Cover Story
To the rescue: Will SLO County officials go ‘all in’ on groundwater?
On an afternoon in mid-January, San Luis Obispo County 5th District Supervisor Debbie Arnold called up New Times to ask if she could drop off a document. When she got here, Arnold set a few stapled pages down on the conference table: “This,” she said, “encapsulates what I think is going on in Paso.” It…
Blast from the Past: Mowgli’s Brothers
When? 1976 | What’s it rated? NR | Where’s it available? DVD. Mowgli’s Brothers is the third and final short film adapted for television from a story in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book by animator Chuck Jones, released in 1976 after Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and The White Seal the previous year (and years after Disney’s animated musical…
Two for one
It’s the classic art lover’s conundrum: Which fantastic show to go to on a Saturday night? Well, Ballet Theatre San Luis Obispo and Build An Opera Productions are making that choice a little easier by teaming up to stage an evening of live music and dance. Birth to Earth will show on April 8 at…
How do you feel about SLO extending nighttime hiking hours?
Taylor Aimes retail associate “I don’t have a problem with it, but it can raise some problems if people aren’t safe. I think it should be done for certain trails.” Caitlyn Connor student/graphic designer “I love night hikes, so put me down for yes.” Brian Ball software sales “A bunch of people out there hiking…
Spring for drinks
Spring refresh, go! Spring cleaning doesn’t stop at organizing the garage. The folks at Bianchi Winery of Paso Robles are excited to announce the release of select vintages, continuing its Renaissance-like growth over the past year. The first quarter of 2017 brought in a new dawn for the winery, with new winemaker Chris Stanton taking…
Brochelle Vineyards 2015 Zinfandel and DIY zinfandel barbecue sauce
Remember when celebrity super couples had super cute nicknames? Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck became “Bennifer,” as did Ben Affleck and his second Jen, Jennifer Garner (kind of weird, when you think about that, now). Until very recently, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ruled the red carpet as “Brangelina.” Well, did you know that Paso…
Walk SLO’s craft beer mile: Hop On Walking Tour meets at the corner of Prohibition history and local craft beer
Hop On Beer Tours owner Brant Myers has a strange request for his newest patrons: “Hop off.” That is, hop out of the van and onto the street with his new Hop On Walking Tour, which encompasses four crafty local breweries, a slice of hot ’za, and a sprinkling of Prohibition era history. Hop into…
Head on down to the rodeo
It’s that time of year again: The rodeo is almost here! The 77th annual Poly Royal Rodeo is being held on April 7 and 8 at the Spanos Stadium at Cal Poly. The Friday performance will start at 7 p.m., and the Saturday performance will start at 5:30 p.m. with a country music concert to…
New leader helms SLO Symphony
While the search continues for a new music director at the San Luis Obispo Symphony, the organization just picked up Catherine Lansdowne as its new executive director to lead the way. Lansdowne comes to SLO from the Abilene Philharmonic in Texas, where she served as executive director for the past three years. While there, she…
Not quite bloomin’: It’s a tad early to trip through hillsides full of poppies, but Figueroa Mountain Road is still gorgeous
Orange poppies protested against the weather on March 25, refusing to open their petals to the patchy clouds, bouts of wind, and random sprinkles of rain swirling around a bloom alongside Figueroa Mountain Road that’s just getting started. As the Los Padres National Forest Figueroa Mountain wildflower update (from March 16) states, “Because of the…
A part of that world: SLO photographer Vincent Shay gets up close to capture images of elusive whales
It felt like a once in a lifetime moment. And then it started happening again and again. Right on the waters of Avila Beach, near his shop, four humpback whales were feeding. It was 2012, and Vincent Shay, photographer and owner of Avila Beach Paddlesports, didn’t even think to grab his camera. “I kind of…
Natural healing: The Artisan Soapery’s owner in talks about her journey to wellness
Katye Fredieu’s breaking point was when she could no longer bathe without feeling pain. A motorcycle accident in 2011 left her with 18 fractures, scars all over her body, and kept her wheelchair bound for more than a year, but Fredieu soldiered along, doing her best to take care of herself and her 18-month-old baby.…
Country stars the Josh Abbott Band play the Fremont Theater on March 30
Maybe more than any other genre, country music has to be authentic and real for it to have power. That’s why Josh Abbott is gaining popularity: He delivers real emotion. On “Ghosts” from his newest album Front Row Seats, Abbott’s voice isn’t quite perfect on the final chorus “I was actually crying my eyes out…
Making do
Every morning, retired Los Angeles Police officer Jerry Mag would wake up and walk from his home down to the pier and into the Cayucos Veterans Hall. He would start his day by grabbing the ice machine’s scoop and chipping away at the ice that was stuck in the machine to get it going again.…
A fly in the supes
Boy, would I like to be a fly in the room of COLAB’s (Coalition of Labor, Agriculture, and Business) eighth annual dinner and fundraiser this March 30, at the Alex Madonna Expo Center. First of all, I’d totally lay fly larva in the $120-a-plate filet mignon dinner of COLAB Government Affairs Director Michael Brown. I’d…
Fighting stigmas: New program seeks to help Latina women recover from domestic violence
SLO County is rolling out a unique program specifically designed to help Latina women who are the victims of domestic violence. On March 21, the SLO County Board of Supervisors approved funding for that program. Called Colega (Spanish for “colleague”), it will allow the Women’s Shelter Program of SLO County to hold peer-led group treatment…
