Cover Story
Barmageddon!
Is our downtown on the brink of being destroyed, or is it about to gain a new crowning jewel? That seems to be the either/or dilemma at the heart of a brewing fight between public advocacy group Save Our Downtown and SLO Brew owners Todd Newman and Hamish Marshall, who plan to move SLO Brew…
Supes: No seismic testing this year
Amid a packed house at the San Luis Obispo County supervisors chambers, the board acknowledged that there were too many uncertainties with PG&E’s proposed seismic testing to move forward this year. On Oct. 30, the board—pointing out that it has no regulatory authority over the matter—unanimously voted to send a letter to the California Coastal…
Passing along the magic!
Imagine you were an insider working with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney during his Wings period. You had the world by the tail, winning a Grammy for “Rockestra Theme” from the Back to the Egg album and tour. Would you give it up to pursue other endeavors or stick with the fame machine? Before you answer, maybe…
Good, dirty fun
Look. Let’s be adults here. I can admit that I wasn’t at my usual best (which is generally quite good) on Oct. 28, when I woke up five hours too late and several whiskey shots too hungover to even think about running five whole Ks in the Laguna Lake Mud Mash, as I foolishly promised…
DNA drama
Science and technology aren’t normally hot topics to get you rushing to the theater. An unsung heroine written out of one of the most competitive chases in the history of science, however, is certainly worth your attention. Playwright Anna Ziegler combines scientific subject matter with theatrical mastery. Her play Photograph 51 was named one of…
A temple made of words
I came to poetry as a monk to his temple,” writes Sam Hamill. The poet, peace activist, translator, and founder of Denver’s Copper Canyon Press seemed to consciously reject pat answers in a recent e-mail interview with New Times. Before responding, Hamill appeared to turn a question over several times in his mind, answering several…
Playing for keeps
For $90, you can have your very own slave. That’s not in the year 1670. Not in the year 1890. It’s now, in the year 2012. Ninety dollars is the average going rate for a human being in the modern age. According to dosomething.org, 80 percent of human trafficking and slavery is sexual in nature,…
Clubs: 11/1
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…
Nobilo 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
I usually love New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, but the 2011 vintage just didn’t appeal to me. That’s why I’m glad to see this bargain-priced brand releasing the 2012. It’s back to its usual good quality, and this new release is a classic New Zealand white. I loved its forward citrus flavors of grapefruit and grass,…
Alta Maria 2010 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley
“Outstanding” was my first thought upon tasting this wine. And then I tasted another very good Pinot from the same appellation and found it unequal to this one. This vintage is only the sixth for this relatively new brand by James Ontiveros and Paul Wilkins, who consistently produce ultra-premium wines from Santa Maria Valley. This…
Driven by passion
I have always admired the zealots I’ve met throughout my life. They’re the type of people who don’t conform to the standard ideas of what’s considered the norm, and their enthusiasm is inspiring. Their different values motivate them to live a life they find personally rewarding no matter how difficult the road may be that…
Bites: Attitude of gratitude
Halloween has just gone, and Thanksgiving and Christmas are on the horizon. These holidays are traditionally associated with treats and sweets. Excessive eating and a hint of gluttony are synonymous with these dates for everyone. However, the parties can prove to be a trying time, especially for people struggling with weight loss. Overeaters Anonymous can…
Anthony Scott
NEW TIMES Who is your customer base on the weekends? SCOTT Mostly Poly and Cuesta students who live at Stenner Glen and Mustang Village. NEW TIMES Is this a rowdy crowd? SCOTT I’d say so. Yes. NEW TIMES What is the most entertaining experience with a customer you’ve ever had? SCOTT Entertaining? Usually…
American horror show
This, right now, is the part in the horror movie where I typically walk away. Not because I forgot to turn off the oven or have anywhere better to be, but because I’m so scared I pissed myself. And that’s where I’m at with the presidential election. You see, I’m not rich. I don’t have…
Capps is effective
Before moving to California, I spent nearly 20 years in Washington, mostly working for congressmen from Iowa and South Dakota. One thing I learned was the importance of knowing whether or not a member of Congress is truly effective. Effective representatives are not the flashy ones who make lots of speeches. Instead, effective representatives are…
Let’s end this con job
As we see another presidential election campaign come to a close, I must admit that this one had more real political theater than any campaign I can remember. The sight of Romney and Obama circling each other with drawn microphones during the town hall debate is something for the history books. As a middle-aged voter,…
Pray for a new government
The reason our president blamed the slaughter of four Americans on American soil on an anti-Muslim video created by an American in America was to justify the Muslim extremists’ attack. He once again searched for an isolated free-speech example to blame America for a Jihadist terror massacre. Now the world knows the video had nothing…
Lincoln’s speech still resonates today
This election, this moment in history, reminds me of Abraham Lincoln’s words in the Gettysburg Address. There is much at stake, and much can be lost. Romney understands wealth and how the rich can hold onto and grow their wealth. He showed in his 25 years running Bain Capital that he was willing to sacrifice…
Who’s next for a foot shooting?
