Cover Story
Beneath the surface: Above the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, new wells are being dug while residents and agriculturalists worry about the uncertain future
The ailing Paso Robles Groundwater Basin has become a common talking point at local public meeting halls and across the area’s dinner tables. It’s often spoken of in the same breath as the oft-mentioned drought, and the two subjects are certainly linked, in as much as any issue related to a drying up of liquid…
Which two presidents would you pick to fight each other and why?
Coy Humphrey student “The Roosevelts. You’ve got the family thing and they’re both pretty stubborn, tough guys.” Barrie See retired “Teddy Roosevelt and Obama, because when Teddy makes his mind up, he sticks to it.” Sydney Ross student “Abe Lincoln and George Bush. It’s like good vs. evil.” Olivia Dully student “Abe Lincoln and John…
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Pacific Gas & Electric say all is well at Diablo Canyon
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission independent review panel has ruled against the opinion of NRC Senior Reactor Technical Instructor Michael Peck, who had argued that the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant should be closed during a license amendment process. As first detailed by the Associated Press, Peck filed a “differing professional opinion” with the prevailing opinions…
Class act
It can be an extremely strange and unnerving experience to run into people from your past. One day, you’re grocery shopping, checking if they still sell Butterfinger ice cream, and then, in a flash, there’s ol’ Chalky Studebaker. He’s looking good now—wearing Banana Republic, shopping for $75 wine, clearly wealthy from the cut of his…
Cuesta College’s new art exhibit features the enigmatic sculptures of Christopher Miles
“As a means of contrast with the sublime, the grotesque is, in our view, the richest source that nature can offer,” Victor Hugo said in the preface to his 1827 play, Cromwell. And, although the piece was never performed, its themes of beauty, ugliness, uncertainty, and internal conflict remain some of the most potent forces…
September’s Art After Dark dazzles with diverse and whimsical exhibits
Thursdays in downtown San Luis Obispo can be an overwrought affair. Sure, Farmer’s Market is nice. I like the combination of bratwurst and Beach Boys covers as much as the next khaki-panted, middle-aged man, but sometimes, it can all be a bit much. There are too many throngs of teenagers to wade through, too many…
Citizens ask for maximum punishment in an animal cruelty case
When he first arrived, he was still covered in scars and had to have his burns treated daily with a variety of salves. Both his ears were burned at the top, and his left cornea is scarred. “Those are still the scars from that horrendous burning,” said Kim Sturla, executive director and co-founder of Animal…
Cops or troops?: Just how militarized are SLO County’s law enforcement organizations?
Ferguson, Mo., is roughly 2,000 miles away from San Luis Obispo, but the reverberations echoing from the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown and subsequent protests have registered loud and clear in local ears. Brown’s death further revealed many long-standing fault lines in American society, including race, class, and individual freedom vs. authority. Among…
Bayonet of pigs
Yeah, I used the word “pigs.” No, I’m not calling all cops pigs. But if you’re more concerned by that term than what you’re about to read, you need to reasses your priorities. I’m gonna lay some knowledge from The Departed on you: “Let me tell you something. They signed up to use their weapons.”…
Two counties should have learned from each other’s mistakes
Since 1970, for as long as I have visited Santa Barbara, the No. 1 issue has been water. Meanwhile, the No. 1 issue in Los Angeles has been traffic. That is all still true, of course. Except now, decades later, the No. 2 issue in Santa Barbara is traffic, and the No. 2 issue in…
Let the Atascadero elections go forward
Atascadero is having a meaningful City Council election for a change. We have six creditable candidates running for three council seats. I thank them all for taking this challenge. Three incumbents are backed by A Better Atascadero (ABA) and their war chest. Three challengers are on their own. They hope their passion for Atascadero’s well-being,…
Safety first?
Yeah. Me, too. Like Marty Wright (“That wave was needlessly exaggerated,” Aug. 21), I’m going to run to Diablo Canyon when the Big Quake comes. What could be better than being surrounded by hundreds of thousands of pounds of highly radioactive waste, a lot of it in open pools, all jostling around? — Medusa Ward…
SLO city officials are despicable
Try to get some basic service in the city of SLO, and staff will tell you there is not enough money. Try to reason with the council about their responsibility, they will say how much they appreciate hearing from concerned citizens, nothing changes, and of course there is no money. Just ask staff who took…
The law is the law–and for good reason
Regarding the Hodin cartoon in the Sept. 4 issue of New Times: The California Department of Public Health Licensing and Certification Program makes patient safety its No. 1 priority. The Licensing and Certification Program (L&C) enforces state and federal laws and regulations to ensure that patients receive appropriate care. Understanding that every patient is unique,…
The latest gadgets cost more than money
Hey, you! Yeah, with the iPhone. Did you know that people may have been murdered so that you could use that gizmo to send a message to your BFF? And you with the laptop. Women could very well have been raped so that you could log on and check the market report. You should also…
Support Sjany De Groot
We strongly support Sjany de Groot and the work her loving family and staff does for children with special needs. Our granddaughter has a serious genetic disorder that affects her brain activity and prevents her from speaking, walking, and living a normal life. The De Groot Home has done an extraordinary job of nurturing and…
A second defendant is charged in a rape case
