Cover Story
#Enough: Local students protest gun violence, face threats, and shelter in place in the wake of Florida high school shooting
As Paso Robles students at four different schools sheltered in place on March 20, law enforcement officers searched for a gun that was supposedly hidden somewhere on or near Paso Robles High School campus. It was a “precautionary measure,” according to the Paso Robles Joint Union School District. Three Atascadero schools faced a similar shelter…
State reps introduce Diablo Canyon impact mitigation bill
Aiming to reverse a decision made by state regulators earlier this year, state Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) have co-authored legislation to preserve a settlement struck between PG&E and SLO County agencies to lighten the economic hit of Diablo Canyon Power Plant’s closure. Senate Bill 1090 would require the…
Dire consequences
Terror. That’s what you hear, see, and feel in the videos taken by students hiding in closets as Nikolas Cruz kills 17 of their classmates and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Imagine hearing that rampage. Your heart is surging. An automatic weapon fires. Screams. People dying. Terror. That’s also what…
Sheriff’s Office, jail receive threats in wake of Holland footage release
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office received death threats after the media released video footage of the death of a mentally ill inmate. In an emailed response to questions from New Times, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Cipolla said the department has received “numerous” threats directed at specific individuals and jail custody staff since March…
All lying liars must resign!
By now you’ve probably seen the videotape of SLO County Jail inmate Andrew Chaylon Holland’s Jan. 22, 2017, death after being strapped into a restraint chair for 46 hours straight. It ain’t pretty. Some deputies can be seen laughing as a naked Holland writhes on the floor, dying. They literally just watched the man breathe…
The Emerald City: Traveling to Seattle, a busy city surrounded by rich history
Short weekend trip If you’re thinking about taking a quick trip to Seattle and want to learn more about its sights, check out visitseattle.org. Getting off the plane and walking into Sea-Tac—yes I’m a seasoned Seattle girl so I’m going to abbreviate the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport—I feel like I’m in another world. Granted it’s 9…
Stylists at the Gypsy Den Salon have a fresh take on the salon industry
Walking around Higuera and Marsh Streets in downtown San Luis Obispo, you’ll notice many windows showcase stylists cutting away or dying hair. There is a salon or two (or three) on every block, and many specialize in more than just the beautification of hair. But a new salon that opened last summer chose an unlikely…
Social media sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts about our March 15 story, “Hate crime arrest at SLO High School raises community concerns.”
Footprints and memories: Leave No Trace exhibit raises environmental awareness
Pack it in, pack it out The Leave No Trace exhibit will be on display at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles through March 31. See studiosonthepark.org for more information. The exhibit will also have a Central Coast Point of View Photography Meet Up at Montaña de Oro State Park on March 24 at…
Gnome Hot Sauce is about flavor first
Heat seekers Blow up her feed. You can find Gnome Sauce on Instagram @gnomehotsauce and purchase bottles at a range of businesses across the Central Coast, including Spice of Life in Paso Robles and Mission Market in San Miguel. For more information on Gnome Sauce, including all available locations, go to gnomehotsauce.com or visit the…
Family Secrets: ‘Other Desert Cities’ explores hidden tragedy
Fight night Wine Country Theatre’s production of Other Desert Cities shows through March 31 at the Park Ballroom in Paso Robles. Tickets are $15 for students, $20 for groups of eight or more, and $25 for general admission. Visit winecountrytheatre.com for more information. Every family has one. That big, unspeakable thing that if not fastidiously…
Bigger than beer
Walk in her shoes: This March 25 starting at 2 p.m., 7Sisters Brewing Company in SLO will host a SLO Queerdos benefit for the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes nonprofit. This fabulously fun day includes lots of craft beer, hot grub, performances by drag queens, burlesque dancers, and other performance artists, a 50/50 raffle…
Powerful reasons
On June 5, San Luis Obispo County voters will have the opportunity to vote for a candidate for SLO County Superior Court judge to replace Barry T. LaBarbera, who is retiring. The vast majority of the time, the governor appoints judges to our Superior Court bench upon the retirement of a sitting judge. This year,…
News nibs
Rising from the ashes: Can’t keep these eats down! After a long period spent rebuilding after a fire ravaged the iconic eatery, the Pismo Beach Giuseppe’s Cucina Italiana is back in business and ready to take your order (try the lamb lollipops grilled to perfection; go to giuseppesrestaurant.com for hours and info) … Dine for…
Celebrate women in the railroad industry
All aboard the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum for Women’s History Month! On March 24 at 3 p.m., the museum will host a Women Heroes Film event, presenting a brief overview of the history of women in railroading, from the earliest days to the present. A century ago, many, but not all, female workers had…
Chew on this
Onion breath: Asiago and onion sounding good? Pick up a fresh baked savory loaf crafted by Arroyo Grande-based Eclair Bakery at the local Atascadero farmer’s market, which kicks off each Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. (Explore a world of farmer grown goods at northcountyfarmersmarkets.com) … If your hunger truly is as big as your…
Sorry, Lynn Compton: Doesn’t work that way
During Lynn Compton’s interview in a recent New Times piece, she referenced the San Luis Obispo Tribune viewpoint that I wrote criticizing the SLO County Board of Supervisor’s failure to adopt reasonable, broadly supported affordable housing policy. While I would have welcomed a thoughtful, respectful counter-argument regarding the decision, instead she quipped “You picked a…
Simply irresistible
When you slather a delicious flavor coating on top of already-irresistible, perfectly cooked bacon, you just win. Right? Well, maybe it wasn’t that simple for the Cal Poly Meats Team, who obviously worked their butts off to ensure that their own thoughtfully crafted pork would wow the recent Association of Meat Processors’ annual Cured Meats…
Catch ‘Sylvia’ at the Melodrama
Love triangles can rock any relationship, but what happens when the third party is a dog? In Sylvia, now showing at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano, Greg and Kate live a seemingly happy life in New York City. Then Greg brings home a dog he found in the park—or that found him—bearing only the…
Violinist Brynn Albanese has a March 30 recital and is the mastermind behind the new Cambria Concerts Unplugged
Cambria is a pretty magical place, where pine trees meet the Pacific Ocean and artists of all stripes come to settle. Up a steep driveway in this charming little hamlet is the charming little Old Santa Rosa Chapel (2353 Main St.), which was built in 1870 and is listed as a landmark on the National…
Release of jail death footage sparks protests
Carty Holland knelt at Jesse Cutburth’s feet and began untying the rope that bound his legs to a generic-looking chair with a metal frame. Carty’s nephew, James Tavener Holland, worked to undo the rope around Cutburth’s arms and torso. They came loose. Cutbruth stood. The three men hugged and Cutbruth stepped away from the chair…
Conservative values or Cuban?
