Atascadero News Magazine • #64 • October 2023

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Colony Days King and Queen: Donn and Christine Clickard

By Christianna Marks

Their deep community involvement, including education, nursing, and civic roles, exemplify their lasting impact on the town they call home.

Colony Days Grand Marshal: Robert 'Grigger' Jones

By Christianna Marks

A former lawyer, Grigger has been deeply involved in the community, serving in various organizations and fostering a strong sense of belonging.

Colony Days Celebrates 50 Years of Community

By Christianna Marks

Colony Days Parade celebrates its 50th anniversary with a grand event featuring historic floats, community spirit, and the return of Tent City festivities.

COLONY DAYS COURT KING AND QUEEN DONN & CHRISTINE CLICKARD WITH GRAND MARSHAL ROBERT "GRIGGER" JONES

Photo by Hayley Mattson

Embracing Autumn's Joy and Thankfulness: Honoring Colony Days

As autumn leaves start their colorful descent and the crisp air brings with it the comforting aroma of spiced pumpkin, we are once again enveloped in that magical period of the year. Fall ushers in an array of community gatherings that knit us closer as neighbors, and Colony Day Parade stands as a cherished emblem of communal unity and an expression of our collective resilience.

This year, it's our privilege to celebrate Colony Days' King and Queen, Donn and Christine Clickard. We also extend our admiration to Grand Marshal Grigger Jones for their unwavering dedication and commitment to bettering our community.

Behind the eye-catching floats, the bustling Tent City, the melodies, and all the smiles, lie countless hours of effort, orchestrated by a valuable team of volunteers. Their behind-the-scenes labor is the engine that fuels this annual celebration, making it an effortless experience for all.

Among these unsung heroes is Brittney App, a remarkable photographer whose artistic touch has shared many a cherished memories for a variety of local charitable organizations. In a recent oversight, we failed to give Brittney due credit for her generous contribution of photography to FARMstead ED last month. We extend our sincerest thanks, both from our own team and from Lynette Sonne, the organization's founder.

“We are so grateful for Brittany's support in helping us tell our story through her beautiful imagery of our local farms, people, producers, and purveyors," says Lynette Sonne, Founder and Herd Boss of FARMstead ED and the SLO Co Farm Trail. "High fives to you [all] for all that you contribute to our community by telling our stories!”

As we dive into the season, embracing pumpkin patches, spooky Halloween festivities, and the Pioneer Day Parade, let's also nurture the ethos of communal spirit. Whether it's engaging in a deeper conversation with a casually acquainted neighbor, volunteering at local happenings, or simply expressing thanks to the dedicated souls who bring these events to life, each small act adds to our communal tapestry.

We feel privileged to be woven into the fabric of your lives and this extraordinary community. A heartfelt thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to creating more unforgettable memories this Autumn.

Sending you all a season filled with warmth, joy, and festive cheer!

See you in the Parade!

Hayley & Nic

if thou wouldest win immortality of name, either do things worth the writing, or write things worth the reading. — Thomas Fuller, 1727

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The Natural Alternative

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COLONY BUZZ

‘Around the World in 80 Notes’ with the Atascadero Community Band

Get ready for an extraordinary musical journey as the Atascadero Community Band proudly presents “Around the World in 80 Notes” on October 29. This highly anticipated event promises to be an afternoon of cultural exploration through music, taking the audience on a remarkable tour of the world’s diverse musical traditions. The concert will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. at the ABC Church of Atascadero.

This exceptional event will showcase the rich tapestry of sounds and rhythms from various corners of the globe, uniting musicians and audiences alike in the universal language of music. Under the batons of co-conductors Carol Kouklis and Justin Larson, the talented members of the community band will bring their passion and expertise to deliver an unforgettable performance. From the lively and vibrant tunes of Europe to the soulful melodies of Asia and from the infectious rhythms of the Americas to those even beyond

our stratosphere, the “Around the World in 80 Notes” concert promises to captivate your senses and leave you with cherished memories.

The afternoon concert will benefit the San Luis Obispo Instrumental Music Boosters Association, which is the booster organization for the San Luis Obispo High School Marching Band. The Atascadero Community Band continues to work towards its mission to serve not only local musicians but also give back to other local nonprofit community organizations.

“Since many, if not all, of the band’s membership once played in their own local high school band, we are proud to support our local young musicians. After all, it is the youth that will continue to keep organizations such as the Atascadero Community Band going during the decades to come. We are thrilled to present this musical extravaganza to our beloved community,” said Joyce Rabellino, Atascadero Community Band President. “This concert is not just a celebration of the incredible talents of our local musicians but also serves as a tribute to the beautiful diversity that exists in our global musical heritage.”

Admission to this concert is free, making it an ideal opportunity for families, friends, and music enthusiasts of all ages to come together and experience the magic of music from different cultures. Parking and refreshments at intermission

are also free.

The Atascadero Community Band is an all-volunteer, 501(c) (3) organization, and donations are welcomed and encouraged. They continue to encourage and welcome area music enthusiasts who might have an instrument tucked away, along with a passion for performing in a band. Contact the band for more information on concerts, rehearsals and joining the organization visit atascaderoband.org.

This month, we are focusing on women’s health and hormones. Every woman is unique, and so is her hormonal balance. Understanding and effectively treating hormonal imbalances requires a whole-body approach, rather than looking at your health as a set of independent issues. This is especially true with hormones, which are all interrelated. The holistic approach we have advocated for so many years is very different from what you’ll see in today’s medical system, which at times can seem hopelessly out of touch with the care that real women deserve.

A hormonal imbalance occurs when normal levels and production of hormones in the endocrine system, or their ratio to other hormones, is disrupted. Some of the symptoms of hormonal imbalances are: mood swings, heavy or painful periods, low libido, insomnia and poor-quality sleep, unexplained weight gain, skin problems, fertility problems, headaches, weak bones and vaginal dryness.

At The Natural Alternative, we carry a variety of products by LifeSeasons that can help a woman balance her hormones at whatever stage of her journey she may find herself in, from puberty to menopause. Pausitivi-T for menopause support, Women’s Vitali-T for libido and mood support, and PreMense-T for PMS support, all which

help create harmony in the body and relieve a variety of symptoms that you may be experiencing.

Wild yam and chaste tree by MediHerb and Herb Pharm are also a great options and have been used by women around the world to treat PMS and menopause. They can be used alone or in conjunction depending on what you are looking to achieve.

Cordyceps by Host Defense are a hormone-balancing powerhouse and have been used in Chinese medicine to treat imbalances and libido issues for centuries.

