Cover Story
Pencils ready, citizens
On Wednesday, Sept. 7, an estimated 1,200 people were scheduled to gather together in San Francisco to be sworn in as United States citizens. It’s an event that occurs every three months in the state’s cultural capital, as well as a number of other cities around California. San Francisco alone naturalizes about 25,000 people per…
Certain artistic liberties
The great divide begins when Serge drops 200,000 Francs on a completely white painting. Of course, Serge (played by Steve Kipp) would adamantly argue, it’s not white in the slightest—however much it may appear so to the crude, untrained eye of the common observer. Upon closer inspection, the work is practically alive with crimsons and…
Choose your own adventure!
Just getting to the Brickyard Theatre feels like an elaborately staged adventure. First, go to a softball field in Atascadero and wait. Look around anxiously for other playgoers. (Hint: They love floppy hats.) Soon, vans roll up. Driven by fancy chauffeurs, they are discreetly marked “The Brickyard Theatre.” Don’t ask questions, just hop in. Before…
Cougars & Mustangs
Cal Poly students know how to chill out. No, no. That’s much too cheesy a lead for this column. How about: Cal Poly students are really hot right now? Nah. These guys are really cool? Forget it. Cal Poly Engineering recently took first place in the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning System Selection category of…
How many ninjas could you take in a fight?
Tristin Morgan department of social security “Seven-hundred and thirty-two, using a sack of potatoes and my bare fists—just like Mom used to do.” Johnny and Laura Tweddle engineer and accountant “Six, if we fight together. Three each seems about right.” Nick Duffy class A driver “Probably zero, but maybe one. I do have ninja-like back…
Dirty reggae
In a world seemingly awash in reggae acts, The Aggrolites remain something special—soulful, rooted in tradition, but looking nothing like a reggae act. In fact, these five light-skinned dudes look like they should be in a punk band. Originally, they were members of two L.A. reggae and ska bands—the Vessels and the Rhythm Doctors—who teamed…
Art that says something
When I drove by Linnaea’s Café on Sept. 2 for the opening reception of “Mincing Words,” the place looked packed. I just knew that it was going to be the art party to end all art parties, a veritable whirlwind of wine, art, laughter, and tears. But by the time I found a parking space…
CLUBS
Goin’ South … BRANCH ST. DELI: 203 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande, 489-9099. Live music Fri. from 5:30-8:30pm. THE CLIFFS RESORT: 2757 Shell Beach Road, 773-5000 or cliffsresort.com. F. MCLINTOCKS SALOON: 750 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach and in the Arroyo Grande Village, 773-1892 or mclintocks.com. Pismo: Live music Mon.-Wed., 6-9pm: Tennessee Jimmy Harrell, Fri.-Sun., 6-9pm:…
Estancia 2009 Pinot Noir Monterey County Pinnacles Ranches
Winemaker Scott Kelley has a knack for producing a tasty, value-priced Pinot Noir year after year, and I appreciate such consistency. It tastes of delicious cherry and raspberry flavors with a subtle touch of oak and spice notes. This is the wine you’ll want to enjoy when you’re grilling Santa Maria-style tri-tip, cheeseburgers, or a…
Storm 2007 Pinot Noir Le Bon Climat Vineyard Santa Maria Valley
At first sip, this elegant Pinot captured my attention. It offers a mouthful of ripe fruit in perfect balance. Its rich black cherry and plum aromas and flavors are beautifully highlighted with notes of blueberries, minerals, and spice. Although it’s irresistible on its own, you’ll love it at the dinner table. Pair it with special…
Savor the Central Coast life!
I’ve been watching online videos by Sunset magazine that showcase SLO County’s many attractions. From the spectacular Hearst Castle estate and panoramic vistas of vineyards on rolling hills to the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, their featured views will make you wish you were dipping your toes into the sea or sipping wine among the…
Thanks for reporting on the auction for this worthy land
First of all, thank you and your paper, New Times, for covering the issue (“Going once…” Aug. 25) of land grab in California Valley in typical backhanded sleek corporate tradition. I, as a property owner, should have been informed ahead of time about the auctioning of the marketable so that we get the first shot…
Sweet Dreams
There’s nothing like a three-day weekend to clear out the old cobwebs. And it couldn’t have come at a better time. In the last month or so I’ve logged an average of 12 hours of hard labor per week. Some of that may have been spent napping, but I don’t believe in quibbling over details.…
Chad Taber
NEW TIMES What are you working on? TABER Right now, we are testing the fruit, sampling each block, and hoping to see what blocks are ready to harvest. We expect that in the next week or two, hopefully, we will be picking some fruit. It really depends on Mother Nature and the weather. NEW…
Looks like Shredder’s getting some cash
To whoever wrote “The Weyrich way” in your Sept. 1 issue of New Times, I say: “AMEN! This is one of the most concise, commonsense pieces of journalism it has been my privilege to read. Please put my name as next in line to the writer’s request for stimulus dollars.”
How’s this for a health-care provider?
The Obamacare legislation forces every American to buy a federally approved health insurance policy. Now we need to ask ourselves, “If you were free to pick a health-care provider, would you pick an organization that is $17 trillion in debt and has just had its credit rating downgraded?”