Good morning, boys and girls, and welcome back to our show, Which Republican Has Shot Himself in the Foot Today? As you remember, last week it was Rep. Todd Akins’ turn to shoot himself in the foot with the remark, “legitimate rape.” No one but Mr. Akins seems to know what that means. This week,…
Strzepek is for students
Throughout my time living here as a Cal Poly student, I have tried to make a positive impact on San Luis Obispo. I have chosen to be heavily involved as a student leader not only to benefit myself and fellow students but also affect positive change in the community. I believe that not only cooperation…
Monning is for students
As a student, SLO County resident, and the president of the Cal Poly Democrats, I believe it important our community understand that students support State Senate Candidate Bill Monning. Assemblyman Monning is a strong supporter of Proposition 30, the most tangible issue on the ballot for students this year. Last month, he visited Cal Poly’s…
Don’t choose ignorance
Our nation had approximately two dozen colleges when Lincoln signed the Morrill Act in 1862, providing public funding so that a university education might someday be available for all who had the will and the capacity for it. The result was the best educational system in the world and a realization of Enlightenment ideals. Today,…
Cougars and Mustangs
Oh, for heaven’s sake! It’s November already! My candy bowl emptied a long time ago! Wait, what? A column? … Oh! That’s right. Well, come on in; ignore the plethora of beer cans—yes, I was watching Signs; not every M. Night Shyamalan movie is bad! Ugh, just sit down, all right? One minute. Firstly, do…
Cuesta’s last stand
It all started with a short but devastating letter. After three years of warnings and a stint on “probation,” Cuesta College received word in February that the institution had one final chance to prove to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) that the school deserved to exist and that grades earned at…
Innovative eyewear
Look out for new inventions in San Luis Obispo! Located in a spacious second story suite in the back of the same building that houses the upscale apparel retailer Patrick James, Sanpei Optics is an innovative eyewear company with brand-new, high-tech designs for sunglasses. The eyewear products include two different designs, known as I.M.I.O. (for…
A Boys and Girls Club reborn
Give a kid three hours of unsupervised free time every day, and he or she will probably get into all kinds of trouble. The possibilities are endless: fights, matches, dangerous intersections, creepy grown-ups, stores with rows of candy that can quickly and quietly be shoved into pockets. Many older kids with nothing better to do…
Bowl me over
Sorry Los Osos, if you want to flush excrement down the new sewer system, you’re going to have to get new toilets. At the Oct. 23 San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting, the board unanimously approved the Water Conservation Implementation Plan, which requires residents who live in the Los Osos wastewater service area…
A switch in time
On Aug. 24, State Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian (R-San Luis Obispo) joined Bill Berryhill (R-Ceres) as the only GOP members of the California Assembly to vote in support of establishing a voluntary tax contribution to fund the provision of school supplies for homeless children. Interestingly, Achadjian cast his vote earlier in the day against the very…
Battered Paso schools brace for possible needs
Already anemic, the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District can’t afford to trim spending any further, so if voters reject a statewide sales tax increase, Paso’s schools will need to find alternative funding sources—and fast. That was the general consensus at a roundtable discussion held Oct. 30 with the district board of trustees, prospective candidates,…
Grieving family sues over lack of crosswalk
Tricia Rittger was crossing Shell Beach Road on her way to dinner at the Cliffs Resort when a vehicle struck and killed her on Nov. 19, 2011. She left behind a daughter and husband who argue that her death could have been prevented if a crosswalk and proper signage had been in place from an…
Wallace Group ‘resigns’ from Oceano CSD
It’s been the focus of increased scrutiny for its role in a 2010 sewage spill at the Oceano treatment plant, but as of November, the Wallace Group will no longer be the Oceano Community Services District’s engineer. On Oct. 15—the same day New Times interviewed John Wallace for an Oct. 18 cover story—Wallace sent a…
How is the plastic bag ban affecting you?
Todd Roth bartender “Doesn’t affect me, as I walk everywhere, and I have a backpack.” Phil Taggart freelance video “It’s a great idea to do something to stem the tide of stuff we are making so it doesn’t go back into the earth.” Marsh De La O writer “I hope to be affected by it.…
