Cover Story
End of an era? Vote to ban off-roading in the Oceano Dunes brings hope for stability in neighboring communities
The final moments of a nearly 12-hour California Coastal Commission meeting on March 18—where commissioners voted to eliminate off-roading and most other vehicle access in the Oceano Dunes within the next three years—were crushing for the SLO County and California residents who’ve long spent their weekends and family vacations zipping around the dunes. It was…
SLO and Santa Barbara counties stay in red tier
While populated counties like Los Angeles entered into the orange tier of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy on March 30, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties will stay put in the more restrictive red tier, at least for two more weeks. SLO and Santa Barbara reported weekly COVID-19 case rates on March 30…
Santa Maria regulates mobile car washers
Santa Maria City Council voted to continue a proposed ordinance that will regulate mobile car washers, but some of those affected aren’t happy about it. After the ordinance passed its first hearing 4-1 on March 16, car washers took to the Santa Maria streets in protest on March 23, City Public Information Manager Mark van…
No more trucking!
Last year, on the first day of spring, an oil tanker truck crashed on Highway 166 east of Santa Maria, spilling 6,700 gallons of crude oil and fuel into the Cuyama River. The driver was speeding and is finally being prosecuted by the Santa Barbara County district attorney. ExxonMobil recently revived plans to send 70…
The year the music died
Two years ago was the year the music died for California renewables, as they neared their limit of efficient production. According California Energy Commission data, in 2019 in-state renewables only contributed to about 23 percent of total California power consumption, barely a percent or so more than in 2018, and even that was less than…
Unity and complacency
Change and accountability go hand in hand. I work for a local gymnastics facility, and I see this daily. Students try a skill, receive a correction, and are responsible for applying it in their next attempt. As they improve, so does the team. The same is true in life. Our actions have consequences. We are…
Haaland is a great choice for the U.S. Department of Interior
My people, of the Northern Chumash tribe of Central California, have lived on our land for millennia, but we have not always had rights, sovereignty, or access to that land. We’re not alone. The majority of tribal nations have found themselves at one point or another denied access to the decision-making on their lands by…
Rethink renewables
Renewable energy has been the poster child for politicians and celebrity personages for the last few years to replace fossil fuel energy sources. In their quest to rid the Earth of the well-paying, job-producing, general-fund pot-of-gold fossil fuel industry, they think that solar/wind power is the answer. The primary justification for their concern is that…
Let’s close down ski resorts, too
If we close down the Oceano Dunes to recreational vehicles, we need to shut down all California downhill ski resorts as well. They are a blight on the landscape—wide swaths of forest devoid of trees that caused increased erosion. They are also big contributors to climate change, needing large amounts of power to run ski…
Fait accompli?
You think the fight over off-roading is over? It’s not over! You’re going to have to pry those steering wheels and handlebars out of their cold, dead hands! “It’s a sad day for users of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area [ODSVRA],” intoned the Facebook page of the nonprofit group Friends of the Oceano…
Perpetual sideman Dan Horne takes center stage at SLO Brew Rock on March 28
Just for fun, stop reading this and go find The Dan Horne Band’s video for “The Motorcycle Song,” and then after you’ve watched it, find their video for “Blackjack.” Now that you’re back, you have an idea of who Dan Horne is, and you’ll be happy to know he and his band are coming to…
Visit SLO CAL still plans to conduct Oceano Dunes economic impact study
Despite the California Coastal Commission’s recent vote to eliminate off-roading in the Oceano Dunes, South County organizations and governments still plan to hire a third party to assess the economic benefits of the park as it is now. Visit SLO CAL and the South County Chambers of Commerce are partnering up to conduct another economic…
Neo-Impressionist Paula DeLay has 30 originals on display at SLO Provisions through April
Catch a view Find Paula DeLay’s paintings at SLO Provisions, 1255 Monterey St., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Neo-Impressionist Paula DeLay makes bold, beautiful paintings filled with confident brushstrokes that seem to dance across her canvases. She has more than 30 originals currently…
Judge rules on Morro Bay dispensary fight, lawsuit filed against San Miguel grow
