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Check out our 2010 Best of SLO County Special Publication.
Cal Poly club bans gay couples from event
Cal Poly officials are running damage control after members of the Los Lecheros Dairy Club posted an event notice on Facebook that openly prohibited gay couples from attending. “So bring a date!! (If you bring a date it must be someone of the opposite sex),” the site read. One Cal Poly student, an officer with…
What was your most exotic trip?
Darrell Eggert grocery employee “Probably Prague. There are a lot of exotic ladies there. They are fun and beautiful. Patrick Courson student “My most exotic trip was to Paris when I was young. My most memorable moment is when I was able to hangout with another kid around my age of 11 or 12 and…
If we shadows have offended
It’s an old adage that has plagued mankind since cavemen first drew figures on their walls: What’s the difference between obscenity and art? The U.S. Supreme Court will also ponder this question when they hear a case focused on repealing a California ban on selling and renting “ultra-violent” video games to minors. The respondents—the…
Cities cry uncle
2010 may be the year of the angry voter, a prospect that strikes fear into the hearts of incumbent politicians. But voters are not alone: City and county governments are preparing to strike back against what is being called state banditry of local funds. In the worst economy most people can remember, the California legislature…
What’s the rush?
Sometimes it seems California Democrats and Republicans are playing the coming election season like an underground card game: making bluffs, calling bluffs, and going all in. But when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called a special election to fill a coveted Senate seat, it stuck five counties in the 15th Senate District with a multi-million-dollar bill, and…
SLO cops plead guilty, remain on paid leave
Two San Luis Obispo police officers pleaded guilty in federal court of illegally bringing pharmaceuticals into the U.S. from Mexico. Both remain on administrative paid leave. Officers Daniel McDow and Armando Limon accepted a plea agreement April 28, nearly eight months after the two were detained at the San Ysidro border checkpoint as they attempted…
Correction
Harley Voss (not Hoss) is one of the SLO County code-enforcement officers quoted in the story “Field of broken dreams” (April 29).
Whooping cough jumps
County health officials are investigating an uncommon jump in the number of cases of a potentially deadly respiratory infection in the community. According to the San Luis Obispo County Health Department, they are investigating several confirmed cases of pertussis—commonly known as “whooping cough,” named for the high-pitched noise sufferers make during coughing fits. Symptoms include…
Two arrested in ICE bust
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents made two arrests after serving a search warrant for the sale and manufacturing of fraudulent documents. According a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department press release, ICE agents served two warrants in San Miguel and Paso Robles resulting in the arrests of 27-year-old Olivia Hernandez Ortiz and 33-year-old…
Cock-a-doodle death again
Three men were arrested and more than 600 fighting roosters were seized May 4 in a major raid against cockfighting in Nipomo, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff deputies, investigators from the Humane Society, and Santa Barbara County Sheriff personnel swept onto a farm at 1120 Grace Lane. The farm was…
City headed for cliff
The city government of San Luis Obispo may be headed for financial doom if a five-year forecast report presented to the city council May 4 turns out to be correct. The report predicts an ever-increasing hole in the city budget—a structural deficit that may grow larger if employee costs continue to increase. It estimates the…
No more once through
State water regulators put the official kibosh on the preferred cooling system for coastal power plants. Newly adopted regulations phasing out so-called once-through cooling systems are certainly going to have an impact on SLO County’s local power plants and may be enough to force the retirement of one. The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously…
Art After Dark
ARTS Space Obispo: 570 Higuera #165 (SLO Creamery) 544-9251. “KIDNEY DAZE: Paintings by Isaac Wollman” features colorful paintings by an accomplished local artist awaiting a kidney transplant. More info: caringbridge.org/visit/isaacwollman. Coalition: 974 Monterey St. 595-1010. “One M Gee” is an art exhibition featuring seven young local artists with varying styles, from fashion photography to graffiti…
Bike-rrific!