Al Fonzi may not be aware of the U.S. Constitution or the GOP platform that endorses states’ rights supremacy except for those federal authorities enumerated in our constitution. Mr. Fonzi articulates that he prefers a supreme federal government, which would decide where to drill, transport fuels, build nuclear power plants, and presumably how to store…
‘Love, Simon’ delivers a poignant coming of age story for the Internet age
LOVE, SIMON What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Stadium 10, Park, Galaxy Greg Berlanti (Life as We Know It) directs this coming of age story about Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), a closeted gay teenager who must face his sexual identity. (109 min.)…
Lake Nacimiento residents and Monterey officials clash over fire rebuilds and water releases
Residents of Cal Shasta, a community on the southwestern shores of Lake Nacimiento, are waiting on Monterey County officials to determine if they’ll be allowed to rebuild homes destroyed by the Chimney Fire nearly two years ago. Seven of the 27 homes scorched in Cal Shasta—the hardest hit lakeside village in the 2016 blaze that…
SLO Libraries launch Book to Action program
Bring a little awareness of real life issues to your next read with the SLO County Public Librarie’s new Book to Action program. This community reads program invites high school age youth and adults to read, discuss, and take action with this year’s title, The 57 Bus, by Dashka Slater. Slater chronicles the true story…
Guilty Pleasures: Envy
When? 2004 What’s it rated? PG-13 Where’s it available? DVD, Streaming on Amazon Does anyone besides me even remember Envy? I’m including the people involved with the film when I ask that (its reputation warrants self-inflicted amnesia). But I wish those who do remember it would speak up about it. In the pantheon of panned…
State mandate makes it easier to build more charging stations for electric cars, but in AG, some worry about overreach
Electric car owners looking to charge up their vehicles in the city of Arroyo Grande don’t have that many options. Currently there are only two locations in the city with public access to electric vehicle charging stations. One is the parking lot of Arroyo Grande Community Hospital on Halcyon Road, which has two stations near…
Who’s buying Jimmy Paulding?
Beginning on March 6, and running up to the June primary, candidates are required to file FPPC reports notifying the public about large political donations of $1,000 or more. Such donations must be reported within 24 hours of receiving that donation. Reports include the donor’s name, the amount of the donation, and the date received.…
Film Listings 3/22/18 – 3/29/18
ANNIHILATION What’s it rated? R What’s it worth? Matinee Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre Pick Writer-director Alex Garland (Ex Machina) helms this story based on Jeff VanderMeer’s novel about a team of soldiers who enter into a mysterious and expanding energy curtain, from which nothing has yet returned, including drones and other soldiers. Only one…
SLO to hire consultant to vet cannabis applications
En route to adopting cannabis regulations that will likely allow storefront dispensaries and a variety of other cannabis-related businesses, the city of San Luis Obispo is seeking a consultant to help it vet applications. On March 20, the SLO City Council gave authorization to City Manager Derek Johnson to award a contract not exceeding $35,000…
Social workers, you have our support
I’m writing to express our gratitude for social workers during March, National Social Work Month. As the director of CASA of San Luis Obispo County, I oversee the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who are independent, sworn officers of the court, appointed to investigate a foster child’s circumstances and advocate for the child’s best…
Grover talks funding its fire service
The Grover Beach City Council joined neighboring cities Arroyo Grande and Oceano in a conversation about how to fund their joint fire department at its March 19 meeting. The Five Cities Fire Authority, which currently can’t meet staffing requirements, services the three communities. Fire Chief Stephen Lieberman has proposed transitioning from reserve firefighters to full-time…
The right community choice
Supervisor Lynn Compton’s version of how and why she and two other supervisors turned down a chance to implement a Community Choice Energy program in SLO County cannot be allowed to pass without comment (“Fork in the road,” March 15). A dozen California counties have thrown the switch on clean Community Choice Energy programs, providing…
Pismo settles on spot for pier bathrooms
Members of the Pismo Beach City Council breathed a collective sigh of relief on March 20, finally settling the contentious issue of just where to put bathroom facilities at the city’s newly renovated pier. After two other options for potty placement were scrapped due to divided public opinion last month, the council voted unanimously on…
Flawed abatement order
For the past six years we made no progress in mitigating the cause of bad air quality on the Nipomo Mesa. It took our former Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO), Larry Allen, six years before he issued an abatement order. The abatement order gave multiple options, including closing 100, 200, or 400 acres of riding…