On the afternoon of Sept. 4, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office charged Richard Scott Brooks, 38, of San Francisco, with 15 felonies associated with his alleged rape, sodomy, human trafficking, and prostitution of a 17-year-old “Jane Doe.” SLO County Sheriff’s deputies originally arrested Brooks in Fremont on Sept. 2, in connection with…
The Arroyo Grande City Council declines to further investigate an ‘incident’
Despite receiving scathing criticism and strongly worded accusations of a “cover-up” from locals, the Arroyo Grande City Council declined during their Sept. 9 meeting to further investigate a July 3 “incident” involving City Manager Steve Adams and Community Development Director Teresa McClish. To recap, Adams and McClish were discovered by Arroyo Grande police officers at…
San Luis Obispo man arrested on suspicion of torture
As of press time, 33-year-old San Luis Obispo resident Timothy John Hayes was in jail after being arrested on Sept. 8 for a variety of suspected crimes, including torture and assault with a deadly weapon. At 11:30 p.m. that night, police responded to a call that took them to the Chevron Station at Santa Rosa…
Local restaurant Wineman Grillhaus serves up a fusion of German and American dishes
Wunderbar! A new restaurant has taken up residence in downtown San Luis Obispo’s historic Wineman Building. Wineman GrillHaus opened its doors officially on Sept. 5, and specializes in German and American cuisine, like bratwurst and burgers, giving each dish a fresh new twist. “It’s a mix of German and American foods,” said Jason Luke, the…
Cougars & Mustangs
For even now, my friends, I craft a spell, ensnaring those who wander in its core, some caught off guard by the ethereal knell, some there on purpose, always craving more. For words and thoughts contain within them pow’r, and if you’d like some sampling on your tour, come afternoon, upon the seventh hour of…
Field laws: A recently passed bill tightens sexual harassment regulations for field contract laborers
In August, state regulators passed a bill designed to address sexual harassment in California’s agricultural fields—something the bill’s proponents say is far too common. Sen. Bill Monning (D-Salinas), the bill’s author, said he was inspired by a documentary produced by Frontline and the Center for Investigative Reporting, Rape in the Fields. The documentary highlights instances…
Correction
The name of the band that won the Best Rock Alternative category at the New Times Music Awards was misidentified in a photo in the Sept. 4 article “The Big Winners.” The correct name was Odonovan.
Morro Bay officials oppose Dynegy wave parks
Morro Bay city councilmembers voiced unanimous opposition to two proposed wave-power-generation facilities off the coast. “It looks to me, in the proposal … that they just ignored everything the fishermen said,” Councilwoman Nancy Johnson said of Dynegy’s permit application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for wave parks in Estero Bay and off Point…
Vina Robles Winery’s 2011 Estate Petite Sirah
Guitars, cadillacs, and … petite sirah? Yeehaw! I recently revisited the wines of Vina Robles after a bang-up concert at the winery’s state-of-the-art amphitheater featuring none other than Dwight “Elvis shimmy” Yoakam. Although I do feel the Paso Robles venue could stand to tear out a few chairs to make room for dancers to shake…
New Frontiers’ ‘Perfect Blend’ Juice
Regardless of how you feel about the New Frontiers-to-Whole Foods switchover, there is one thing you should know: Now is the time to enjoy the freshly juiced concoctions you’ve come to know and love while shopping for bulk nuts and organic produce. Word on the street is that the Whole Foods sign will go up…
Beer, take me away
A new brew for you: SLO Brew recently released its new Fresh Hop IPA, using locally sourced Cascade hops from Arroyo Grande, so hop down to the eatery and venue for a cold, frothy first taste … Speaking of IPAs, you’ve got to try Bang the Drum Brewery’s King Mate English style IPA, perfectly balanced…
Wine time
Howl at the moon: The Mighty Croon Dogs will kick out the jams at Poalillo Vineyards in Paso Robles on Sept. 20, so don’t ditch your sunscreen just yet … Ever wonder how wine is successfully blended? Demystify the magical process yourself with First Crush Cellars’ Art of Blending Workshop Sept. 20 at the Paso…
Discover
Growing greatness: It’s time again for the Ag Harvest Festival in Arroyo Grande, featuring a grape stomp, fruit and veggie growing contests, agricultural displays, ice cream, whiskerino competition, parade, and so much more than can be listed here on Sept. 26 to 27 in downtown AG, so bring the whole family … Walk the bamboo…
Are you ready for juicy, just-picked heirloom bliss?
There is nothing quite like the satisfying goosh of a fallen tomato exploding under foot. I’m head-deep in Windrose Farm foliage, crouching on my haunches with my trusty Cannon perched toward the heavens. Dirt be damned—I’ve found the perfect cluster of waxy, yellow orbs, and their striking color demands nothing less than a bold “rockstar”…
CLUBS – 9/11-9/18
THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. CUVEE BISTRO AND CHAMPAGNE BAR: 550 1st St., Avila Beach, 595-2245. Live music Thurs. and Sat. 6-9pm. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: Two locations: 750 Mattie Road in Pismo Beach and 133 Bridge St. in Arroyo Grande. 773-1892 or mclintocks.com. Live music at the Pismo Beach location…
Weezer takes us back to the garage for Vina Robles debut on Sept. 12
Something truly magical happens when any song from Weezer’s 1993 self-titled debut record, known universally as The Blue Album, hits any jukebox at any bar across America. Suddenly, beers are swaying in the air as Gen Xers, Gen Yers, Millennials, and even the odd Baby Boomer shooting pool bursts into song. It’s weird, but awesome. …
SLOMA screens PBS documentary about origami, Between the Folds
No matter where you went to school as a kid, you more than likely encountered origami. Whether it was building leapfrogs for fun or cranking out 1,000 paper cranes in a factory-like fashion for a very off-kilter teacher who shall remain nameless, folding paper was commonplace around the ages of hot lunches and watching Spongebob…
