Cover Story
Pension tension
When city residents convene with government officials for a special public meeting, they’re often loud—even rambunctious—with citizens seizing the chance to weigh in on a local issue. But on the evening of Oct. 5, the several dozen residents gathered at Ludwick Community Center were silent. Occasionally glancing down at the paperwork city staff handed out…
Sand and Sans Liege
The beach is so beautifully deserted this time of year, isn’t it? Ditch the tourists and head to Pismo Beach this October for a taste of pickpocket, adversary, or perhaps a little fool’s errand. No, these aren’t swanky new cocktails made with ingredients you’ve never heard of—they’re wines, of course! Sans Liege—known for their spunky…
Meet Foremost’s chef besties
Friends, foremost Are you digging what these chefs are putting down? Go say, “Hey.” Foremost Wine Company is located at 570 Higuera St. in SLO and open for dinner Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. Happy hour is 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday…
Indie innovator Andrew Bird plays the PAC
Andrew Bird may be an acquired taste, but those who have acquired it are continually blessed as this Chicago-born, LA-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and indie music hero reinvents and extends himself in new and wondrous ways. Classically trained in the violin, he’s explored small-group swing with the Squirrel Nut Zippers, jazz with Kevin O’Donnell’s Quality Six,…
Six sexual assaults reported to Cal Poly
While a new academic year at Cal Poly is just getting started, the university is already fielding multiple reports of sexual assaults that allegedly occurred on and off campus. Between Aug. 28 and Oct. 1, Cal Poly police received six reports of sexual assault or misconduct, according to police logs. Those included two reports of…
SLO Rep’s Rabbit Hole explores the aftermath of loss, grief
Healing SLO Repertory Theatre’s production of Rabbit Hole runs through Oct. 22. Tickets range from $20 to $35. Martinis will be for sale at the bar for both shows on Oct. 21. Visit slorep.org for more information. What on Earth do you do the day after the worst thing imaginable happens? Because that day will…
California citizens far and wide, HELP!
Call the governor today asking him to veto SB 649 (the cell tower bill) at (916) 445-2841! It becomes law if not vetoed by Sunday, Oct. 15. This bill passed mid-September in spite of bi-partisan opposition. California spoke out against this bill (more than 250 cities, 47 counties). It gives authority to the wireless industry…
Cayucos Fire Department doesn’t have a chief
As Cayucos tries to dissolve its fire department and pass emergency response duties over to San Luis Obispo County, it faces a staffing shortage that makes it difficult to respond to some emergency calls. Cayucos Fire Protection District board President Steve Beightler said the board was notified one day before its Oct. 5 meeting that…
Take responsibility for the results of your actions
Everyone agrees on the importance of the First Amendment right to free speech, but few acknowledge that this right embodies a responsibility for what one says. For example, in the local debate over the closure of Diablo Canyon, those speaking out in favor of the closure must bear the responsibility for any negative social, economic,…
Election for second Paso Robles water district nears end
A push by more than 200 property owners in North County to form a second water district over the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin will reach its finish line on Oct. 17, the last day of the district’s mail-in election. The proposed Estrella-El Pomar-Creston (EPC) Water District covers roughly 38,000 acres around Paso Robles, and if…
Delusional apologists for leftist violence
BY AL FONZI There’s something deeply wrong in American culture as the events of Oct. 1 so aptly demonstrate. The violence perpetrated against innocents in Las Vegas defies explanation even a week later, with no definitive reason for “why?” Pundits and political opportunists have wasted no time in politicizing a tragedy for hundreds of families…
Los Osos woman organizing phone bank to help Puerto Rico’s hurricane victims
As she talked about the days following the Category 5 hurricanes that devastated the island of Puerto Rico, Grisel Puig-Snider had to pause to collect herself. Puig-Snider, a Los Osos resident who was born and raised in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, then said that she spent the seven days after the hurricane made…
Tell us what you really think
Online comments tend to show people’s true colors, eh? I guess people are just more comfortable letting their hate flag fly when an actual human being isn’t standing in front of them, looking hurt or glaring in disgust at their spittle-infused, bile-filled “opinions.” Last week’s cover story about locals affected by President Donald “Mexicans are…
Atascadero ‘just says no’ to cannabis dispensaries and commercial cultivation
The Atascadero City Council unanimously passed a cannabis ordinance on Oct. 10 that will ban brick-and-mortar dispensaries in city limits as well as cannabis cultivation sites of more than six plants. The city will allow testing facilities and mobile deliveries to city residents. After several months of public outreach, the councilmembers decided to react conservatively…
How do you feel about SLO changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day?