Bone Strength by New Chapter is one of our most popular women’s supplements and contains clinical-strength organic plant calcium to help reduce osteoporosis risk, with daily calcium plus Vitamin K2 & fermented D3 for better absorption.

The Natural Alternative would also like to announce the addition of our new nutritionist, Margaret Pauls. She is now available for consults and taking new clients. She specializes in women’s health and is a great resource for any issues or ailments you may be experiencing. Give us a call or come into the shop to speak with her or schedule an appointment.

Enjoy 20 percent off Hwy 9 Love Lotion from Be Rooted for the entire month of October.

The Team @ The Natural Alternative

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DIAGNOSIS, PRESCRIPTION OR TREATMENT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL COUNSELING WITH A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DIAGNOSIS, PRESCRIPTION OR TREATMENT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL COUNSELING WITH A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL COUNSELING WITH A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

Happiness in a world of Octobers

KYLA SKINNER

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers” is a quote from one of my favorite book series—L.M. Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables." We may not have breathtaking fall colors here, but the change of the seasons is always full of excitement and a chance to reset. And speaking of excitement—man, the city calendar is full of events!

It starts off with the 50th annual Colony Days Parade at the Sunken Gardens on October 7—the parade starts at 10 a.m. and the fun continues all day with dog races at noon, awards at 12:30 p.m. and a musical performance at 2:30 p.m. Vendors, games, and food will be available in front of the City Hall as well, always such a fun time for the family.

On the same day, there will be a Tri-Tip Cookoff and Fundraiser for Got Your Back North County, a nonprofit that provides meals for homeless students throughout the school year. Mmm, tri-tip! (Did you know that it’s a Central Coast thing? We moved away to North Carolina for a few years and no tri-tip to be found anywhere!) Event will be held at 3605 Maricopa Road; to find out more visit facebook.com/Atowntritipcookoff/.

Next up, we have the Showdown

Cornhole Tournament happening October 13 and 14 at Sunken Gardens. This is a big deal. People are into this! Proceeds to benefit the North County Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program and the Atascadero Boy Scout Troop 51. LIGHTHOUSE coffee and pastries will be available for purchase in the morning. There will be a lunch break from 12 to 1:30 p.m., with time for a picnic, a famous Kiwanis burger, or something from the nearby restaurants. Registration is $40

scaredy cats or the kiddos, on October 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. as well. Double check its website for more info or for tickets, thehauntinatascadero.com.

I’d also like to give a shoutout to one of my fellow Traffic Way businesses. At 5840 Traffic Way, the Raconteur Room is an eclectic comfy spot to hang out and mingle with cool people. Events they have planned are Third Fridays with “You Had To Be There” comedy show. Weekly events include Monday open mic, Tuesday is a pool tournament, Wednesday is Trivia with Misha and Thursdays are Karaoke. Live music every Friday and Saturday nights.

for a team and forms can be found at the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce or online at visitatascadero.com.

If you like to be scared, check out The Haunt at 5805 El Camino. It has attracted international attention, featured by BBC News as “the scariest Haunted House in America.” It will be opening Saturday, October 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. There will also be a “lights-on” tour, safer for us

Also, in general, I’d like to encourage all of us to get out and support the amazing and unique small businesses we have downtown. Entrada Avenue has just gone through months of street work and I know this has hurt many of our beloved businesses. Progress entails construction and it won’t be fun. Atascadero has been blossoming into a fun hip spot to be and it won’t continue unless we get out and support those businesses. Without a lot of tourists, we depend on the locals to keep us going. Before you shop online or head to the chain stores, take a stroll downtown. We did this recently and I swear we got cooler clothes for my husband and spent less money than I would have online.

Carlee from Rumor Goods at 5870 Traffic Way has put together a fun downtown guide — see how many you

We are here to offer some monthly tips, tricks, and tales from the automotive industry. Whether you are fellow gearheads, garage aficionados, or maybe you think about blinker fluid (Hint, Hint, you don’t have any blinker fluid), we are here for you. We are Jimmy & Leigh-Ann of Shift’N Gears Garage in Paso Robles. If you don’t know us already, we are both locals who decided to give back to our community and open up an ASE Master Certified full-service auto repair shop.

Holidays & Hearses—OH MY!

The holidays are around the corner with Halloween kicking off the season! Looking for some “spooky table talk”? Here are some fun and possibly useless facts about, THE HEARSE.

Honoring our lost loved ones has been filled with ritual and intrigue dating back to ancient times. The hearse remains a popular choice for the mode of transportation for funerals and other medical-related events. As is with anything death-related, you will find myths and stories galore surrounding them.

“Don’t you ever laugh when a hearse goes by ... ’Cause you might be the next to die.” This morbid western song has many versions with no official origin story; but made popular

during World War I.

The term “hearse” is actually French and derived from Latin origins. Herse refers to a harrow, or a plow. So how did a vehicle carrying the deceased come to be named after piece of farming equipment? Early horse-drawn hearses consisted of a wooden framework with spikes used to hold candles. This candelabra-like structure resembled the teeth of a harrow. The name stuck in the 17th century.

In 1908, the first motorized hearse was ELECTRIC from General Vehicle Company. A year later, Crane & Breed released the first gasoline-powered hearse. Along with everything else, the hearse was evolving to suit the needs of the technological society in the Western world. It was not uncommon for hearses to serve as both funeral cars and ambulances, especially in small towns. But, with stricter regulations implemented in the 1970’s these “combination coaches” became more rare and then obsolete.

Amongst hearse enthusiasts, the 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor hearse is considered one of the most desirable for collectors and recognizable for movie-goers, due to its especially ornate styling and appearances in several feature films, most notably in the 1984 film, "Ghostbusters."

The Clickety & Whistle

Story By Simone Smith

What is it about trains? The clickety-clack sound as they travel across the rails? The horn blow alerting us to their presence? Or even the clanging sound and flashing lights of the crossing signals, which all seem to be firmly rooted in our consciousness?

Many people, if asked, have some sort of train story associated with a fond memory, whether it’s from books like "Tootle the Train," watching TV shows like "Petticoat Junction" or "Thomas and Friends," seeing movies like "The Polar Express," marveling at a tiny train going around a Christmas tree during the holidays, traveling by train as a commuter, on vacation, as a relaxing way to reach your destination, or riding on a small train in a park, the list goes on.

The sights and sounds associated with trains can instantly spark feelings of excitement, adventure, and curiosity. What little child doesn’t instantly perk up wanting to run to see as a train goes by, quick before they miss it, to point and wave. “Here comes the train!” “How many cars does this one have?” “Is it freight or passenger?” “I wonder who’s on the train?” “Where are they going?” “What are they carrying?” “Bye, bye train.”

