Cover Stories
Comrades, fall in
Improv Everywhere meets Banksy meets small town in New Arts Collective Click here to view our special Autumn Arts issue
Ground zero for groundwater
When more than 40 North County wine-grape growers gathered at a Paso Robles tasting room on a sunny morning earlier this month, the topic on their lips was not the quality of this year’s harvest or the plans for the latest wine event. Their focus, instead, was deep under their feet. Once thought to hold…
Is smart growth stupid?
A riddle: A group that criticizes environmental groups is worried about the environmental impacts of a new county policy. They believe the same policy some claim preserves agriculture and open space in fact hurts rural landowners. Who are they? The answer is the Agriculture, Business & Labor Educational Coalition of San Luis Obispo County or…
CNN got it wrong
I watched both FOX News and CNN reports about the march Sept. 12 on Washington D.C. by hundreds of Americans who were protesting the state of the union right now. Fox News aired very uplifting, excited, positive reports on crowds. CNN reported the protest was for the dislike of Obama and were negative. What a…
What is our objective in Afghanistan?
John Harrington talent agent “I think that’s still undecided. I think we’re trying to do some nation-building but don’t have the will or money to do so.” Chelsea Leitcher lab technician “I couldn’t really say except that I wish I knew more about it.” Craig Wynn pharmacy manager “I don’t think they’ve defined that yet,…
Who should pay?
Brutalized by a merciless stock market, the pension fund for SLO County employees has lost hundreds of millions of dollars: The question of who should make up for those losses is in dispute. On one side sits the Deputy County Counsels’ Association—a small union representing some of the county government’s lawyers, which is threatening to…
Correction
The coffee shop at 670 Higuera in downtown San Luis Obispo was incorrectly identified in the 2009 Student Guide. Formerly Rudolph’s Coffee and Tea, the shop’s name is now West End Espresso and Tea
DeVaul digs up a different defense
Moments before Dan DeVaul’s code violation criminal trial began on Sept. 11, two residents from his Sunny Acres ranch sat in the back of a SLO County courtroom. One of them, a woman, leaned forward in her seat, hands clasped together. She bowed her head slightly and silently mouthed a prayer. Such displays have been…
Why can’t the senior cross the street?
Paul Dahan wanted one thing out of the Sept. 15 San Luis Obispo City Council meeting: a traffic light for his busy neighborhood. He didn’t get it. The vote was 3-2 against the light, which would have allowed pedestrians a legal and secure way to cross Madonna Road at Pereira Drive to get to the…
California Valley: Whoops, we’ll give the money back
In what was described as a “bookkeeping error,” board members of the California Valley Community Services District were frequently paid for meetings they didn’t attend. Between the five board members, there was a total of 25 meetings that were either canceled or that individual board members skipped but were compensated for anyway, according to a…
Last curator standing
On Sept. 2 the Cuesta College Board of Trustees announced it had located the necessary funds to spare Tim Anderson, the curator of the college’s gallery program, from being fired due to budget cuts. It was an unexpected save. Prior to the meeting, Gordon Fuglie, curator of exhibitions and collections at the SLO Art Center,…
Poppies and star catchers
New Times What is your artistic background? Tess Wright I received a masters degree in art in design and my undergraduate work was in art history. Over the years I have always been interested in women artists and their dilemmas and what they had to do to achieve success, and I have given lectures throughout…
A touch of Celtic kinda suits you anyway
They bill themselves as the world’s first Celtic all-star Grateful Dead jam band, and though they’ve been performing together successfully for the past 10 years, it’s difficult to imagine another musical troupe melding ballads, jigs and reels with well-loved Grateful Dead lyrics. But to hear Danny Carnahan tell it, the two were tailor made for…
The water’s unreal
The average American’s interaction with China is often limited to the consumption of egg rolls and mass-produced goods. The world’s most populous country is in the midst of an economic, cultural, and artistic boom—they don’t like the term “revolution” as it implies too sudden a change—and the fusion of communist red and capitalist green will…
Point the way
It’s been a hard year for nonprofit organizations. Despite the economic recession and state budget cuts however, one important local organization is pulling through without skipping a beat. PathPoint, formerly Work Training Programs, helps people with disabilities or economic disadvantages realize their dreams by teaching vital employment and independent living skills. In San Luis Obispo…
Kristin McNamara,
New Times: How does bouldering differ from traditional rock climbing? McNamara: Bouldering is a form of rock climbing. The heights you reach usually are not so great you would need a rope. If you fall, generally you have a little pad on the ground and someone to spot you and you are perfectly safe. SLO…
