Cover Story
No place to go: Inmates declared mentally unfit to stand trial languish in jails
It was 5:36 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2017, and Andrew Chaylon Holland was dead. An official report details the bleak tableau that greeted a coroner’s office investigator at the scene of the 36-year-old Atascadero resident’s death: Holland was naked and his legs were in shackles. His body lay supine on the floor of an observation…
SLO Mayor targeted in hate crime vandalism
SLO Mayor Heidi Harmon called for unity after a flag and sign outside her home were vandalized in what police are characterizing as a possible hate crime. In a written statement sent to local media outlets, Harmon said that an unknown vandal burned a rainbow flag, a symbol often associated with the gay rights movement,…
Big Sur residents, state parks try to rebound from winter’s impacts to Highway 1
At this time of year, head of the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce Stan Russell is usually gearing up for the summer rush—for the flood of visitors from every corner of the world flocking to get a taste of an iconic stretch of California coast and wilderness. In truth, Russell says that Big Sur’s popularity…
Has the mudslide on Highway 1 affected your summer plans?
Nicole Bramlett Cal Poly student “No because I’m headed home for summer vacation; I’m originally from San Diego. I won’t be going in that direction.” Sharla Rank kennel attendant “Oh man, I was kind of hoping to take my daughter up to Big Sur for vacation but maybe not this year.” Cosmo McCullogh SLO resident…
Blast from the Past: Edward Scissorhands
When? 1990 | What’s it rated? PG-13 | Where’s it available? DVD and Blu-ray. The first thing that catches your attention are the eyes: deep brown pupils, nearly hollow in appearance and almost black in color—yet gentle and longing. Next, it’s the disheveled pairs of scissors: five bristling shears quivering on each arm where hands…
Los Osos’ new mascot
Is that a bear? Is it a cow? No, it’s the new Los Osos Cow-Bear statue! The Udderly Osos art piece is part of CowParade SLO County, which featured decorated, life-size fiberglass cow statues on display around the county from September 2016 to earlier in May when they were auctioned off. But community members in…
Sips and skits
Kick back with a Barrelhouse Mango IPA and have a few laughs at the Improv Comedy Show on June 8 at the brewery’s new amphitheater at its Paso Robles beer garden. The show is being put on by Central Coast Comedy Theater and starts at 6 p.m. Admission is free. Visit centralcoastcomedytheater.com for more information.
Back to their roots
Feel like local politicians and county employees have it a little too easy? Well on June 3 watch local public figures like Mayor Heidi Harmon and Sherriff Ian Parkinson dance off at the Dancing with Our Stars contest at the Elks Lodge in SLO. The event is part of the Gone Country fundraiser for Restorative…
The 2017 California Festival of Beers filled Madonna Inn meadows on May 27
It’s Saturday, May 27, and I’m in line surrounded by college bros and gals, the latter of whom seem to have apparently called each other this morning to coordinate wearing matching rompers. Also, necklaces made of pretzels are a thing, you know, like the old candy necklaces you could lift into your mouth and munch…
Art in everyday life: Patricia Griffin crafts ceramics for function and beauty
Detailed is the word that jumps to mind when looking at Cambria artist Patricia Griffin’s ceramic pieces, with clear lines in each flower or wave emitting a hand-drawn, whimsical quality, almost like each mark was etched on, which it essentially was. Griffin said she got her affinity for black and white along with clean lines…
Insta-famous: SLO artist inspires online following with female focused pieces
You won’t see artist Hallie Elizabeth’s work at the latest gallery or coffee shop art show in downtown San Luis Obispo, but online more than 35,000 fans wait for the latest posting of her art across Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr. “It’s been surreal,” the SLO-based artist said. “I’ve had some very lovely comments where people…
Clubs 6/1/17-6/8/17
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 8-10pm. 1462 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande, 474-8525, figmtnbrew.com. 6/3: Vista Point Duo from 8:30-11pm. HARRY’S NIGHT CLUB AND BEACH BAR: Cypress and Pomeroy, downtown Pismo Beach, 773-1010. Thurs.: Front Row Karaoke. 6/1:…
The White Buffalo brings his beefy baritone to the Fremont Theater on June 8
If you mixed Grizzly Adams, Waylon Jennings, and Woody Guthrie together, you’d have Jake Smith, chief singer, songwriter, and guitarist of The White Buffalo, a band with rotating members but with Smith always front and center. He’s a raw and untrained talent who never had a voice lesson, didn’t pick up a guitar until he…
Sip and splash: Time stands still at the Tinker Tin Trailer Pond
Is it possible that a simple country road can pull you back in time? John Denver thought so, but that was before email, Instagram, and endless texting ruined everything. Today, I intend to find out. Rolling through the winding, private dirt path that leads behind Paso Robles’ Alta Colina Winery tasting room, I am struck…
Acts of kindness
Communication studies junior Ashley Lekkerkerk gifted each of her roommates with a long handwritten note and small buckets filled with their favorite candy. She wanted to let her roommates know how much she appreciated them and how thankful she was to have them in her life. Other students helped elderly individuals carry their groceries, made…
Environmentalists and off-road enthusiasts clash over proposed OHV bill
