Cover Story
Winning Images 2008
While the nation held its breath and waited for the results of this year’s presidential elections, a smaller group of people—local photographers from all walks of life—were also on pins and needles, biding their time until the results of New Times’ 13th annual Winning Images contest were announced. With 493 entries this year, the judges…
Mr. Tenacity
Everybody had to start somewhere, but when most John Hiatt fans think of his “early days,” they think 1987 and Bring the Family, his album with Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe, and Jim Keltner. Little do they know his many travails! Hiatt, who learned to play guitar at 11, was dabbling in bands such as The…
Clubs
Goin’ South … BILL’S PLACE: 112 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 489-9989. Fri.-Tues.: Karaoke. CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, Shell Beach, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. Live music on Sat. from 1-5pm and Sun. Jazz from 11am-3pm. Mon. and Tues.: Louie Ortega. DOLPHIN BAY/LIDO: 2727 Shell Beach Road, Shell Beach, 773-4300 or TheDolphinBay.com. Mon. and Wed.:…
Art After Dark
Nov. 7, 6 to 9 p.m. San Luis Obispo ARTS Space Obispo: 570 Higuera #165 (SLO Creamery) 544-9251 or artsobispo.org. Super Duper Zine Show curated by Cause & Effect Magazine editor Ben J. Biesek. Reception and reading. Coalition: 974 Monterey St. 595-1010 – Permanent pieces by Mike Giant and Alex Rohrig installations by Jeff Claassen,…
The art of democracy
New Times What are you doing today for Halloween? Bryan [Laughs] I am working like crazy. I have two art shows coming up. New Times What is the second show? Bryan It’s in San Jose and opens a week after the Steynberg one. It’s the show that is related to the Art of Democracy project.…
Saddle up your Schwinn
Brooklyn-based sculptress Amanda Browder is bad at sports. She litters bridges with 30-foot pencils, cuts square holes in gallery walls, and mobilizes artists to sweep the streets of Chicago, a rhythmic gesture of love and comment on the nature of gentrification and neighbors. And, in a San Luis Obispo first, on Nov. 7 she’ll be…
The little squash- blossom whorls that could
Six years ago, a new town arose from the sulky fantasies of an angst-ridden parent watching her daughter transition from childhood to adolescence. The borough was called Mushroomville, a matriarchal community where mothers could put aside their shoes and housekeeping duties and focus upon the task of teaching survival tactics to their daughters. Leigh Barbier’s…
Sebeka 2007 Chardonnay Western Cape
The sleek cheetah on the label was designed to evoke the South African landscape, but it’s what’s inside that will make you say, “Wow.” That was my first reaction to its unexpected pleasure. Fragrant with delicious aromas and flavors of ripe apple, pear, and nectarine nicely nuanced with Meyer lemon and honey notes, it’s barely…
Hug Cellars 2007
This outstanding red Rhone cuve e is winemaker Augie Hug’s salute to France’s Chateauneuf-du-Pape. A blend of 55 percent Grenache, 40 percent Mourvedre and 5 percent Syrah, this silky red is graceful despite its power. Layered and complex, it’s lush with aromas and flavors of plums, black cherries, blackberries, earth, and leather, highlighted with an…
The flying winemaker
It’s impossible to imagine a winemaker’s workload during harvest, whether they’re producing wines for a small artisan brand or a large production winery. In fact, most of the Central Coast’s artisan brands are made by winemakers who work at larger wineries. Not that they’re gluttons for punishment the job covers their bills so they can…
Not quite dry
I’m a Cal Poly student and want to point out one thing: I do not in any form condone what has gone on at the Crops House, and am ashamed of the actions (or lack thereof) taken by the administration. However, we are not a dry campus as you pointed out, so the fact that…
Speak up
Thank you for the excellent article by Kathy Johnston on SLAPP suits (“Shut down for speaking up,” Oct. 30). Our democracy requires more people like Colleen Enk to speak out: Otherwise, the corporations take over. The future of America depends on citizen participation—speaking out.
