Cover Story
L. Ron Hubbard’s last refuge
In Santa Barbara’s Church of Scientology, as in each such outpost worldwide, an innocuous office sits equipped but vacant. This office is located beyond shelves of shrink-wrapped books, beyond training rooms, the “comm” rooms, and a room occupied by enigmatic bowls of stones and other obscure objects. The office, with white walls and plush blue-and-gray…
Old-fashioned goodness
Walking into the 10th Street Grill recently brought back fond memories of the late ’90s when chef Rex Hale opened Pastore’s Restaurant at this location. I raved about his talent, like many of my fellow foodies in the county, and I’ll never forget his delicious cuisine. Sadly, his talent for cooking was offset by his…
What’s the truth?
Richard Gage of Berkeley has been a practicing architect for 20 years, and founded Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth in 2006. On May 29 at Cal Poly, he will present and discuss information on the collapse of the twin towers and building 7 of the World Trade Center destroyed in the Sept. 11 terrorist…
Next stop: back to the voters
Lilianna, a shy blond 8-year-old, clung to her mom’s side. “Are you happy we get to stay married?” her mom Amanda Bailey asked. “Yeah,” Lilianna answered, before burying her face in Bailey’s stomach. In fact, Bailey and Lilianna’s father are divorced. Lilianna was happy because her other parent, Laura Crandall, gets to stay in the…
Correction
A cover story on Cuesta’s drama instructor erred in describing former Vice President of Student Learning Harry Schade’s position. He is no longer with the college.
Filling the void: Jim Grant
County officials have announced the appointment of an interim county administrative officer to replace David Edge, who was dismissed during a board of supervisors meeting May 19. A 29-year veteran with the county, Jim Grant will fill in for the next three to six months, according to a release from the county. 0fficials could not…
Budget
The city of SLO is in the final stages of budget hearings to approve a 2009/2010 final budget and the outlook is grim, but, as the saying goes, it would be much worse without Measure Y funds raised in a sales tax hike. The city will hold a series of public hearings June 4, 9,…
Not your parents’ symposium
Medical marijuana, since the beginning in 1996, has been a gray area of the law, constantly redefined by court rulings and shifting law enforcement policies. In light of statements made by the Obama Administration regarding medical marijuana use, the owners of the Smoker’s Hut in Nipomo are seeking to clear the air with a little…
Former police chief on the hook for vandalism
A retired Atascadero police chief is facing a charge of vandalism stemming from a neighbor who says he has the evidence on tape. Richard “Bud” McHale, who also worked for the SLO County Probation Department, will be arraigned for a misdemeanor charge of vandalism of more than $400 in relation to damage sustained to an…
Judge lifts restraining order on Paul Brown
A Superior Court judge has lifted a restraining order issued against former SLO City Councilman Paul Brown more than a year before it would have expired. The order had required him to stay at least 50 yards away from his now ex-wife Jayne until October 2010, but Paul Brown sought to have the order lifted…
Four arrested in Starkey case
Four Cal Poly students were arrested on May 21 in connection with the death of Carson Starkey, an 18-year-old student who died of alcohol poisoning during a fraternity hazing ritual. Haithem Ibrahim, a 20-year-old from Lafayette, was charged with a felony for hazing and a misdemeanor for permitting a minor to consume alcohol. Ibrahim was…
Get it while it lasts
New Times What are you up to? Erik Austin I am excited because I was hired by Robyn Metchik of Nipomo High School Drama to come in and be a guest director for the show and I brought a lot of my Kelrik team to help me do this. The show is cool and exciting…
Striking, dancing, spinning, finding gold
Mysterious. Feminine. Ritualistic. Playful. These are adjectives that Diana Stanton and Jude Clark-Warnisher use to describe a single dance in their approaching seven-part (discounting interludes) show, Alchemy. The duo annually launches Variable Velocity’s eclectic dancers into hitherto unoccupied territories of intellectual and physical exploration, distilled from a particular theme. Last year, they danced their way…
How can San Luis Obispo be improved?
