Cover Story
Build or preserve? A proposed housing development on oak woodland in Nipomo has some SLO County residents applauding and some asking for conservation
The largest proposed housing development in San Luis Obispo County in 25 years would cut down close to 4,000 oak trees, disrupt protected plant and wildlife species, and strain local traffic, among other impacts, according to a draft environmental impact report (EIR) released last month for the Dana Reserve in Nipomo. The 1,289 single- and…
Pismo’s new Pequín restaurant dishes up Mexican fare with Central Coast flair
Bienvenidos Pequín is located at the Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach at 147 Stimson Ave. Hours are daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for brunch, and from 5 to 9 p.m. for dinner. The bar is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Visit vesperapismobeach.com/dining for more details and…
California responds to the Roe v. Wade decision with a constitutional amendment and legislation to protect reproductive decisions
Nine weeks into Lauren’s pregnancy, doctors detected a weak heartbeat during an ultrasound. Two weeks later, Lauren started bleeding, and she went back to her doctor’s office for a second ultrasound. “Sure enough on the ultrasound screen you could tell it was a fetus disintegrating,” said Lauren, who asked New Times to change her name.…
Grover Beach’s Captive Hearts provides faith-based recovery services for women once caught in domestic abuse and human trafficking
Captive Hearts recovery services’ roots date back to the mid-1990s when founder and Chaplain Judy Boen started a ministry at the San Luis Obispo County women’s jail. Though Boen left for Shawnee, Oklahoma, last year to open another branch of Captive Hearts and assist more women facing trauma, the group’s co-CEO and Executive Program Director…
No longer united
Celebrating the birth of the United States of America in 2022 just does not feel right. There is so much dissension in this country that I am compelled to spell out my concerns. I canceled my Fourth of July parade plans and just hung with friends, without celebrating this country. The United States Constitution was…
Leaning left
Every year on the Fourth of July, I re-read the Declaration of Independence and each time, I’m reminded of its essential truth: That all of us are created equal, endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, and that governments are instituted to secure those rights. Our rights are not endowed by government. Our rights…
The price of progress?
Have you dined in a downtown SLO parklet? Maybe you sat on Monterey Street and enjoyed some Italian fare from Giuseppe’s Cucina Rustica, whose parklet helped turn Monterey into a one-way street between Chorro and Morro. Or maybe you grabbed a slice at Woodstock’s Pizza and ate along Higuera. Or maybe you enjoyed a farm-to-table…
Oceano ad-hoc committee to study fire services after special tax fails
Voters in the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) doused local leaders’ attempts to reignite support for a controversial fire tax this year after residents shot it down in 2020. Final counts in the San Luis Obispo County primary elections (which won’t be certified until July 15) show that the flat parcel tax called Measure A-22…
SLO approves permanent parklet program with fees and design standards
San Luis Obispo bars and restaurants that set up parklets for outdoor dining during the COVID-19 pandemic will be allowed to keep them under a permanent parklet program adopted by the City Council on July 5. But the parking spaces—which the city has not charged for over the past two years—are going to start costing…
SLO Town photographer and digital artist C. Chad Hoffman sets his sights on landmarks and pop art posters in a new show in Atascadero’s Traffic Records
See it live and online C. Chad Hoffman’s colorful, striking landmark and pop art poster designs are currently on display at Atascadero’s Traffic Records (5850 Traffic Way) through Sunday, July 31. You can see more of his designs on his website, nothingbehindeverythingahead.com; his Facebook page, facebook.com/C-Chad-Hoffman-Digital-Designs-106778827524488; and his Instagram account, @nothingbehindeverythingahead. C. Chad Hoffman—”Chad” to…
Grover Beach confirms lease for 5 Cities Homeless Coalition shelter
Grover Beach and the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition (5CHC) cemented the next step in the process to set up the area’s first year-round homeless shelter. At its June 27 meeting, the City Council approved a 55-year ground lease for the future space located on 0.44 acres of unused property at 955 South 4th St. The…
Gallery at Marina Square showcases three featured artists in latest exhibits
On Saturday, July 9, Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay will hold an opening reception to celebrate its three featured artists for the month of July. The local gallery will be showcasing artworks by watercolor painter Hope Myers, craft artist Steve Dayton, and photographer Gregory Siragusa through Sunday, July 30. According to a press…
SLO goes all-electric in new buildings
The San Luis Obispo City Council adopted the county’s first mandatory all-electric building code on July 5, following cities like Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles in passing near bans on natural gas infrastructure in new buildings. The policy—which has been under discussion in SLO for more than two years—is designed to reduce greenhouse…
Central Coast Shakespeare Festival presents Cyrano de Bergerac
The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival will debut its outdoor production of Cyrano de Bergerac on Friday, July 22. The show is scheduled to run at Filipponi Ranch in San Luis Obispo through Sunday, Aug. 14. Attendees of the show are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and picnic meals. No outside alcohol is permitted,…
Reggae acts Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Common Kings, and Fortunate Youth play the Avila Beach Golf Resort on July 14
Are you ready for the beach party of the year? Otter Productions, Inc. hosts Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, Common Kings, and Fortunate Youth next Thursday, July 14, at the Avila Beach Golf Resort (gates at 4 p.m. and show at 5; all ages; $49.99 general or $143.50 Beach Balcony at tixr.com). That’s a whole lot of…
Official Competition explores filmmaking, artists, and egos
OFFICIAL COMPETITION What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat co-direct their script written with Andrés Duprat about the development of a film funded by wealthy businessman Humberto Suarez (José Luis Gómez)…
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Netflix Disturbing doesn’t even begin to describe what has happened behind the walls of Warren Jeffs’ church of Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints. The “fundamentalist” part separates this group from the LDS church in a big way—they still practice polygamy. This isn’t Seeking Sister Wives, though. These are…
Jerry and Marge Go Large
What’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Paramount+ David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me, Collateral Beauty) directs this story about Evart, Michigan, couple Jerry (Bryan Cranston) and Marge Selbee (Annette Benning), who discover a loophole in the Massachusetts WinFall lottery and begin to win big money. Based on the article…