Powerful, speedy, or slow and steady, trains are a way to get goods and passengers from here to there and have captured the imaginations of young and old alike. No matter if you’re an avid or casual fan or just curious, the Central Coast Railroad Festival returns for it’s 13th year to celebrate all things rail Oct. 6-8. Hosted by the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum, the festival will take place at public and private locations throughout San

Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara counties. From big trains to small, you’re sure to find something of interest, including a rare chance to visit private Garden Railroads with owners ready to welcome you and share their passion.

For Mark Edwards, growing up in west Ohio, the passion for trains began when at the age of 5 or 6 when he received his first Lionel train for Christmas set up on a 4x8 sheet of plywood and from that point on there was no turning back. Over the years and as a teenager, Mark continued to experiment with various sizes and layouts of model trains, but it was when he visited the Kings Island theme park outside Cincinnati in his early 20s that he caught the bug for Garden Railways. He always loved being outdoors more than inside, so when he saw the larger trains going outside through a landscape of live small trees and plants, this was it; Garden Railroads would become his lifetime hobby.

Mark went on into a career with a focus on plants and animals and during his years living in San Diego, where he worked as Head of Animal Nutrition for the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, he discovered a very strong Garden Railroad group. Through his involvement in the club Mark was able to meet a wide range of enthusiasts who helped him learn about and hone many skills needed to create these miniature worlds through practice while helping to build temporary displays for the Annual Model Train Show at the Del Mar Fair. While in San Diego, Mark built his first small outside layout, which was packed up and stored for several years during his time living and working in Washington D.C. Returning to

Clack Blow

the West Coast and now a Cal Poly professor in the animal science department, Mark said a major consideration for buying their home was to have an outdoor area suitable to build his next Garden Railroad.

After nine years of work, the layout for the Cascade Peak and Buena Vista Railroad is now over a 2,300-square-foot area above a retaining wall in the residential backyard of Mark and Michelle Edwards just outside of Santa Margarita. The Edwards Garden Railroad currently includes 735 feet of 45mm gauge track upon which run the G scale “Main Street Trolley” encircled by a winding perimeter track where passenger and mine trains climb through “Horseshoe Curve,” around rock formations, through “Nature's Wonderland” past cascading waterfalls, and over the “Ol’ Trestle at Goat Canyon” with all the sites and sounds along the way before returning to “Main Street Station.”

Mark says he enjoys the unpredictability and challenges of working outdoors and chooses small-scale plants that are hardy to Zone 7, with full Southern sun exposure, drought and animal resistance. “It’s been under construction for nine years now, but this railroad will never really be done,” Mark says, as he is constantly thinking of, adding, and modifying elements.

A chance to visit the Cascade Peak and Buena Vista Railroad will be on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the Central Coast Railroad Festival and includes an optional Scavenger Hunt with three levels of complexity, giving visitors the chance to spend more time discovering things and ask questions.

Short on time? With so many choices of where to go and what to

see during the Central Coast Railroad Festival, we’re lucky to have a perfect sampling of trains and layouts at three locations right here in the Atascadero and Santa Margarita areas.

In addition to seeing the Garden Railroad at the Edwards residence, you can swing by the Historic Santa Margarita Ranch (also open Saturday, Oct. 7, only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for a visit to the Pacific Coast Railroad Company to view Steam Locomotive #3 along with two historic Santa Fe & Disney passenger coaches dating back to the 1950s which will be offering rides on a 1.6-mile journey around the ranch headquarters with sights of rolling hills and additional rail equipment along the way. (Adults $10, 3-12 years $5 and 2 and under Free).

Got the railroad bug and wanting more?

Head on up to Atascadero to Central Coast Trains at 7600 El Camino Real suite #3, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., to see and be inspired by several operating indoor model train layouts and while there, check out the many options to start or add on to your railroading hobby.

Woo, woo! No matter your age, the clickety-clack and whistle-blow of trains seem to have an irresistible pull and you’ll find something for everyone at the Central Coast Railroad Festival.

For a complete schedule and locations for all areas, self-guided tours and goings on for the 2023 Central Coast Railroad Festival, you can visit ccrrf.com/schedule-2023.html. Join or learn more by visiting the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum slorrm.com; the Central California Coast Garden Railroad Society cccgrs.org; or the SLO Model Railroad Association slomra.org

Photos by Simone Smith and Mark Edwards

Meet the 2023 Colony Days

Grand Marshal: ROBERT 'GRIGGER'

by Christianna Marks

Robert Jones, best known by friends, family, and colleagues as "Grigger," has been a fixture in Atascadero since he arrived here in 1978. This year, the Colony Days Committee announced that Grigger would be taking on another role in Atascadero as this year's Grand Marshal at the Colony Days Parade.

"You know, it's the Colony Days Committee, and Barbie Butz asked me, and I don't turn Barbie Butz down. I've known Barbie forever, so that's my reaction," Grigger said of landing Grand Marshal this year. "It's an honor, but at the same time, it's part of being here in Atascadero. Been here a long time."

Before heading to the North County, Grigger was born and raised in Santa Barbara, but he left as soon as he graduated from high school. However, he never lost his love of the beach or surfing, and he and his wife, Alice, have a second home there.

"In Santa Barbara, I was a surfer," added Grigger. "I grew up in that culture. That would have been the late '50s all the way through high school, college, through law school. I surfed Morro Bay when I moved here, and I've surfed all up and down California, Hawaii, South America, Mexico, and different places. I even surfed over in France. Surf was terrible."

Grigger was also in the Army for over three years and even did a stint in what was then West Berlin in 1972 before being honorably

JONES

some real estate partners with me, and it was just really successful."

Grigger was also a part of the incorporation process when Atascadero became its own city in 1979.

"You know, I just didn't want to live in a big town. I wanted to know people, and I wanted to get my hands involved in how the town operated," he said. "When I got here, it wasn't incorporated yet. It was the planning stage, which I saw an opportunity to be a part of that. It was very exciting. So I've been involved with the town 44 years.

discharged that same year. He was a graduate of the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California.

Once here, Grigger didn't take any time establishing a life in Atascadero. Right away, he jumped into becoming a part of the community. It was the smalltown charm, the want to open a law practice, and a calling to be part of something bigger that brought him to town.

"I was looking for a small town to raise my children and set up a law practice," he said. "Didn't know a soul in town when I got here, and within a couple of years, I was president of the Chamber of Commerce and running the Tuesday Luncheon Meetings

in town. I had a successful law practice here. Raised all my kids. They were small-town kids. They've done extremely well in life."

