Neighbors appeal 92-unit Arroyo Grande project over parking
The applicant of a housing project with 92 units and a handful of community members opposing it arrived at an Arroyo Grande City Council meeting neither group was prepared for. What was supposed to be an appeal hearing of the Arroyo Grande Planning Commission’s approval of a conditional use permit for the proposed Creekside Junction…
A risky game
How many of us grew up playing the board game, Risk? That game has the goal of global domination by controlling your military to eliminate all opponents by randomly attacking all other countries. I’m asking because I’m wondering if anyone else thinks this administration is playing an actual board game of Risk in their War…
Wolf Jett brings its cosmic mountain music to The Siren on March 27
Good news for Wolf Jett fans. The band is poised to release Letting Go, their new album, on April 2, and its 10 tracks have been worth the wait. I’m going to go ahead and say “Don’t Give Up On Me Now” is my favorite. It’s a song about perseverance. “One damn thing I know…
Susannah Brown is the 30th Assembly District’s second Democratic candidate
Competition is brewing within the Democratic Party in the race to represent the 30th Assembly District. On June 2, party-line blue voters in the district covering parts of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties and most of SLO County have a choice between incumbent Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), a former special education teacher and Morro…
It’s time to move toward an oil-free future
It has become clear that the guiding principle of the Trump administration is, “Anything for a buck.” This is starkly displayed by its attacks on environmental and public health in the name of corporate profit—an attack that is now converging on the Central Coast of California like an oil slick approaching from three directions. First,…
NRC weakens safety oversight at Diablo Canyon
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) recent decision to exempt Diablo Canyon Power Plant from an independent safety review directly affects whether the plant can continue operating without full expert scrutiny. By waiving review by the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), the NRC has removed a critical layer of independent oversight at a time when…
Wrongabout
How do you feel about roundabouts? Some people absolutely hate them, despise them, loath them, maybe because they require active judgment to navigate. Some people would rather simply be told when to stop (red light, stop sign) or when to go (green light) or when to go faster (yellow light! Step on it!). Well, here’s…
Historic water system challenges force extended closure of Hearst Castle restrooms
Step onto the grounds of Hearst Castle, and you’d expect marble staircases, gilded ceilings, and sweeping views of the Pacific. Instead, your first encounter might be something far less glamorous: a row of large portable toilets right outside of the visitor center. What was meant to be a temporary solution during the 2022 drought is…
SLO resident takes Cal Poly president to court for unreleased frat event addresses
Cal Poly’s alleged lack of action when it comes to monitoring fraternities in San Luis Obispo for unpermitted parties hit a crescendo with a city resident suing school President Jeff Armstrong and the California State University board of trustees. On March 18, former Alta Vista neighborhood resident Kathie Walker filed a petition for writ of…
Cambria’s East Ranch Community Park remains unbuilt after more than 20 years
More than two decades after the East Ranch Community Park was first proposed, the long-anticipated public space remains largely undeveloped, as financial, regulatory, and operational challenges continue to stall progress. The property, owned by the Cambria Community Services District (CCSD), was slated for development in the early 2000s as part of the larger Fiscalini Ranch…
The case for renewable energy
Trump’s war on Iran inadvertently makes a case for renewable energy. Without the free flow of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, we have a crisis. Twenty percent of the world’s oil and gas passes through this strait. This exposes the depth of our dependence on fossil fuel. Since the Industrial Revolution in the late…
Templeton residents block roundabout at Bethel and Vineyard
After months of community concern, Templeton residents successfully blocked a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Bethel and Vineyard, much to the relief of families whose properties would have been directly impacted. The temporary project would have been funded by a federal safety grant overseen by the county’s Public Works Department, with a budget of…
David LaCaro uses spray paint and graffiti techniques to create iconic portraits
When Paso Robles Public Works Operations Manager David LaCaro isn’t making sure the city’s streets and storm drains function properly or playing drums in the popular and long-running local rock act The JD Project, he can be found with a can of spray paint in his hand creating iconic pop art portraits. He currently has…
Arts Bridges Collection shows nine pieces at SLOMA
It’s not unusual for art collections to outgrow display space. In fact, most museums only have 40 to 60 percent of their permanent collection on display at any given time. Art Bridges Foundation is committed to getting stored work seen again. “We partner with museums to provide strategic and financial support to get American art…
Chris McBride takes the reins of local NPR affiliate KCBX
There’s a new sheriff in town, and her name is Chris “Straightshooter” McBride. She’s actually not that new. KCBX Public Radio, the Central Coast’s NPR member station, hired her in 2023 as the development director to oversee fundraising and outreach activities, including the biannual pledge drives. Now that the radio station’s former President Frank Lanzone…
Give now to help future neighbors in need
As our country marks its 250th year, I’ve been thinking about what truly brings communities together. For me, it always comes down to people—neighbors caring for neighbors. In my role as board chair for the American Red Cross Pacific Coast Chapter, I get to see that kindness every day through our lifesaving mission, which has…
Project Hail Mary is a fun popcorn movie that’s too long
Co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street, The Lego Movie) bring Drew Goddard’s (The Martian) adaptation of novelist Andy Weir’s 2021 novel to the screen. Ryan Gosling stars as science teacher Ryland Grace, who awakens alone on a spaceship hurtling through space. With no memory of how…
An unwitting participant gets Jury Duty treatment in Company Retreat
If you watched or heard about Jury Duty, you already know the premise—an everyday man and all-around nice guy is surrounded by a cast of increasingly strange people in a scenario where they are, for all intents and purposes, trapped. Nice Guy has no idea he’s surrounded by actors. JURY DUTY PRESENTS: COMPANY RETREATWhat’s it…
Nuremberg examines Hermann Göring’s relationship with his psychiatrist
This story is based on the 2013 book The Nazi and the Psychiatrist by Jack El-Hai, which chronicled the relationship between U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) and Nazi Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) during the Nuremberg trials. The idea was that Kelley was supposed to discover what was different about the Germans’ personalities…
Central Coast bakers deliver homemade goods to underserved children
Lee Coogan feels blessed that her birthday was always celebrated when she was a kid. So was her son’s, and so are her grandkids’. But some people aren’t as fortunate to get a slice of cake in honor of the year ahead. Starting 10 years ago, a national nonprofit, For Goodness Cakes, set out to…
Velvet Kitty Tattoo Parlour embodies female energy in Atascadero
Hot pink details line the windows and front door of an otherwise unassuming Spanish-style building on El Camino Real, bidding passersby into Velvet Kitty Tattoo Parlour. Since Jan. 31, Brianne “Breezy” Barendt and her all-female staff provide all-body modification piercings, tattoos, and children’s piercings. Younger girls can sit on a “piercing throne” while they get…