Maxim Kali student “If it makes people feel better, it’s fine. But it doesn’t affect me much.” Tina Tosetti scientist “I like it the way it is and don’t see a reason to change.” Garrett Mattrocci student “I love it. Columbus Day is pretty much a sham anyway.” Jazmin Verde retail worker “I like it.…
Correction:
The Oct. 5 story, “Paso women faced terrifying ordeal at Vegas concert shooting,” incorrectly spelled the first name of Erika Taylor.
Paso Robles woman wins Emmy for video editing on RuPaul’s Drag Race
Award winning To check out Emmy winner Jamie Martin’s work, visit logotv.com to stream episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race. It was the early 2000s and a young Jamie Martin was hours in to editing her video project for her English class at Paso Robles High School, with more work still ahead. This is when Martin…
Help is here
Get what you need Resources for local victims and survivors of the Las Vegas shooting:• SLO County Victim Witness Assistance Center: 805-781-5821, slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/District-Attorney/Victim-Witness-Assistance-Center.aspx• California Victims Compensation Board:1-800-777-9229, victims.ca.gov When Stephen Paddock decided to carry out one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent American history from his 32nd-story suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and…
The power of music
Imagine being born blind, but with perfect pitch. That’s the real life story of Rachel Flowers, who was born premature and with vision impairments, but with a strong gift for music. The documentary, Hearing is Believing, which follows Flowers’ journey, screened at the San Luis Obispo Film Festival in March and is now available for…
Protecting land
About 20 miles east of the city of San Luis Obispo lies about 12,200 acres of newly protected rangeland. As of this month, the Avenales Ranch in Santa Margarita is now part of the 300,000 acres of land conserved by the California Rangeland Trust. Its protection was ensured by a conservation easement—a voluntary legal agreement…
Behind the scenes
It’s already that time of year when Central Coast artists allow admirers of their work to check out their homes and studios. The Open Studios Art Tour kicks off Oct. 14 and 15 and then goes into the following weekend on Oct. 20 and 21 as well. The event is put on by Arts Obispo…
Alt lit
While the Palm Theatre has been around for years to bring locals lesser-known films, the SLO Library is now doing the same for books that fall outside of the mainstream. Book lovers can meet up-and-coming local authors at the first Indie Author Day on Oct. 21from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SLO Library.…
Real-world experience
Based on the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) law passed by the state Legislature in 2002, Community Choice Energy programs started taking off in 2010 and are now rapidly proliferating. Community Choice programs have empowered local communities to decide where their electricity comes from and enhanced the economic vitality of the regions where they have been…
Re-envisioning a Big Sur getaway
Look who’s back The Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge leading to Big Sur will re-open to the public toward the end of the day on Oct. 13. For more Big Sur road and travel updates, visit bigsurcalifornia.org. My compact car is packed with way more stuff than two people need for an overnight camping trip as the…
The right to protest can be stripped from us if we aren’t careful
In the Oct. 5 issue of New Times, Robert Cuddy had an opinion piece titled, “A theory about violent protesters.” He develops many thoughts that were quite perceptive, but I have to at least partially disagree with his central premise that black costumed and sometimes violent Antifa protesters against the far right/fascist right are probably…
Green Gobles
Nature is the best teacher: Plan to attend the Chumash Kitchen-Acorn Awakening at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden Oct. 29 and learn to eat seasonally like never before! Presented by two Chumash chefs, Violet Cavanaugh and Janette Acosta, the class centers on how to harvest and prepare delicious acorn dishes (for information, go to…