And what a great place it was to raise his kids Andrew, Carilyn, and Nancy alongside Alice, and just one year after Grigger and his family arrived, he started his law practice after graduating from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

"I passed the bar in '79, opened a little office center on West Mall and, joined the JCs, and met a lot of young people my age," he said. "We did a lot of business together and built an office. One of the first buildings out there on Morro Road. Built some apartments out there in '79, moved in '80, and had

"I like the people very, very much. They're here because they want to be here, or because maybe their grandparents moved here and they have a couple generations, but primarily because they really enjoy being here. They enjoy being part of a small community. They speak very well of each other, which is what I always find to be so endearing. They just have a sense about them that they know what's good here and how to keep it good."

Though things have changed since the late '70s, Grigger said that the feel of community of the city he calls home hasn't. He shared an antidote about driving and how, even though it's different now, he remembers those moments and still happens upon them every once in a while.

"We still had the 60-second rule, which is, if you're behind somebody and they happen to be chatting with somebody on the other side of the road going the other direction, you could not honk your horn unless it was 60

seconds had gone by," Grigger said as he smiled.

Throughout the years, Grigger has been a part of almost every big organization in Atascadero, and his love of being in the middle of change has even led him outside of our city into other parts of the county. Currently, he's the chair and president of Atascadero Mutual Water Company and chair of the Basin Management for the North County. He's also been on the Nacimiento Water Commission since the beginning; in fact, he was the founding commissioner. He is also the president of Cuesta College Foundation. Grigger also co-founded Leadership North County almost 10 years ago. That just scratches the surface of all the things Grigger has done in his lifetime. In addition, Grigger and Alice also sponsor Saturdays in the Park and have for years.

"I like solving problems, and I'm an organizational person. I like seeing things work and if there is an organization out there that has a mission and they want my expertise," Grigger said. "They may have a structural problem, need more directors, or replacing directors, or if they have an executive director issue. They're retiring or leaving or issues. Typically, I'd be asked to come in to assist with that. So I ran a lot of meetings, I still run a lot of meetings, and have all over the county."

It's been 12 years since Grigger formally stopped practicing law. He commented that his life is basically stress-free now, and he's loving being able to focus on doing things he enjoys doing. He even had a moment after retirement where he made wine locally. He added that when COVID hit, he decided to get out of the wine-making business. But he's kept busy helping his friends make the area into something extraordinary.

BUY

Meet the King and Queen of Colony Days 2023:

by Christianna Marks

Donn and Christine Clickard are no strangers to Atascadero or the surrounding community. From their continual involvement in the Atascadero School District to Donn founding the Atascadero Greyhound Foundation and LIGHTHOUSE, they’re familiar faces around town. So, it’s no surprise that The Colony Days Committee announced them as this year’s Colony Days King and Queen.

“It was quite an honor and quite a surprise,” Christine said. “At least to me, it was quite a surprise. Although I was born and raised in this town, I never thought I would be selected as a partner to have this honor bestowed on us.”

Donn, who was on the Atascadero Colony Days Committee from 1975 to 2021, added that he’s seen so many people get presented with the honor over the years and that it was truly special to have landed here himself.

“It truly is an honor,” Donn added. “You live in a town for 50 years and it’s sort of like teaching for 35 years. When I see kids that I’ve taught or was involved with in authentics or whatever, when they’re glad to see me that’s a really good thing. That isn’t true of everybody who does this job. I think when you get a little recognition for who you are, what you’ve done, and how you’ve

DONN AND CHRISTINE CLICKARD

been involved with people in the community for such a length of time. Between the two of us we’ve established a body of work that in cooperation with a whole lot of other people, makes something like this really meaningful.”

Christine was born and raised in Atascadero; in fact, she was born in the Atascadero General Hospital that no longer exists. In the seven decades that Christine has lived in Atascadero, she has seen a lot of changes.

“It is still, but not as, rural. There were no stoplights. We watched them build the freeway because El Camino was the main connection. Which was two lanes all the way to San Luis [Obispo] and up to Paso [Robles],” Christine said of the Atascadero she grew up in. “We would ride horses all over town. There were no fences. We rode bicycles everywhere. We’d say ‘bye’ to mom in the morning and we’d come back at dinner time. And all the kids were outdoors. It was and still is a lovely rural place to have a family.”

She also reminisced about the fact that Atascadero used to have a train stop and how she used to hop on the train for day trips to San Luis Obispo in her youth.

Donn grew up in Monterey and headed south when he attended Cal Poly to get his Master’s degree in physical education. It was

when he was at school getting his degree that he needed hours of student teaching. That’s when he landed a gig at Atascadero High School under Jim Stecher.

“That was 1970, and I didn’t ever work in physical education,” he said. “I was assigned a position in special education, and so I taught in the resource program in special ed for my whole time, whatever it is, 35 years. And then, I was athletic director for all but two years of that time. I became AD in 72, I think. So that’s how we got here. Kind of by accident. And then I never left.”

Donn and Christine met due to both chance and Camp Hapitok, a camp for students with speech and language impairments that closed in 2015. Donn originally drove a school bus for the pilot program that would become Camp Hapitok. He would pick kids up in Atascadero and take them to camp. Oddly enough, Christine’s younger sister Lynn was Donn’s teacher’s assistant when she was in high school, and Donn recruited her, so she became a Camp Hapitok Tiger, which was a therapist assistant at the camp.

“We had a family day and she invited her family to come and Christine was the older sister that was home from school,” stated Donn.

Christine added: “I was living in San

Francisco going to nursing school. Came home for a visit. So we just met randomly that way. But he also knew my dad, who owned a local liquor store here, El Camino Liquor, for a while. And my mom was a librarian in the school district. So he had met everyone in my family except for me because I was in San Francisco at the time.”

The two young lovebirds had a long-distance relation ship while Christine finished up school. She moved back in 1975, and by 1978, the two were married.

Christine started her nursing career at the Paso Robles Hospital before it closed. After that, she worked at Twin Cities in Templeton before going on to work in San Luis Obispo at the general hospital for the rest of her time nursing. While working in SLO, she also worked at the Cuesta Health Center as the student nurse. She retired in 2020.

“Supporting Donn and all the activities through the school that’s probably been my major contribution in terms of supporting the school and then, of course, when our daughter went through the school district, working with all the PTAs, and then with band, and that sort of thing,” Christine said of her involvement in Atascadero. Christine also hosted the Athletic Booster Club’s Luau for 27 years in the Clickards' beautiful backyard.

In 1999, Donn and Christine made the exciting trip to Vietnam to adopt their daughter Julia. They stayed in Vietnam for a whole month during the adoption process so they could immerse themselves in their daughter’s culture. They added that Atascadero welcomed little Julia with open arms when they brought her home. Julia is now a biological scientific aide for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in San Luis Obispo, and the light of Donn and Christine’s life.