It’s a sweet day—sunny, 85 degrees, just enough breeze to remind you it’s spring. I’m cruising with my amigo Keith Bond up Hwy. 101, top down, chugging over the grade and heading to the Bike Lane Gallery where a bevy of one-of-a-kind custom bikes, interactive bike-related sculptures, and original bike-themed artwork is on display through…
Painting planets
Six months ago, 29-year-old Isaac Wollman led a fairly normal life, by most standards. A talented artist who studied at the San Francisco Art Institute, Wollman spent his time painting, surfing, and taking courses at Allan Hancock College to become a counselor. That changed on Thanksgiving Day, when Wollman began coughing up blood and had…
Romance and hurricanes
When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August of 2005, the country and world watched, and mourned. People sent money and supplies. And after a month-long flurry of coverage and attention, people seemed to forget New Orleans, assume that it would rebuild, somehow. Photographer Peggy Jansson has photographs that contradict this expectation and is exhibiting…
The Kings of Avila Beach
They’re France’s best selling act ever, and they’re perhaps the best known non-English speaking group in the U.S. The Gipsy Kings, whose members, according to press materials, “hail from the gypsy settlements in Arles and Montpelier in the south of France,” is fronted by lead singer Nicolas Reyes, son of famed Flamenco singer José Reyes,…
Wine and dine with wildlife
Animal lovers, don’t miss “A Wild Night in the Vines,” an opportunity to see, touch, and learn about exotic animals, which world-renowned zoologist Jack Hanna will host. The fundraising event to benefit Zoo to You, a facility and educational program devoted to conserving endangered animals, will be held at Sylvester Winery in Paso Robles, tucked…
Try this delicious, cheap, healthy restaurant in SLO
When I lived in San Francisco in the ‘90s, I always wanted to write a guide to finding the best cheap places to eat. Not one of the many good eateries I frequented was part of a fast-food chain, but each provided a fine meal for five dollars (not including drinks). Ranking among the best…
Sierra Madre 2007 Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley
Sierra Madre, a historic Santa Maria Valley vineyard, was sold several times since it was first planted in 1971, and is now owned by Doug and Jan Circle. Previously, it was strictly the name of the vineyard, not a brand. But that name is so highly regarded by wine aficionados, creating a label with that…
Clubs
Goin’ South … CAFÉ ANDREINI: 131 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 481-6117. Thurs.: Live music at 6pm. COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF: 750 Five Cities Dr., Pismo Beach, 773-6420. Music Night every Sat., 6:30-8:30pm. DOLPHIN BAY/LIDO: 2727 Shell Beach Road, Shell Beach, 773-4300 or TheDolphinBay.com. ELMO’S NIPOMO SALOON: 131 South Thompson Road, Nipomo, 929-5362. Karaoke…
Children and grief
A phone rings at Hospice of San Luis Obispo County. The caller from the school district office reports, “One of our students was involved in an auto accident last night and did not survive.” Following the news of a sudden death, the shock can be intense for students, teachers, and parents. Children often see themselves…
Unite to live
The current economic realities have squeezed virtually every nonprofit in the country. United Way of San Luis Obispo County continues to be challenged on the ways and means we fulfill our mission to our local agencies, programs, donors, and volunteers, as we find ourselves competing for dwindling resources. Though competition provides the opportunity for bringing…
WHO tells it like it is
Permit me to address Tea Party members: Thank you so much for sharing your righteous indignation toward Obamacare. I’m sure you’ve convinced the majority of Americans that since you have health insurance that covers you and your families, everyone else in the country can access the same coverage. As for the 32 million Americans who…
Feeding ban makes no sense
For mean-hearted lying stupidity it’s hard to beat SLO’s ban on duck feeding. Overpaid bureaucrats who incubated this monster claim it’s ducky birth control to fight water pollution. Nonsense! It’s legislated starvation to get rid of the ducks. Pollution is only a pretext. These are domesticated ducks. They depend upon being fed: no feed, no…
Don’t drive, pedal
May is National Bike Month. Local bicycle events are planned all month long, including an executive commuter challenge, bike breakfasts, a bike art gallery, and many more. See rideshare.org for details. Beyone the month of special activities, the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition regularly offers free bicycle confidence workshops, now has a Bike Kitchen where…
Teixeira’s the one
We need a 4th District supervisor with common sense, the ability to simplify problems, is an advocate for the community, and who follows through and completes the work. This requires the ability to remain neutral, hear all sides of an issue, build bridges of cooperation and communication between various departments, and unifying all parties to…
Kokkonen’s the one
At a recent COLAB dinner, Matt Kokkonen arrived early, positioned his truck and a large sign, and then took command of the big tent’s doorway. He greeted everyone who entered and at the closing offered his yard signs. Etta Waterfield worked the refreshment area and the tent floor. Notably absent was Katcho Achadjian: COLAB people…
Guthrie’s the one
Jim Guthrie is the only candidate for the 4th District Board of Supervisors seat who has been elected to public office. Jim’s nine years as a planning commissioner and city councilman have given him the legislative experience we need in this crucial economic time.
Take a hike, off-roaders
Shame on the Pismo Beach and Grover Beach city councils for advising the Air Pollution Control Board not to take any action on the issue of the PM10 pollution of the air in Oceano and the Nipomo Mesa. They claim the Oceano Dunes State Vehicles Recreation Area (the source of the PM10) brings money in. So what?…
Mixed messages
I’m having trouble trying to reconcile the mixed messages I keep getting from the state parks. On one hand, they fostered a big beach cleanup in honor of Earth Day, yet they want to hold themselves exempt from the smoking ban along our beaches. Go figure! Here’s a message to kids from the state parks’…
Do away with public education
As we all know, government doesn’t work. The best way to accomplish anything in the United States is through the free market system. We need to fight against government intrusion into our lives and especially into our wallets. With this in mind, I would like to offer a modest proposal to end the crisis in…
Linda Collison, Owner, Esquire News
NEW TIMES: How long has Esquire News been in Pismo Beach? COLLISON: We’ve been around for over 40 years, and you’ll be hard pressed to find another shop like this nowadays. NEW TIMES: What do you offer that is different from corporate magazine stores? COLLISON: We offer a sense of personality and friendship. We…
Suck on that!
Gather around children and let uncle Shred tell you a story. It’s a story of intrigue and laughter and of our state government rigging the election system like they’re betting on a fucking horse. In this story everyone’s just as guilty as the ones they point their crooked fingers at with perfectly manicured nails. Gov.…
