Cover Story
Are movie theaters dying? A look at the struggle to keep local cinema alive
When’s the last time you were in a movie theater? Pre-pandemic? Longer? Even before COVID-19 temporarily closed theaters, the industry was struggling, forced to compete with VHS and later DVD rentals, then dealing with rental distribution innovators like Redbox. And then came the most ubiquitous way we consume film media, streaming services like Netflix, Amazon…
Killer Heat runs out of steam fast
KILLER HEAT What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Bulbul? Skip it What’s it worth, Caleb? Stream it Where’s it showing? Prime Director Philippe Lacôte expands upon a short story by crime novelist Jo Nesbø in Killer Heat, which follows a troubled private detective (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is flown in to Greece from the U.S.…
Find Me Falling
What’s it rated? TV-14 When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Netflix Harry Connick Jr. stars as John Allman, a grumpy, failing rock star looking for solace on the beautiful island of Cyprus, in this witty and charming second-chance romance. Allman escapes to a quaint house at the top of a cliff after a disappointing comeback album.…
Kiki’s Delivery Service
What’s it rated? G When? 1989 Where’s it showing? Max Everyone knows October is the start of the spooky season, so why not start the month off with a bang and watch a movie about a young witch, her mother’s broomstick, and her black cat that happens to also be her best friend. Kiki’s Delivery…
Verdin Marketing’s 24-Hour Give provides SLO nonprofits with free rebranding
Rebrand an entire organization—but do it in 24 hours. Verdin Marketing asked community members to vote on their favorite organizations to receive this year’s 24-Hour Give, which offers one local nonprofit a total revamp of its logo, website, and even its name. Mary Verdin, president of Verdin Marketing, said the project pulls together a team…
SLO County, HASLO sued for alleged elder abuse, wrongful death
A Riverside County man is holding San Luis Obispo County, the city of Paso Robles, the Housing Authority of SLO, Paso Robles Nonprofit Housing Corporation, and Affordable Housing Paso Robles accountable for allegedly causing the death of his aging mother. Chet Dotter Senior Apartment Community resident Carolyn Jane Roach-Hendershot, the 80-year-old mother of plaintiff Daniel…
SLO County fishermen sue offshore wind farm developers again
Offshore wind farm resistance is ramping up along the Central Coast as protesters plead with SLO County’s local governments to join them in opposition and file lawsuits to slow the planning process. The Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization and the Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen’s Association filed an initial lawsuit against offshore wind developers and…
Paso Robles locals nominated for Wine Enthusiast awards
Meet Jason and Joel Connect with Jason Haas, second-generation proprietor of Tablas Creek Vineyard, at tablascreek.com. The winery is located at 9339 Adelaida Road in Paso Robles. Tasting appointments are available daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To reach Joel Peterson, executive director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, with a new location…
SLO County Supervisors reject appeal of project near Pismo Preserve
A Pismo Beach community’s hope to preserve part of the rural landscape bordering the Pismo Preserve was dashed when the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors denied its appeal of a construction project in the area. Longview Avenue neighborhood group Save the Canyon said the project would impact thousands of people’s enjoyment of the…
Austin-based country and Americana act Silverada plays The Siren on Oct. 4
It takes guts to rebrand an already popular product—all that name recognition can disappear in a puff of smoke—but for Mike Harmeier, the time was right as he and his band recorded their ninth album, Silverada, adopting the album name for the band itself. “Back in the day, all we wanted to do was play…
Arroyo Grande staff to redraft cell tower ordinance
After Verizon Wireless proposed to install a new 5G cellphone tower 100 feet away from the Sunrise Terrace retirement community, towers became a hot topic at Arroyo Grande City Council meetings, prompting the city to do some policy updating Arroyo Grande Planning Manager Andrew Perez informed the Planning Commission during a Sept. 16 meeting that…
SLO County California Writing Club chapter hosts author lectures, poetry book celebration
Get writing Residents are invited to attend a free writing workshop and lecture hosted by the California Writers Club at the Santa Maria Public Library on Oct. 13 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit coastaldunescwc.com. Based in Nipomo, the Coastal Dunes chapter of the California Writers Club (CWC) will be celebrating…
Atascadero school board candidates discuss teacher retention, banned books
Finding qualified special education teachers is becoming more difficult, according to the candidates for the Atascadero Unified School District board. “Within our district, we have a high number of students that have [accommodation plans], and it is a massive challenge to make sure that we are meeting all of their needs,” candidate and incumbent Matthew…
Cal Poly professor leads music lecture ahead of Festival Mozaic recital
Festival Mozaic’s 2024 Artist in Residence John Novacek will present a solo piano recital at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. The performance will follow a free pre-concert lecture with Cal Poly music professor Alyson McLamore at 1 p.m. Both events will take place at Hancock’s Patty Boyd…
Charles Varni is good for Oceano
I joined the Oceano Community Services District’s (OCSD) board of directors in 2022 because I am committed to enhancing the community’s quality of life. I put personal commitment, time, and energy into community service. These are core reasons why champions for Oceano like SLO County 4th District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding, OCSD Director Allene Villa, and…
Oceano Train Depot offers free exhibits with October’s Model Rail Days
The SLO Model Railroad Association will host its next Model Rail Days program at the Oceano Train Depot with about two weekends’ worth of activities (Oct. 4 through 6, and Oct. 12 and 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day). The free series will include exhibits of working model railroads of various scales…
Israel’s pager attack was a ‘form of terrorism’
The glee that Mr. Donegan indulges in about the remote detonations of pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon requires a certain amount of ignorance or negligence, if not arrogance and sadism (“In fight against terrorists, pagers are more targeted than bombs and bullets,” Sept, 26). It’s not funny. Leon Panetta, former head of the CIA and…
Why do we tolerate SLO County’s MAGA Circus?
The November election is now center stage, and there’s no shortage of far-right candidates and pundits shouting “Make America Great Again” and whizzing around like clown cars in a circus. And of course, Donald Trump is the MAGA Circus ringmaster. Seriously, folks—why does anyone listen to the MAGA refrain, which is little more than a…
Little lies and liaisons
At least one school board candidate in North County seems pretty convinced about one thing: Porn has no place in school libraries. “I believe some of the literature that is being approved has gotten a little outside what is appropriate,” Joey Arnold said during a recent Atascadero Unified School District board candidate forum. “I am…
SLO’s Gala Pride and Diversity Center faces financial issues, could close
The Gala Pride and Diversity Center recently announced that it is facing financial hardship after years of dwindling donations, potentially forcing the LGBTQ-plus nonprofit to close its doors. Board President Julia Thompson posted a letter on Instagram on Sept. 30 that said the Gala Pride and Diversity Center was facing “a critical financial situation that…
