Cover Story
What’s up with downtown? Recent closures in downtown SLO put a spotlight on tensions between longtime residents and the city’s increased focus on tourists and college students
Starting a business is tough, and in downtown San Luis Obispo, it doesn’t always matter how creative or interesting your idea is. If it doesn’t cater to tourists, college students, or some new niche, survival is going to be an uphill battle. That’s what Rich Hanen learned a little too late after he opened Vegetable…
Babylon and beyond: Reggae, roots rock, country, and more are coming to a stage near you
The Babylon Bus Tour is pulling into San Luis Obispo with Stephen Marley at the helm! Although this man comes from a reggae family, his hip-hop infused dancehall game is strong, and he blends reggae with soul, hip-hop, and electronic beats. Stephen started his career as a 6-year-old, singing, dancing, and playing percussion with the…
Looking for credibility?
Here’s a thought. Al Fonzi probably would like New Times readers to take him seriously. Mr. Fonzi’s defenders claim to want diversity of opinion. Both are possible. In order to have credibility and diversity, Mr. Fonzi needs a new approach. He needs to stop writing opinion pieces that simply spin political ideology. These monologues are…
Cambrian reflects on 50 years since photographing the festival that shaped a generation
Keeping the collection alive Interested in learning more about William Seavey’s Woodstock memorabilia? Check out his website, woodstock69anniversary.com. It was the summer of ’69. William Seavey, today a Cambria resident, had just finished journalism school. He landed a position with Newsweek as a photo intern in New York City, covering what his editors saw fit…
A proposal that accomplishes nothing
As a member of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant Decommissioning Engagement Panel, I found Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham’s proposal to keep the power plant open beyond 2025 very surprising. Not only did PG&E itself seek to close the plant, it obtained the state’s approval to do so in 2018. When asked about this, PG&E ‘s Tom…
Nipomo children’s book author champions endangered species
Read for nature For more information about author Bonnie Lady Lee, visit bonnieleebooks.com. We’ve all experienced those fortuitous moments in life that make us stop and think, “Now that would make a great book.” Not many of us can say we’ve brought such reveries to reality. But for Nipomo-based author Bonnie Lady Lee, the start…
Reducing natural gas is a great start
The San Luis Obispo City Council is considering a clean energy program for new buildings, which would provide a pathway for reducing natural gas consumption and pollution by buildings. It is a necessary step for reducing community emissions and an important part of the city’s battle against climate change. I wish the program took even…
SLO Rep presents The Fantasticks
The San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre presents its production of The Fantasticks, which opens on Friday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. Performances will be held Wednesday through Saturday at 7 p.m., and every Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. The show runs through Sunday, Oct. 13. Director David Carey Foster helms this rendition of the…
We want to be TCE-free, too
We are writing this in response to the recent article by Peter Johnson (“Water Board finalizes TCE cleanup order on Buckley Road,” Aug. 22) regarding the state order to remove the TCE contamination beneath our property. The Regional Water Quality Control Board report on TCE contamination in the Buckley Road area omitted several significant facts:…
Wild and Scenic Film Festival opens with Butterfly Ball
The Central Coast State Parks Association (CCSPA) hosts its third annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival, which kicks off with the Butterfly Ball Gala at SLO Brew Rock on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 6 to 11 p.m. Two short films, focusing on the plight and recent decline in numbers of the Western Monarch butterflies, will…
Immigration reform needs to happen
The commentary, “I am undocumented” (Aug. 29), seems like a politically written hit piece. If factual, I am sympathetic. But I also grew up with illegal immigrants, hired illegal immigrants, and worked with them. Most went to the effort to be legalized and assimilate over the years. The need to improve our immigration laws and…
Corners of the Mouth announces September poets
Guest poets Celeste Goyer and Luke Johnson will read during the next Corners of the Mouth event at Linnaea’s Cafe in SLO on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. Attendees are welcome to participate in an open reading, which immediately follows the featured readers. Admission to the event is free. Call (805) 903-3595…
