Cover Story
Hoof patrol: This issue features the Central Coast’s cutest pets and more
Brighten up your day by flipping through the winners of our second annual pet photo contest. Readers from across the Central Coast submitted more than 400 images of their cats, dogs, lizards, chickens, horses, bunnies, and even fish in this year’s competition. A panel of five judges narrowed them to the top three in each…
How Paso Robles’ only movie theater is keeping business alive
New business direction For Spoon River Anthology ticket information and prices or to learn more about how to put on a community event at Park Cinemas in Paso Robles, visit parkcinemas.com or swing by 1100 Park St. Hailed as one of the last movie theaters in North County, Park Cinemas is trying a new approach…
Online Atascadero cat dispute sparks owners’ rights debate
One lost cat became an overnight sensation on an Atascadero Facebook page, peppering the page’s feed with memes and hundreds of comments about what is now known as the “Atascadero Cat.” Stemming from a dispute between two group members over the found cat, the incident highlights how social media helps and hinders when it comes…
Jill Thayer’s upcoming signing highlights her book on local hiking spots
Outdoor destinations in Oceano, San Simeon, and other areas along the Central Coast are among the locales featured in author Jill Thayer’s book, Sojourns: 100 Trails of Enlightenment Inspired by the California Central Coast. Thayer—a local author, artist, art historian, and professor who teaches at Allan Hancock College and other schools—will be signing copies of…
Psychobilly, swamp, and surf rock await when Southern Culture on the Skids plays The Siren
I don’t know if it’s still in their rider—the list of things a band requires a venue or promotor to supply them—but Southern Culture on the Skids (SCOTS) used to require a bucket of fried chicken. Not for eating, mind you. It was a prop, and during their show, they’d throw pieces into the audience.…
Junction Tapas and Wine Bar serves up Spanish cuisine with a Latin American influence
Share a plateFind your way to Junction Tapas and Wine Bar, now serving brunch, lunch, and dinner at 710 Pine St., Paso Robles. Visit @junctionpaso on Instagram to take a gander at what’s in store for your palate. Find an updated fall menu at junctionpaso.com in the coming weeks. Paella made to order is a…
Injustice?
Nathan Abate has been convicted of three counts of sexual assault. According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), that makes Abate a 7 in 1,000 statistic. Out of every 1,000 instances of rape, only 13 cases are referred to a prosecutor, and only seven result in a felony conviction. Is it any wonder…
Oceano should vote for good government
Linda Austin and Shirley Gibson are the best votes for good government in Oceano and should be reelected to the Oceano Community Services District board of directors. One is a Republican and the other a Democrat. If only our Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress could work together as well as Austin and Gibson, then…
Vote for a new generation of leaders in Grover Beach
Generation Build proudly endorses Kassi Dee for mayor of Grover Beach. Kassi offers a voice for a new generation of leadership on the Central Coast, and her commitment to our community is unwavering. As a small-business owner, she understands firsthand the challenges that her generation faces, particularly regarding the affordability and housing crises that affect…
Vote for experience in San Luis Obispo
Jan Marx remains the clear choice for San Luis Obispo City Council. Her deep understanding and extensive experience in local government are more essential now than ever as our city navigates ongoing financial challenges. She has built a strong network that connects key organizations with our community. Jan’s credibility spans across the political spectrum, and…
Who threatens democracy?
A shrill refrain from the reliably hyperbolic Democrats is that Donald Trump and the Republicans are a “threat to democracy” and that Democrats are fighting to save it. Let’s examine who really threatens democracy and what rights are under threat. The right to vote? The Democrats are working hard to eliminate left-leaning minor party candidates…
SLO jury convicts Atascadero barber Nate Abate on three counts of sexual assault
It took a San Luis Obispo County court official roughly 10 minutes to finish reading the jury’s verdict on the multiple rape allegations against Atascadero barber Nathan Abate. They found the Cardinal Barbershop owner guilty on three counts of sexual assault on two separate victims that occurred between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 21, 2012.…
Port San Luis Harbor District commissioner candidates discuss the port’s future
Two candidates running for the Port San Luis Harbor District Commission’s 2nd District seat answered some of the hottest questions about the port’s future at a recent forum, including the topic of the night: offshore wind farms. Retired business owner turned commercial fisherman Richard Scangarello said he spent the better half of the last 25…
Paso Robles to vote on extending its road repair tax under Measure I-24
Paso Robles voters will decide in November whether the city’s existing half-cent local sales tax will remain in place. The tax initially passed in 2012 to repair deteriorating roads. Measure I-24 is a continuation of previous measure E-12, which is set to expire on March 31, 2025. E-12 has spent $78 million to improve city…
Pismo Beach City Council candidates talk 5-year plan for the city
Pismo Beach residents will pick between three candidates running for two open seats on the Pismo Beach City Council on Nov. 5: two incumbents and one newcomer. Scott Newton, who’s been a council member for the past four years, said his platform has always revolved around putting residents first and making sure the quality of…
Four Templeton candidates vie for three seats on the school board amid gas station builds and school bonds
Amid budget cuts and looming gas station builds, four candidates are vying for three seats on the Templeton Unified School District board to ensure students have access to the best education possible. “When our schools thrive, our community will thrive, and it’s the responsibility of all of us to keep lifting our schools up and…
Tokyo Cowboy depicts a stirring journey of self-discovery
TOKYO COWBOY What’s it rated? PGWhat’s it worth, Anna? Full priceWhat’s it worth, Glen? Full priceWhere’s it showing? Opens Oct. 25 at the Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo Marc Marriott directs this independent film scripted by Dave Boyle and Ayako Fujitani about Japanese corporate turnaround artist Hideki Sakai (Arata Iura), an expert in fixing…
SLOCA leads the way to cellphone-free campuses
Hoping to lead the way to cellphone-free campuses, San Luis Obispo Classical Academy (SLOCA) cut the ribbon on cubby boxes for its new Phone Hotel with the hopes of teaching students mindfulness. “It’s a big box that we made fancy with a neon sign to make it look like an actual hotel because students don’t…
Megalopolis
What’s it rated? R When? 2024 Where’s it showing? The Bay Theatre Auteur Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-in-the-making fable-like passion project has finally arrived with a resounding clunk, but does it deserve being panned? I mean, this is the director of The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation we’re talking about. He’s a certified genius.…
SLO Superior Court’s certified facility dog, Edgar, eases the legal process for surviors of trauma
Email Edgar Those interested in receiving help from certified facility dog Edgar can email Jennifer Love at jmlove@co.slo.ca.us or Tim Murphy tmurphy@co.slo.ca.us. A friendly furry face under the witness stand stood between sexual assault survivor Susan Jones and extreme panic while she rehashed possibly the worst moment of her life before a courtroom of strangers…
Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Netflix The Menendez brothers are all over the news again, in part thanks to the new season of Monsters, which tells the murderous tale of how the two brothers wound up in prison for killing their parents. This deep dive into the brothers’ tale brings allegations…
Cal Poly animal science students provide veterinary care to pets of homeless individuals
Doggone good deeds The next Doggy Days clinic will be held at Oceano Worship Center on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the final clinic of the quarter scheduled for Nov. 16 at the United Church of Christ during the same hours. For more information on Doggy Days, visit @calpolydoggydays on…
