Cover Story
Yes or no? California’s ballot propositions can be confusing, so we put together a primer to help you decide
Every election cycle brings a new slew of state propositions—some of the most confusing yet consequential items on Californians’ ballots. We know how hard it is to sift through the stacks of mailers, editorials, and slanted advertising that’s pushed out for or against each measure, so ahead of the Nov. 8 election, New Times put…
On the rise country artist Joshua Ray Walker returns to The Siren
With a baby face and a 6XL frame, Joshua Ray Walker appears to be an unlikely country music hero, but his star is unquestionably on the rise. After his 2019 debut, Wish You Were Here, he hit the ground running. In 2020, Rolling Stone called him “country’s most fascinating young songwriter.” His songs certainly cut…
The Melodrama’s Scary Poppins is back onstage for a fourth time, in celebration of spooky season
A little dirt Reserve your seat to see Scary Poppins and The Villains Vaude at The Great American Melodrama by visiting americanmelodrama.com or calling the box office at (805) 489-2499. Running through Nov. 12, showtimes are Wednesday through Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 6 p.m. at 1863…
Art Center Morro Bay hosts artist talk with Larry Le Brane
Los Osos-based artist Larry Le Brane will discuss his creative process and the inspirations behind one of his latest sculptures, Largemouth Bassoon off the Hook, during an artist talk in Morro Bay. The event will be held at Art Center Morro Bay on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Le Brane’s whimsical sculpture…
SLO Symphony holds Family Fall Festival Fundraiser
On Saturday, Nov. 5, the San Luis Obispo Symphony will host its inaugural Family Fall Festival Fundraiser to benefit the group’s various education programs, including the Youth Symphony and the Instrument Petting Zoo. The event will start at noon at the Octagon Barn in San Luis Obispo. The festival will feature music, games, food, and…
Paso Robles Library Foundation receives $100,000 donation
The Paso Robles Library Foundation recently accepted a $100,000 donation from the estate of Elizabeth Van Steenwyk, a longtime library advocate, local businesswoman, and prolific author of more than 75 children’s books. Per Van Steenwyk’s wishes, the funds will be used to expand the Paso Robles City Library’s juvenile print and ebook collections, according to…
Triangle of Sadness examines the limits of wealth, beauty, and power
TRIANGLE OF SADNESS What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre SLO Swedish writer-director Ruben Östlund (The Square, Force Majeure)—in his English-language debut—delivers a wicked Palme d’Or-winning satire about social hierarchy inverted. Guests on a luxury cruise for the über-rich find…
The Watcher
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Netflix Based on a true unsolved case, The Watcher reveals the psychological torture one shadowy figure inflicts on the residents of 657 Boulevard. While outside of their price range, Dean (Bobby Cannavale) and Nora Brannock (Naomi Watts) can’t help but put a bid on their dream…
Significant Other
What’s it rated? R When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Paramount Plus Co-writers/directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen (Villains, The Stakelander) helm this sci-fi mystery thriller that begins as a pretty standard alien body-snatcher flick before it flies off the rails in a most delightful and ridiculous way. Its absurdity becomes its greatest strength and the…
The Remedy is a new venture in Paso to educate patrons on the art of cocktail crafting
Sip and study Call The Alchemists’ Garden at (805) 369-2444 from Thursdays at 4 p.m. to snag a spot at The Remedy on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays from 7 to 10 p.m. Keep up with the cocktail lounge @theremedyca. The Alchemists’ Garden in downtown Paso Robles is about to get a lot more cerebral. Make…
PACs and attack ads target Bruce Gibson in supervisor race
The waning weeks of the 2nd District San Luis Obispo County supervisor race are getting nasty. Attack ads targeting incumbent candidate Bruce Gibson are flooding local mailboxes, social media feeds, and radio airwaves. And the most vicious of the ads are not funded by Gibson’s Nov. 8 election opponent, Bruce Jones. They’re backed by two…
Committed to Oceano
My simple response to Adam Verdin’s “Open letter to the Oceano Advisory Council” (Oct. 20) is that no, I do not support nor condone any type of racist, sexist, ageist, or other negative/prejudicial stereotyping or personal attacks. I do not support such behaviors when engaged in by members of the Oceano Advisory Council (OAC), or…
Morro Bay Mayor John Headding faces off against Carla Wixom
In Morro Bay, incumbent Mayor John Headding, who has held the position for the past four years and was elected to the City Council in 2014, is running against longtime resident and business owner Carla Wixom, who previously ran for the position in 2014. New Times asked both candidates a handful of questions on several…
Pismo Beach ratifies controversial permit tied to City Council member
Clarification: This story was changed to include Scott Newton’s comments about his involvement with the Mittry Family Trust. For the second time this year, Pismo Beach City Councilmember Scott Newton is facing criticism from some of his constituents for “jumping ahead of the line” in his efforts to construct a single-family home on Naomi Avenue. One…
Anti-vaccine ideology doesn’t belong in public office
Vaccinations have long been required for participation in some settings. Children in public schools are required to be vaccinated against common childhood diseases, and have been for decades. It’s worth noting that the Supreme Court ruled that students who didn’t get vaccinated against the highly contagious disease smallpox could be denied acceptance into public and…
Paso Robles to allow recreational cannabis delivery services
Commercial cannabis is getting closer to becoming a reality in Paso Robles after the City Council approved two ordinances regarding cannabis delivery services during its Oct. 18 meeting. The first ordinance, introduced at the Oct. 4 City Council meeting, expands the zoning code to also allow commercial cannabis delivery services in the riverside corridor and…
A familiar story
Earlier this month, I marked seven decades on this planet. Had it not been for the steely resolve and diplomatic skill of John F. Kennedy, I might not have survived much beyond my first decade. Sixty years ago this week, the world stood inches from nuclear armageddon as JFK went mano a mano with Nikita…
Agriculture remains opposed to new Paso Robles basin ordinance
Local agricultural groups continue to speak out against a new proposed county ordinance regulating water use from the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, which will go before the SLO County Planning Commission on Oct. 28. The new ordinance, championed by a majority of the Board of Supervisors, would lift a basinwide moratorium on groundwater pumping by…
Dark desperation
SLO County’s so lucky to have its very own dark money political action committees that can dig in and get Nasty (yes, a capital N!) anonymously when life gets a little desperate—and the local Republic Party is capital D Desperate. Safer SLO County is one such PAC that’s spending big against incumbent SLO County 2nd…
Residents, local fire union unhappy over Cambria’s new fire chief
Cambria has a new fire chief, but not everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. During the Oct. 20 board meeting, Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) board of directors voted to appoint Justin Vincent as Cambria’s fire chief. The appointment was met with speculation from residents and the local fire union over several issues, including pay…
The Arroyo Grande Village Association aims to bring seasonal events back to the town center
Lifelong Arroyo Grande residents Krista Bandy, Laura Beth Amy, and Mindy Calmenson felt the pangs of missing out on canceled Halloween, Christmas, and Strawberry Festival activities in their hometown’s downtown. Reeling from the pandemic and a relatively inactive Arroyo Grande Village Improvement Association, the group that previously hosted festivities, the city’s economic hub became quieter…
