Cover Story
Hold on …
No one knows exactly what will become of Charles Lynch. No one knows whether he will be the first medical marijuana dispenser sent to prison on President Obama’s watch or the last man federally prosecuted for selling the drug despite adhering to state law. Certainly, Lynch doesn’t know. The Arroyo Grande man arrived for sentencing…
Why should the U.S. restrict or permit travel to Cuba?
Doug Mackenzie Scuba diver “Well, they’re not a democracy. I think there’s a criminal element down there, too, with connections to Eastern Europe. I believe travel should be restricted.” Annie Dumas Nursing student “I’ve spent time there; I’m half Cuban. It’s a beautiful place and culture that runs on tourism. Travel should be allowed. Fidel…
Who’s minding the store?
Scott Jenkins has a good point (“Why blame Obama?” March 19). As a registered Democrat for the last 40 years, let me make another good point: Allowing a multibillion-dollar stimulus bill to become law was one of the worst things President George W. Bush could have done, restrictions or not. It allowed the large companies…
Clear the beach
If you fume because someone smokes near a playground, then I can explode into an atomic mushroom cloud because hundreds of thousands of vehicles drive every year on the Oceano Beach and dunes, poisoning my children and the drivers’ children with carbon-dioxide emissions. Smoking is a nasty habit but off-roading is a murderous activity, even…
The homeless lower property values
What do I see, when a homeless person approaches me on the street (“Injustice to one is injustice to all,” March 19)? Well, it depends. Around downtown San Luis Obispo, most of the homeless are what appear to be young, able-bodied, healthy people who usually want a cigarette, even though I don’t smoke. And then…
Get a job
Regarding the letter by Barbara Walker (“Listen, council members,” March 19) believe it or not SLO city and the taxpayers do not owe Barbara portable toilets, trashcans, security guards, motor-home parks or tents. I work with people with disabilities and—surprise, surprise, surprise—they are productive members of society who are working, producing, and most of all…
Pay for education with oil
Our school teachers had a pink day, environmentalists have a green day, what color day should the California taxpayers have: how about a black-and-blue day on April 15? Teachers and students are upset that there is a dire shortage of money for education salaries and benefits. Whose fault is that—teachers who live under the tax…
Support AB 390
The time has come to decriminalize marijuana and stop wasting money trying to control it. Nationally, our overcrowded jails and prisons get hundreds of thousands of marijuana violators each year. Incarceration in California costs $43,000 per year per prisoner. That adds up to a lot of money but the expense has not reduced marijuana use.…
Regulate marijuana like alcohol
I want to voice my support for Assembly Bill 390 as introduced by San Francisco assemblyman Tom Ammiano, which would tax and regulate marijuana in the same manner as alcohol, limiting its sale to adults age 21 and older. During these tough economic times, extra income is very important for our state. Marijuana brings in…
Artists’ fees yield rewards
I moved to San Luis Obispo County six years ago. One of the first events I attended was ARTS Obispo’s Open Studios Art Tour. This event gave me the opportunity to travel around our beautiful county and see the work of many talented, dedicated artists. Today I am honored to be the president of the…
Bring them home
U. S. Rep. Lois Capps showed a commendable degree of concern in publishing figures in New Times (“Veterans will receive more help,” March 12) on recent congressional attempts to help returning veterans: a total of about $2.25 billion. However, she neglected to point out that in one week we are spending more than $2 billion…
We’re all about art
The annual Open Studios Art Tour is a program of ARTS Obispo, the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council. This self-guided tour of studios and galleries has traditionally taken place during two weekends in October, and was expanded in 2008 to include a third, countywide weekend featuring more than 280 artists from all over SLO…
Dear reader
Editor’s note: 2007 Dear reader: Here at The Daily Paper, we understand that you don’t always have the time to slog through long, complicated news stories having to deal with events in consonant-heavy countries that end in “stan” or “zbek.” To that end, we’re substituting that underutilized coverage with revitalized and beefed-up coverage of quaint,…
Janice Silva
New Times: You are the first and largest distiller of lavender in SLO County? Silva: We bought this 100-year-old farm 11 years ago and we’ve been transforming it into a lavender farm ever since. We have been distilling the oil for seven years. New Times: How big is the farm? Silva: We have just under…
Citizen’s Alert 3.26.09
PUBLIC MEETINGS Wednesday, April 1 SLO City Parks and Recreation Commission meets at 7 p.m. at the City/County Library Conference Room, 995 Palm St. Info: 781-7300. Thursday, April 2 SLO County Planning Commission meets at 8:45 a.m. in the County Government Center, Monterey St., SLO. Info: 781-5450. Watch it live on Charter Countywide channel 21.…
Sending sisterly love overseas