One local cannabis lawsuit is wrapping up in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court while another is just getting started. On March 22, a SLO County judge ruled in favor of Natural Healing Center (NHC), Perfect Union, and the city of Morro Bay in a 2019 lawsuit that alleged the city had illegally favored NHC…
Central Coast Film Society holds multimedia competition for high school students
The Central Coast Film Society is now accepting submissions from high school students across four counties (San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Monterey) into its new multimedia competition, The “Never Stop Creating” Student Challenge. Submissions are due no later than April 15 and the contest’s categories include filmmaking, screenwriting, photography, podcasting, and the Highlight…
After years of discussion, Morro Bay agrees to buy Dog Beach
The Morro Bay City Council decided to purchase Dog Beach and approved a sphere of influence amendment for five lots on March 23, with a goal of conservation. Morro Bay has worked with Chevron, the former owner of the properties; Trust for Public Lands; the Cayucos Sanitary District; the Cayucos Land Conservancy; the Land Conservancy…
New exhibits in Morro Bay showcase artists Sheril Viau, Debbie Gedayloo, and Stevie Chun
Starting on April 1, Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay will debut two new exhibits, a solo show with artist Sheril Viau and a duo show featuring artists Debbie Gedayloo and Stevie Chun. Viau’s watercolor paintings will be on display in the venue’s upper gallery, while Gedayloo and Chun’s ink drawings will occupy the…
Servant rolls out a creepy, disturbing, and wholly involving story
SERVANT What’s it rated? TV-MA What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Apple TV Plus Promoted under executive producer M. Night Shymalan, who also directs three episodes, the real star behind Servant is creator and writer Tony Basgallop, who has invented a plausible but surreal world where…
SLO Cider Company celebrates its one year anniversary amid successful pandemic pivots
Dig some swigs Find SLO Cider Company online at slociderco.com and @slocider on Instagram and Facebook. The San Luis Obispo tasting room at 3419 Roberto Court, suite C, is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 2 to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.…
Police report rise in catalytic converter thefts
Local police are trying to get a handle on an unprecedented increase in catalytic converter thefts over recent months, as thieves nationwide are stealing the emissions-control car part for their precious metals at alarming levels. In San Luis Obispo, citizens have reported 73 stolen converters since Jan. 1, or almost one per day, according to…
The Lady and The Dale
What’s it rated? TV-14 When? 2021 Where’s it showing? HBO Max Complicated doesn’t even scratch the surface of Liz Carmichael’s story. From auto executive to serial fraudster, she ran the gamut of life and ultimately paid the price for her shyster ways. This HBO four-part miniseries explores Liz’s life before transitioning from Jerry to Geraldine…
SLO County plans more COVID-19 vaccine clinics for ag workers
SLO County Public Health innoculated 640 agricultural workers at its first vaccine clinic on March 19, with a goal of ensuring equitable and efficient access to COVID-19 vaccines. The SLO County Farm Bureau drafted the plans for the vaccine clinic, which were approved by the vaccine task force in late February. Farm Bureau Executive Director…
Allen V. Farrow
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2021 Where’s it showing? HBO Max I’ve loved a lot of Woody Allen films. As a 15-year-old, I saw Annie Hall (1977) in the theater and was hooked on his quirky, neurotic humor. Zelig (1983) is a masterpiece, and over the years I’ve watched his new films as well as…
Grover Beach shows support for dispatch partnership with Pismo
Both Pismo Beach and Grover Beach have agreed to move forward with a plan to consolidate their emergency dispatch services, a move that officials say could improve emergency response strategies and potentially save money for both cities in the future. At a meeting on March 22, Grover Beach City Council showed enthusiastic support for a…
Bikers Against Child Abuse continues supporting victims amid the pandemic
When Santa Maria mother Nancy’s daughter, Sarah, was 9 years old, she told her mother something that would immediately turn their worlds upside down: Sarah’s paternal grandfather was sexually abusing her. (Nancy and Sarah’s names have been changed to protect their anonymity.) “I was obviously not prepared for that,” Nancy said. Nancy believed her daughter’s…
Food Bank partners with Ride-On and Wilshire to deliver groceries directly to vulnerable residents’ homes
Get groceries To sign up for weekly grocery deliveries from the SLO Food Bank and Ride-On Transportation, contact Wilshire Community Services at (805) 547-7025, Ext. 2216. Recipients must meet the following eligibility criteria: be at least 60 years old; meet income restrictions; and be homebound due to a medical condition, lack of transportation, or health…
