Cover Story
Arrested development: How SLO County’s water worries stalled one housing development for more than 20 years
The land to the northeast of Oak Park Boulevard is a picture-perfect representation of the pastoral beauty of rural SLO County. The tract of land, wedged between Oak Park Road and James Way, is rolling hills covered in drought-parched yellow grass and clusters of oak trees that stand out against the cloudless summer sky. None…
Should the county allow development to continue even though there’s limited water supplies because of the drought?
Dianna Samarin estimator “Yes. It’s not going to stay in drought forever. History repeats itself.” Karina Smyth full-time volunteer “No. Water should be a priority over development.” Victoria Richey legal advocate “No. It’s hard to imagine development where there would not be displacement of people or depletion of resources.” David Fuentes real estate “Yes they…
Art and tarot at Bambu Batu, Sept. 4
I recently had my tarot cards read, and, despite my skepticism, the experience was totally eerie and insightful. Even if you think it’s all a bunch of hogwash, why not give it a whirl during SLO’s Art After Dark on Sept. 4? Don’t be chicken. Bok! Bok! Prove your manliness (or womanliness) and step into…
The magic of David Minkin showcased at LXV Winery’s Paso tasting room
Pulling a rabbit out of your hat just isn’t a big deal anymore. It’s all about epic, over-the-top magic tricks—especially those that include delicious adult beverages. LXV Winery—the only tasting room in Paso Robles inspired by the art of Kama Sutra—will showcase a magic show with David Minkin at Paso’s Art After Dark on Sept.…
Local legend Chris Burkard hosts a book signing at his photo gallery in Avila Beach
It’s Friday, Aug. 28, and I’m sitting in my car, straddling the double yellow line on Avila Beach Drive, looking longingly at the stop sign I left behind on San Miguel Street. Yes, everyone. I’m that idiot. Feeling foolish at my left hook into a turn lane that doesn’t exist, cars are racing by me…
Flying on silk: Dancers defy gravity at Suspended Motion Aerial Arts Academy
I’m completely ensconced in silk, crouching hammock-style in a womb of soft, green fabric that connects to the ceiling, some 25 feet up. Concealed from the outside world, my body careens through space, slicing through the air like a weird wrecking ball. I feel like an alien pod or a blind flying squirrel. Yes, I’m…
Laugh at the everyday with Brian Regan at Vina Robles Sept. 13
There’s a reason heavyweight funnymen Jerry Seinfeld and Patton Oswalt tip their proverbial hats to Brian Regan. Since his 1992 televised special, Something’s Wrong with the Regan Boy, he’s never stopped working. The guy lives to perform, whether he’s chewing the fat with David Letterman (he’s appeared on The Late Show a whopping 26 times)…
Twang N Bang X is ready to roll Sept. 6
There are a few things you need to know about Patrick Hayes. One: Twang N Bang—the all-day love fest of local music that kicks off each Labor Day weekend—is his baby. Dirty, flawed, and loud as a cat in heat, it’s an ugly baby to be sure, but he’s proud, and he should be (what…
Clubs 9/3/15 – 9/10/15
Goin’ South THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. 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 every Fri. and Sat. from 6-9pm. Tennessee Jimmy Harrell and Doc Stoltey play on alternating…
Black Horse’s Cold Brew and Edna Valley Vineyard 2012 Winemaker’s Series Pinot Noir
According to an anonymous Turkish proverb that has stood the test of time, “Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and as sweet as love.” Although I have to admit this is a badass quote (it should really be on a T-shirt), I have to disagree slightly. Here’s my take: “Coffee should be…
Drink up
Lederhosen are back in style: Oktober Fest is coming back to the Madonna Inn this Oct. 2 and 3, so get your tickets now for the Firestone Walker-fueled fun drenched in old world pink charm … Beda’s Biergarten is also hosting an anticipated Oktoberfest shindig, slated for Sept. 19 and 26. The event will feature…
Leave it to Beaverstock: Bite down on Castoro Cellars’ third annual food, wine, and music fest
When Max Udsen and his dad, Niels “Beaver” Udsen, saw a 300-year-old oak tree downed off Bethel Road during a Templeton winter, inspiration sparked white hot. “We realized the entire tree was hollow, and we thought, ‘We gotta take this,” Max said. “We were worried someone else was going to try to move it. Dad…
Grocery’s underbelly
In the sleazy underworld of corporate criminals taking advantage of one another, it would seem Albertsons reigns supreme. And not because it spawned the monster of a teeny weeny box-sized “corner store” on Foothill Boulevard in SLO that makes any adult who walks in it feel claustrophobic, creepy, weird, and old. Standing in line next…
Clovis has nothing to do with it!