Stay out of Cheney’s sights
As accused and self-acknowledged torturer and war crimes “mastermind” (an oxymoron) Dick Cheney begins his book tour, Dick warns that his tell-all memoir will have “heads exploding.” Harry Whittington is a one-time friend of Cheney who was shot in the face and nearly killed in February 2006 by the trigger-happy former vice president. Whittington might…
We might not be happy much longer
San Luis Obispo has come full circle. After being resurrected with a progressive and enlightened majority in the 1980s, making it a unique community, it now finds itself returned to its regressive and reactionary past. It has become common and indistinguishable from other Republican-controlled, for-profit enclaves. As the city continues its financial and communal downward…
You’re still doing it
I think I got the point (“Our voices mattered on the worst bill ever,” Sept. 1). The bill (H.R. 2584 or Worst. Bill. Ever.) is bad. It should not pass. Please tell your representative. In fact, I agree that it’s a bad bill, and I’m glad to hear it’s gone away. However, no bill is…
Why ban bags in this recession?
Does no one care about retaining jobs? There are plastic bag manufacturers here in the United States—several in California. And, of course, there are warehousemen who stock them and truckers who deliver them. It’s similar for paper bags. Knowing this, how can the county Integrated Waste Management Authority even contemplate banning these types of bags…
Teach empathy to your children
Recently I passed a McDonald’s and saw six bikes dropped in front. It brought back memories of summer, hanging out with friends and the fun we had going to the pool, the corner store, and McD’s on our bikes. Remember those days? Now, imagine what your summers would have been like without friends. Boring? Lonely?…
De Vaul’s case could have been handled more humanely
Many comments have been written in and around the Dan De Vaul case—an individual who is trying his best, using his time to provide housing, meals, rehabilitation for individuals in need. I know the community has in some cases provided donations, help, etc., basically from, I believe, individual donations. I am disappointed that business leaders…
Don’t distract from the serious issue of homelessness
Becky Jorgeson’s letter, wherein she accused county health and safety officers and the county counsel’s office of corrupt conspiracy in dealing with Dan De Vaul’s failures to meet code requirements and her assertion that Judge Crandall is biased and unfair (“Are we going to accept the ‘justice’ served on Dan De Vaul?”) borders on the…
BITD (back in the day) alert
I recently had some old friends from my BBS* days come out of the woodwork. Wondering if anyone remembered TradeWars as fondly as I did, I ran a Google search for “Best BBS games.” Did you mean “Best DS games?” The times, they have a-changed. Before tweets and Facebook, before Wikileaks, before … the Internet**…
Flee the temples of consumerism
There is a big new box store in Atascadero, across the street from the other giant box stores: more than half a million square feet of box-store mania, collectively. I opened boxes at the new box store, almost all of which were marked “made in China”: boxes for every department from cosmetics to candy, housewares…
Style by design
San Luis Obispo County shoppers have access to a shop where they can buy unique, pre-owned home furnishings. SLO Consignment Furniture, which opened on Sept. 1, not only sells well-priced, lightly used furniture, but also offers locals a place to consign some of their own household items. Owner Jennifer Alderman said she wants to present…
Redevelopment blues
In order to understand what’s happening with redevelopment agencies locally, you first have to understand what a redevelopment agency is. Essentially, it’s a reliable pile of money that cities can turn to for projects that they might not otherwise be able to fund. It’s not terribly exciting, but what do you want? This is a…
The long road home
Toward the end, Dino Banks wasn’t eating. She wouldn’t get out of her wheelchair, and she fell into a depression at the end of her life. She told a friend she “will not survive all this.” Indeed, Banks died on July 20. She was 70 years old. Though Banks died where she wanted to, the…
Clarification
The following was provided by the SLO Mothers For Peace as a clarification to the Sept. 1 article “ECO-woes.” “Since 1969 SLOMFP has been a local organization, not a chapter of a national group. We qualify for legal standing to oppose licensing the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant because we live in close proximity to the…
County streamlines for solar
Solar companies SunPower and First Solar were granted a streamlined process by San Luis Obispo County for their respective utility solar projects proposed in the Carrizo Plains. On Sept. 6, SLO County supervisors approved consent agenda items granting the director of planning and building a special ability to accept open space easements, specifically for the…
Harford Pier repairs begin
There will be no access to the end of the Harford Pier near Avila Beach while construction crews perform repairs on the century-old canopy and historic pier. Beginning Sept. 6, the Port San Luis Harbor District shut down the end of the pier. It will remain closed while repairs are made to the canopy at…
County supervisors reach redistricting deal
Despite butting heads for several weeks, San Luis Obispo County supervisors have reached an agreement on how to split Templeton. County supervisors were tasked with choosing a plan to redraw their district lines to conform with a larger population since the last Census in 2000. But the decision to get there resulted in two split…
SLO Council mulls disposable bags
A familiar phrase—paper or plastic?—will likely disappear from the local supermarket scene if the San Luis Obispo City Council gets its way. On Sept. 6, the City Council voiced unanimous approval to get rid of disposable paper and plastic bags after Bill Worrell, head of the Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA), held a study session…
‘Homeless but not helpless’
Following the eviction of 13 residents from Sunny Acres, the sober living facility run by San Luis Obispo rancher Dan De Vaul, homeless advocate Becky Jorgeson organized a gathering at the steps of the county courthouse on Sept. 7 to protest what she called the county’s failure to provide low-income housing and adequate services for…
