Cover Story
Vines by nature: Some Central Coast grape growers depend on seasonal cycles to dry farm their vines
The red-hued, sandy soil in the area west of New Cuyama is made up of the sort of fine dust that settles on your shoes and clothes, softening the color of jeans and cowboy boots. This soil is where Stephen Gliessman and Roberta Jaffe opted to root their grape vines about two decades ago. They…
Pasolivo’s plans to expand have concerned some neighbors
About 7.5 miles up Vineyard Drive from Highway 46 West, through the rolling hills, oak trees, and sprawling grapevines, a short gravel road leads to a old white ranch house, an idyllic red barn, and a 45-acre olive orchard. Now, plans to tear down the barn, expand the business, and host events on the property…
What are you looking forward to in the warmer months?
Julia Pavelko retail associate “Going to the beach more.” Jennifer Dawes boutique owner “Wearing sleeveless tops.” Michelle Corob barista “Going to the beach.” Ricky Lang student “Get my tan on!”
Parent sues school district over alleged bullying by coach
The parent of a former Nipomo High School student is suing the Lucia Mar Unified School District in federal court, claiming that a physical education coach forced her son into activities against the advice of doctors and later bullied the teen when she brought up the problems to school and district officials. The lawsuit, filed…
Higginbotham enters the 3rd District Supervisor race
One more candidate is now on the short list of local political stalwarts eying the County Board of Supervisors’ 3rd District seat. Shelly Higginbotham, mayor of Pismo Beach, announced on May 18 that she will run to unseat current Supervisor Adam Hill in the 2016 election. Higginbotham will join San Luis Obispo City Councilmember Dan…
BlackHorse Espresso & Bakery’s Caramello and Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards’ 2014 Red Delicious
Sometimes you just need a break, and a foamy latte mixed with house-made caramel is the only thing that will do. BlackHorse Coffee puts the “mellow” in Caramello. So, light a scented candle, slide your hand down your pants a la Al Bundy, and chillax, caramel style. • BlackHorse Espresso & Bakery’s Caramello—About $3 for…
Craft beer is here
Cheers to life—cheers to beer! Madonna Inn will host more than six-dozen breweries during a California Festival of Beers grand tasting bubbling up this May 22 through 23. The grand tasting kicks off on May 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is set in the lush meadows surrounding the pink palace. Also enjoy…
Spearhead Coffee wants to party with you during its May 22 grand opening
What do Buzz Aldrin, Joey Ramone, and Amelia Earhart have in common? They went bravely into that great unknown. They put their eggs in one basket. They took chances—and as a result—changed the American cultural landscape forever. Chances are, Spearhead Coffee will not change America, but it will change downtown Paso Robles. Regulars of the…
Vineyards should be more responsible with water
Water, water everywhere; oh no now it’s nowhere. What do we do? Residential use consumes 20 percent of all the state’s water. I read recently that today we are using less per capita than we were in the 1980s. That sounds like responsible use of our resource. Now that Gov. Brown has mandated a 25…
SLO county residents should demand safety over oil
The other day, my wife and I attended the Paso Robles City Council meeting. The agenda dealt with the Phillips 66 application to expand crude oil transportation through the county. After listening to the comments by Phillips 66 personnel, we are outraged that such an expansion is even being considered. What about the recent derailments…
Michigan State bid good riddance to Armstrong
This is a letter from Michigan State University: While we appreciate the difficulty President Jeff Armstrong and the other administrative leaders bring to the faculty at Cal Poly (and sympathize with the faculty and lecturers there), we also appreciate that it is at Cal Poly and no longer at MSU. Ergo—we thank them for lifting…
Cal Poly’s vision statement misses the mark
According to the Cal Poly vision statement, as developed by President Jeffrey Armstrong, Cal Poly will develop whole-systems thinkers, among other things. The currently proposed master plan makes it clear that the leadership at Cal Poly does not understand the words of its vision. I agree that it is critical for Cal Poly to enhance…
Quota pie☺!