Doug Kinsey book store manager “Cultural diversity. I just think there needs to be more variety in town.” Dan Lesckness youth services “It would be nice if more people would be compassionate toward homeless people.” Bre Richardson student “Maybe have a youth center. It just seems there are a lot of kids walking around doing…
Not your average bowl-of-fruit painting
Muara Johnston describes figure drawing as Pilates for painters. Any painter, regardless of skill and experience level, can benefit from the presence of a live model from which to draw. Which is why the assistant director for the SLO Art Center selected two documentaries featuring nude models to screen in conjunction with the Art Center’s…
Sold to the highest bidder
The sour economy has led to a general decrease in consumer spending but auctions have become a popular way to find deals and turn everything from electronics to antiques into quick cash. For one local family-owned auctioneer business, the increase in demand has even required them to move shop to a larger venue. Kenneth Erpenbach,…
Legalize marriage for gay partners
As people of faith, we reaffirm our belief in the sacred worth and dignity of every human being. We know that some individuals choose to enter into loving, committed, covenantal relationships with another individual. We, as a community of faith, bless these covenants as marriages, inclusive of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. When marriages…
Blame Republicans
Play it again, Sam. You know the tune; it’s the one about “tax cuts.” Apparently it’s the only song that you and Abel and the rest of the Republicans know. The State of California is breathing its last breath and the corporate vultures are circling overhead. This is what you wanted, right? “Starve the beast”…
Board should not hound DeVaul
So we have a board of supervisors in SLO County who feel they must protect us from Dan DeVaul, a single citizen who has done nothing but help those in need in our county, something the entire board seems unable and unwilling to do. They claim they are worried about conditions at DeVaul’s ranch, yet offer…
bree valle inspires students
I am a former student of bree valle (“Drama!” May 21), but even before I was a student I was an active theatre goer. There are few other college plays that can outshine a bree production. The first show of hers I had the privilege to see, Romeo and Juliet, was so unlike any other…
Bill the breeders
Who came up with the tax rates for the proposed mosquito control district? Those rates sure don’t make much sense. A homeowner will pay the same tax as the owner of 245 acres of irrigated agriculture! Now, how is this fair? Isn’t all that standing water in irrigated fields the main reason we have mosquitoes…
What’s next: space?
Will God or evolution finally decide that this human experiment has failed? Our oceans have whirlpools the size of Texas filled with human debris. Our lakes, rivers, and oceans are contaminated with pesticides and other pollutants associated with storm runoff. We are cutting down tropical forests the size of Manhattan each and every day. We…
Don’t worry about spent-fuel casks
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s regulations governing dry storage are found in 10 CFR Part 72. These are referred to as independent spent fuel storage installations (ISFSI) and are licensed by the NRC for a period of 20 years, renewable for another 20 years. They are designed to the same earthquake standards as a nuclear power…
Forget reprocessing nuclear waste
Recently, we have seen letters touting “reprocessing” as the answer to the nation’s long-standing nuclear waste problems. As one writer put it: “I think that economically and scientifically there are few arguments that can be made against it” (Mark Eckert, the Tribune. March 31, section B4). But the Ford and Carter administrations scrapped the U.S.…
On safeguarding Diablo Canyon radioactive waste
It would be logical to assume that when the second highest court in the nation rules that a federal agency must comply with specific federal laws, that would decide the matter once and for all. Case closed. But in San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace v. the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the reality is much different.…
David Kevin Viddle
New Times: It says on your Web site (www.gladiatorpaintballpark.com) that you host special events. Bachelor parties are among them. Do you host many bachelor parties? Viddle: Oh yeah, we get at least one bachelor party a week. The brides really like it. In fact the bride (to be) gets in on the action. New Times:…
L. Ron Shredder
I’ve got the voluminous writings, the long fingernails, the anti-psychotic medications. I’ve got the long hair, the unusual theories. I’m perfectly at home in rural mobile homes, and I’m willing to coerce massive fortunes out of people. I am as prepared as I will ever be. Go ahead, worship me. Go ahead. You can start…
Beckmen 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley
This classic wine, from one of Santa Barbara County’s best producers of this variety, is beautifully crafted. Grown in Tom and Steve Beckmen’s estate vineyard, it’s a testament to their decision to farm 100 percent biodynamically. Fragrant with an array of grapefruit, lime, Meyer lemon, and orange citric flavors with a classy note of minerals,…
Adelaida 2007 Chardonnay HMR Estate Vineyard
Rich and ripe aromas and flavors of ripe apples, tropical fruit, and Meyer lemon notes are enhanced by sweet notes of vanilla, spice, and honey. It’s a very nice representation from one of Paso’s best vineyards for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. A reserve label from winemaker Terry Culton, it’s a special occasion wine you’ll want…
Feed your ears
On See America, their newest full-length CD, Still Time creates a musical travelogue that spans time and space, guiding listeners through narrative songs, hand-clappers, jazz-inflected jams, and bluesy slide guitar-driven ballads that chronicle America as it is and as we wish it to be. Though officially released at Downtown Brew 10 days ago, Still Time…
