Cover Story
Trail connection? SLO County moves closer to initiating eminent domain proceedings over Bob Jones Trail easements
San Luis Obispo County officials determinedly stuck to their original plans to connect the long-fragmented Bob Jones city-to-sea trail. On May 21, the Board of Supervisors abandoned its pursuit of alternative ways to close the 4.5-mile gap between the existing portions of the Bob Jones Trail without building on a portion of private property. “We…
Michael Kaplan and Mark Pietri take the stage in It Takes Two, their third musical production together
Local love It Takes Two: Brand New Songs About Same Old Love will be playing at the Templeton Performing Arts Center on June 29 at 7 p.m. Buy tickets at templetonperformingartscenter.com/events. Whoever said meeting a complete and total stranger on Craigslist can’t work out hasn’t heard the story of Michael Kaplan and Mark Pietri, who…
John Craigie headlines closing night of the Live Oak Music Festival
As of Tuesday morning, there were still camping and day tickets available for all three days of the Live Oak Music Festival—Friday, June 14, through Sunday, June 16—at El Chorro Regional Park, which kind of blows me away. Usually Saturday is sold out by now, so don’t delay. A couple of weeks ago, I told…
Oceano Depot Association holds book signing and artifact display
Local historian James D. Cain will sign copies of his book, Ella Young Remembered, during a special event, hosted by the Oceano Depot Association, at the Oceano Train Depot on Saturday, June 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During his time as a school teacher in Santa Maria, Cain became interested in Young—a famous…
Nipomo Library showcases summer exhibition of digital art
More than 20 digital artworks will be on display at the Nipomo Library throughout the month of July, as part of a solo exhibition of art by local digital artist Fred Venutra. The show opens on Tuesday, July 2. The artist will lead a special presentation and demonstration, in conjunction with the showcase, on Saturday,…
Eric is an eccentric ride through a man out to change himself
ERIC What’s it rated? TV-MAWhat’s it worth, Anna? Full priceWhat’s it worth, Glen? Full priceWhere’s it showing? Netflix Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady, Suffragette) created this six-part mystery-thriller miniseries about 9-year-old Edgar Anderson (Ivan Morris Howe), who goes missing one day on the way to school after a rancorous argument between his parents, Vincent (Benedict…
Under the Bridge
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Hulu Based on the book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey and the true story of the murder of Reena Virk, this new series documents the sad and brutal tale of both Reena’s life and the aftermath of her murder. Reena was 14 when she…
Nipomo Action Committee sues over the Dana Reserve project
If Dana Reserve developer Nick Tompkins thought his project would be smooth sailing after it received its approval from the SLO County Board of Supervisors, the Nipomo Action Committee’s lawsuit against the project says otherwise. On May 28, the Nipomo Action Committee filed a lawsuit against the Dana Reserve, SLO County, and its Board of…
A Man in Full
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Netflix Charlie Croker (Jeff Daniels) thinks he’s got the world by the tail. He’s the biggest real estate developer in Atlanta after all, a man who travels by private jet, has the ear of politicians, and gets what he wants when he wants it. That is…
Los Padres releases plan to manage Big Sur’s increased visitation
The number of tourists who visit the Big Sur coastline continues to increase annually, taking a toll on the natural resources people flock to the area to see. “It’s in the millions, probably in the 4 million to 5 million range every year. So how do we manage that when we don’t have the infrastructure…
Peruvian Kiko Pomalaza brings the world’s best cuisine to Mission Mall in downtown San Luis Obispo
Bienvenidos Kiko Restaurant & Pisco Bar, located at 746 Higuera St., suite 6, in San Luis Obispo’s Mission Mall, is open daily from 5 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit kikorestaurantslo.com and follow the restaurant on Instagram @kikorestaurantslo. Peruvian cuisine is a melting pot of cultural influences—primarily Incan, Spanish, Italian, African, Chinese, and Japanese.…
Arroyo Grande sues three property owners for temporary eminent domain
After months of asking three property owners to temporarily give up ownership of their land to the city, Arroyo Grande filed a lawsuit against them for eminent domain. On June 3, the city filed the suit against Adam Hideo Saruwatari, Raffi M. Kaloosian, and Pacific Fuel Group LLC for temporary easements to access and stage…
Escuela del Rio celebrates 50 years of helping developmentally disabled adults in North County
An organization on a mission to help those with disabilities is celebrating 50 years of service to North SLO County residents. Once known as the Atascadero Committee for Education, Escuela del Rio helps developmentally disabled adults, Executive Director Debbie Argano told New Times. Through federal funding, the Atascadero Committee for Education was able to purchase…
Divisive rhetoric
Regarding “Semantics and spin” in the May 23 New Times, it really saddens me to see a group like REACT and their spokesperson, Mandy Davis, continue to use divisive rhetoric to oppose offshore wind energy. A few examples of their misinformation: • The article claims that the fossil fuel industry “almost never” funds campaigns against…
What would happen to Morro Bay if A-24 passes?
I care a lot about my community and the unfunded pension liabilities and unfunded pavement improvements we need in Morro Bay. So, I have been doing research on Vistra’s proposal to build a battery plant and the local ballot Measure A-24, looking for the impacts, which are unexplained. I have read the ballot measure, and…
The contest between fossil fuels and policies that move us away from it
I appreciate that news publications are increasingly covering our planet’s worsening climate crisis. I read recently that May was the 12th consecutive month with average temperatures higher than all observations since 1850—probably the highest in more than 100,000 years. Shortly after that, I found out that California has in one year seen a doubling in…
To those who considered the trees
A great big thank you to Christine Mulholland regarding her letter about the dangers of “groupthink” (“A response to ‘Unity must prevail’ (May 23),” May 30) Plus, I feel gratified to know that two supervisors voted their conscience, listened to their constituents, actually looked at the alternative plan offered by local residents, and considered the…
None dare call it treason
In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson was elected with 61 perccent of the vote—the largest share of the nation’s vote since 1820. That same year, however, saw publication of None Dare Call It Treason, by John Stormer, a far-right flamethrower who claimed that America was losing the Cold War, betrayed by pro-communist elites. Stormer was a…
To seize or not to seize?
Is it justifiable for the government to take what belongs to you if it’s for the “greater good?” That’s the argument for eminent domain, the principle that gives the government the right to take your property, even if you don’t want to sell it. On the surface, it seems obviously wrong. I mean, it’s your…
