Cover Story
The curious case of Anyck and the fertilizer factory
On Oct. 11, 2011, Anyck Turgeon climbed onto the stage of the eighth annual International Business Awards held in Abu Dhabi. Dressed in a glimmering purple gown, Turgeon charmed the crowd comprised of hundreds of international executives and accepted her award. She was there on behalf of CoreClean Group, an agricultural chemical company headquartered on…
Alleged victim of slain officer files notice with Santa Maria
In late February, the Woodland Hills-based law offices of Goldberg and Gage sent a notice of governmental claim to the city of Santa Maria on behalf of “Jane Doe,” identified in the notice as the “Explorer raped by Santa Maria Police Officer Albert Covarrubias, Jr.” Such a notice is usually the first stage in the…
St. Patrick’s Day: Love it or hate it?
Arline Heaton dance teacher “I love it, because it’s a really relaxed, kind of an almost patriotic day, because there are a lot of Irish people who immigrated here.” Jim Heaton teacher “I like it, because I’m a fan of Irish literature—but other than that I think it’s kind of silly.” Giovanni Lobina chef “I…
St. Paddy’s Day blues
You may not know it, but you’ve heard Arthur Adams. The soul, jazz, and bluesman played on Bonnie Raitt’s Nick of Time album (a triple Grammy winner!); recorded five albums with the Crusaders, including Street Life (which topped the Billboard jazz, R&B, and rock charts); and backed everyone from B. B. King, Lowell Fulson, Al…
Sea bling
I’m going to go ahead and admit it: I think sea glass is beautiful. Big whoop. Want to fight about it? You better not, because I will stab you right in the face and then sleep the sleep of the just until the morning sun gently wakes me with colorful promises of a brand new…
The South County remembers Mary Lee Clark
Last month, the South County lost a longtime champion of the arts community. Mary Lee Clark, local philanthropist and early initiator of Arroyo Grande’s Clark Center for the Performing Arts, passed away Saturday, Feb. 25, at the age of 83. Born in North Hollywood on Feb. 28, 1928, she married Clifford Clark in 1948, settling…
Off with her head
Forget all that you know about Alice in Wonderland. Let go of bright, rounded, Disneyfied characters. Abandon Tweedledum and drop-kick Tweedledee. Give up your fascination with happy endings. The world Alice falls into in the Civic Ballet’s opulent Alice in Wonderland, choreographed by Artistic Director Drew Silvaggio, is a surreal parallel universe, both frightening and…
So an Irishman walks into a bar …
Many folks stateside like to associate St. Patrick’s Day with one thing: booze. Sure, America’s appropriation of Ireland’s most famous saint has resulted in many a pint consumed and few hours of the night remembered, but there are so many other things to love about St. Patrick’s Day beyond green beer and an endless stream…
Villa Mt. Eden 2007 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard
This consistent brand produces good wines that belie the low prices; no one would guess you paid $14.99 for this red. Easy sipping, this fruit-forward Pinot offers aromas and flavors of sweet cherries and strawberries with notes of dusky plums, spice, and earth. Pair it with a sausage pizza, a good cheeseburger, or roast beef,…
St. Innocent 2008 Pinot Noir Zenith Vineyard
This impressive Pinot from Oregon’s Willamette Valley is layered with delicious fruit flavors, and it’s so drinkable now you’ll have a hard time cellaring bottles for the future. It’s a bit tight at first, but it opens up beautifully with expressive aromas and flavors of tangy raspberries, black cherries, boysenberries, and plums, beautifully nuanced with…
Paso Robles grown
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival offers many excellent attractions; the three-day event is highlighted by a grand tasting. The “Zin Tasting & Wine Country Auction” takes place on Saturday, March 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Paso Robles Event Center. This tasting event offers Zinfandel in all…
Homelessness has many causes
It would be interesting to take a news poll regarding whether or not our county legislators, policy makers, administrators, judiciary officials, and law enforcement officers read New Times and the Sun? Do these important people get a fair and balanced view of local issues in our alternative press, or do they promote the relatively conservative…
Oil is a dead end
Riding down the freeway in my 15 mpg pick-up, I started banging my head on the steering wheel when I heard that gas prices had crept up for 27 days in a row. Next, I learned that the United States has been a net exporter of refined petroleum for the last three quarters. Wait, gas…
Looks like the county is getting what it wanted
If what Dan De Vaul did was so illegal, why wasn’t he punished 10 years ago when the harassment first began? If what he did was wrong, why did four local, well-known, dedicated attorneys put their good names and careers on the line, while representing him pro bono? If his actions were so caustic, why…
Think about the long run when it comes to police spending
My hat is off to Mayor Bill Yates for questioning the need to pour more taxpayer money into the growing Morro Bay police industry; I recall the town relatively recently owned the distinction of having more police, per capita, than any other city in the United States, and it’s not uncommon to see two units…
Thanks for the award and the awareness
I want to thank New Times for the many articles they have done on the homeless in our county; it is a very important issue to raise awareness about. I also want to thank the SLO Film Festival for selecting our documentary Homeless Not Hopeless (In The Happiest Place In America) and awarding us the…
Utilities recognize you as an income source
Mr. Fountain, do you have the integrity to investigate what you write, or do you just regurgitate what someone wants you to hear (“SmartMeter opt-out plan finalized,” Feb. 9)? The Energy Policy Act of 2005 did promote the opportunity for “individual choice when it comes to meters in our customers’ homes,” but the individual choice…
Who are you to judge?