Be more thoughtful
Colin Rigley’s article, “What’s behind those ads?” (Oct. 30) is as misleading as the CAPS ad is confusing. The four footprints do not represent a quadrupling of the U.S. carbon footprint; they represent the quadrupling of an immigrant’s carbon footprint in the U.S. compared to that in their former home—probably true. Quoting Reshma Shamusunder as…
Ditch the political correctness
In the New Times article, “What’s behind those ads?” (Oct. 30) Colin Rigley, using two proxies, takes a run at a commercial aired by the Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS). The critics he cites reprise the tired old “greening of hate” formula served up by the Carl Pope crew nearly a decade ago to squash…
Understand our stand
Context is everything. “What’s behind those ads?” (Oct. 30) paired the following quotes in such a way as to give the reader the impression that I said something I did not: “‘We never understood why the current board of the Sierra Club would not address the population issue,’ Hull said. Andrew Christie, director of the…
Spank the Shredder
It seems to me that above any statement I’ve heard, the article that names the Crops House as “Haters” (Shredder, Oct. 30) contains the largest amount of ill-spoken aggression and hatred. I am somewhat appalled that the editors of respectable and well-read New Times would allow such filth to be published under their own brand,…
Don’t blame campus Republicans
As a member of the Cal Poly College Republicans for the last two years, I am offended by the allegation in the latest “Shredder” that the Crops House on the Cal Poly campus looked “like the College Republicans invaded Animal House in tweaker country.” That’s right. I, a Republican, am personally offended at something. For…
It was a hate crime
I commend New Times for exposing the incident that took place at the Cal Poly Crops House. I’m appalled that the Cal Poly administration is allowing these students to get away with writing a letter of apology and enabling the students to hide behind the First Amendment. What took place at the Crops House was…
Jack Cashin – Founder and President of Ultra Sound Laboratories
NEW TIMES: What’s your favorite movie that’s featured your company’s equipment? CASHIN: Well there’re lots, but I’d probably have to say either Raiders of the Lost Ark or one of the Star Wars movies. NEW TIMES: What was your motivation for getting involved in the movie business? CASHIN: I’ve always been interested in movies, and…
We need to change
Change is always difficult, but our culture must change if it is to continue. There is a movement that is coming from the people/citizens. It has been given a title of “green,” but I prefer “sustainable.” Basically, it is change from a high consumption rate to living within the capacity of our habitat. Resources are…
Fast facts
The Haub Gallery in San Luis Obispo will host the Art of Tennis II on Friday, November 7, featuring renowned improvisational artist Nancy Ostrovsky. Last year’s performance featured Ostrovsky creating five paintings of professional tennis players in front of a live audience, and this year Ostrovsky will paint such tennis legends as Rafael Nadal, Pete…
Cal Poly Wheelchair Foundation to host benefit
The Cal Poly student chapter of the Wheelchair Foundation will host an art-show fundraiser beginning Nov. 6 at the Art Center in San Luis Obispo. The show will feature photographs from the chapter’s trip to distribute wheelchairs in Peru last summer, and proceeds from photography sales will be devoted to donating wheelchairs to disabled residents…
Two voters and millions of downloads
San Luis Obispo businessman Cliff Branch was under the weather the day after the election and in no mood to claim much credit for what was clearly a landslide, historic presidential election of Barack Obama. But at least the slightest tone of pride could be heard coming from his sore throat nonetheless. Branch and his…
Supes restrict mobile home closures
People who live in mobile home parks will be able to rest a little easier with the knowledge that they can’t be tossed out of their homes if the park owner decides to sell or subdivide. On Nov. 4, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved new rules on mobile home park closures. In effect, the…
County to settle sex suit
The county has tentatively agreed to settle the lawsuit in which a local woman claimed she was repeatedly sexually harassed, propositioned, and even threatened by a county employee. According to court documents filed in September, a woman was coerced into engaging in sexual acts with a county social worker, Anthony L’Esperance, after he threatened to…
Margarita Ranch appeal off to rough start
It took more than an hour just to summarize the reasons why the Santa Margarita Ranch housing project should not be built. No final decision was reached. SLO County supervisors worked well past their usual quitting time on Nov. 4 in order to simply begin the appeal hearing process. The 111-unit agricultural cluster subdivision a…
Change, change, change
Here’s what the people of San Luis Obispo County said with their votes on Election Day. (Positions and the names of winners are listed in bold.) In San Luis Obispo City, voters returned Mayor Dave Romero to office but gave him a somewhat different council that he predicts will be more resistant to commercial growth…
Students speak out
The half-dozen residents of Cal Poly’s Crops House have voluntarily vacated the house and it has been boarded up in the wake of a campus outcry over racist signs and symbols seen at the building. Cal Poly President Warren Baker, sharpening an earlier statement, announced the actions, as well as plans for a Nov. 12…
Was it the driver or the road?
It was by all accounts an avoidable accident. Aaron Gurican was 17 years old and riding a motorcycle without a working headlight, at night, when he was hit by a car driven by a fellow 17-year-old who had been drinking. Gurican ended up with severe head and body injuries. So who’s at fault? In a…
What’s the first thing you’d like the new President to do in office?
Dan Talmage marine industry worker “Pull out of the Middle East.” Jim Hill writer “I’d like to him to begin investigations on bringing criminal charges to officials from previous administrations.” Dan Szentesi swimming coach “Get our economy back on track.” Jim Said truck driver “Let’s just say I’d like to see him pull…
Marriage fight may go on
Nearly six months after California’s highest court made them legal, voters apparently chose to reverse course and ban same-sex marriages, casting the legal status of about 18,000 already married couples in doubt. At press time, the supporters of Proposition 8 had declared victory with a 52 percent to 48 percent lead that amounted to about…
Just the good old boys
It’s been dizzying to watch how the story New Times broke about the racism on display at Cal Poly’s Crops House has taken on a life of its own. In interviews with the college newspaper, Mustang Daily, students from the house explained the Confederate flags and noose they had on display this way: “Someone without…