Apologies and acrimony
Sorry, Sam. It must have been awkward when Sam Blakeslee, our cowboy-hat-wearing go-getter assemblyman, had to confront fellow Republican Assemblyman Mike Duvall. Blakeslee’s a lame duck in the Assembly, and was named minority leader this year. But in his first turns in that seat, he hand to handle Duvall stepping down from his committee rolls.…
Botanical Garden won’t be Disneyland
Richard Schmidt’s commentary, “Beware the bedazzling plan,” (Sept. 10) seriously misconstrues the vision for the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. Frankly, we were taken aback by his scathing attack, with its inaccuracies and tone. Make no mistake: The new garden will be a green-theme attraction, where people can learn about the environment, sustainability, and the…
Health care should be nonprofit
If health-care reform doesn’t happen soon, only people with money will be able to have coverage. Proposed reforms will not remove personal your control of treatment or hurt Medicare benefits. A good start would be to remove the profit from health care and really give control to the people and their doctors instead of big…
Censorship backfires
I would like to address the parents of our county who didn’t want their children to hear President Obama’s speech to students because of it’s possible political content. From what I have read and observed, parents have a greater influence on their children than he ever will because they will spend more time conveying values…
Blame fraud for insurance hikes
Regarding Janice Mundee’s hate for insurance companies (“Support for reform,” Sept. 10), I want to present some facts about insurance rates. She stated that after paying your auto premium every month and then getting in an accident you are “guaranteed” to have your fee go up. If you are not at fault your fee will…
Liberate women
Seven years ago, this retired French teacher and tennis coach from Redlands was so angry that the Bush administration had refused to release $34 million to the United Nations Population Fund, she started asking 34 million of her fellow citizens for one dollar. Seven years later, 34 Million Friends has become a worldwide grassroots movement…
Volunteer!
My family and I would like to invite everyone to join us for a brisk walk on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 11, that’ll be good for the heart, physically and spiritually. We’re walking in the Hunger Walk in Los Osos, beginning at Trinity United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. The Hunger Walk is a great family…
Walmart launches dragnet
Walmart in Paso Robles recently started a practice where the greeter stops shoppers after they make their purchases, but before they completely exit the store (although I’ve also seen them chase people down who have slipped by). At times, people have to line up and wait to exit, which seems ridiculous—they’ve already waited in line…
Missed you, Shredder
I missed seeing the Shredder at our sixth annual “9-11 American Thunder” barbecue to support and honor our troops (read The Shredder, “Make me a pundit,” Sept. 10). Since he wasn’t there, I was expecting at least a donation to help the families that were left here. But, perhaps the Shredder will go will his…
Thanks for sounding the alarm
Thank you very, very much for April Worley’s cover article, “PG&E pushes vote to limit public power” (Sept. 10). It is so encouraging to know that people, especially people in positions of local government power, are aware and critical of PG&E’s efforts to stifle competition through a proposed amendment to the state constitution. It’s not…
Big House Pink 2008 California
This pretty pink wine is a fruit bomb of cherry, raspberry, and cranberry flavors quite nicely balanced with tangy citrus notes. It’s great choice as an aperitif or for sipping during late summer barbecues. A blend of Syrah, Charbono, Grenache, Tannat, Zinfandel, Barbera, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese, at only $7.99 at BevMo! it’s a very good…
Hug 2007 Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco Cedar Lane Vineyard
Winemaker Augie Hug, who makes two excellent vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs, says this is the most Burgundy-like one in his portfolio. I’ve been impressed by this elegant wine every time I’ve tasted it, and it keeps getting better each time. Aged in French oak, 30 percent new barrels, it offers pretty, dark fruit aromas and flavors…
Surf, wine, tacos, and rock stars
Looking back, the Central Coast’s most unusual wine event first rocked the tiny town of Cayucos in 2006. The irrepressible Stillman Brown, winemaker and owner of Red Zeppelin, threw a 50th birthday party for chef Wilhelm “Bill” Hoppe of Hoppe’s Garden Bistro, titled: “Hoppe, Hoppe Birthday, Baby.” One year later, Stillman repeated his popular party…
Bop till you drop!
Elvis Presley! Led Zeppelin! Reggae music! What do they have in common? Not a damn thing … except within the rare trifecta alignment that is Dread Zeppelin! If you’ve never seen this high-concept camp act, you’re missing out on an integral, life-changing experience. Until you’ve seen Elvis impersonator Tortelvis singing Led Zeppelin covers reggae-style, you…