On top of being an athletic director and a teacher at Atascadero High School until 2004, Donn was also a part of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce and served as president on the chamber board for four different terms. He became a trustee on the school board for the Atascadero Unified School District from 2004 to 2023.

“Because of my involvement with schools. When I retired from the school district, then I got on the school board," Donn stated. "I was on the school board for 16 years. I’ve seen the real growth of our schools and their importance to the kids that we serve because now that education has become more and more important for the whole community and developing the whole community. The community has always supported schools.”

In 1995, Donn became the founder of the Atascadero Greyhound Foundation and later LIGHTHOUSE. Born out of the tragedy of the drug-related deaths of young Atascadero athletes, the foundations continue to provide substance use awareness, prevention, intervention, and education.

“This community is unique in that, when we do a project, we being the community, the Greyhound Foundation, the school district, or the city, we kind of all do this together," added Donn. "There’s not groups that are opposed to what you’re doing. We’re all in it together and I think this is a pretty darn important thing for us.”

Both Donn and Christine commented that they’re excited to be driven in the Colony Days Parade in Kent Kenny’s convertible.

“Colony Days is a neat thing, and this King and Queen business is an honor, but like with all things that you do, don’t take yourself too seriously,” laughed Donn.

“We are both, and our daughter too, very appreciative of having been able to live and work and play and be a part of this community,” concluded Christine.

EVENTS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7

7 to 9 am: Pancake breakfast

10 am: Colony Days Parade

Sign up to be in the Parade

After the parade to 3 pm: There will be a variety of vendors, entertainment, and food in and around the Sunken Gardens

10 am - 12 pm: Sign-ups open for Colony Days Dog Races

11:30 am: Sign-ups open for Colony Days Dog Costume Contest

12 pm: Dog costume contest (any size dog -free)

12:30 pm: Wiener dog and small dog races (registration form)

1 pm: Colony Days Parade awards

1:30 pm: Musical Performance by the Atascadero Community Band

Colony Days Celebrates 50 Years of Community

Get ready for the pomp and circumstance of this year's Colony Days Parade. It's going to be a big one, as Colony Days celebrates 50 years of parades, royalty, grand marshals, and good old Atascadero fun.

This year's parade, themed Atascadero Colony Days' 50th Anniversary: Celebrating Community Always, will represent the last half-decade of Atascadero's vibrant community. Residents have been asked to decorate their floats with themes from years past, or they can show their love and community spirit as they drive the parade route. There will even be a prize for the most humorous float.

At the Quota of Atascadero Tea that took place on October 1, it was announced that Donn and Christine Clickard had been chosen as this year's Colony Days King and Queen. It was also announced that Robert "Grigger" Jones is this year's Grand Marshal. They will preside over the parade as it makes its way through downtown. Tent City is also making its triumphant return

to the Sunken Gardens this year after a hiatus that started in 2019 due to COVID. The historically drenched Tent City will kick off in the morning and won't be over until 3 p.m. The festivities will include a performance from the Atascadero Community Band starting at 1:30 p.m.

"The Community Band will play, and they're going to be playing all period music that's correct for the 1916 period. Which is thrilling," said co-chair Dianne Greenaway.

There will also be historically accurate exhibits and fun activities for everyone to participate in while celebrating everything that makes Atascadero great.

As with years past, the Colony Days dog races and dog costume contest will be back, so be sure to get your furry friends ready to show off their legs, whether it's as an athlete or in their best outfits!

Come out, say hi to your neighbors, and help Colony Days celebrate 50 years of hyping up the community and bringing us all together.

by Christianna Marks

Photos by Rick Evans

Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy and then open for business in this one-day marketplace

Experience young minds marketing, selling, counting money and feeling accomplished! Come be a shopper and help Avila Beach’s young entrepreneurs launch their businesses!

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

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Courtney Morrow State Farm Agency courtneymorrow.com

Eagle Medical Packaging Sterilization, Inc. eaglemed.com

Farmers Insurance farmersagent.com/jwright4

Hampton's BBQ & Country B's Hospice SLO County hospiceslo.org

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CELEBRATING INCREDIBLE WOMEN IN NORTH COUNTY

By Josh Cross • CEO/President Chamber of Commerce

Today, we're celebrating the remarkable women in our North County community! This year, you and the rest of North County nominated incredible local women. Four women were selected from those that were nominated for our Women of Influence North County (wINC) program. These women were able to share their stories at the wINC luncheon late last month. One of these women will go on to receive the award for Women of Influence North County 2023 at our Annual Awards Gala.

Who are these four phenomenal women making such a positive impact in our community? I'd love to introduce you to them!

Jennifer Adams, Lumina Alliance, Nonprofit CEO

Jennifer has made a profound impact in the gender-based violence field over her 25-year career. Starting as a volunteer on the crisis line for the Women's Shelter Program, she went on to work at the local rape crisis center, then as a Victim/ Witness advocate until she took the role of Executive Director at the Sexual Assault Recovery & Prevention Center, and later lead the North County Women's Shelter & Resource Center. Through her vision and leadership, she oversaw the merger between these two agencies, creating RISE in 2013. Recently, she led the efforts of a merger to create Lumina Alliance, a comprehensive dual services organization providing support to survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. This merger brought together resources, expertise, and services, resulting in a more cohesive and effective support system for survivors in San Luis Obispo County and the North County region.

Jessica Steely, Semmes & Company Builders, Inc., President

Working in a male-dominated industry of construction never slowed Jessica down. She lends her vast construction expertise to Habitat SLO as the current board of directors executive committee secretary. Her knowledge in sustainable building practices as been invaluable to both Habitat SLO and the local Atascadero business, Semmes & Company Builders where she is President and Head of Sales. However, she brings more than just her expertise, she brings an unyielding optimism that is contagious to both her team and colleagues in the industry.

Seamless Strategies seamlessstrategies.org

SLO Beaver Brigade slobeaverbrigade.com

SLO Safe Ride SLOSafeRide.com

Stadium Nutrition stadiumnutrition.com

Sunset Honda

Lisa Majors, Resilient Souls, President and Founder, Crisis Chaplin

Lisa Majors has saved people's lives. Her ability to deal with mental illness and maladaptive behaviors is paired with her unwavering compassion and wisdom which are all skills critical for those in crisis. When called upon for an emergency to help someone in need, she races toward the situation regardless of how dangerous it may be and has a calming effect for all that are involved. She works hard, burning the candle at all ends to ensure that people in our community receive the help they desperately need.