The SLO Community Development Director Derek Johnson needs to check the facts before putting Clovis on blast for “parking Jeeps on the front lawn.” If Mr. Johnson really knew the facts about Clovis he would know that it is a city that gives out citations for “parking Jeeps on the front lawn”! When my family…
Oppose an independent water district in Paso
For the Aug. 27 issue, Pearl Munak of Paso Robles, wrote a letter to the editor titled “Support an independent water district in Paso.” She wrote this letter after contacting me for financial and political information about PR-WIN. I provided her with the information she requested, which clearly shows that PR-WIN has a very small…
Change the writing on the wall
I’m delighted that those in charge of juvenile justice now recognize the injustice that has been perpetrated in the past. But, I have a mild request: Please, somebody, change the words painted on the wall as seen in the picture on page 13 of the Aug. 27 issue from “How many friends do you have…
Get the facts straight on who wants a Paso water district
Pearl Munak needs to review recent history. In her Aug. 27 letter to the editor “Support an independent water district,” she tries to convince us that it is the “big wineries” that oppose a water district. In fact, it was the wine industry that lobbied for special district legislation in Sacramento. It was the wine…
Neighbors are no longer courteous
What has happened to good old-fashioned courtesy to a neighbor? I understand completely why the neighbors are offended by having to look at that boat all of the time. Although I live in the country, the renters across the road from me insist on leaving one to four outside lights on all day and night.…
The human effect
Undoubtedly, the climate change is a grave phenomenon due to its devastating impact on the planet Earth. Nevertheless, the climate change is only one of a host of symptoms from a much greater problem hardly being discussed—the population explosion. Without it, we would not have a multitude of serious challenges facing humans and all other…
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company makes Inc. magazine’s list of 5,000 fastest growing U.S. companies
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company is in the spotlight once again. This time, the brewery made Inc. magazine’s annual list of the 5,000 fastest growing, privately held companies in the United States. The list may only seem like someone’s trivial opinion, except that the New York City magazine has been putting out similar lists since 1982.…
Cougars & Mustangs
Yeah, yeah. Sure. Summer comes around and any further mention of school for the break’s duration is completely tuned out. Who wants to hear anything about class during your special “you” time? So it stands to reason that a fairly notable portion of Cuesta College students missed out on some pretty awesome news about their…
The trafficking problem: SLO County is a common stop for unwilling sex workers
In late July, police arrived at a SLO motel room to find a 15-year-old girl alone and scared, having just endured a week of sexual abuse for profit. Her captors and pimps were also teens and young adults aged 16 to 20. One of the most shocking details of the story was that in a…
Eats, shoots, and leaves: The fight continues against the Asian citrus psyllid
The Asian citrus psyllid is a persistent little bugger. The tiny psyllid, which is creeping up California, can transmit Huanglongbing, or citrus greening disease, which is deadly to citrus trees. Huanglongbing has already ravished the Florida citrus industry, causing nearly $3 billion in damage, and has also been found in Mexico and in states across…
New rate calculator out for proposed Paso water district costs
A handy-dandy new online program is now available to help people atop the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin figure out what a proposed water district would cost them. The assessment rate calculator, as it’s called, was unveiled by the group CALM the Basin, or Citizens Advocating for Local Management of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin. The…
Hundreds of potential jurors report to SLO court on eve of murder trial
Hundreds of potential jurors reported to the SLO County Superior Court building just as the trial of accused murderer Thomas Yanaga is scheduled to begin. The courthouse was packed Sept. 1, as more than 271 SLO County residents reported for jury duty, several of whom had to sit on the floor due to lack of…
San Luis Obispo City Council bans synthetic drugs
Despite their names, the synthetic drugs often called spice and bath salts are anything but benign, quaint, and homey. That’s the message that the San Luis Obispo City Council received from SLO Police Department Investigations Lt. John Bledsoe at its Sept. 1 meeting before unanimously voting to ban synthetic drugs in the city. “The purpose…
After Harbor Terrace negotiation breakdown, harbor manager is out
The San Luis Harbor Commission decided not to renew a contract with Harbor Manager Steve McGrath at a special meeting Aug. 27. The vote was split 3-2, and the closed session meeting was apparently contentious, according to Harbor Commissioner Dave Kirk. McGrath has been in that position for about 10 years, during which time the…
SLO resident loses appeal on boat parking
At the end of Princeton Place, a short street off Highland Drive near Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, there’s a boat parked atop a cement pad beside a driveway. The cement pad looks like it’s part of the driveway, it feels like it’s part of the driveway, but it’s not part of the driveway.…
Watch group urges Pismo council to say no to oil trains
The proposed Phillips 66 oil rail spur project continues to be a hot topic at government meetings across the Central Coast. That includes Pismo Beach, where members of an activist group opposing the spur gave a presentation to City Council members Sept. 1. Gary McKible gave a short presentation to councilmembers on behalf of the…
