Cover Story
Abram’s plea
On March 20, after almost a year of legal battles, Abram Baxter is due to head back to the San Luis Obispo County Superior Courthouse to face a felony marijuana charge. # Yet, as the former doorman for Morro Bay’s Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers medical marijuana dispensary, Baxter isn’t any run-of-the-mill defendant. Baxter allegedly sold…
The foreclosure tour
As the coffee-clutching, would-be investors climbed aboard the rust-colored motorcoach for their foreclosure tour one recent Saturday morning, it quickly became clear there would be ample seats to spare. The plush “Silverado” bus sat 48, but it was only about a third full–and that counted the half-dozen agents, appraisers, and financing experts who joined the…
Correction?
County officials first speculated that use of an “autopen” was the explanation for why former County Counsel James B. Lindholm’s signature appeared to be on county documents dated the month after his death. But Lindholm’s former peers subsequently offered a different explanation: They said the signature under Lindholm’s printed name was actually that of James…
Wal-Mart isn’t a threat
I was at the March 11 City Council meeting in Atascadero and would like to respond to Tom Comar’s speech on the proposed Wal-Mart. Mr. Comar states that a Wal-Mart will devastate the community. I went on to listen to the reasons Wal-Mart would supposedly devastate our community. Mr. Comar says Wal-Mart will be an…
Dalidio issue is back in court
The first hearing in Ernie Dalidio’s lawsuit against SLO’s Downtown Association and dozens of unnamed defendants is scheduled for March 24. The suit alleges that the Downtown Association, a partly city-funded and partly privately funded group, used public funds to oppose the Dalidio Marketplace project when it was offered to city voters as Measures A,…
Fast facts
Kids at Sea isn’t the name of the latest reality television show. It’s a program sponsored by the Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization, designed to introduce kids to fishing, boating safety, and “the incredible experience of being on the ocean.” A seminar will be held at 5 p.m. on March 22 at the Morro Bay…
Allen Settle responds to questions of residence
At the March 18 SLO City Council meeting, former mayor and current council member Allen Settle responded to questions of whether he’s living in the city he represents. Settle said that he’s been busy lately at his home in Arroyo Grande, preparing for a “very involved and expensive” family wedding. Responding to questions from Settle’s…
More than dyed eggs
I love calling on my favorite local chefs for holiday recipes, and they’re happy to comply. I can’t think of a better way to dish out a few Easter treats for our readers. I asked the chefs to keep their recipes simple, which isn’t quite what these expert cooks are accustomed to in their kitchens.…
The greening of Public Works
Under the bridges and inside the culverts of SLO County, away from the public eye, a quiet revolution of sorts is going on. A close look reveals that the county’s Public Works Department is going green. # Gone are the pocket protectors and rigid way of thinking that once characterized the county’s former Engineering Department.…
Correction
The March 13 Strokes and Plugs (“Earth-friendly fashion) incorrectly described the nature and source of clothing lines at Reborn, a Paso Robles boutique. Owner Christina Maldonado said that a few eco-friendly lines are now available at the shop, but she expects more to arrive in the next several weeks. Also, she said that many of…
Little car, big dreams
# Gas at $4 per gallon may be a burden to most, but it’s a sign of opportunity for the folks at SLO’s Revolution Electric Cars. CEO Jules Rogoff, a ’70s-era graduate of Cal Poly’s engineering department with a long track record as an entrepreneur and developer, said the combination of high gas prices and…
Beauty and the beat
After I wrote about Devil Doll a couple of weeks ago, an “avid reader” wrote to tell me what a sexist pig I am: “If bra size were the measure of musical talent, then Devil Doll would I suppose deserve some attention from writers such as you.” # The anonymous two and a half page…
And miles to go…
Four months ago, an Amish Couple from Vermont set out for Canada and began an epic 1,400-mile journey for peace and environmental consciousness. After walking more than 1,000 miles from Vancouver, Ruah Swennerfelt and Louis Cox, both in their 60s, plan to arrive in SLO on March 27. The couple plans to walk all the…
Keep time with a classical beat
Two years ago, one dozen painted violins paraded across San Luis Obispo County as colorful, elegant harbingers of the approaching Mozart Festival. The following year, a painted orchestra, comprised of a Van Gogh clarinet, a saxophone face, a stained glass trumpet, and other instruments followed the path. And this spring, a dozen painted clocks will…
Letters
Homeless portraits were enlightening I think your two companion pieces on the homeless situation are among the most important and enlightening you have ever published, and I have been reading New Times for years. After spending a few weeks with two atypical homeless men, Steve E. Miller’s gritty prose and insightful photography help us realize…
Abram’s plea
On March 20, after almost a year of legal battles, Abram Baxter is due to head back to the San Luis Obispo County Superior Courthouse to face a felony marijuana charge. # Yet, as the former doorman for Morro Bay’s Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers medical marijuana dispensary, Baxter isn’t any run-of-the-mill defendant. Baxter allegedly sold…
Out with the old!
Pardon all this dust. I’m up to my elbows in spring cleaning. Before I get up to my eyeballs, I’m throwing a bunch of stuff out. Boxes of old Shredder action figures that never sold very well? Gone! Stacks of fan mail from that time I offered a free Shredder decoder ring in boxes of…
