Cover Story
Desalting decisions
Bob Gresens could be any tourist walking the windswept beach north of Cambria in his sea-blue Hawaiian shirt and well-worn sports shoes, inspired by the crashing surf. As Cambria’s water-supply engineer, though, what he sees when he gazes on the vast salty ocean is a drought-proof water supply for the seaside town. In the midst…
Chai me
“I loved coffee,” lamented Joel Pace, co-owner of SLO Chai. “I loved coffee so much that I overkilled it. I love robust flavors, and was drinking maybe two or three cups a day. Like a lot of people, I had some pretty gut-rotting feelings from it. Then I started drinking chai. It had a flavor…
Blues guitar killer
# People with three names always sound like serial killers to me (John Wayne Gacy, anyone?), so you’re forgiven if Kenny Wayne Shepherd sounds like someone who buries bodies in his backyard. Instead, the only thing he kills is the blues guitar. The guy’s a monster! He began playing at age 7, picking out Muddy Waters…
Water in the Wild West
The situation in Los Osos took a new turn in March when the SLO County Board of Supervisors confirmed a Level III severity for the unincorporated town’s water supply the most critical rating in California for municipal water reserves. On the county Planning Commission’s recommendation, the board handed down yet another building moratorium for Los…
Imperiled kitesurfer reaches safety, gets cited
Local kitesurfer Brian Ackerman was two miles out to sea on a recent solo trip from Point Sal to Vandenberg when things went bad. One of the four lines that harnessed him to his kite broke, stranding him. After he gathered his partially detached kite, Ackerman made a one-hour paddle back to shore in what…
Brace yourself!
An average American contemplating the emerging presidential contest may well find himself beset by cynicism verging on nausea. Yet that same individual is probably scouring the scarred landscape of his or her mind for a blossom of hope. We Americans are like that. We are good at anger and fear, but we’re also good at…
Elimination of ag preservation funds could hurt farmers
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has recommended the elimination of Williamson Act funds, which total $39.1 million, from the state’s fiscal year 2007-2008 budget. If the funds are canceled, counties that take part in the program will have one of two options: either fund the program through the county budget or cancel it entirely, said Bill Gillette,…
Sonny’s Automotive owner will do time and pay up
The owner of an Arroyo Grande auto repair shop was recently dealt his punishment at the end of a fraud and theft case that involved more than two dozen customers. David Allen Connor, owner of Sonny’s Automotive and Marine repair shop in Arroyo Grande, was sentenced May 23 in the San Luis Obispo Superior Court…
Marijuana dispensary closes again
The county’s only medical marijuana dispensary has shut down, although its owner hopes to reopen in a new location. Morro Bay’s Central Coast Compassionate Caregivers which was # served with a warrant in March in a joint operation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the SLO County Sheriff’s Department ended operations on May 16.…
Discover delicious pairings
When starting along the path of learning to appreciate fine wine, everyone hits the rough patches that can intimidate the most tranquil soul. And nowhere is such a bump more extreme than in a fine restaurant if you’re subjected to an arrogant sommelier and/or an unwieldy wine list. While dining at Aureole in Las Vegas…
Ins and outsourcing
How about those local elected officers? Are they not very humorous? Yes indeed, it is as if they are playing out the tale of the monkey with the looking glass! Particularly that one very prominent man. Oh my, his characteristics are so amplified! Much like the fable of the tiger and the peacock, am I…
Fast facts:
The Clubhouse at This Old House is unveiling its full menu in all its savory-but-still-health-conscious glory. For three nights, enjoy live music while wining and dining and soaking up the history. The Clubhouse is offering a free shuttle service for patrons who overindulge in libations or lamb. Take part in the grand opening celebrations on…
Letters
Did you know we carry T-shirts? Just a quick response to Lily Carver’s letter (“Bikini-clad ‘model’ worries me,” May 10). We’re sorry that Ms. Carver was offended by what we saw as a creative use of our windows on that sunny Saturday afternoon. We thought having a model sitting in a beach chair in the…
Ultimate fighting doesn’t ultimately lead to fighting
If things go as they have on past fight nights, some sports bars in SLO County will be beefing up their security staff for the May 26 Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view event between light-heavyweight champion and local Chuck Liddell and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. But, at least according to the numbers, those extra bouncers may be…
Ride the (air) waves
Televisions, movie theaters, and stages beware. The resurrection of radio is at hand. The RadioActive Players named for their proximity to Diablo Canyon and for the fact that they produce radio plays are airing their first show, The Petrified Forest, on KCBX on May 28. Their goal is to not only entertain listeners, but also…
