving language and words…
If you could go anywhere in a boat, where would you go?
Sandy Hogan retired @font-face { font-family: “Geneva”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } “I don’t really like boats, or anything that goes like this. I get seasick.” Garrett Lemons student “Fiji, it sounds cool. My parents went there for their anniversary.” Michael…
Empowering others
At first glance, it appears 20-year-old Reilly Newman is addicted to his iPad and iPhone. From 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., he’s periodically checking his e-mail or updating Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Unlike his fellow technology-crazed peers, however, Reilly uses social media to expand his self-owned design and consultant businesses. Newman, a 2011 Paso Robles…
Marquis de Caceres 2012 Rose Rioja
Longtime followers of my wine recommendations know how much I’ve loved this Spanish rosé, and I’ve recommended it every vintage over the past five years. Sadly, after trying it five different times, I’ve found the 2012 vintage doesn’t live up to past years. Too bad since this was one of my favorites in the value…
Labyrinth Wine 2009 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
In all honesty, winemaker Rick Hill is a longtime friend of mine. I’ve known him since he first arrived in Santa Maria Valley from his native New Zealand. Although he’s Tantara’s winemaker (more on that in an upcoming column), Labyrinth is his personal label. And like all wineries that I review, I don’t always like…
Sail Morro Bay from high ground
Looking for a respite that’s so far apart from the standard restaurant (particularly those people considering dining in a chain eatery), you’re sure to walk away talking about it? On the occasions I’m asked that question (daily, thanks to the Internet, yet I don’t mind), I advise diners to find a place that’s locally owned.…
CLUBS – 7/11-7/18
Goin’ South … BRANCH ST. DELI: 203 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 489-9099. Live music Fri. from 5:30-8:30 p.m. THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: Two locations: 750 Mattie Road in Pismo Beach and 133 Bridge St. in Arroyo Grande. 773-1892 or mclintocks.com. Live music at the Pismo…
The rainbow connection
On June 28 and 29, I trekked up to the Bay Area for the penultimate gay experience: San Francisco Pride Weekend 2013. I spent four years being molded and shaped in the sometimes crazy but always exciting womb of San Francisco. Throughout my time in college, this city nurtured me, fed me, encouraged me ……
They’ve got class
Festival Mozaic is a beast of an event. In 13 days, the Central Coast’s classical music festival delivers a total of 20 concerts in some of the most beautiful settings San Luis Obispo County has to offer. The sheer quantity of options on the festival’s program would be intimidating if not for the streamlined way…
Seven Sisters sounds
Whether you go for the craft beers, the music, or the camping (which is now sold out), the inaugural Seven Sisters Fest promises to be a ton of fun. Held on Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13, at El Chorro Regional Park, the event features an eclectic collection of performers, a wide selection of…
Tyranny and lamb
Mark Beck is a tough guy to hunt down. The former San Luis Obispan took up residence in Albuquerque in 2001, but he’s back in town—briefly—along with his wife, Carmela; their 8-year-old daughter, Zoe; and some 30-odd canvases depicting mournful grave markers, bodies of water both serene and rollicking, and mammoth bone-colored houses. When he…
Cougars & Mustangs
It’s pretty exciting to think that, although we’re on a severely colonized planet, with so many square inches of land bearing a title or name, there is still so much that we don’t know about our world yet. Although, as a student of the arts, I am not as terribly well-versed in the sciences as…
Thirsty Paso residents pressure supes
A vocal group of rural North County residents wants San Luis Obispo County to temporarily stop vineyard planting in the Paso Robles groundwater basin. The group, known as PRO Water Equity, came to the July 9 Board of Supervisors meeting telling familiar tales of wells going dry and water quality in the basin continuing to…
A.G. cop gets disability
With a July 9 resolution, the Arroyo Grande City Council recognized psychological injuries suffered on the job by police officer Michelle Cota. The resolution will allow Cota to retire and collect bi-weekly payments of $1,580 under the state Public Employees’ Retirement System. Her PERS payments will begin July 12. Cota filed a lawsuit against the…
County consolidation breeds hyphens
San Luis Obispo County took a step on July 9 to create the new office of auditor-controller-treasurer–tax collector–public administrator. SLO County plans to create the heavily hyphenated bureaucratic post by merging two existing financial offices. The Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 to move forward with the consolidation plan by amending various county ordinances. Supervisor Debbie…
SLOPD narc officer pleads guilty to extortion
A San Luis Obispo Police Department detective caught pilfering an evidence locker and not reporting confidential informants—and who inspired a District Attorney review of past cases—has pleaded guilty to extortion. Arroyo Grande resident Cory Pierce, 39 years old at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to one count of extortion in federal court in…
Grover Beach mayor fights dunes rule
A petition circulated by a sitting board member of the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) to repeal a rule designed to limit harmful fugitive dust blowing off the Oceano Dunes and into the lungs of Nipomo Mesa residents is reviving controversy between off-road enthusiasts and supporters of the air district’s efforts.…
Climate change: Take stock, sell stocks
Author and thought leader Bill McKibben of 350.org, who has previously spoken to large audiences in San Luis Obispo, toured the nation recently trying to persuade young and old alike that we’re in a climate-change emergency and must immediately reduce carbon use or face threats to humanity and ecosystems not seen in millennia. The city…
Who needs to be scared to death?
Every July 4 (and New Year’s Eve), I cry for the animals’ fear and pain that can’t tolerate the pointless blasting, shooting, and screeching of firecrackers. All, from the tiniest pets to farm animals and horses, can break free or injure themselves trying. Those whose humans don’t go spend their own money to get sedatives…
Nuclear waste isn’t an economic plus
So PG&E prodded business and community leaders for a speedier approval of relicensing by claiming there are economic advantages to a nuclear plant (“PG&E makes hard sell for Diablo Canyon renewal,” Tribune, June 29)? Did chief nuclear officer Halpin mention that there is no policy for the disposal of nuclear waste? Now that the myth…
It wasn’t always a joke
OK, I read this today over my chili verde and eggs (“Yes, I’ve used the N-word,” July 4). What I’m getting out of the Paula Deen deal is that she did not own up to it. She tried beating around the bush by saying that it was long ago. She went on to say she’s…
Thanks, Paul
After reading numerous letters to the editor attacking the Republicans or the Democrats, I believe that both parties share responsibility for our past and current situations. The recent election in San Luis Obispo made me realize that not everyone feels the need to promote their own political party agenda. Sometimes candidates have only a desire…
Plenty of shame to go around
After reading Gary Wechter’s commentary (“Yes, I’ve used the N-word,” July 4), I wonder what progress we have made in our understanding of racial intolerance? How could it not have occurred to Wechter that the reason the African American man did not appear indignant about “cousin Margie” calling him “nigger” did not mean he thought…
Now or never
A Snapple bottle once advised me to “Know Thyself.” I wound up smashing the bottle against a nearby parking meter because I don’t like being told what to do. Self-knowledge is over-rated. Also, patience. In truth, I mostly smashed the Snapple bottle because I couldn’t get it open quickly enough and lost my temper. Sure,…
Waiting for justice
This month will mark the sixth anniversary of a day Charlie Lynch wishes was long behind him. But federal prosecutors have stood resolute in their case against the former owner and managing caregiver of San Luis Obispo County’s only medical marijuana dispensary, even after the federal government has taken a comparatively hands-off approach to providers…