The battle over the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is once again heating up, after the SLO County Air Pollution Control District threatened to issue violations against the California Department of Parks and Recreation for allegedly failing to properly enact dust mitigation measures. And while there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight…
Group fights to halt Morro Bay development
In 2011, the city of Morro Bay approved plans for the construction of a two-story home on a piece of private property often used by the community as open space. That decision sparked a lawsuit against the city with a confusing outcome that still upsets some members of the community. A member of the community…
SLO to retry rape case against Paso Robles man
SLO County prosecutors are preparing to take another crack at convicting a Paso Robles man accused of raping an intoxicated houseguest. Pre-trial motions and jury selection for a second trial against Rian Mabus, a former U.S. Marine, began May 30 in SLO County Superior Court. It marks the second time that Mabus will go on…
CalCoastNews to appeal libel verdict
After losing a high-profile libel lawsuit, the controversial CalCoastNews website appears to be preparing to appeal the case, according to recently filed court documents. In the months since the website and two of its founding reporters, Karen Velie and Dan Blackburn, were hit with $1.1 million in damages for penning a defamatory article about Arroyo…
SLO park debate heats up
Residents of a SLO neighborhood are feeling betrayed by the city after a recent City Council vote led to a proposal to move $640,000 previously set aside to for a park to other projects. Last June, the SLO City Council allocated $900,000 in surplus revenue for the acquisition of parkland in the North Broad neighborhood,…
Developer sues Atascadero to avoid paying fees
A SLO County developer is taking the city of Atascadero to court, arguing in a lawsuit that it shouldn’t have to pay development impact fees for the Oak Ridge Estates project, a 111-unit housing development more than two decades in the making off Highway 41 in rural western Atascadero. Castlerock Development, which acquired the property…
SLO County pressures California Valley pot growers
The silence dusk brings to the California Valley is noticeable the second you swing around the corner of the Community Services District building on Soda Lake Road. It’s deafening, much like the conversations taking place at the back of the property, where residents and marijuana growers are chatting about the news delivered to the valley…
Peccadilloes, snafus, and fiascos galore!
You know what they say: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Of course, they also say “consistency is the key to success.” I know one thing: When dealing with government, consistency is pretty freaking important, just ask SLO Town’s park lovers, California Valley’s weed growers, and Morro Bay’s fiscal watchdogs. Hey SLO…
Keep open spaces open
When was the last time anyone tallied up the annual wildlife road kills around town and proposed restricting access to our highways? What was the most recent cost analysis of hiking accidents versus wrongful death lawsuits at the county jail or the sheriff’s multi-million dollar panga boat collection? The same people whining about noise on…
Make Highway 1 a toll road
Most of scenic Highway 1 is but two lanes of meandering road that hugs the California coastline. Portions are routinely closed due to landslides. And now massive slides have closed the road from the south and caused the removal of a bridge from the north. Several small communities between those damaged portions are finding it…
Not allowing night use is a waste of trails
I am pleased that New Times decided to publish an article (“Path less traveled,” May 18) regarding night riding and night trail use. However I am not pleased that the article was heavily weighted toward the cons. It would have been more representative to include additional input from the mountain biking and trail running community.…
Moral reasoning
Last week, my colleague Al Fonzi tried to hoist himself up a cross, playing like a persecuted minority when he claimed that I “defame believers” with partial analysis of the New Testament. In an ironic twist, Mr. Fonzi neglected to defend his fellow Christian and SLO High School teacher Michael Stack. Then he attacked my…
Local ghost government
Who on earth would want to become involved in the operations of a sewer district? Special districts such as the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District (SSLOCSD) are as close to grassroots as you can get in local government. They are formed to manage enterprise agencies—the ones that have a specific business remit—such as…
Correction
On May 18, The Shredder (“The mighty pen!”) identified Adam Firestone as a former contestant on The Bachelor. Adam’s brother Andrew was in fact The Bachelor contestant. The Shredder regrets the error.
Correction
The May 25 cover story “All Grown Up” incorrectly stated the year the SLO Repertory Theatre put on a production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile. The show was staged in 2014. The Great God Pan runs June 2 and 3 at the theater, and Oliver! shows June 16 through July 9.
Festive!
Ooey gooey macaroni: The Avila Beach Macaroni and Cheese Festival is back in all of its cheesy glory this June 24! Unwind, relax, listen to live music, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the ocean. This year’s fest will be serving plenty of carby goodness plus tastes of wine, beer, and spirits with opportunities to…
Get your Greek grub on
The Greeks have invented a lot of amazing things in this crazy world, everything from the water mill and odometer to the basis of geometry and modern philosophy. However, those aren’t things you can chew and swallow! Don’t worry, the Greeks are also known for their grand contributions to the flavor realm, too: moussaka, baklava,…