A serious thought about hippies
John Donegan writes that all the old hippies “must now be Republicans” because they were nonconformists like Donald Trump, or some such vague trivia (“Where are all the hippies?” Aug. 29). Let’s get serious for a moment. During the Vietnam War, Republicans re-elected President Richard Nixon. He often demonized war-protesting hippies as un-American traitors. The…
Cunningham aims to keep Diablo Canyon open
Central Coast Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-Templeton) does not want to see Diablo Canyon Power Plant decommissioned. As he sees it, losing California’s last nuclear plant, which generates 9 percent of the state’s power and employs hundreds of locals, is a shame. “Why are we taking offline a perfectly good nuclear power plant?” Cunningham posed. Without…
Beyond family kitchens: Local amateur bakers and cooks sell their delicious goods thanks to cottage food laws
Cottage foods operations and local kitchens Katie Hoffman of Cupcakes by Katie can be reached at (805) 704-2787 or katiescupcakescc@gmail.com. The Twisselman family’s Best Ever Salsa Company can be reached at (805) 441-2425 or besteversalsa@gmail.com. For more information visit besteversalsa.com. If you look closely at the farmers’ markets, on the “local” shelves at the corner…
We end our summer on a witty note, thanks to PCPA’s The Importance of Being Earnest in Solvang
A Wilde time Tercero Wines’ tasting room is located at 2445 Alamo Pintado Ave., suite 104, in downtown Los Olivos; tercerowines.com. Danish Mill Bakery is located at 1682 Copenhagen Drive, Solvang. The Pacific Conservatory Theater’s (PCPA) production of The Importance of Being Earnest, showing at the outdoor Solvang Festival Theater, ends on Sept. 8. Tickets…
Hippie humor
I was super excited to see John Donegan’s opinion piece, “Where are all the hippies?” (Aug. 29) because I have been wondering the same thing! Upon reading his piece I found that John really didn’t answer the question, but at least he made me laugh. The funniest examples John provides are the “great joys we…
Debbie Arnold, Ellen Beraud square off in fight for SLO County Board of Supervisors’ swing seat
While candidates still have three months to jump into the 2020 election races, a battle for San Luis Obispo County’s 5th District supervisor is underway. Debbie Arnold, a Pozo rancher and two-term incumbent, is defending her seat against challenger Ellen Beraud, a former Atascadero City Council member, who entered the race in March. A dietician…
Radical hospitality
I was recently sent an angry opinion piece titled, “My son’s freshman orientation at Virginia Tech was full of leftist propaganda.” Author Penny Nance, a contributor to The Federalist, a conservative web magazine, was highly offended that orientation name tags included pronouns by which students identified themselves: he, she, or them, to acknowledge gender identities…
Hospice SLO County creates space for conversations about anything related to death, including cremation
On Aug. 26, chairs formed a circle in one of the main rooms of the Dorothy D. Rupe Center, home of the volunteer-run Hospice SLO County. Natural light filtered through a large front window, accompanying the candle flames spread around the room. Adults of varying ages trickled in while an attendee played a tune on…
Savor the flavor
Apple season can be a party if you attend the Hard Cider Tasting and barbecue on Sept. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Gopher Glen Organic Apple Farm, 2899 See Canyon Road, SLO. As Jill Knight entertains with live music, enjoy the rustic views and Gopher Glen’s crisp hard cider, cornhole, tri-tip, smoked artichokes,…
SLO city moves toward all-electric buildings
Starting next year, most new homes and buildings in San Luis Obispo will be all-electric and without natural gas hook-ups. The SLO City Council approved an overhaul of its building code on Sept. 3 that includes strong disincentives against building new natural gas infrastructure, a move that city leaders claim will help SLO get closer…
Longtime SLO County local opens upscale but affordable hair salon in downtown Pismo Beach
As Jessica Zerolis shows me around her new salon in downtown Pismo Beach, it becomes clear that she’s had a hand in everything here. A former business and interior design student at Cuesta College, Zerolis picked out each black leather styling chair, aqua blue throw pillow, paint sample, and floor tile in the place—giving the…
Don’t call me
I get a lot of emails. Some people send me news tips, some people give me a pat on my little Shreddery back, and some people rant and rave. Last week, I got a ranter—and I. Just. Have. To. Share. It’s too good not to. This guy, whose email address starts with snaketail (what’s that…
