

Cover Story
Winning Images 2024: Local photographers share their view of the world for our annual photography contest
Amateur photographers from across the Central Coast entered our annual Winning Images photo contest, sharing their carefully crafted view of the world with us. Our judges narrowed more than 300 submissions down to three winners in each category and an honorable mention based on the composition and uniqueness of the photo, among other qualities. Catch…
All land belongs to the government
Shredder’s fidelity to property rights (“To seize or not to seize?” June 13) seems not to take into account that in every political system, it is the state and its military forces that control all land within. Some states—like the U.S.—allow folks to own pieces of property in perpetuity if they pay their taxes. But,…
The voters would win if A-24 passes
There appears to be a misunderstanding on who has authority to control the type of development allowed on the properties specified in Measure A-24 (“What would happen to Morro Bay if A-24 passes?” June 13). The California Coastal Commission certified the Morro Bay General Plan. In the plan, it certified specific uses. If anyone wants…
Shower power
You know what happens when the SLO County Board of Supervisors undoes the mistakes of its previous iteration? The taxpayers rake it in! Just kidding. We’re not raking in anything. But we’re spending less! The Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA)—a regional collaborative effort to manage the vagaries of and state regulatory policies over solid waste—just…
Harmony Pottery Works showcases more than 100 California artists
Art and nature Harmony Pottery Works is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 2191 Creamery Road, Harmony. A 2.5-acre town with 18 residents is likely to go unnoticed by those who aren’t exactly looking for it. But the tiny town of Harmony is packed with great…
Monarch Books tasks contest participants to find Waldo at 24 local venues
Kicking off on Monday, July 1, Monarch Books’ Where’s Waldo-themed contest invites its participants to find the hidden displays of the iconic children’s book character arranged at 24 businesses in the Arroyo Grande Village. The free family-friendly competition runs through Sunday, July 28. Anyone who would like to participate can pick up a stamp card…
Women Making Waves unites Breda SLO and gay rights advocate Donna Cruciani for a Pride-themed chocolate workshop
School’s in session Breda SLO will host a chocolate-making workshop inside Mistura at 570 Higuera St., suite 105, in the Creamery Marketplace on June 24 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. It follows a presentation by queer rights activist Donna Cruciani. Grab tickets for the Women Making Waves event at my805tix.com/e/treatyoself-2. Looking for a more tight-knit…
Five Cities Repair Café fixes damaged cameras, jewelry, clothing, and more
With a focus on waste prevention and saving repairable items from ending up in a landfill, Five Cities Repair Café is a group of savvy volunteers who regularly host free community events, including its next program at the Oceano Community Services District on Saturday, June 22, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Attendees of the event…
Americana world folk ensemble Rising Appalachia plays Treebones Resort on June 21
When growing up singing together, two voices can become so intimately entwined they can almost become one. Such is the case with sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith, whose Americana and world folk ensemble Rising Appalachia features the most amazing vocal harmonies you’ve ever heard. They’re just stunning together. Based in Atlanta, the ensemble’s music…
Hit Man is a solid hit
HIT MAN What’s it rated? RWhat’s it worth, Caleb? Full priceWhat’s it worth, Bulbul? Full priceWhere’s it showing? Netflix Inspired by a true story, co-writer/director Richard Linklater’s Hit Man follows Gary Johnson (Glen Powell), a college professor by day and undercover mole for the New Orleans police by night. Disguised as a hit man, Johnson…
SLO County Clerk-Recorder’s Office operates pop-up vital records service in Atascadero June 22
Closed for the past four years, the Atascadero branch of the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office will live a new life as a weekend pop-up site producing vital records. Deputy County Clerk-Recorder Amy Webster told New Times that accessibility was at the forefront of her office’s mind. “We have transaction hours that close 30…
Sex and the City
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 1998-2004 Where’s it showing? Netflix After years of people recommending the show and not knowing the answer when I was asked whether I was a Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, or Miranda, I finally decided to hop on the train and watch the 25-year-old HBO series Sex and the City. Now on…
Monk
What’s it rated? TV-PG When? 2002-2009 Where’s it showing? Netflix Nearly crippled by the loss of his wife and his OCD coping mechanisms, detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) keeps busy as a consultant for his former commanding officer, Capt. Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), at the San Francisco Police Department, solving otherwise unsolvable crimes. Monk’s obsessive-compulsive…
Coastal Commission eases path to lifting Los Osos’ building freeze
Los Osos leaped closer to a future without the building moratorium that’s gripped the coastal community for a generation. The California Coastal Commission approved a modified version of the new Los Osos Community Plan, effectively smoothing the way for San Luis Obispo County to amend the local coastal plan governing development in the unincorporated area…
Atascadero City Council doesn’t make Pride Month proclamation
The Atascadero City Council is no longer making proclamations for any group—something it made clear during a recent meeting when it opted not to proclaim June as Pride Month. Thom Waldman, who co-produced the first major Atascadero Pride event on June 16, told the council that he was disappointed in the city. The city “is…
SLO County enters contract to take control of Oceano fire services
After years of uncertainty surrounding the future of fire services in Oceano, the SLO County Board of Supervisors voted to enter a contract with the Five Cities Fire Authority to assume control of fire protection services for the unincorporated area. Starting on Jan. 1, 2025—if the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approves it—the county…
IWMA slashes solid waste management fee again after SLO County rejoins
San Luis Obispo County is set to enjoy the perks of rejoining the Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) months after undoing its decision to leave the agency. The IWMA board unanimously voted on June 12 to reduce its countywide solid waste management fee from 5.4 percent to 3 percent. This is the second fee decrease…
Nipomo CSD is at odds with SLO County over property taxes
San Luis Obispo County and the Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) are in a stalemate over potential tax revenue from the Dana Reserve development. After the Board of Supervisors gave the green light for developer Nick Tompkins to move forward with building the 288-acre housing development, the Dana Reserve returned to the board on June…
Gotta ask about bike lanes
Bike lanes in this town are going wild. Everywhere now, one sees carefully constructed curbs, exquisitely painted lanes involving a lot of green: all inspiring a great amount of WTFs on the part of those scoundrels who prefer to use automobiles, as the visual effect can be quite confusing to drivers, if not downright intimidating.…
We can’t go back once we mess things up
I have to agree with Christine Mulholland (“A response to ‘Unity must prevail,'” May 30) and the recent letter from Sharon Roberts (“To those who considered the trees,” June 13). It seems we have been gaslighted with the “group think” new agendas. I am a local of San Luis Obispo. I was born in 1951,…






