Cover Story
Taco time: We veer off the beaten path to find some good tacos
Corn tortilla or flour? Tomatillo or tomato? Carnitas or al pastor? San Miguel or Oceano? Those are tough questions. Because, honestly, taco preference is all about the stomach of the taco eater. It’s in the taste buds of the muncher. There are a gazillion places that serve tacos in San Luis Obispo County. Most are…
Home Makeover: SLO Edition
The Alex Madonna Expo Center will be holding the Inspired Home and Garden Expo on Sept. 15 and 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. This event is perfect for those who want to refresh their home but don’t know where to start, featuring seminars on how to decorate your home for the…
SLO approves bikeway that removes parking
At around 11 p.m. on Sept. 4 in a packed San Luis Obispo City Hall, veteran City Councilwoman (and current Vice Mayor) Carlyn Christianson made a pronouncement: In her 18 years as a decision maker at the city and county, she’d never grappled with a project quite as vexing and divisive as the Anholm Bikeway.…
Pizza in front, party in back: Woodstock’s Pizza adds backyard, more beer, and new feel
Jeff and Laura Ambrose lovingly call the Woodstock’s in San Luis Obispo “the mothership.” They have been co-owners of Woodstock’s Pizza since 2001, owning all seven California locations. San Luis Obispo was the second Woodstock’s ever and the first in the state, giving it a special place in the company. It’s a store they see…
Water rates factor into race for San Miguel CSD seats
Two newcomers are vying with current San Miguel Community Services District Director Ashley Sangster for two open seats in the November election. He was part of a board vote to raise the water rates by about 200 percent, a move that district General Manager Rob Roberson said was inevitable. But the candidates running against Sangster…
Cambria begins negotiations to separate from its GM
The Cambria community is divided over an Aug. 30 closed session meeting discussing the disciplining of the Cambria Community Services District’s General Manager. Although the meeting’s agenda did not identify who the public employee was, before public comment commenced, district board President Amanda Rice confirmed that the employee in question was General Manager Jerry Gruber.…
Like oil and water
Sentinel Peak Resources, the owner of the Arroyo Grande Oilfield (AGOF), is only looking out for itself and its shareholders. The Colorado-based company, which Houston’s Quantum Energy Partners formed as an investment tool in 2016, is scrambling to oppose Measure G (which aims to ban fracking and oil well expansion in the county) by misleading…
Trump halts pay parity for SLO County’s federal workers
President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel pay increases for civilian government employees would also end plans to bring the salaries of local federal workers up to par with their peers in neighboring counties. The White House argued that the raises weren’t fiscally sustainable, but some federal workers in SLO County say the current disparity between…
Why isn’t Diablo an election issue?
The closure of Diablo Canyon will have a devastating effect on our community and local economy. According to the 2013 PG&E economic impact report, our area stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in local tax revenue over a 20 year period and billions of dollars in indirect economic benefits, and the closure will…
Sensario Project in Paso breaks ground
After 16 years of planning, new ownership, and two name changes, the Sensorio Project finally started construction last month in Paso Robles. The project formerly known as the Black Ranch Resort and Entrada de Paso Robles is a discovery garden and resort that includes a 200-room hotel, 80 guest casitas units, a conference center, café,…
Think of the possibilities and vote for Ostrander
I recently heard 35th Assembly District candidate Bill Ostrander on the Dave Congalton Show. I was struck with the knowledge, yes, actual facts, that Bill displayed as he discussed his platform. A cornerstone of that platform is pushing back against the contributions that corporations use to influence our elections and our representatives in the sole…
Corrections:
• In the Aug. 30 news story, “A different strain,” California Hemp Association Executive Director Wayne Richman’s name was misspelled. • In the Aug. 30 cover story, “Growing pains,” we incorrectly stated the number of housing units built in San Luis Obispo in the last five years. From 2013 to 2017, about 599 units were…
Growth is inevitable
Are you a slow-growth supporter or a pro-growth advocate? Do you want less inter-city traffic or more affordable housing? Are you willing to accept limited shopping opportunities or prefer some big city conveniences? Would you like growth going up or out? These are some of the many questions I’m asking myself after reading the very…
Call for artists: Aquarius 2019 Watermedia Exhibition
The Central Coast Watercolor Society is seeking paintings to be considered for the Aquarius 2019 California Open Watermedia Exhibition. Watercolor artists are welcome to submit paintings through the submission deadline of Dec. 1. The exhibition will be held Feb. 21 through April 1, 2019, at the Art Center in Morro Bay. The show is aiming…
Debbie Arnold took the wrong stance on the opioid lawsuit
SLO County’s 5th District can do better than Debbie Arnold, and it’s clear we made a horrible electoral mistake in 2016. While Debbie Arnold’s entire county joins a multi-billion dollar (bi-partisan) lawsuit against the opioid industry—largely responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans and billions of dollars in taxpayer health care costs—Debbie…
‘Operation Finale’ is an entertaining but flawed historical drama
OPERATION FINALE What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Anna? Matinee What’s it worth, Glen? Rent it Where’s it showing? Downtown Centre, Galaxy, Park, Stadium 10 Chris Weitz (About a Boy, The Golden Compass, The Twilight Saga: New Moon) directs Matthew Orton’s historical script about a team of Israeli agents led by Peter Malkin (Oscar…
Drive electric
What’s not to love about electric cars? If you want to talk money, check out the federal tax credit of up to $7,500, plus state rebates and incentives. And electricity is way cheaper than gas, especially for off-peak recharging while you sleep. No engine, no transmission, transaxle, catalytic converter, exhaust system, tune-ups, smog checks, or…
Guilty Pleasures: 13 Going on 30
When? 2004 What’s it rated? PG-13 Where’s it available? Netflix Thirty, flirty, and thriving. It’s a headline in fictional Poise magazine, a mantra that young Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner) uses as a wish, and a phrase I’ve always been captivated with. When I first saw 13 Going on 30, I was going through the same…
Hypocrite or politics?
