Cover Story
Stemming the tide
As California Department of Fish and Game Warden Ryan Hanson drove toward the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse on his way south to Morro Bay, he didn’t exactly have “catch Mexican drug cartels and human traffickers” on his day’s agenda. It was just after 8 a.m. on a gloomy, windswept May morning near San Simeon, and Hanson…
Is this the final nail for the Morro Bay/Cayucos wastewater project?
It seems the long-fought battle to build a new wastewater treatment facility in a controversial location in Morro Bay is being put to rest. On July 10, City Manager Andrea Lueker e-mailed members of the City Council, informing them of a phone call she received from top commission staffer Dan Carl, who said the commission…
Do it for Dan!
The first time I ever heard of musicians helping their own was in 1993 when I bought the Victoria Williams tribute album Sweet Relief, which featured a ton of great performers who recorded Williams’ songs to help raise funds to treat her multiple sclerosis. What a concept! A local version of this philanthropy is happening…
Happy Birthday, America!
As I arrive at the San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge on Wednesday, July 4, the Lovin Spoonful’s “Summer in the City” is blasting across the bright blue pool water: Hot town, summer in the city, back of my neck getting burnt and gritty. Been down, isn’t it a pity , doesn’t seem to be a shadow…
It’s your lucky day, art lovers!
It turns out Friday, July 13, is an auspicious day for the local arts community. That’s when Craig Watson, director of the California Arts Council—that’s the state agency appointed to encourage public participation in, and appreciation of, artistic endeavors—will pay a visit to San Luis Obispo County. In a free public forum, Watson will discuss…
A review of a revue
The revue had always struck me as being kind of … Easy. “I’m tired,” I once imagined the inventor of the revue saying. “Let’s skip all of that pesky business of dialogue and characters and a plot, and just sing some of our favorite songs.” I was still marinating in this bias on a Friday…
Way past retro
Before I begin, I have a bit of stipulation. NO PIRATES! The Central Coast Renaissance Faire may not constitute real time travel, but if there’s one thing science fiction movies have taught me about the fabric of space-time, it’s that no one really wants that anyway: too much of a chance of preventing yourself from…
Clubs: 7/12
Goin’ South … BRANCH ST. DELI: 203 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 489-9099. Live music Fri. from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 7/13: Five Cities Five at 5:30 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.…
Veganomics
There are a lot of things to consider when making the choice to become vegan, least of which is the flak you’ll receive from both sides of the meat fence. “Don’t do it! Bacon is just so good,” your friends will say. “Loving meat is so speciest and bad for the environment,” your other friends…
Qupe 2010 Los Olivos Cuvée Santa Ynez Valley
This tasty blend always has different amounts of each variety every year, but it’s consistent, nonetheless. And it’s one of those wines that usually isn’t marked up so much on a restaurant wine list. This blend has 47 percent Syrah, 29 percent Mourvedre, and 24 percent Grenache, which created a rustic style with brambly notes…
Tangent 2009 Pinot Gris Edna Valley
I enjoyed this striking white with sushi at Kumi-Ko in SLO. A bright, elegant wine with racy citrus notes, it was rich enough to stand up to the array of flavors from salmon sashimi to the rainbow roll. Grown in the Niven Family’s “SIP Certified Sustainable” Paragon Vineyard, it’s fermented in stainless steel without oak…
Paso Robles’ Rhone Zone
During my first visit to Michael Gill Cellars on Peachy Canyon Road in Paso Robles, I was impressed by the beautiful, picture-perfect estate. It’s exactly like the photos you see in glossy wine country promos inviting you to Napa Valley. Only now, Paso Robles is regularly fawned over by the national media who have dubbed…
Scratch ‘n’ sniff
You know what really gets my blood boiling? Those potato chip bags that refuse to open, so you wind up in the middle of your kitchen gritting your teeth, legs splayed, until the bag suddenly pops and your precious chips rain down from the heavens like confetti. I eat ’em anyway. I happen to be…
Kate Perello (Part One of Three)
NEW TIMES Have you ever participated in the Shakespeare Festival before? PERELLO This is my first time participating with CCSF this summer. I knew a few people who have acted in their shows for a few years, and even though my friends have moved on to other opportunities, I have made many great friends here…
Why I missed this year’s 4th of July
I missed this year’s 4th of July. I was here in America. I was awake. No red, white, and blue flew from my deck. I skipped the day’s whoop-de-doo. That’s a first in my autobiography. Something was amiss. Was it me? No. I’m just fine, other than my American genetics. These democracy-loving genes that flow…
Let oil’s price reflect its true cost
Jim Hansen, leading climate scientist, said the Earth has a big blanket over it and its temperature is increasing. That is the effect of greenhouse gas on the planet. As the temperature rises, the warmer atmosphere causes dramatic weather events, as have been evidenced by recent droughts and flooding. The first half of summer 2012…
Reconsider changing this little paradise
