Cover Story
Creative culture: Both local artists and outside influences inspire the range of public art in San Luis Obispo
Explore and experience To see a map showcasing all of the current public art pieces found around San Luis Obispo, visit arcg.is/1D4fHq. To some, public art is a subtle touch that enhances a city’s culture, adding vibrancy to even the blandest buildings and offering artists the biggest forums to showcase their works. To others, it’s…
Oceano starts a Parks and Rec Committee, wants Route to Parks grant for kids
The Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) is planning to apply for a grant designed to help Oceano Elementary School students. OCSD board member Charles Varni said that the month-old Parks and Recreation Committee is having a special meeting on Sept. 21 to vote on whether it should submit the grant application. If the grant moves…
Three local painters discuss their displays at this year’s SLOPOKE exhibition
Farm frames The 13th annual SLOPOKE Art of the West Show is open on Sept. 22, 23, and 24 at Flag Is Up Farms, located at 901 E. Highway 246, Solvang. Visit the-slopoke.com to find out more about the group exhibition. Sprawling landscapes and intimate still life paintings will be among the works on display…
Governor reverses another parole for Dystiny Myers killer
Jason Greenwell, one of the five people convicted a decade ago of kidnapping, torturing, and murdering 15-year-old Dystiny Myers of Santa Maria in 2010, faced parole rejection for a second time. On Sept. 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom approved San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow’s request to reverse the California Department of Corrections and…
Central Coast Railroad Festival holds exhibits, festivities in SLO, Santa Barbara counties
Several events are slated to take place between Friday, Oct. 6, and Sunday, Oct. 8, across the Central Coast as part of the 13th annual Central Coast Railroad Festival. The festival’s main event will be held at the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout the…
Cambria house fire prompts weed abatement program reform
In the early morning of Sept. 17, a bright orange glow lit up the night sky in Cambria. Its source was a house fire that—thanks to the combined efforts of Cal Fire and the Morro Bay Fire Department—was contained to just the interior of the building and didn’t injure the occupants or their pets. But…
SLO Symphony kicks off 2023-24 season at the PAC
The Performing Arts Center (PAC) in San Luis Obispo will host the first concert of the San Luis Obispo Symphony’s 2023-24 season on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m. Shortly before the concert, maestro Andrew Sewell and a special guest speaker will hold a Symphonic Foray discussion, starting at 6:30 p.m. Music selections during the…
Cal poly wants to help SLO County farmers deal with climate change
Cal Poly aims to work with local farmers on climate-smart agricultural practices thanks to a $1.9 million grant. On Sept. 1, Cal Poly announced it had received the state grant for a Climate Action Initiative program. Erin Pearse, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics at Cal Poly and director of the Cal Poly Initiative…
A Haunting in Venice is a stylish but old fashioned whodunit
A HAUNTING IN VENICE What’s it rated? PG-13What’s it worth, Glen? MatineeWhat’s it worth, Anna? MatineeWhere’s it showing? Colony, Downtown Centre, Park, Stadium 10, Sunset Drive-In Kenneth Branagh is back with his third go-around rebooting classic mysteries by novelist Agatha Christie. After Murder on the Orient Express (2017) and Death on the Nile (2022), we…
National pet therapy nonprofit’s local chapter looks to grow membership to serve more Central Coast residents
From listening to kids read to visiting seniors in bed care, Kelli the liver-spotted Dalmatian has provided a lot of joy on the Central Coast. “She loves everybody. When we work with kids, she will lay down while the kids climb all over her,” said Toni Perez, Kelli’s owner and handler. “I adopted her when…
Down for Love
What’s it rated? TV-14 When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Netflix This five-episode reality series by Netflix follows several young hopefuls looking for love. It’s similar to their program Love on the Spectrum, but instead of autism diagnoses, Netflix introduces us to six young men and women who all have been diagnosed with Down syndrome. Libby…
Hypnotic
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Peacock Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, Spy Kids, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) directs this sci-fi mystery that mixes elements of Inception, Looper, Fury, and Firestarter into a detective story with a significant mid-film twist. Danny Rourke (Ben Affleck), an Austin Police Department detective, is a…
Support Central Coast farmers, eat healthy, and give back with Harvestly
Your farm connection Visit harvestly.org to learn more about selling and purchasing farm-fresh products and more via the nonprofit San Luis Obispo-based group. Follow Harvestly activities, events, and charitable endeavors on Instagram and Facebook @harvestly. First up: Harvestly Farmers Market on Oct. 1 from 1 to 3 p.m. at City Farm SLO, 1221 Calle Joaquin.…
Alta Music Festival brings two days of live music to Avila Beach on Sept. 23 and 24
I probably don’t need to tell you about this one because if you dig these bands, you’re already going, but just in case you’ve recently come out of a coma, the Alta Music Festival comes to the Avila Beach Resort this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23 and 24 (doors at 2 p.m., show at 3;…
Construction projects in San Luis Obispo are a building a brighter future
If you’ve been out and about in our beautiful city recently, you’ve probably noticed that change is in the air—and underfoot. Construction projects are happening all around SLO, and we know there are temporary inconveniences caused by maintenance and improvement projects to keep our town vital. We understand that road closures, detours, and the construction…
The citizen-led initiative process strengthens our democracy
The citizen initiative process, a hallmark of direct democracy, empowers ordinary individuals to propose and enact changes to laws and policies in their community. While it has its challenges and drawbacks, the citizen initiative process holds immense value for society by promoting civic engagement, increasing government accountability, and providing an effective channel for addressing issues…
Independent commission could mean more voices
After reading and reflecting on the Sept. 14 issue of New Times regarding an independent redistricting commission (“Board of Supervisors sparks discussion of independent redistricting commission”), I concluded that it might be a great answer to the problem of gerrymandered districts in SLO County. Even though the proposal calls for reasonable requirements for those citizens…
The Chumash marine sanctuary should fill in the protection gap between Monterey and the Channel Islands
Ten years ago, when the Sierra Club joined with marine sanctuary advocates in advocating for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, we were all very clear: There is a “doughnut hole” in California’s marine sanctuaries. The Channel Islands sanctuary covers that environmental gem off the Santa Barbara Channel; the Monterey Bay sanctuary reaches down to…
Sore losers
Safe parking is a mirage in San Luis Obispo County. So far, not one entity has managed to create a program that works for the community and its homeless population. You don’t need to look any further than the latest, greatest example of that: A grand screw-up in the city of San Luis Obispo, which…
SLO’s safe parking plan paused as city deliberates with faith groups
San Luis Obispo and its partners are looking for missing pieces to the safe parking puzzle before they officially open a site for the homeless. City officials and the Community Action Partnership of SLO County (CAPSLO) emerged from a flurry of criticism levied by some Palm Street residents to announce that the proposed safe parking…
San Simeon contracts with new water, wastewater service provider
For the first time in nearly 15 years, the San Simeon Community Services District (CSD) will be forging into the future without the influence of Charles Grace and his company, Grace Environmental Services. At its Sept. 7 meeting, the CSD board voted unanimously—4-0 with a still vacant seat—to approve an agreement with Fluid Resources Management…
