Cover Story
Taking watch on the Montebello
It was just two days before Christmas, barely two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The crew of the Montebello knew there were Japanese submarines lurking off the California coast, but they voted to ship out on the oil tanker anyway. The decision wasn’t easy; their would-be captain opted to quit rather than take…
Biggest little fair anywhere
It only happens a few weeks a year, a shining series of evenings where SLO County no longer seems like a remote musical outpost that can only attract those acts either on the rise or on their way down. I’m talking, of course, about the Mid State Fair, which brings some of the biggest names…
Mid-state mania
New Times The Mid State Fair is an entertainment fair—what does that mean? Tom Keffury, Director of Marketing We are very different than most fairs in that we spend a lot of money on top-quality, A-list entertainment and it has been a trademark of our fair going back three decades now. The first big name…
Once upon a time…
Synergy is one of those words that’s been so co-opted by self-help manuals and business seminars that it’s become annoying, and yet it’s the perfect word to describe the collaboration between visual artists Brian Christopher and Jimmy apRoberts, who created 20 paintings for “Breadcrumbs: A Collaborative Rediscovery of Fairy Tales.” Separately they’re both gifted graphic…
Stoke for the art community
Chris Burkard’s photographs represent something different to each viewer. For a surfer, the images of waves as smooth as glass, made green by the light of the sun behind them, will have a decidedly stimulating effect; if images of waves and sand feed a surfer’s addiction, then Burkard’s images may just be a potent combination…
How are you economizing?
Aaron Herrera Fluid resource maintenance mechanic “Working a lot more, and driving a lot less.” Sherri Taylor Paralegal executive “Using newspaper coupons, combining my driving errands, growing a garden using my own compost and packing my own lunch to work.” Austin Almeda Currently unemployed “I drive a scooter that gets 90 miles per gallon. I’m…
Got Beef?
I’ve been a regular customer at Paso Meat & Sausage Company ever since my first interview with the owner, Tom Dorsey. While I consider their choice- grade and prime-grade steaks the best in SLO County, Dorsey and I don’t agree on which cut is the best steak. For instance, I’d tell you to forget about…
Laetitia Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir Clone 777 Arroyo Grande Valley
Winemaker Eric Hickey offers a limited selection of this delicious Pinot available only at the tasting room in Arroyo Grande. I loved its array of fresh, tangy flavors of raspberry, boysenberries and black cherry nicely balanced with earth, game, pepper and spice notes. Although it’s much too drinkable on its own it’s quite complementary with…
Results of binding arbitration heard by city council
“This sucks,” was the response from a visibly disheartened Councilmember Paul Brown at a meeting about the recent binding arbitration decision for the contract between the city and the San Luis Obispo Police Officers Association (SLOPOA). His response clearly echoed that of his fellow council members, as well as others present during the July 15…
SLO sewer notices don’t mention error
Recent notices sent to SLO City residents to alert them of an increase in their sewer rate don’t directly state the reason officials have cited for the hike. City officials have acknowledged the hike was thanks to a bookkeeping error by city staffers and a consultant. As a result, SLO City Council members recently voted…
Humane Society report completed, not yet released
The SLO County Animal Shelter has received a long-awaited report about its operations, but hasn’t yet released it to the public. The report, by the Humane Society of the U.S., was commissioned by county supervisors at a cost of about $23,000, following complaints by volunteers and others. It explores virtually all aspects of the shelter’s…
Remember that money we gave you?
