J & The Causeways bring their New Orleans sounds to Templeton
Between singer and keyboardist Jordan Anderson’s soulful voice and his band’s saxophone and trumpet twin horn attack, J & The Causeways embodies what their hometown—New Orleans—is all about: “It’s that breath of fresh air that is New Orleans,” Anderson, 34, noted in press materials. “There are no bounds for music, food, art, people, and culture—everything…
Visionary activist Joanna Macy called for healing; the Dana Reserve is not that
On July 19, the world lost a visionary teacher, scholar, and beloved friend: Joanna Macy. A guiding light in systems thinking, deep ecology, and Buddhist philosophy, Joanna touched countless lives with her intellect, her heart, and her unwavering commitment to life on Earth. Joanna (1929-2025) spent her life nurturing what she called “The Work That…
Straightening the record on the Men’s Club building
My Sept. 4 column in these pages (“A lesson, a warning, and a proposal for the Nipomo Mesa”) contained some inaccurate information about the Nipomo Men’s Club buildings on West Tefft Street in Nipomo. Let’s correct the record. My research for this column had led me to believe—mistakenly—that the building occupied by the Men’s Club…
Lawmakers must get real answers to questions about Diablo Canyon’s safety, necessity, and affordability
The future of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant lies at a crucial tipping point. In 2022, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 846, delaying Diablo’s scheduled closure by five years—provided that certain conditions are met and it could be shown that keeping the plant open is both prudent and cost effective. Will Diablo be…
To poke or not to poke
Do you believe vaccines are safe and effective? If you do, you’re at odds with our current secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Remind me again. How did a crackpot conspiracy theorist and anti-vaccine activist end up running the agency whose overall purpose is to safeguard public health? Oh yeah. tRump.…
Halcyon’s former Temple of the People leader, Eleanor Shumway, dies at 92
Halcyon’s former Temple of the People Guardian-in-Chief Eleanor Shumway died on Aug. 12 at home in Arroyo Grande. She was 92. The leader of the local Theosophical Society for 32 years, Shumway was the only guardian-in-chief who lived to retire and witness her successor head the century-old Temple of the People. To her family, Shumway…
New FDA COVID-19 vaccine limits could further shrink SLO County’s old vaccine supply
The federal overhaul of a government vaccine committee has San Luis Obispo County’s Public Health Director Penny Borenstein concerned about the local availability of vaccines that can combat the new strain of the COVID-19 virus. “There are lots of people who want to get the vaccine who will not be able to get it covered…
SLO Hotel Cerro guest barricaded herself in her room, prompting SWAT team to respond
What was originally a typical Tuesday afternoon in downtown San Luis Obispo quickly became a standoff between 44 responders and a hotel guest who had barricaded herself in her room. Garden Street flashed with police lights on Sept. 9. A matte black “SWAT Rescue” vehicle was parked off the corner of Marsh and Garden streets…
Cuesta and Allan Hancock colleges could lose funding aimed towards Latino students
Of the 171 Hispanic-Serving Institutions throughout the state, two of them are right here on the Central Coast. But an executive order from the White House is now posing a threat to the funding that schools like Cuesta and Allan Hancock colleges can receive from the grant program. On Aug. 25, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California)…
A fundraising showing of local comedy short, Salty, screens on Sept. 21 at the Bay Theatre
Dave’s (Paul Zies) got an attitude problem. Almost everyone annoys the aging surfer. When we see Dave in Salty, a new comedy written and co-directed by Josh Martin, he’s on his way to his court-ordered anger management appointment with therapist Dahlia Two Rivers (Jenny Gosnell), who asks about his “triggers.” So begins this very funny…
Lucia Mar calls for healthier food, bans homemade items for class parties
Classroom celebrations at Lucia Mar Unified School District are going to look different this school year after officials updated the wellness policy to boost student nutrition. “While this policy does represent a shift, we are still committed to making birthdays and classroom celebrations special,” district spokesperson Amy Jacobs said. “Food Services continues to offer fun,…
Oil painter Joan Brown is one of three September featured artists in Gallery at Marina Square
“For me, art is still about beauty,” oil painter Joan Brown explained in her artist statement. She’s one of three featured artists—along with oil painter Jose Silva and glass artist Linda Hill—in Morro Bay’s Gallery at Marina Square through Sept. 29. “We respond to beauty, and whether it serves to calm, to delight, or to…