Stepping up the care: SLO County, seven cities approve funding agreement for new $14.8 million animal shelter
SLO County Director of Animal Services Eric Anderson didn’t mince words when talking about the state of the county animal shelter on Oklahoma Road. It’s “dismal,” “industrial,” and “depressing,” he said, plagued by tattered walls and doors, a leaky roof, and poor ventilation. The size and design of the facility can’t provide cats the space…
SLO offers $20,000 for neighborhood projects
The city of San Luis Obispo is extending a grant program that helps fund neighborhood projects, setting aside $20,000 between 2017 to 2019 to support citizen-led projects that aim to “enhance and strengthen” neighborhoods. The City Council agreed to a two-year extension of the program on March 7, and increased the amount of public funding…
Tribune faces backlash from marketing email
The San Luis Obispo Tribune dealt with criticism from readers following the death of SLOStringer Matthew Frank, thanks to a marketing email created by the paper’s parent company. In the days immediately following Frank’s death, The Tribune published multiple stories and tributes to Frank’s life and his work as SLOStringer. The marketing email was sent…
CCSD general manager under fire, again
Public commenters called for the termination of the Cambria Community Services District’s (CCSD) general manager at the district’s March 23 meeting. The pleas for action came one month after General Manger Jerry Gruber had a run-in with the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for comments he made at a public meeting and the…
COLAB won’t admit press to annual fundraiser
The Coalition of Labor, Agriculture, and Business (COLAB) is expecting a sold-out crowd at its annual fundraiser March 30, but the press isn’t likely to be among those attendees. Speaking with the New Times, SLO County COLAB Governemnt Affairs Director Mike Brown said the organization would not be allowing press into the event, despite the…
Pacific Premier shareholders approve Heritage Oaks Bank acquisition
Shareholders of the large, Southern California-based Pacific Premier Bancorp voted to approve the acquisition of Heritage Oaks Bancorp, a well-known Central Coast banking chain based out of Paso Robles. Pacific Premier announced approval of the acquisition on March 28. According to filings with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the deal, which was first…
Stand up for women’s health care
If Congress cuts funding to Planned Parenthood, millions of people will be left without access to birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, and other basic care. Many of them will have nowhere else to go for the health care they need. I’m counting on U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) to do the right thing and…
Night hiking should be discouraged
I read “Nighttime no-no” by Jan Marx in last week’s newspaper and am highly surprised that something like night hiking would even be considered in San Luis Obispo. There are numerous activities for exercise that can be done throughout the day, early morning, or inside at a club rather than hiking after sunset. The idea…
We need positive suggestions, not political rants
Jennifer Taft’s letter to the editor, “Riedman’s got my vote,” in the March 23 issue caught my eye. Her mention of “Razzle Dazzle” from the play/movie Chicago is a pertinent one for today’s political climate. Google the song to read the rest of the lyrics. Her second quote is a bit off the mark, even…
Thanks for supporting recreation in Morro Bay
More than 200 people gathered for the 28th annual Dixon Spaghetti Dinner in Morro Bay. This community tradition provides a fun evening while raising money to help low-income children participate in city recreation programs. Thanks to those who contributed many hours to make this event possible: Community Foundation of Estero Bay, Morro Bay Recreation Services,…
You still aren’t safe
Once upon a time we celebrated the industries that built America and most of the civilization we now take for granted. The key ingredient to the life we enjoy today—a life that allows women more freedom than any other time in history—is abundant, cost-effective energy. For the time being, the primary source of energy that…
A plea for fairness
The passing of the Nov. 15, 2016, vacation rental ordinance that was restricted to the Adelaida/Willow Creek area and prohibits vacation rentals from having any sort of events has drastically affected my family, as well as some of the other vacation rentals in the area. This may be old news to most, but it is…
Clubs 3/30/17 – 4/6/17
Goin’ South THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Rd., Shell Beach, 773-5000, cliffsresort.com. FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN BREWING CO.: Singer/Songwriter Night every Wed. from 8-10pm. 1462 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande, 474-8525, figmtnbrew.com. 4/1: The Upshot from 8:30-11pm. HARRY’S NIGHT CLUB AND BEACH BAR: Cypress and Pomeroy, downtown Pismo Beach, 773-1010. Thurs.: Front Row Karaoke. 3/30: DJ…
SLO County parks benefit all of its residents
National statistics show parks, open space, and recreation programs are vital to our health and a vital component in livable communities. Yet, the financial capacity of local governments—especially in counties of San Luis Obispo’s size—to fund new infrastructure has become increasingly difficult during the past 30 years. There are many competing needs and worthy projects…
Man pleads not guilty in 2016 Pismo Beach homicide
The trial of a 42-year-old man accused of killing his roommate then setting the body on fire is still months away from beginning. Manuel Jesus Perez appeared in SLO County Superior Court March 29 to plead not guilty to charges of murder and arson in connection with the death of 37-year-old Joseph Charles Kienly IV…