Wendy Lewis, ECHO, CEO /President

The lives of those experiencing homelessness have been transformed by the hard work Wendy has done through ECHO Homeless Shelter. She expanded critical outreach programs to provide those in need with food, shelter, and medical assistance. No one is left behind on her watch. Her impact on North County doesn't stop there – she has partnered and collaborated with many local businesses and community organizations to work towards helping our unhoused residents with more programs, volunteers, and funding. Under her leadership, ECHO has established new programs like job training, education, and housing assistance, supporting homeless individuals to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into our community.

These are just four of the countless women we have in our community that are creating a positive impact daily through their work, volunteer activities, or in leadership. So, the celebration for remarkable women doesn’t end here. Our Women of Influence North County (wINC) program, in partnership with the Atascadero Chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), seeks to continue to build and support a brighter and more diverse future for everyone in our community. I want to thank everyone who took the time to nominate the women they knew for this program. Stay tuned for our announcement of who will receive the Women of Influence North County 2023 title!

PS – We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Atascadero News for their unwavering support of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce and their dedicated involvement within our vibrant community.

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The Vineyard Team vineyardteam.org/scholarship

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HBA New Members

Better Business & Tax Service, Inc. bbtscpas.com

Law Offices of Kevin Gregg kevingregglaw.com

Socorro' Professional Cleaning

To Build or Not to Build: The ADU Debate Among Homeowners and How It Could Transform Your Property

To build an ADU or not? Many homeowners are debating whether adding an ADU, Accessory Dwelling Unit, to their property is the right move for them. Let’s talk about what an ADU is and why it may be an attractive option for homeowners.

The definition of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a residential unit that can be added to a parcel of land with an existing single-family home or multi-family development. ADUs are independent units that have their own kitchens, bathrooms, and entrances. ADUs can also be known as accessory apartments, secondary suites, and/or granny units.

There are several different types of ADUs; let’s explore them. The first type is a detached ADU, which shares no common walls with the main residence and is a completely independent structure on the property. A detached ADU requires additional space and is generally a good option for larger lots. A garage conversion ADU is where you either convert a garage into a home, or the ADU is built above a garage or workshop. This option works very well for properties where the garage is detached, or there is a detached workshop structure. There are also ADUs that are attached to the main residence and will share either walls or a ceiling/floor. These types of ADUs can consist of an addition to a pre-existing main residence or converting a basement or floor of a main residence into their own separate home. These are called Junior Accessory Dwelling

Units or JADUs. Per the City of Atascadero, “A Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) is a section of an existing single-family home that is repurposed as a private dwelling by incorporating a small kitchen and separate entrance. The difference between a JADU and ADU is that JADU must be located within the existing primary residence and be no greater than 500 square feet in size. JADUs require owner occupancy either in the primary residence or accessory unit.”

Building an ADU on your property is easier than ever, thanks to Senate Bill 9 (SB9) being passed by the State of California in August of 2021 and became effective in January of 2022. The bill was created to help alleviate the housing shortage in California by reducing restrictions that were previously in place regarding the number of units allowed to be built on a parcel of land. By allowing homeowners to build more than one unit per parcel of land, this legislation has opened the doors to more easily add an ADU to your property.

In some cities, such as Atascadero, the planning department has pre-reviewed stock ADU building plans on file that can be used to build an ADU on your property so that you don’t need to hire an architect to create building plans. The City of Atascadero has six stock ADU plans on file to choose from, ranging from 316 SF to 998 SF. For more detail, here is an ADU Handout designed by the City of Atascadero: atascadero.org/files/CD/ADU/ ADU%20Handout.pdf.

Homeowners have many reasons and benefits to consider when contemplating whether or not to add an ADU to their property. One of the most common reasons to build an ADU is to rent it out and bring passive income into the

home. ADUs can either be used as a short-term rental, think Airbnb or VRBO, or a long-term rental. Either way, the additional income is a great way to set yourself up in the long term for retirement. Another popular reason to build an ADU is to provide a living space for extended family members. This can either be for aging parents or older children. An ADU can help keep your loved ones close by while maintaining their privacy and comfort. ADUs could also be used for additional space like home offices. They can provide the perfect solution to keeping your workplace separate from the rest of your home. You could even customize it to provide a comfortable space for clients to come visit. ADUs create options for sure!

Another benefit of adding an ADU to your property is that it will increase the overall value of your home. Depending on the size, finishes chosen, and type of ADU you build, you could see the value of your property go up anywhere between 20 percent to 30 percent, perhaps more. That’s quite a return on investment! So, not only can the ADU bring in passive income, but it can boost your resale value, which is great if you’re planning on selling your home in the near future.

Due to the versatility ADUs provide, it can make a lot of sense for a homeowner to build one. They are a great way to add utility and value to your home. Whether you are looking to add extra space for your family or a way to generate income for retirement, coupled with local and state legislation encouraging and supporting the ADU process, building an ADU is one of the best solutions a homeowner should consider.

Don’t forget to check with your local City or County building department for all guidelines associated with adding an ADU to your property.

JAIME SILVEIRA OWNER/BROKER MALIK REAL ESTATE GROUP BRE #01706045

THE IMPORTANCE

of career and technical education

JAMES BRESCIA, ED.D COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SLOCOEDU

Iwas having coffee in my favorite Paso Robles café and spoke with a local agricultural education teacher describing service as a Future Farmers of America (FFA) advisor. I was surprised at how few people in the group knew about FFA or career and technical education (CTE).

Agricultural education and CTE cannot be considered just an elective class. Our daily needs, such as food, clothing, medicine, and even the paper for this article, require agriculture. The National FFA is one of the largest youth-led organizations in the United States. In 1988, "National" was added to the association's name to represent the large number of participants that have swelled the ranks of FFA members to 653,359, representing 8,568 local chapters throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Tourism, agriculture, and the trades are a significant portion of the county's direct economic output. CTE programs are a gateway to these career pathways. Key economic indicators for our

county report that our June 2023 unemployment rate is 3.5 percent, and our fourth-quarter 2022 taxable sales topped $1.8 billion. These reports reinforce the need for continued support of CTE programs and the demand for local workforce training opportunities. San Luis Obispo County schools embrace the agricultural history of our county and offer high-quality, cutting-edge programs to introduce our youth to advances in agriculture, new technology, and beyond. Several recent valedictorians were actively involved in agriculture, FFA, and CTE.

During the summer of 2023, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education continued local efforts to upskill San Luis Obispo County community members in three distinct CTE programs. Twenty-two local individuals participated in the summer Modern Manufacturing Bootcamp in San Luis Obispo. The program lasted seven weeks and received sponsorship from Trelleborg, Eduge Autonomy, and ESAero. The program concluded with local employers interviewing the completers to share employment opportunities. Several program participants received additional employment offers, enhanced responsibilities, or increased compensation from current employers. The Modern Manufacturing Bootcamp program focused on adults within or entering the

workforce.