Cal Poly Survivor Club plays and produces its own version of the beloved TV show
Immunity idols, tribal council, torches that represent one’s life—students, the Cal Poly tribe has spoken. Think that you’re a Survivor know-it-all? Bet you couldn’t compete with the tribe members of the Cal Poly Survivor Club who, for eight weeks, immerse themselves in the wit, strategy, and physical challenges of the beloved game of CBS’s Survivor.…
Photojournalist Michael J. Costa presents Learning to Breathe, Trekking in Nepal, in Costa Gallery
Learning to Breathe, Trekking in Nepal is a new photo exhibition by Costa Gallery owner and photojournalist Michael J. Costa, which includes images from his 2016 trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp and his 2017 climb to Annapurna. The show hangs in Los Osos’ Costa Gallery through Oct. 26. This show is in conjunction with…
Cuesta College students have a new Ethnic Studies Club to look forward to this school year
Ethnic studies—the study of differences in race, ethnicities, nationalities, and even gender and sexuality—that took root decades ago in San Francisco State University sowed seeds in San Luis Obispo County’s Cuesta College. Cuesta’s Ethnic Studies Club sprouted over the summer after a group of students in the social justice and ethnic studies class organized an…
Businesses donate top-notch food, beverages, and dessert to to the Chapman Estate’s 10th annual Swingin’ by the Sea fundraiser
The Chapman Estate, a fixture on the bluffs of Shell Beach overlooking the Pacific since 1930, is home to a koi pond, a colorful begonia house, a windmill, and the Tudor-style abode. “This is what we’re working to preserve. It’s worth saving, and it’s worth opening the doors to let people see,” volunteer Lillian Jewell…
Are you cheating by using generative AI to complete your coursework?
As generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini become increasingly accessible, college campuses across the country are grappling with a new academic dilemma: What happens when students turn to AI to write their essays? It’s a salient question, but I didn’t write it. ChatGPT did, which is why the opening paragraph is bland…
Katrina: Come Hell and High Water chronicles the multiple failures of the hurricane response
Consisting of three episodes—“We Gonna Ride It Out Like We Always Do” directed by Geeta Gandbhir; “Shelter of Last Resort” directed by Samantha Knowles; and “God Takes Care of Fools and Babies” directed by Spike Lee—this new documentary miniseries explores the New Orleans tragedy on its 20-year anniversary. (three approximately one-hour episodes) KATRINA: COME HELL…
Cal Poly offers lots of niche classes for students to sprinkle into their traditional academic pursuits
Karate. Star Wars, Race, and Rebellion. World Cinema. Beyoncé: Race, Feminism, and Politics. The Witch Hunts in Europe. There is plenty of fun to be had on the academic side of college. As a recent Cal Poly graduate, a few of my classes made a lasting impression: an English class on director Alfred Hitchcock in…
Hostage follows twin crises happening to the British Prime Minister and the French President
Prime Minister Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) is a powerful woman, one who won’t let the world see her feathers ruffled, even when faced with the harsh reality of a kidnapped husband. She’s also got French President Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy) to deal with, and Vivienne is a right-wing fringe politician hungry for reelection. HOSTAGEWhat’s it…
Local educators and students reflect on the lost art of handwritten note-taking
When it comes to taking in a new piece of information, there’s something about putting pen to paper that just hits differently, compared to typing something on a laptop, tablet, or phone. While there’s no shortage of ways to replicate notepad-style note-taking via apps and websites nowadays, the small joys get lost in translation: gliding…
Freaky Tales is an entertaining anthology action comedy set in 1987 Oakland
Co-written and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel), Freaky Tales tells four interconnected stories all set in real locations and connected to historical events in 1987 Oakland. FREAKY TALESWhat’s it rated? RWhen? 2025Where’s it showing? HBO Max “Strength in Numbers: The Gilman Strikes Back” depicts young punk rock fans at an Operation…
Student Guide 2025: Surviving college
Do you have what it takes to survive college? Making it out in one piece requires more than academic prowess—our Cuesta and Cal Poly students need passion, creativity, connection, critical-thinking skills, and much more. In this year’s Student Guide, our annual cheat sheet for student success, we bring you pro tips from Survivor fans who…