Who doesn’t love pizza? Gooey cheese, zesty sauce, and diced meats and veggies all baked on a flat piece of dough? Hells yeah! I’d do anything for a slice right now. And apparently, I’m not the only one. On Friday, Feb. 13, in San Luis Obispo, you might have been arrested on DUI charges simply…
Don’t kill creationism
There’s been a little spasm in a science classroom in South County, occasioned by the appearance of creationism in a class that is supposed to be devoted to matters that can be proved or disproved by evidence. The reaction of the anti-superstition crowd was as expected. While I agree with their general view that creationism…
Artist’s manifesto: Gallery exhibit challenges men to stand together against gender-based violence
The growing awareness of sexual assault, especially sexual assault that occurs on college campuses, is an alienating problem. The uncomfortable nature of the conversations surrounding this topic can make it difficult for people to willingly participate and engage in dialogues. But Cal Poly SAFER is boldly plunging ahead in trying to include everyone in this…
Cougars & Mustangs
It’s a bit difficult to describe the joyous freedom completed finals bring you when the reality of the situation is they’ve only just begun their beating you senseless into a tight corner. Particularly difficult is the achievement of this task without diving into a sort of daydreaming dangerous for someone who, above all else, must…
Cal Poly suspends frat at center of drug dealing scandal
Cal Poly recently slapped the Delta Sigma Phi-Epsilon Rho fraternity chapter with a minimum five-year suspension for violating its student code of conduct, the Cal Poly Fraternity and Sorority Life Alcohol and Drugs Policy, and other policies. They university publicly announced the decision on May 13. The suspension comes after the university and local law…
Judge rules Cal Poly can build Grand Avenue dorms
A project planned to house Cal Poly freshmen on the edge of campus near the residential neighborhoods along Slack Street and Grand Avenue recently cleared a lawsuit attempting to park the plan. After the project’s environmental impact report (EIR) was approved in May 2014, a group of nearby residents called the Alliance for SLO Neighborhoods…
Coastal Commission backs Diablo Canyon bill
The California Coastal Commission supports a state bill that would extend the life of an independent commission tasked with reviewing the study of seismic hazards at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. The commission unanimously voted May 15 to back the bill, SB 657, which is currently winding its way through the state Legislature. The…
Morro Bay Aquarium may change ownership
The decades-long controversy that is the Morro Bay Aquarium could see a less-contentious future, as it’s in line for some new management, as well as a facelift. The Morro Bay City Council recently voted unanimously to help work with the Central Coast Aquarium—a nonprofit located in Avila Beach—to draft a proposal for operating and redeveloping…
Pismo sidelines drought-related building restrictions
Pismo Beach developers can breath sigh of relief now that the City Council’s set aside a vote on drought restrictions that would’ve halted future development. The policy, recommended by city staff, would have created a three-tiered system based on the severity of drought conditions and placed what was effectively a moratorium on new building and…
Michael Nowak is no longer SLO Symphony’s maestro
The May 14 announcement that Michael Nowak, music director of the San Luis Obispo Symphony for 31 years, will no longer conduct the orchestra, struck a sour note with the group’s musicians. A statement released by the symphony’s Executive Director Edmund Feingold simply said: “Music Director Michael Nowak has left his position with the organization.”…
Bonnie Raitt headlines the Avila Beach Blues Festival
I wonder if listeners some 45 years ago gathered in a little coffee shop in Cambridge, Mass., listening to then-unknown folk and blues singer Bonnie Raitt, had any inkling that more than four decades later she’d be a 10-time Grammy Award winner and named one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” and one…
Let your colors burst at the Paso ARTSFEST
It was a fresh, green day in Ireland, the perfect day for a canoe trip on the River Shannon. Two young ladies pushed off into the calm gray waters, each looking forward to a relaxing outing. What they stumbled upon instead was miraculous—a sight that would garner more than 6.5 million views on YouTube. Thousands…
The SLO Little Theatre performs beloved classic musical, ‘The Music Man’
There’s nothing quite like settling down to enjoy a good ol’ fashioned musical, replete with comedy, budding romance, and lots of dancing. That’s the experience you’ll get watching the SLO Little Theatre’s performance of The Music Man. The play, written by Meredith Wilson and directed and choreographed by Zach Johnson, follows the exploits of fast-talking…
Pewter Plough stages ‘Picnic’
William Inge’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Picnic, details how one Kansas family is shaken up by a young, out-of-work drifter who wanders into town. As the story goes, our mysterious vagabond forms a connection with the family’s two teenage daughters, and although mama’s suspicious of him, he’s invited to the town picnic. The play debuted in…
Zoo to You offers a hands-on exotic animal experience
It’s Saturday, May 16, and I’m petting an alligator that used to belong to a drug lord (OK, allegedly used to belong to a drug lord, but what’s the fun in that?). The 6-foot-long, 90-pound reptile is sitting on a table, being wrangled by Scott Ellis, one of the four volunteers who are presenting a…
Author Jane Smiley to speak at Spanos
Calling all writers: Pulitzer-prize winning author Jane Smiley will lead a riveting talk in conjunction with the SLO Library Foundation’s new Book and Author Series this week. Smiley will tackle all the aspects of writer education as well as put a new spin on the old adage: “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”…
Clubs 5/21/15 – 5/28/15
Goin’ South THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: Two locations: 750 Mattie Road in Pismo Beach and 133 Bridge St. in Arroyo Grande. 773-1892 or mclintocks.com. Live music at the Pismo Beach location every Fri. and Sat. from 6-9pm. Tennessee Jimmy Harrell and Doc Stoltey play on alternating…