The 2023 youth Summer Jumpstart program focused on 16- to 24-year-olds in San Luis Obispo County with three regional programs in the county's south, central, and northern regions. Participants earned a SLOCAL Welcome Customer Service credential. Workplace readiness skills included problem-solving, communication, work ethics, interviewing, resume writing, selfcare, and emotional intelligence. Thirteen San Luis Obispo County businesses partnered with the Summer Jumpstart program from the hospitality and retail sectors. Forty-two participants secured employment, and all recommended the program to others as a valuable tool for employment success. By embracing programs such as CTE, FFA, agriculture education, and local boot camps, today's educators can create socially interactive environments that maintain discipline, make learning "fun," and teach the positive use of new technologies that benefit future employment. The public can find additional information about our Innovations in Education department and our nonprofit workforce division, SLO Partners, on our website.

As we progress this fall, thank you for your continued support of education, our community, the workforce, and our democracy. It is an honor to serve as your County Superintendent of Schools.

Service

Sales

Installation

By Ian Parkinson

Fair warning. What I’m going to talk to you about this month is not easy to discuss. I even hesitated if I should write about it. But I feel it’s best to raise awareness about this issue. And that is the issue of child sexual abuse.

Before we begin, I want to give you some facts. It is difficult to measure sexual violence because it so often goes unreported. But according to data from the National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the Justice Department as well as studies from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), we can get an idea of how prevalent this issue is becoming in the U.S. It’s estimated that one in nine girls and one in 20 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault. Besides the actual physical harm done to the child, there is a heavy emotional toll as well. Stats show child sexual abuse victims are four times more likely to develop symptoms of drug abuse, four times more likely to experience PTSD as adults, and three times more likely to experience major depression as adults.

Here’s one more stat. Among the cases of child sexual abuse reported to law enforcement, 93 percent are acquaintances or family members of the victim.

That last stat brings me to a recent case

we had at the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office was able to locate a suspected child molester who had been on the run for the past two years. This case actually began in 2021 when we obtained an arrest warrant for David Paul Wilson on multiple charges of child molestation. Detectives with the Sheriff’s Special Victims Unit began their investigation when they received a report of a sexual assault of a juvenile. During the course of the investigation, additional juvenile victims were identified and contacted. It’s believed the abuse happened during the span of several years. Wilson fled the area before the arrest warrant was issued and he was unable to be located. Referring to the 93 percent stat I mentioned earlier, it’s believed the suspect in this case is someone who repeatedly found relationships with single mothers in order to prey on their children. Wilson was facing multiple charges of sexual acts with a child under the age of 10, aggravated sexual assault of a minor, and lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.

Fast-forward two years, detectives got the

break they were looking for and were alerted that Wilson was living in the Helena, Montana, area. Various details about the subject were obtained which confirmed the subject was Wilson. Days later, Wilson was taken into custody by the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Two weeks after that, he was brought back to San Luis Obispo County to answer to his charges.

This case highlights the great work the detectives in our Special Victim’s Unit (SVU) do day in and day out with a very demanding caseload. They are responsible for investigating crimes involving all forms of sexual assault against minors and adults within the unincorporated parts of the county. The unit also investigates child abuse, child pornography, and child exploitation. The Special Victims Unit handles an average of over 200 cases per year.

I know this hasn’t been an easy read, but hopefully, it brought attention to this topic. And I hope it will raise awareness about what’s being done to hold those accountable and help those affected. Because the survivors of child sexual abuse need all the hope we can give them.

Atascadero Greyhounds vs Paso Robles Bearcats

Atascadero football breaks six-year losing streak against Paso Robles

In a thrilling North County high school football matchup, the Atascadero Greyhounds managed to break a six-year losing streak against the Paso Robles Bearcats. The game, held at War Memorial Stadium, saw both teams locked in a tight battle during the first half, with the score tied at 7-7. However, in the second half, Atascadero's offense came alive with a series of consecutive touchdowns, securing a convincing 28-7 victory. This win not only marked the end of Atascadero's six-year drought against Paso Robles but also propelled their season record to an undefeated 2-0.

On the other hand, the loss was a disappointment for Paso Robles, as they found themselves with a 0-2 record for the season. Despite the setback, the Bearcats displayed moments of promise, indicating their determination to improve in the upcoming games. The game not only reignited a classic rivalry but also showcased the intense spirit of high school football in North County. As players from both teams shook hands at midfield, it was clear that the passion and dedication of the sport were fully alive.

Photos by Rick Evans

Spooky Carving Out Local Pumpkin Funwith your Patches

By Becca Sligh

hen the leaves change and the pumpkin spice lattes make their comeback at local coffee shops, that can only mean one thing: It’s fall, y'all!

One of the first fall holidays of the season is the widely anticipated Halloween night. People young and old dressing in costumes to trick-or-treat with the hopes of securing more candy than one can consume in a single sitting is just a social right of passage to kick off the harvest festivities. And nothing screams Halloween more than searching through a big ole’ patch of pumpkins and finding the perfect one to take home and carve.

Upon entering into the spooky season, we spoke with North County’s top pumpkin patches, which are both set to open Oct. 1 and stay open until Halloween, Oct. 31.

River K Pumpkin Patch, located in Paso Robles off of North River Road, not only offers pumpkins but also offers a corn maze and even a haunted house. What started as a 4-H project in Goleta in 1969 by Valerie Reynolds and her brother soon became a seasonal family-owned and operated business when they moved to Paso Robles in 1995.

“The pumpkin patch is basically all run by myself," Valerie

says. "My nephew does the corn maze, but my almost 91-year-old Dad and 89-year-old Mom still do a lot of the farming.”

The patch in itself is about 4 acres. On average, they estimate about 1,000 people come out to the patch in October.

“It’s wonderful when the kids come out and get to see how the pumpkins are grown and get to go pick them themselves," Valerie says. "We give families a pair of clippers and a wagon and they can go out and pick whatever they want to.” Valerie also mentions they have lots of pre-cut pumpkins available as well.

In addition to the 33 varieties of pumpkins, River K has six varieties of winter squash and a variety of decorative gourds, too.

Jack Creek Farms is a family-owned and operated farm in Templeton.

“We’re proud to share the history with the guests who visit the farm,” says Becky Sumpter.

Becky, who is a part of the fifth generation to run Jack Creek Farms, also mentions that being such a longtime family-owned farm is also what drives a lot of the decisions that are made as to what is grown and how it’s grown.

