Cover Story
Pets on deck: Check out some of the cutest faces on the Central Coast
In New Times’ first ever Pet Issue photo contest, readers submitted more than 1,000 entries of their dogs, cats, chickens, horses, bunnies, and more. A panel of five judges narrowed the slate of images down to seven winners, who each get a gift certificate from issue sponsor Lemos Feed and Pet Supply, and 11 others…
Paso Robles farm Reves de Moutons debuts its new venture Black Market Cheese Co.
Visit the farm Reves de Moutons and Black Market Cheese Co. are located at 7245 Nonpariel Road in Paso Robles. Owners Evan and Kristy Bishop offer a daily farm tour and tasting for $30, and regular tastings for $15. Hours are Friday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. by appointment only. For more…
Alice Cooper is one of three Nederlander Concerts at Vina Robles this week
Vina Robles Amphitheatre and Nederlander Concerts have a trio of great shows this week starting with comedian Hasan Minhaj, who kicked up a little controversy last month when it was revealed he’d fabricated and/or embellished some of the Islamophobic experiences he talks about in his comedy specials. Personally, I was not aware comedy had to…
Group of SLO County residents lambast new mandate for health care workers
The debate about COVID-19 vaccines and face masks that has been ongoing across the nation and in San Luis Obispo County since 2020 recently flared to life again at the county government center. At the Oct. 17 SLO County Board of Supervisors meeting, roughly a dozen residents criticized Public Health Director Penny Borenstein and her…
Joint-operated Cal Fire and county sheriff dispatch center begins construction in Templeton
SLO County broke ground on Oct. 9 and began work on a new co-located 24-hour dispatch center that will be shared between the Sheriff’s Office and the county’s Cal Fire division in Templeton, planned to be up and running in 2025. “It’s been a long time coming,” SLO County’s Cal Fire Public Information Officer Toni…
Pismo Beach looks to settle years-long developer fees battle
The Pismo Beach City Council voted to approve a consent agenda item during its Oct. 17 meeting, which would result in the city forming a settlement agreement with Pismo Beach Self Storage LP and bring an end to nearly five years of legal battles. During a Sept. 5 mediation, the two parties reached a settlement…
County Parks and Rec awaits FEMA reimbursement for storm damage
Felled trees, mud encroachment into playgrounds, broken roads, splintered and strewn branches, and a collapsed embankment. These are only some remnants of the vast array of damages inflicted by the winter storms on San Luis Obispo County’s parks and recreation system. Parks and Recreation Department Director Tanya Richardson presented a brief picture of the destruction…
Construction bids begin for North County Broadband project in Paso Robles
As Paso Robles moves forward with a newly complete City Council and new mayor, its residents will soon take a step into the future of connectivity. “The city was awarded a $2.4 million grant to install fiber optic and conduit cable for broadband internet in several miles of the city right of way,” city officials…
Oceano board member’s property received recent code violation notices
Oceano Community Services District board member Beverly Joyce-Suneson received a notice of violation from the county on Sept. 20 claiming that she had broken multiple county codes. The San Luis Obispo County Planning and Building notice stated that the department had received complaints and verified violations of county code on a property she either owns…
Night of the Living Dolls by Art and Soul SLO combines drag and theater for a one-night experience
Come to the show See the Night of the Living Dolls for yourself on Oct. 20 at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m., at Bang the Drum Brewery, 1150 Laurel Lane, San Luis Obispo. For more information on future Art and Soul SLO events, follow them on Instagram @artandsoulslo. A flash of lightning—boom ……
The Exorcist
What’s it rated? R When? 1973 Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 21 (9:15 p.m.) You’d be hard pressed to find a “Best Horror Films” list that didn’t include The Exorcist. Directed by William Friedkin (The French Connection, To Live and Die in L.A., Rules of Engagement) and adapted for the screen…
Great American Melodrama spoofs Beauty and the Beast with latest production
Performances of Trudy and the Beast, a parody of Beauty and the Beast, run through Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano. Showtimes for the local theater group’s latest production are Wednesday through Friday at 7 p.m., every Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and every Sunday at 6 p.m. The spoof…
The annual SLO Elks Lodge Haunted House & Halloween Carnival is free and open to the public
Who doesn’t love Halloween? The costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky settings appeal to so many of our psychological needs, such as the thrill of feeling like a different person through disguise, the exhilarating dopamine release of scary (but still perfectly safe) situations, and the satiating enjoyment of sugary sweets. Kids of all ages can get all…
Edwards Barn in Nipomo hosts two-day market with local artisans
The Fall Market at the Edwards Barn in Nipomo will be held on Friday, Oct. 20, from 3 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The two-day event will feature a variety of artisan booths, local vendors on-site, food opportunities, and live music. Call (805) 929-1673 for more details.…
Of diapers and dipshits
It’s a good old-fashioned slap fight at the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD), which recently made headlines due to embezzlement allegations against a former employee who purportedly added extra hours of vacation and sick time to his or her payroll, and even more egregiously pocketed cash payments to the OCSD and then zeroed out clients’…
The annual Reptile Expo slithers through SLO with exotic creatures, education, and enthusiasm
Weaving through the Madonna Expo Center demanded a level of caution over the weekend of Oct. 14, especially with a roughly 4-foot-long black-throated monitor lizard relaxing on the floor. I had to watch my step—that’s the effect of the annual San Luis Obispo Reptile Expo. Hatched in 2017 under the watchful eye and thorough networking…
SLO needs a permanent central art venue for local artists
In the Oct. 5 issue, Gini Griffin made some excellent points about the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art limiting exposure for local artists (“Something was missing from the SLO public art article”). If we must accept that SLOMA has different goals with its relatively new and official status as a museum, there is still…
SLO County chicken enthusiasts share pro tips for keeping backyard birds as healthy pets
While a dog, cat, or fish might seem like the safe and traditional options when looking to add a new member to the family, a free-range feathered friend might pique the interest of those wanting a more unconventional pet. Barbara Bullock, a longtime SLO resident and a member of the Central Coast Feather Fanciers, has…
How do marine sanctuaries actually benefit us?
Concerning your recent article, “A sanctuary in full” (Sept. 21), the questions to ask are: What have these marine sanctuaries accomplished? What have the citizens gotten for their tax money investment? In my opinion, not much. The benefits to the coast communities have been marginal at best. The Channel Islands were designated in 1980, Monterey…
The SLO Horse Emergency Evacuation Team works to save animals during disasters
Get involved For more information on how to get involved with SLO Horse Emergency Evacuation Team, visit its website at sloheet.net. Susan McElhinney has a rather unusual side gig. “[Our group] is a local all-volunteer organization founded to aid the evacuation of large animals in case of disaster,” she said. “My role is dispatcher, so…
The Dana Reserve development plan in Nipomo needs a makeover
The Dana Reserve development in Nipomo is one of the largest proposed developments in the history of SLO county. Last January, we noted the local media’s failure to accurately report on the massive project and its equally massive impacts on the environment (“The spell cast by opinions,” Jan. 12). An alternative project design had recently…
Fair Play is an-old school erotic thriller
FAIR PLAY What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? Netflix In her feature-length debut, writer-director Chloe Domont helms this erotic thriller starring Phoebe Dynevor as Emily Meyers and Alden Ehrenreich as Luke Edmunds, two analysts at One Crest Capital, a cutthroat Manhattan hedge…
Wilderness
What’s it rated? Not rated When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime This six-part series from Amazon follows British newlyweds Liv (Jenna Coleman) and Will (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) as they start their new lives in New York. Things seem perfect: Will is busy at work, Liv is keeping house and trying to be a supportive partner.…
