Cover Story
Best of SLO County 2012 – 26th Annual Readers Poll
Karts, princesses, ghosts, street fighters, and gorillas collide in this video-game-lovin’ tribute to the best SLO County has to offer
What would I find in your refrigerator right now?
Aaren Caieux student “Considering I still live in the dorms, you would most likely find some leftovers from Campus Dining and some juice.” Julian Batz U.S. Army “Probably a lot of booze.” Benny Chu graphic designer “Bacon, raw milk, and some Roma tomatoes. In my freezer, there’s about 10 pounds of hot dogs.” Nate Christian…
A very big week!
Pinch me, I’m dreaming! Lindsey Buckingham and Los Lobos in the same week? Damn straight, Skippy! More amazing still, Buckingham is playing a rare show in the historic Fremont Theatre, the same place I saw Los Lobos in 1992 as part of their Kiko tour. Pure magic! The Fremont is an incredible venue for live…
Adult playtime
This is how people break bones,” said Linnea Fritch. Hers was the lone voice of reason as Katrina Dorsey (my lovely lady wife), Marc Mayes, and I prepared to ride giant ice cubes down a steep, grassy hill for no reason whatsoever. It was definitely a dumb idea, but it was a whim that couldn’t…
The Phantom strikes again!
Have you heard of the Phantom Project yet? If not, you haven’t been reading New Times. We covered the hell out of this pop-up art show—which takes place at vacant buildings throughout SLO County—the first time it appeared on Higuera Street in downtown SLO. What can we say? The project is pure awesome, turning the…
Beyond the sea
At the Pewter Plough Playhouse, the opening of Outward Bound, directed by Anita Schwaber, is a study in contrasts. The play takes place entirely in the lounge of a British luxury liner. Its steward, Scrubby, played by George Anderson, is puttering behind the ship’s bar, with the comfortably weary gait of a man who has…
Something in the way they move
The power, beauty, and utter ubiquity of the Beatles’ music has already been widely documented. And with new interpretations of the Fab Four’s classic material still making regular appearances in popular culture, there should be nothing surprising about a ballet inspired by the music of the world’s favorite rock band. And yet there’s something revolutionary…
Clubs 5/3
Goin’ South … BRANCH ST. DELI: 203 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 489-9099. Live music Fri. from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 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…
SLO has huge berries
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. For years, wine grapes have held high court here on the Central Coast, but those glory days have come to an end. According to a 2011 crop report generated by the San Luis Obispo County Agricultural Department, it’s all about the berries: strawberries. Last year, the berry grossed more…
Bogle 2009 Zinfandel Old Vine
This consistently good, value-priced Zin always pleases. Nicely balanced, its ripe black fruit flavors are highlighted with notes of raspberries, black pepper, and spice. It’s drinkable on its own and the wine you want with a sausage and mushroom pizza, a great cheeseburger, or a meaty lasagna. It’s available at Trader Joe’s for $9.99 and…
Niner 2009 Merlot Paso Robles Bootjack Ranch
Not the biggest fan of Merlot, I opened this for a friend who loves it, and we were both impressed. Deeply hued, it’s friendly and bursting with ripe fruit flavors, yet quite nicely balanced. It tastes of blackberries and plums, nicely offset by juicy notes of blueberries and boysenberries. The lingering finish keeps you coming…
Camp Snoopy
I believe it’s either the Chinese or Japanese language where the same character means both crisis and opportunity. This interesting concept has often proved true in history, as well as in my personal life. And so it is in here. We are awoken at 8 in the morning by the guard telling us it is…
The world is your … you know
I’ve never been a zealot about oysters, but I have enjoyed them infrequently. My favorites were Kumamotos, because they’re small and delicate, easily slurped down, and complement a glass of brut or Albarino. However, my indifference toward oysters changed radically after getting to know fisherman Neal Maloney. The owner of Morro Bay Oyster Company (MBOC),…
Questions For: Tim Wall
NEW TIMES How is your trip to the states so far? WALL It’s been great, so far. I’ve been here about three to four days now; I’ve been around and have seen a lot of Northern California, the Bay and San Francisco area. It’s been great. NEW TIMES How is the climate here different…
The biggest loser
My family cut off communication with me after my first stint in jail: two years for armed robbery at the neighborhood A&P. In retrospect, I probably should have chosen a store that wasn’t owned by my second cousin. It might have lessened my odds of being recognized. But sometimes your need for a churro outweighs…
Don’t let apathy select our next leaders
Some council leadership in this election is counting on your apathy to keep them on the Paso Robles council. When you don’t vote, the minority who does vote wins. The silent majority needs to stand up, discuss issues, be counted, and be listened to to start a new beginning. By voting, you are going to…
Don’t let San Luis Obispo County development run rampant
If sheer number, size, and slickness of signs and sundry other advertising were an indication of one’s fitness for office, then Debbie Arnold, running for the position of local supervisor, could be president of the United States. But let’s be blunt here: Those signs were paid for mainly by developers, many of them out-of-state. High…
I trust Adam Hill with Grover Beach
At a time when we have really needed support at all levels, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill has been a loyal friend to Grover Beach. Adam has provided funds to our police and fire departments for critical safety equipment at City Hall and at our Trouville Community Center. He has also supported our…
We clearly need Adam Hill for supervisor
After reading your interviews with Supervisor Adam Hill (“Regarding Adam,” April 19) and his opponent Ed Waage (“The challenger,” April 26), it’s clear we need to re-elect Adam Hill. The differences between the two couldn’t be more dramatic. Adam is open and candid about his record. He tackled tough issues like pension reform to help…
This is what happened, and we’re still here!