Pressed, relaxed, extensions, braided, weaved, and even shaved: Myraline Morris Whitaker’s hair has been through it all. And now she is helping African American servicewomen in the Middle East groom theirs, through the Sister Soldier Project. “All of those things you’ve heard about black hair, I epitomize,” Whitaker said. Since November 2006, the Sister Soldier…
Eye see you
If a few therapists are right, a relatively new therapy technique called brainspotting could be the closest thing yet to a cure for psychological trauma. If they’re wrong, it’s nothing more than a passing fad in the world of psychology. Whatever the truth, the technique is a mystery for much of the world outside a…
Santa Maria’s hit-and-run dilemma
It’s 6:30 p.m. on a Friday evening on Santa Maria’s Main Street. A woman driving a sedan pulls a sharp U-turn in front of a group of 14 Santa Maria Police Department officers and various onlookers. She speeds off with orange safety cones lodged in the car’s wheel-well, and a patrol car soon tracks her…
Pismo Beach pollution study could resume soon
A study into the source of pollution near the Pismo Beach pier could be restarted soon, according to its lead scientist. State funding for the study of the source of consistently high bacteria levels halted in January, but Cal Poly Professor Chris Kitts said he and a team of students were able to continue to…
Huasna residents finding new twist in the oil saga
Huasna Valley residents are in an uproar following a discovery that the oil company Excelaron’s partners may have a close connection with a company that sought oil in the valley 20 years ago—and left it in shambles. “We’ve been suspicious of who they were all along,” HVA coordinator Ron Skinner said. Skinner’s group, comprised mainly…
Dollars not in pipeline for Los Osos
Millions of federal dollars have flowed into SLO County recently from spending earmarks and the economic stimulus package. But Los Osos missed out on one that could have helped it fund a sewer. The Los Osos project qualified for up to $35 million that would have been paid through the Army Corps of Engineers. This…
Scooting for justice
Cal Poly police officers no longer have to walk their beats. Some can now scoot their beats. Despite the economic recession, the university police department found money to purchase two electric tricycles for $8,000 each. If it seems like a bad message to purchase new toys for officers to zip around on even as students…
Sheriff’s wife files for separation
The wife of Sheriff Patrick Hedges filed for legal separation March 24, two days after he moved out of their shared home carrying two suitcases, according to court records. Sandy Oneal-Hedges is seeking an unnamed amount of spousal support and compensation for legal fees; she also wants the house and the Mercedes. This is Patrick…
The tow trucks cometh
Abatement warrant in hand and wearing a bullet-proof vest, top County Code Officer Art Trinidade led a small team of fellow code officers, sheriff’s deputies, and tow-truck drivers onto Dan DeVaul’s Sunny Acres ranch on the morning of March 20, searching for 26 vehicles to tow away. “He’s playing a shell game, moving cars around,”…
A magnum masterpiece
New Times For people who don’t know, tell me a bit about yourselves. Joanne Licsko We have lived on the Central Coast since 1989, and in San Miguel for almost five years. New Times Where did your art careers begin? Joanne In Canada, but Frank would probably say Europe since he’s from Budapest, Hungary. Frank…
Sacred geometry
Few could look at the urban slopes of the Cayucos skate park and see the ancient, mystic forms of Teotihuacan’s pyramids of moon and sun. Not every imagination is capable of transforming half-pipes, ramps, and bowls into concrete waves, gathering and massing the energy of youthful riders. But the fact that someone did harness the…
Discover the romance of Tetrus
There was a warrior who had a fine stallion. Everyone said how lucky he was to have such a horse. “Maybe,” he said. Don’t embarrass me,” Drew Silvaggio prefaces the beginning of a rehearsal for his annual spring show. There’s no question that he’s joking; Civic Ballet’s artistic director has absolute confidence in his company…
Albero 2007 Bobal Rosé Spain
It’s not easy to find good, inexpensive wine that’s organically grown, but this one fits the bill. Trader Joe’s offers it at $4.99 retail. It’s not meant for keeping around, but it’s a solid choice when you want a refreshing dry Rosé. Simple cranberry, strawberry, and cherry notes make it a tasty aperitif that tastes…
Stillman 2007 Syrah Clone 877 Arroyo Seco
Winemaker Stillman Brown, widely known for his top-scoring Red Zeppelin Rhone wines, just released the second vintage of his label honoring his father. This outstanding, unfiltered Syrah from the eastern side of Monterey’s coastal mountain range tastes of black plums, blackberries, earth, allspice, and white pepper. A well-balanced wine, it’s complex and well worth aging…
Something for every taste
I live in Pismo Beach and drive past the Quarterdeck Seafood Restaurant almost daily, but I never gave a second thought to stopping in for a meal. In all honesty, I thought it was a coffee shop more akin to Denny’s than my preference in eateries. And I abhor chain restaurants no matter who runs…
Lucky number 7
They’re fools, fools I tell you! It’s spring break and the students are gone, and yet Downtown Brew is delivering live music every night for the next week. Misguided? Perhaps. Gutsy? Definitely! On Thursday, March 26, the festivities begin with Tumbledown, featuring Mike Herrera of MXPX, with Lakes opening the 7 p.m., all-ages show ($8…
