Cover Story
Might I suggest
Relinquish your pitchforks and your torches. Annie’s home. The spotlighted dog’s new family returned her to her original owner while at the same time fleeing a rabid mob led by radio host and animal advocate Dave Congalton, who at one point called the new owners and left a message that apparently frightened their daughter. Bob…
Sunny Acres gets a reprieve
It may be the first time in the history of Sunny Acres a new court case has helped residents there. Dan De Vaul, owner of the self-styled sober living facility just outside San Luis Obispo, filed an appeal on Aug. 30 with the California Second Appellate District in response to SLO County Superior Court Judge…
What would you ask a random person on the street?
Nancy Ochs retired Cal Poly employee “Well, in this town, I would ask, ‘Can I help you? It looks like you’re looking for something,’ because I see that all the time.” Lisa Weks and Nicky Thiolet currently looking for jobs “There are so many lingerie shops around here, so I would ask, ‘What type of…
It’s tough to be the King
If John King’s recent financial woes weren’t stacked high enough, the prominent developer and hotelier—and one of the county’s largest private employers—is now being sued by a lender for $9.5 million. On July 1, attorneys for the Rhode Island-based Textron Financial Corp. filed a lawsuit in federal court against King, his wife Carol, and Palm…
Morro Bay’s Bottle Liquor sells winning lotto ticket
The city of Morro Bay is abuzz with lotto fever after the announcement on Aug. 27 that a lone winner matched all six numbers for the Mega Millions jackpot of $133 million—and that the ticket was sold at Bottle Liquor and Deli. As of press time, no one had yet claimed the ticket, which needs…
Harbor commissioners balk at grand jury
Commissioners for the Port San Luis Harbor District fired back at a county civil grand jury report that criticized the district on a number of issues ranging from boat-launch access to conflicts of interest. The grand jury report, titled “Port San Luis: A Tarnished Jewel,” took aim at the sanding in of a floating dock…
Historic preservation ordinance hits home
San Luis Obispo homeowners expressed their displeasure to city officials over a proposed ordinance that would apply stricter guidelines to homes and buildings considered historic, and exact fees and penalties from homeowners. The city argues that by putting the ordinance in place, it would become eligible for state grants, but the roughly 20 or so…
Undersheriff bolts early
San Luis Obispo County Undersheriff Steve Bolts, second in command in the county Sheriff’s Department and an accused drunk driver, is retiring early. Originally slated to retire in December, Bolts moved up his retirement date to Sept. 17 because “he had things to do with his family” said Rob Bryn, Sheriff’s Department spokesman. Bryn said…
That’s a tall bus for a town with low bridges and trees
San Luis Obispo city officials had to trim trees and move two power lines to make way for a 40-foot English-style double-decker bus. The $850,000 behemoth will have its coming out party at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the transit center at City Hall in downtown SLO. It’s too large for many routes in…
Pipeline sections succumb to pressure
Members of the Nacimiento Water Project team still don’t know what caused a pipe made of 3/8-inch thick stainless steel to crumple under 60 feet of water. “I just presumed it would hold that pressure,” Project Manager John Hollenbeck told members of the Nacimiento Project Commission on Aug. 26. On Aug. 18, dive crews discovered…
Art after Dark
ARTS Space Obispo: 570 Higuera St., suite 165, 544-9251. Nicole Strasburg’s paintings are featured in “Paradiso/Inferno.” Info: nicolestrasburg.com, artsobispo.org. Bali Isle: 672 Higuera St., 544-7662. See watercolor paintings by fantasy artists Christi and Cara Brown. Info: CandCfantasyart.com. compact: 1166 Higuera St., 235-325. “Pairs” is a selection of artists’ work installed in pairs showing Sept. 3-29.…
Clubs
Goin’ South … BRANCH ST. DELI: 203 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 489-9099. Live music on the patio at 5:30pm. 9/3: 5 Cities 5. CAFÉ ANDREINI: 131 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 481-6117. Thurs.: Live music at 6pm. COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF: 750 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach, 773-6420. Music Night every Sat., 6:30-8:30pm.…
Mussels may capitalize on buck passing
A plague is slowly descending on the lakes, streams, and rivers of the United States, sparking a brutal conflict between governments and the tiny, infernal creatures that grow no larger than a quarter. Unlike popular fictional aquatic villains—giant, prehistoric piranhas in 3-D, anyone?—Quagga and Zebra mussels have invaded waterways from New York State to Southern…
Swing those rackets
Whether you’re a dedicated prodigy with a lightning serve or an average Joe swinging a yard-sale racket, there’s a court for you on this extended list of the Central Coast’s best tennis courts. See “Try these courts” (April 29) for locations to the south. This spot is better for exercise than the finest health clubs:…