To all of you who have asked “Whatever happened to Code Pink?” please, please read the answer in Victoria Grostick’s extremely accurate and informative explanation in the April 19 edition of New Times. Yes, Code Pink is on hiatus, but we still have lots of reasons—current wars and greed—to march and organize right here in…
Give us more credit than that
Guy Baxter has written a very thoughtful and provocative letter about his and other soldiers’ combat experience in Iraq (“Regarding Code Pink,” April 26). May I add some thoughts to this letter as the author of “Whatever happened to Code Pink?” (April 19). Although most women cannot fathom what goes on in war, it is…
Opinions should come from facts
Insults and pejoratives are not informed and fact-based opinion; they are insults and pejoratives. Therefore, I was surprised to see such a letter published in New Times (“God bless us and protect us and protect us from Democrats,” April 26). Perhaps the following fact-based opinion will be instructive and informative to Mr. Ruhge. House Republicans…
Aren’t school districts supposed to be helping students succeed?
A professional website coordinator can earn $80,000 a year or more. Designing and coding a custom app can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months at an average rate of $50 to $150 an hour, and is beyond the scope of a typical web coordinator’s job. So why, when a student performed…
This is a women’s issue, a global issue
In many cultures around the world, midwives are revered members of the community. Working autonomously, they are respected as important health care practitioners. Sadly, this is not the case in the United States. As the male-dominated medical profession rose in power, it systematically stamped out women being cared for by women. First they didn’t allow…
Exploring the power of art
Studio MPK is encouraging the creative arts in Paso Robles by offering classes for families, teens, and kids, as well as an open studio. Registration for classes is ongoing and everyone is welcome, provided there’s enough space. Erin Kenepp and her husband Michael P. Kenepp opened Studio MPK in February to enable Michael to run…
Cougars & Mustangs
You there! Yeah, you! Cuesta student! Put the paper down! I’m watching you. You’ve got just days left until finals, time that you should spend studying—and possibly weeping uncontrollably. You have neither the time nor the opportunity to listen to me tell you about the Rhapsody in Blue Cuesta Night Band Concert with Inga Swearingen…
Payback time?
Although a recent federal audit reported that the city of Atascadero misspent and failed to account for millions in disaster relief funds, the city may not have to repay a penny. The review was performed by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, an essentially toothless watchdog with no power to collect on…
Testing the waters
If all goes according to schedule, Pacific Gas & Electric could be launching the final phase of its long-awaited seismic surveys off the Central Coast by August 2012. But following the most recent Environmental Impact Report (EIR) from the California State Lands Commission—the agency PG&E is courting for the permits necessary to do the job—local…
Civil Service Commission and HR: Together again
Members of the San Luis Obispo County Civil Service Commission and the Human Resources Department seem to have kissed and made up. On April 25, commissioners unanimously approved a number of measures to repair a tumultuous relationship between the Human Resources Department and its director, Tami Douglas-Schatz. On Feb. 2, New Times reported that commissioners…
SLO City reaches two more union agreements
Two more employee unions have reached agreements with the City of San Luis Obispo that the city says will contribute to its overall plan of achieving a $3.1 million reduction in personnel costs. On April 26, the city announced it had reached an agreement with two management unions, the San Luis Obispo Police Staff Officers…
Paso adopts water plan
With any luck and a ton of teamwork, Paso Robles won’t run dry any time soon. The City Council voted unanimously May 1 to adopt the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin Management Plan, which focuses on conservation education and outreach programs, improved measurement techniques for better computer models, and assessing potential supplemental water supplies. The county…
Blakeslee: Buddhist leader?
California is set to be home to the second center blessed by the Dalai Lama in the United States, slated to be overseen by a panel of esteemed Buddhist scholars and, um, Sen. Sam Blakeslee. Blakeslee, a Republican state senator, has been pegged as an adviser for the Tibet House California. He will serve alongside…
Complaint filed over SLO arbitration vote
A state agency representing the public employees’ collective bargaining rights has filed a complaint with the City of San Luis Obispo over last August’s ballot measure to repeal binding arbitration. The complaint filed on April 13 by the Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) on behalf of the city’s police officers’ union, alleges the city didn’t…
Proposed San Miguel layoff shelved
Members of the San Miguel Community Services District Board of Directors decided they don’t want to save their budget through layoffs. District directors voted 4-1 on April 26 against a proposed layoff of district Administrative Office Supervisor Tanya Mueller. However, the directors also voted in favor of continuing a review of employee-related expenses, which could…
Filing error causes ‘Doobie Dozen’ dismissals
A pair of felony cases stemming from the infamous medical marijuana raids of late 2010 have been completely dismissed after a county prosecutor missed a deadline to file an appeal. Co-defendants Shelly and Rianna Allred are officially off the hook after San Luis Obispo County Deputy District Attorney Kelly Manderino failed to meet an April…