I got caught making pulp out of paper shreds last night. When I opened up the Daily Shredder this morning, there I was, front and center with a headline that read: “New Times Shredder caught making paper: critic or hypocrite?” In the photo, I was towering over a bar kitchen sink full of moist paper…
Film Listings, 9/8/18 – 9/13/18
Editor’s note: Listings for Galaxy Theatres of Atascadero (805-466-8437) were not available. ALPHA What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it rated? Rent it Where’s it showing? Park Albert Hughes (Menace II Society, From Hell, The Book of Eli) helms this adventure story set 20,000 years ago in the last Ice Age, about a young man named…
Social media sound off
New Times readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts our Aug. 30 news brief, “Morro Rock, Montaña de Oro, Irish Hills among areas reviewed by feds for fracking and oil drilling.”
News nibs
No pits: Morro Bay’s AvoMarg Fest kicks off this Sept. 8! In honor of the fest, I’d like to share a bit of AvoKnowledge with you: Did you know the best way to test the ripeness of an avocado is not actually to press it with your fingers? (The outside can be damaged that way).…
Songsmith and storyteller Todd Snider plays Tooth & Nail Winery on Sept. 13
When it comes to Americana songwriting, I’d rate Todd Snider right up there with the best of them—Robert Earl Keen, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, Lucinda Williams, and Steve Earle. His songs can be funny, poignant, and biting—sometimes all in the same song! He’s also an amazing storyteller and hilarious sociopolitical commentator. For many listeners,…
Another round!
SLOcally made cocktails pouring all month long: Calwise Spirits in Paso Robles offers up a unique spin on their popular Big Sur Gin. Rested in whiskey barrels and aged for a year, it’s got that bright botanical gin taste with notes of juniper, lemon peel, white sage, and bay leaf, yet the finish is all…
Wine spotlight
Mission accomplished: The members of the Pleasant Valley Wine Trail have announced a $10,000 donation to the Friends of Mission San Miguel. The donation was made possible from proceeds of the sold-out Evening Under the Estrella Sky Winemakers’ Dinner. Owners and winemakers from member wineries paired their wines with a four-course dinner, enjoyed by more…
Lila Creative Community fosters a self-directed art experience
A little bit of everything Lila Creative Community in Arroyo Grande offers open studio time for different age groups from Monday through Friday, with a drop-in rate of $15 per session. Owner Lori Wolf Grillias also offers specialized workshops, like the upcoming Stitching Our Ideas Together workshop. The four-day series will be held on Sept.…
SLO jail inmate who hanged himself needed mental health evaluation
A SLO County Jail inmate found dead in his cell after reportedly committing suicide was recommended for a mental health evaluation more than a month before his death, but it remains unclear whether that evaluation was ever conducted. Documents show that SLO County Probation Department officials recommended that the court conduct a mental health and…
Mezzo Italiano is Cambria’s only late-night spot for comfort cravings
Half Italian, all delicious Mezzo Italiano Organic Kitchen is located at 1622 Main St. in Cambria and open from 3 p.m. to midnight seven days a week. For more information, go to mezzoitaliano.com. You know the feeling. It’s nearing 10:30 p.m. and you still haven’t eaten dinner. Maybe you were out watching a friend’s play…
Cayucos jeweler Jason Cordero makes pieces with local sea glass
Made in Cayucos Cabana Jewelry and Gifts is located at 14 N. Ocean Avenue in Cayucos. Visit the store’s Facebook page for more information. A few steps from his shop’s front door on the beach in Cayucos is as far as Jason Cordero needs to go to find materials for his high-end jewelry pieces. “I…
SLO prepares for the end of California’s cash bail system following the passage of SB 10
On Aug. 28, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 10, a new law that will effectively end the use of cash bail in the state’s criminal justice system. Introduced to the state’s Legislature nearly three years ago, the bill was touted by criminal justice reform advocates as a way to make the system more…
New dance moves wanted
“Hold my tequila, they’re playing my jam!” This is something you might actually hear at the Strawberry Tequila Fest kicking off this Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at El Chorro Regional Park in San Luis Obispo! This sweet and sour event will feature strawberry magic, live music, tequila tastings, margaritas, craft beer…
‘Sabra’ documentary screens at SLOMA
The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA) is holding a viewing of the documentary Sabra on Monday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. This documentary, directed and edited by Hollywood screenwriter Bill Phillips, gives viewers an inside look into the life and work of Vermont-based artist Sabra Field. The film highlights Field’s well-known American pastoral…
Cambria landowners file petition and complaint against SLO County, CCSD
At 31 years old, Karen Windeler and her husband bought a double lot with the intention of building what would one day become their retirement home. Windeler is now 62, and she’s never been able to build on her property because of a building moratorium. “I’m retired now, and all my dreams are gone,” she…
Decision on AG aquifer exemption coming this fall
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will make a final decision this fall on a 3-year-old request to exempt an Arroyo Grande aquifer from drinking water protections, agency officials told locals at a recent town hall meeting in the SLO Vets’ Hall. SLO County residents, environmental activists, and oil industry members packed the Vets’ Hall on…