I have lived in Los Osos for 22 years—and for a good reason. Here the people walk their dogs in the morning and have a chat with their neighbors, or a cup of coffee or tea by the water. We like our flowers, birds , butterflies, and trees. Why do others want to change the…
Stop being selfish; make a change for the planet
What is it going to take for people to get mad and demand that governments do something about climate change? Tens of thousands of temperature records have been broken already this year in the United States alone! Horrific wildfires, torrential floods, and devastating droughts are exacting an enormous economic and human toll. This is what…
How to keep SLO happy
Three happy cheers for Andrew Christie, director of Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club, for his insightful perspective on Neil Havlik’s enormous contribution to conservation and open spaces and therefore the happiness of SLO residents and visitors (“Viewpoint: How Mr. Havlik made us happy,” Tribune, July 8). Once again, the Johnson Avenue neighborhoods and…
Expression will make for a healthy city
Recently I read an article about the wall mural on the side of the ARTery building in downtown Atascadero (“Vibrant mural irks Atascadero,” June 27). The article itself was one that I would not doubt would make news in our town. It has the meat to get the juices flowing of the old-time residents and…
We all must play an active role in preventing abuse
Now that Jerry Sandusky has been found guilty of child sexual abuse, the question before us as a nation is: What have we learned? We have learned that as a country the impact of child sexual abuse remains more far-reaching than most of us were able to acknowledge before the Sandusky scandal happened. In San…
More children are abused than reported
Regarding “The pedophile effect” by Nick Powell (June 28): After reading Mr. Powell’s article, I felt compelled to address some of the erroneous “facts” that were stated. According to the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN) website, one in six girls and one in 33 boys will be victims of rape or attempted rape by…
Cougars & Mustangs
Hello again, old friends! It’s so great to hear from you. Man, this is just like old times! Ah, back in ’02, when you regularly read this column—yeah, those were good times. I’ll never forget Dr. Terwilliker’s music class—seriously, that guy was crazy! So it’s great to see you, and I look forward to hanging…
Naughty, but seriously nice
They say less is more. That’s certainly the case with Paso Robles’ new lingerie store, Naughty But Nice. “We carry a pretty big selection of lingerie. We also have boxed lingerie, which is more cost efficient, but still has the same great quality,” explained owner Michelle Norton. She navigates through the seemingly endless racks of…
Up a creek?
Van Gordon Creek is hurting. The waterway is a tributary to San Simeon Creek and eventually the Pacific Ocean, but first it meanders through the halcyon hills of rural Cambria, where, earlier this year, New Times reported the unpermitted construction of an elaborate tree house, a pond, and about a mile of road. Since then,…
‘Justice for Bryan’
Bryan Brady should have turned 23 this month. The Paso Robles resident died tragically two years ago on the night of his 21st birthday. And for those two years, the investigators handling the case have stuck with the same conclusion: It was an accident. Here are a few reasons why many people still don’t think…
Gearhart indicted for alleged real estate scheme
Former Atascadero resident and real estate developer Kelly Gearhart was indicted for 16 counts of federal fraud on July 5, according to the FBI. The indictment alleges: Between November 2004 and December 2008, Gearhart was willfully involved in a plot to defraud investors in his Vista Del Hombre real estate project. The project was represented…
Mecham dissents on sewer contract vote
San Luis Obispo County supervisors—minus one—approved the second of three major contracts for the Los Osos sewer project. Supervisor Frank Mecham has voted against the first two contracts to build a collection system for the planned project. On June 19 he voted against a $26.2 million contract and said he had issues with the way…
Butt out
San Luis Obispo County officials have proposed a ban on smoking at all county facilities, including parks, parking lots, buildings, playgrounds, tot lots, and group picnic areas. On July 17, county supervisors will be asked to change a section of county code to prohibit smoking in “certain public places.” The proposal came about after public…
Atascadero committee is set to re-review the ARTery mural
A controversial mural will get a second chance for approval. The Atascadero city manager confirmed on July 10 that the Design Review Committee (DRC) will consider allowing the “Tree Mural” painted on the ARTery to continue to exist, pending review of proposed changes to the 600-square-foot image that currently covers the downtown-area shop’s west-facing wall.…
SLO City digs in its heels on street-side ticketing
Though they were hammered relentlessly by a long line of residents—those with homes and those without—the effort wasn’t enough to coerce the majority of the San Luis Obispo City Council to modify the city’s approach toward clearing public streets of overnight campers. At its July 10 meeting, the council heard pleas from about 20 SLO…
What should SLO’s mascot be?
Albert Francis landscape worker “A Mustang because of Cal Poly’s importance in SLO.” Christina Anne Chino’s employee “A farmer because agriculture is so significant to SLO’s culture.” Pierre Rademacher designer “A peregrine falcon because they’re native to the area.” Ally Lappin retail worker and student “A sloth because the town’s atmosphere is slow.”