Cannabis applicant petitions Morro Bay’s retail licensing process
One candidate that participated in Morro Bay’s review of applications for two commercial medical cannabis operation permits is petitioning the city’s process. Connected Morro Bay Blvd. filed its petition on Aug. 14 against the city of Morro Bay, RCP Morro Bay, Natural Healing Center-MB, Ethnobotanica, and SLO Retail Group. The petition claims that the city…
After the Wedding: Past and present collide
AFTER THE WEDDING What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Karen? Matinee What’s it worth, Caleb? Matinee Where’s it showing? Galaxy, The Palm Editor’s note: Staff Writer Karen Garcia and Calendar Editor Caleb Wiseblood took over Split Screen while the Starkeys enjoyed the week off. The past and present collide when Isabel (Michelle Williams), an…
Eat and learn
We are going to need a bigger backpack for all these back-to-school foodie classes: Peacock Cellars, 1543 Los Berros Road, Arroyo Grande, is holding a pickling class on Sept. 5 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Class includes two glasses of wine, pickling instructions, and two pints of pickles to take home. Call (805) 473-9463, or…
Grover Beach considers application for grant to increase housing stock
The city of Grover Beach had the first of many conversations regarding housing at its City Council meeting on Sept. 3, and along with possible policy and zoning changes, council members discussed applying for a one-time grant that could help increase housing production. At the meeting, City Council considered all things housing, from recently passed…
Raise a glass
The Wine Enthusiast recently announced that Amanda Wittstrom-Higgins of Ancient Peaks Winery has been named on the magazine’s 2019 list of Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers in the wine, beer, and spirits industry. The list will be published in Wine Enthusiast’s October edition—with Wittstrom-Higgins featured on the cover. Wittstrom-Higgins was recognized for her achievements in…
Templeton may help Santa Lucia School provide drinkable water
The Templeton Community Services District (CSD) will begin working with Santa Lucia School to connect it to district water as the nonprofit currently has a failing well and non-potable water. At the Sept. 3 CSD meeting, Santa Lucia School board Treasurer Vallar Wahba said Santa Lucia is a small school with a limited number of…
Underrated: Batman Begins
When? 2005 What’s it rated? PG-13 Where? Netflix, Amazon Prime, iTunes The only complaint I have when it comes to The Dark Knight, a nearly flawless film, is how much it tends to overshadow its predecessor, Batman Begins. In fact, many people didn’t even realize The Dark Knight was a sequel, at least at the…
Root Elixirs
My teenage son and I were walking by a Root Elixir stand at the Inspire Home, Garden, and Gourmet Expo the other day and began sampling these cute little sodas in tiny paper cups. “Oh no!” I said. “We were unsupervised!” The gal working the stand turned around to find we had already downed three…
Community workforce agreement approved in $30 million wastewater project
Local workers will be priority hires in an up-and-coming construction project on the wastewater treatment plant in Oceano, the key term of an agreement that was recently approved by agencies leading the project. The South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District owns and operates the wastewater treatment plant, and its board of directors voted on…
Film Listings, 9/5/19 – 9/12/19
All theater listings are as of Friday, Sept. 6. AFTER THE WEDDING What’s it rated? PG-13 Where’s it showing? Galaxy, The Palm See Split Screen. ANGEL HAS FALLEN What’s it rated? R What’s it worth? Stream it Where’s it showing? Galaxy, Park, Stadium 10 In case you need a refresher, this is the third offering…
Sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts on our Aug. 29 news story, “Demonstration protests lack of protected bike lanes in SLO.”
Cambria Health District claims it was sold a faulty ambulance
The Cambria Community Health District alleges that it was knowingly sold an ambulance that had been tampered with and is suing for damages. A lawsuit filed on Aug. 22 against J & J Cars LLC, a Mississippi-based company, and Pilip Customs Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, alleges that one of the companies reset, altered, or tampered…
Rescue me
Presenting for your consideration, a child of the ’60s, a veteran of Woodstock, and an out-of-touch adult. I haven’t grasped concepts like emojis, tropes, memes, or throwing shade. I’ve never tweeted, and I’m convinced I never will. Owning a smartphone was never a consideration until I found out recently that I can’t buy a ticket…