Dorothy Segovia Be Well Center life coach
NEW TIMES: What services does the Be Well Center offer? SEGOVIA: We provide a holistic health approach that offers healing for the mind, body, and spirit. We want to allow people to regain their natural state of well-being by providing an area where you can heal and become whole in all aspects of your life.…
Gather round …
Jason Hudson loves stories. He hopes to tell a few through his art exhibit, hanging Sept. 4 to Oct. 2 at Neal Breton’s San Luis Art Supply in downtown SLO. Hudson also loves books, an infatuation immediately apparent to visitors in his small bedroom/art studio, which boasts hundreds of novels but no bed. History can…
Dig into the cultural Petri dish
Vanessa Amerson, Brian Lawler, Eric Meyer, Peter Steynberg, and Cate Trujillo assemble around a table in the Steynberg Gallery for a clandestine pecha kucha tell-all. They’re all heavy hitters in San Luis Obispo’s cultural framework: Cal Poly professors, curators, gallery owners, instigators, city planners—though in the case of their collaborative effort, their ultimate goal is…
Tolosa 2007 Syrah Edna Ranch
This inky-colored Syrah is a very good buy from Edna Valley at only $24 retail. A fruit bomb that isn’t overly ripe, it tastes of fresh, tangy blackberries and black plums that meld nicely with the classic black pepper and spice notes. It’s way too drinkable on its own and an excellent partner with foods;…
Tolosa 2009 Rosé
This delicious Rosé—a blend of 60 percent Syrah, 36 percent Grenache, and 4 percent Viognier—features an elegant new label that well suits the pretty pink wine. It’s beautifully dry despite its bright fruit flavors. Winemaker Larry Brooks described it as one of the best Rosés they’ve bottled. It tastes of tangy strawberries, raspberries, nectarines, and…
Talley speaks up about Bishop’s Peak Wines
I live for that next great glass of wine and willingly pay the price for the opportunity to indulge in a really special bottle. While I’m spoiled enough to enjoy good wine with dinner nightly, I certainly can’t afford luxury-priced wines daily. That’s why I’m constantly on the lookout for less costly brands, often wrongly…
Live like you were dying
When Dan Sallia was 14 years old, he snuck his mom’s 1960 Studebaker Lark station wagon into a drag race while his brother distracted her. Once she saw Sallia on the track in her car she was “livid,” he said. But after Sallia won in his race class and showed her the check and the…
Don’t infringe on Muslim American rights
Fundamentalist, hate-filled Christians are rabble-rousing Americans against all Muslims. I hope no one will fall for this abominable un-American garbage against free choice of religion. Although no records were kept on what religions the victims of 9/11 were, it is estimated between 200 and 300 innocent Muslims were victims of that horrendous attack. To not…
Wake up, people, to these GOP drunken pirates
Sam Blakeslee, the local boy, wants to cut services to the needy in California. Sam and the rest of his republican ilk across the country represent the Greedy Old Party, and the only constituents they care about are the insurance companies, mega-corporations, and the top three percent of income recipients in the nation who don’t…
Which Bush policies are Obama and Biden talking about?
Here goes President Obama and VP Biden again—blaming Bush’s policies for the country’s problems. Which Bush policies are they talking about? Not the real estate problem that can be attributed directly to the Democrats. They were the ones who started the mess by requiring the banks to make low-down or no-down payment loans to low-income…
Cars are deadly weapons
After losing my 26-year-old son last October to an inattentive driver that ran him over just feet from the property where he lived, I am appalled to hear of the recent fatal “accident” involving vehicle vs. pedestrians in Santa Maria. And even more stomach turning is that some are putting blame on the pedestrians. It…
This SLO City Council is working to restore Laguna Lake
We would both like to compliment New Times reporter Robert McDonald for his portrayal of the long record of service to the City of San Luis Obispo by one of the undersigned (“So long, Dave,” Aug. 26). The photographs were especially interesting—and quite revealing. We suggest only one clarification to Robert’s story. In one sentence,…
Where there is smoke, there may be freedom
If safety is the biggest community concern in Nipomo, then the eradication of Mexican cartel marijuana should be on the top of the list. Regulating a cooperative of local growers defies organized crime and puts the money back in the pockets of our community. It takes forward-thinking vision, the ability to see through narrow minded…
It’s time to end our addiction to oil
Just get the job done now. No more dragging your feet.
Personally, Karla
Karla Bonoff is one of those artists you don’t know you know. She’s not a household name, and yet you’ve probably heard her songs either from her own mouth or sung by the likes of Bonnie Raitt (“Home”), Wynonna Judd (“Tell Me Why”), and Linda Ronstadt, for whom Bonoff has sung background vocals. Her song…