Ms. Zimmerman (“Why would you let this guy write?” March 1) and Willingham (“New Times hit another low,” Feb. 16), who do you think you people are? Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but to call someone a “narcissistic psychopath” is over the line. How dare you sling mud in Mr. Navarro’s eyes in an…
We aren’t powerless against Big Oil
After attending the morning session of the SLO County Planning Commission Hearing on March 8, meeting on the Excelaron project in Huasna Valley, I was moved by the heartfelt comments of the Huasna Valley residents. Old and not-so-old residents stood up and voiced their concern about the harmful effects this project would have on their…
Questions For: Allison Baker, stressed Cal Poly freshman during finals week
NEW TIMES So what are you sustaining your body on for finals week? BAKER Most days I forget to eat, and if I do eat, it’s along the lines of chips, water, and bagels from Einstein’s. NEW TIMES For those who have never experienced stress, what does it feel like? BAKER It’s like having…
High balls
Put on your tallest hat and burn a box of contraception; I’ve got a confession to make. You might know me as an outrageous figure, prone to name-calling and vitriol. But I’ve still got a few skeletons tucked away in my closet, nuggets of pure bigotry and machismo. It hurt that I couldn’t share it…
Cougars & Mustangs
When you’re a student at Miskatonic University, “March Madness” means something else. It was 75 years ago (as of March 15) that Miskatonic’s “founder,” H.P. Lovecraft, died of cancer. The writer of weird fiction and pessimistic philosophy made a large impression on the horror genre. Heavily influenced by Edgar Allen Poe, and proclaimed by Stephen…
Space available
On March 4, members of Occupy SLO decided to pack up camp after a nearly 140-day presence in front of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Courthouse. News of the canopy’s removal was delivered during an Occupy general assembly meeting about a week later. The reason for their departure: Several occupiers present for the disbanding…
Hocked lenses?
Jim’s Campus Camera has been servicing and selling camera equipment in San Luis Obispo for more than 30 years. Located in the heart of downtown with a spacious shop, well-stocked glass displays, and walls adorned with stunning images, the business looks clean and professional. But they don’t have a second-hand dealer’s license, making any handling…
Union Bank acquires Pacific Capital
UnionBanCal Corporation—which owns Union Bank—announced it’s entered into an agreement to buy the Santa Barbara-based Pacific Capital Bancorp for a reported $1.5 billion. Pacific Capital operates Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, which runs 47 branches in California, including three in San Luis Obispo County: two in San Luis Obispo and one in Paso Robles. There’s…
Any takers?
After months of debate over where to place a soon-to-be paroled convicted rapist, a Placer County Superior Judge has decided that San Luis Obispo County won’t be it. On March 9, the SLO County Sheriff’s Department was notified that Superior Court Judge James Garbolino had removed SLO County from a list of potential placement options…
Excelaron comes up dry
The San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission shot down oil drilling in the Huasna Valley. On March 8, county planning commissioners voted 4-1 to deny Excelaron’s application to drill as many as 12 oil wells and build the corresponding facilities in the rural Huasna Valley area east of Arroyo Grande. Commissioner Dan O’Grady was the…
County receiver takes on Sunny Acres
A county-appointed receiver has officially walked the grounds of the embattled Sunny Acres, kicking off a process to implement a series of court-mandated improvements to the 72-acre ranch. According to homeless advocate and Sunny Acres owner Dan De Vaul, the Los Angeles-based receiver David Pasternak visited the property on March 7, surveying the facilities in…
San Miguel declares fiscal emergency
Two things were true of San Miguel on the evening of March 13: Its Community Services District declared a fiscal emergency, but not without a fight—or the Sheriff’s Department. The San Miguel Community Services District Board of Directors gathered for a last-minute special meeting to address its budget. There was one item on the agenda;…
On the roast
General Manager Grace Miller is insanely busy. Opening Sal’s Sandwiches & Beer means Miller will be at the helm of three restaurants in downtown SLO. Still, as a new employee concludes her first shift at Sal’s, Miller makes sure to stop to give her a high-five. “How did you feel about today? You feel good…
Giant swings and zip lines–oh my
The quiet, pastoral areas of San Luis Obispo County might get a lot more interesting in the coming months. The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted March 13 to amend the county Land Use Ordinance to include provisions and permit standards that would allow people to build structures related to commercial zip lining, mountain biking, bungee…