In June, nearly four years after her retirement, Cindy Calabrese received notice that her retirement benefits had been paid out too generously. Not only that, but the San Luis Obispo woman was told she would have to start paying back the money within three months. Calabrese owes CalPERS, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, which…
Round and round and round they’ll go
The pros could do a lap in the time it takes to say the name, but the San Luis Obispo Downtown Criterium Classic Cycling Festival returns July 20. In the race, riders complete several laps on a looped course through downtown. The races run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with different race categories scheduled…
Fast Facts
Idler’s Appliances in Paso Robles is offering its 13,000-square-foot kitchen to local nonprofit organizations at no charge to hold fundraisers and informational sessions with only one condition–clean up after you’re done. The North County Women’s Shelter, as well as the Paso Robles Relay for Life, has held fundraising events there that attracted hundreds of attendees.…
Inn earns green honor
Local people and businesses are taking measures to reduce their carbon footprint, and even their smallest steps count. Everywhere there’s a hybrid vehicle, and grocery and retail stores offer environmentally friendly totes for purchases instead of paper and plastic bags. Consider the Creekside Inn in Cambria. Last month, the quaint 23-room hotel was recognized as…
Up in smoke
SLO’s clean-sky slogan of the 1990s—“Come up for air”—is facing a reality check, with higher-than-ever pollution levels around the county in recent weeks. If violations of federal and state standards for ozone pollution continue, the result is likely to be strict new requirements for local industry, according to air quality officials. They are asking local…
The police should protect us fairly
This opinion piece was shocking to both my wife and me, and we very rarely drink anything alcoholic before getting into the car. We both discussed this and, although we do not completely agree, we do have some insights into the situation “Sarah Pease” faces/faced (“Revelers, take care,” July 3). I might add that my…
And the list goes on
Very interesting reading by Jerry Crawford in “Letters to the Editor” in The Tribune on July 12: He talks about the millionaires and billionaires of this country; Clinton, Kerry, and others. However he forgot to mention such honorables as Mitt Romney and Dick Cheney, or for that matter Arnold, or even Rudy.
Miller’s a studio flak
Everyone likes different things, I understand this. I read your review after seeing the movie Wanted (“Wargasmic,” July 3, 2008), and had to write this. I feel your review is the reason I don’t read any reviews from movie critics, as the movie was so far off what you wrote. Your review in the New…
Don’t slam Rabenaldt
I have a great friend who lives in Pismo Beach, and I visit him twice a month to watch the city council for entertainment. This last meeting, however, was not entertaining; it was pathetic. As I understand it, the only way that a council member can now place anything on the agenda is to have…
Build better faculty housing
A few days ago, a woman was yet again placing an “open house” sign at the Bella Montana condominium site. These condominiums were built by Cal Poly to supposedly give a “good deal” to junior faculty and staff, whose salaries cannot possibly match the inflated prices of our local housing market. Unfortunately, this very first…
Something smelts
Your story about abalone gone away (“The snails did go quickly,” July 10, 2008). uses the word “population” maybe a dozen times, but always about the abalone population. A story the same day in the San Francisco Chronicle, about smelt gone away from the delta, only uses the word “population” in reference to smelt. Do…
Remember the abalone
Thank you Alastair Bland and New Times for the great article about abalone! (“The snails did go quickly,” July 10, 2008).ÜA generation has grown up not realizing how much a part of California’s history and culture the abalone industry became within a few short decades during the 20th century. — Brad Buckley – Sales Manager,…
Make mine medium
So the city of San Luis Obispo doesn’t like arbitration now. Well, the city government should have been thinking about the possibilities. You administrators were selfish in only wanting to give huge raises to top management. Remember when you didn’t want to give the street crew a raise? Now the police get a huge raise.…
Why should they get more?
Every time I turn on the TV or radio, I hear the administration and its party make a pitch for lifting regulations on oil companies and on granting new leases for offshore sites and protected wilderness. Unfortunately, the administration and the oil companies are committing a major sin of omission. What is missing are the…
Call me dad, at last
When faced with first-time fatherhood at the age of 49, I wasn’t sure whether to celebrate with champagne or hemlock. I was scared. Did I have the stamina? Would I live long enough to see my child through college? Would I be mistaken for grandpa? Would I drool, stumble, and mumble to myself about Woodstock…
I’m not funny
Well, it happened. I was all jackassy again last week, with a lame bit about how nobody died at the Oceano Dunes over the Fourth of July weekend, defying expectations. Except somebody did. A little boy was buried in the sand, buried until he stopped breathing and died. It got reported on the news as…
John Pillow – Four Season’s Outfitters assistant manager of nine years
NEW TIMES: Are you familiar with last month’s Supreme Court decision in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, which held that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm for private use? PILLOW: Yes, definitely. NEW TIMES: How do you think that case will impact California? PILLOW: I don’t see…
