Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. XI
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
NONPROFIT
LOCAL
Joy Playground Fence Complete By NICHOLAS MATTSON nic@atascaderonews.com
Atascadero Loaves and Fishes volunteers, from left, Barbara Waheed, Dave Buck-Moyer, Dorothy Green, Paul Smythe, and John Lindstrom. Photo by Mark Diaz
HELPING THE HUNGRY North County food banks see increase in demand for food assistance
By MARK DIAZ mark@atascaderonews.com NORTH COUNTY — Both the Atascadero and Paso Robles Loaves and Fishes food banks have seen an increase in the demand for food assistance in the North County and will continue operations during the coronavirus outbreak. “We serve a lot of the working poor, and we serve a lot of elderly people,” PLF Executive Director Maria Madrid Sabi said. Although the organizations share the Loaves and Fishes name, the Atascadero and Paso Robles food assistance programs are separate entities with
different hours of operation. Each nonprofit has seen an uptick in people participating in their programs and have made changes to how they are operating to help accommodate the most people possible. Both have waived in-depth, face-to-face interviews generally performed to determine the level of need of the applicant. To deter the spread of the virus, both organizations also asked people not to drop off donations, but instead donate money online to help with the purchasing of food. “We are, right now, figuring out a way that we can serve people that are 65-years and older and are not able to come here,” Sabi said. “That was already part of our vision that we were going to
roll out this year, but now we’re doing it a little bit sooner. It’s a different circumstance, but it is really the same thing we had in mind to do this year.” Both nonprofits are distributing pre-packaged food parcels with as many of the standard items as they can provide based on supply lines. “Clients are allowed to select food items and hygiene items off a menu, so that we don’t waste anything and they don’t get anything that they don’t want,” Pantry Manager Terry Vail said. “But we have had to modify that because of the social distancing recommendations.” CONTINUED ON PAGE A16
LIFTING SPIRITS
ATASCADERO — In this time of community challenges, so much of the community joy relies on making plans for when the coronavirus has been overcome and life can resume. The Atascadero Kiwanis and Rotary Club put their community spirit together to ensure that Joy Playground was ready for the kids when it safe to resume person-to-person contact and interaction. The groups put together more than 500 feet of fencing around Joy Playground, which is necessary for the all-inclusive play area as it serves children with special needs. Children with autism are prone to eloping, and wandering off unnoticed, so the fence around Joy Playground allows children to play independently, giving parents the security they need to relax and allow their children to play with lighter attention than is normally possible on most playgrounds. “Parents For Joy would like to thank the volunteers from Kiwanis and Rotary of Atascadero for coming out, in the rain, and putting up the fencing,” Parents for Joy member Sarah Sullivan said. “It looks fantastic! This project wouldn’t be what it is today without the help from service clubs and the community — thank you! We aren’t finished yet. More shade and the splash pad coming soon!” Battling the recent rain and social distancing recommendations, the community worked to ensure that when the time came to resume public activity without fears of COVID-19, they can enjoy the only all-inclusive playground in the county.
HEALTH
Master Distiller Aaron Bergh Local Blood Bank Struggling to Find Donors Vitalant asks healthy citizens for help Pivots From Distilling Gin To Manufacturing Hand Sanitizer By NICHOLAS MATTSON nic@atascaderonews.com
Local distiller meets needs of first responders and other agencies in desperate need by converting the Calwise Spirits distillery to sanitizer production. Proprietor and master distiller Aaron Bergh made the pivot after seeing calls from agencies serving the community’s most vulnerable, and invites additional agencies in need to contact him. “It concerns me that our community servants don’t have sufficient sanitizer at a time when they need it more than ever,” said Bergh, who is known for producing craft gins and rums at his distillery in south Paso Robles. “I realized that my equipment and supply chain expertise could help out these everyday heroes as they work tirelessly to keep us safe.” In a short amount of time, Bergh has started supplying bulk hand sanitizer to the Templeton Fire Department, San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority, the Camarillo Police Department, 40 Prado Road Homeless Services Center, SLO Food Bank, and others. Most sobering was a call he received from atascaderonews.com
To meet growing demands, Master Distiller Aaron Bergh shifted his operation to produce sanitizer. Photo courtesy of Calwise Spirits Co.
the FBI field office in Los Angeles. His first reaction was cautionary. “Am I doing something wrong?” Bergh said. “Is this real? Is this somebody posing as an agent?” The disconcerting feelings are understandable considering Bergh’s family history. During prohibition, the feds shut down his great-great-grandfather’s moonCONTINUED ON PAGE A16
LOCAL NEWS
Nonprofit orgaization Vitalant’s mobile blood bank. Photo by Mark Diaz
By MARK DIAZ mark@atascaderonews.com SAN LUIS OBISPO — On Thursday, Mar. 19, Governor Gavin Newsom reminded California residents of the need to give blood during this tumultuous time. “If people are feeling healthy and good and well, then they should definitely being coming out to donate,” said Mona Kleman, Senior Manager/Donor Recruitment for
ENTERTAINMENT
RECORD
Vitalant, a nonprofit blood collection organization. Blood donations are taking a significant hit during the coronavirus pandemic. With numbers already low during flu season, the coronavirus pandemic shelter-at-home orders issued by the County of San Luis Obispo and the State of California have slowed donations to a trickle. Schools, a major source of donations to the medical community, were forced to cancel appointments
due to the countywide closures. “We have had multiple cancellations as a result of schools being closed,” Kleman said. “This time of year is a very busy time at high schools for us. All of the mobile drives that we had set up with Cal Poly in the next few weeks have also been canceled because they have gone virtual.” Serving the community for 50 years, Vitalant operated under names such as the United Blood
SPORTS
WEATHER
twitter.com/ @AtascaderoNews facebook.com/ @AtascaderoNews
5
67808 24135
7
LOCAL CHURCHES Offer online services and resources | A3
MOVIE REVIEW ‘Emma” provides much-needed levity | A4
PRJUSD Begins drivethru meal program for children’s lunches | A7
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR WEEK 2 OF 2: A spotlight on top local athletes | A14
High 55º | Low 34º