“It’s our goal to leave the land in better shape for the future generations than we received it,” Becky adds.

Although Jack Creek Farms is open seasonally from Memorial Day through January, a busy season is definitely during the fall when they harvest their pumpkins and other fall varietals. Sumpter reports that, unfortunately, due to all the rain this year, the u-pick pumpkin patch received too much water; therefore, pumpkins will be pre-picked for guests this year. However, the apple orchard will still be available for guests to pick their own apples as well as a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Will you be visiting the pumpkin patches this October? Send your pumpkin photos to editor@13stars.media for a chance to be featured in a future issue of Atascadero News. We look forward to seeing your creations!

Embracing Fall Flavors

Hello fall. Hello, pumpkins. I love you both, and there's a lot to love about you.

Fall, you introduce wonderful colors as nature begins to change its foliage in preparation for winter. And pumpkins, you offer challenges to find new ways to use you in our decorating and cooking.

I have always been fascinated with pumpkins ever since I was a young girl, but when I was growing up in the 50s, I remember only one kind of pumpkin, and it was orange. We carved it, used it for decorating for Halloween, and then that was it. Now, we have a number of varieties of pumpkins that offer many

beautiful colors and sizes to choose from for decorating, as well as tasty flesh to cook with.

Through the years, I've acquired several cookbooks that focus only on pumpkin recipes. When I first started learning about pumpkins, I found that they could be roasted, microwaved, steamed, boiled, grated, grilled, and puréed, as well as used as a serving bowl. Of course, everyone knows about toasting the seeds for snacking. And here I thought pumpkin came in a can with a Libby's label to just make a pie.

The following recipe will show you how to use fresh pumpkin in a stew and serve it in a hollowed-out pumpkin.

Spicy Beef Stew with Pumpkin

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 pounds stewing beef

1 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3 pounds frozen pearl onions

1/2 cup red wine

1/4 cup tomato paste

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 clove garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

1 small cinnamon stick

6 whole cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 pound fresh pumpkin

(seeds and fibers removed, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, about 2 cups)

1 edible pumpkin, 4-5 pounds, for serving

Vegan and Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

Directions:

Heat butter and oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add meat, salt, and pepper to taste, and stir with butter and oil just to coat, not to brown. Spread onions over meat. Mix wine, tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, and garlic together and pour over meat and onions. Scatter bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, and cumin over top. Bring stew to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for 2 hours. Do not stir. Gently press pumpkin into stew. Cover and continue cooking for 1 hour longer, or until meat is very tender. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut top off pumpkin and scrape out seeds and stringy insides. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Rub outside of pumpkin with vegetable oil, place on a jelly-roll pan, and bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until easily pierced with a fork but not collapsing. Set hot pumpkin on a serving plate. Spoon hot stew into hot pumpkin and scrape a bit of the pumpkin with each serving of stew.

Note: Choose a denser, sweeter variety of pumpkins such as sugar or pie pumpkins, for eating. Check with pumpkin growers at the Farmers' Market or the produce man at your local grocery if in doubt.

If you need vegan or gluten-free recipes, the following recipe for pumpkin bread will meet the requirements for both.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups gluten free flour

1 cup old-fashioned oats (gluten free)

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 teaspoons ground ginger

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup coconut milk

1 can (15 ounces) pure pumpkin

(or fresh cooked)

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions:

Grease two 9×5 inch loaf pans with coconut oil. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, oats, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and cloves in a large bowl. Whisk the coconut milk, pumpkin, coconut oil, and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Gently beat wet ingredients into dry ingredients until smooth; divide evenly between prepared pans. Bake until golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. If, after 45 minutes, bread is still not cooked through, turn the heat down to 325 degrees and continue to check every 5-7 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool for 5-10 minutes. Run a knife around pan to loosen bread and turn onto wire rack to cool. Slice and serve warm at room temperature. Cheers!

Calendar of Events

OCT 6

FIRST FRIDAYS IN DOWNTOWN ATASCADERO

THE PLAZA ON EL CAMINO, ATASCADERO

5:30 p.m.

Enjoy a music featuring Jump Jax, an electrifying quartet of four professional musicians bringing an energetic and danceable mix of classic jump blues, swing, soul, rockabilly and some originals. There will be complimentary tours of Historic City Hall, as well as wine, beer, and other treats to purchase.

OCT 7

COLONY DAYS

SUNKEN GARDENS, ATASCADERO

10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Enjoy a parade, followed by activities, including tours of City Hall and the Colony House.

OCT 13

7TH ANNUAL SHOWDOWN CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT Central Coast Challenge "Social" Tournament

All Day

SUNKEN GARDENS, ATASCADERO

Participate in the Central Coast Challenge "Social" Tournament by contributing a $40 entry fee for a 2-person team (limited to 40 teams). The event starts with check-in at 11am, followed by the 8-team Round

Robin Toss occurring from 12 to 2pm. A break will be observed from 2 to 3pm, leading to the Social Brackets taking place from 3 to 5pm. Notably, the top four teams will earn prizes in the form of cash and trophies.

OCT 14

7TH ANNUAL SHOWDOWN CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT

The Showdown, Main Tournament

All Day

SUNKEN GARDENS, ATASCADERO

Arrive at 8 a.m. for check-in, followed by the 8-team Round Robin Toss from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. A break is scheduled from 12 to 1:30 p.m., with Advanced Brackets taking place from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Prizes, including cash and trophies, will be awarded to the teams placing in the top four positions.

OCT 14

93RD ANNUAL PASO ROBLES PIONEER DAY

DOWNTOWN PASO ROBLES

10 a.m.

Bring the entire familiy and enjoy viewing running antique tractors, horse-drawn wagons, marching bands, mounted equestrian groups, dancers, floats, fire engines, vintage cars and more. You will see it all at the 2023 Pioneer Day Parade. And the best part? It's free!

OCT 14

HELP KYNDAL TAKE FLIGHT TO TREATMENT

DRIVE THRU BBQ DINNER

ATASCADERO ELK'S LODGE

2-5pm

Every $1 donated gets them 6 miles of flight to treatment. Each trip from San Luis Obispo to Augusta, Georgia is 2,235 miles. Their total estimated treatment miles is 215,000 to 430,000 miles. For more information visit flight2-fight.perfectgolfevent.com

OCT 21

ANNUAL GOLDEN OAK HONEY & PUMPKIN

FESTIVAL AND KIDS’ FLEA MARKET

DOWNTOWN CITY PARK, SPRING ST. AND 12TH ST., IN PASO ROBLES

10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The festival includes honey, demonstrations, pie-eating contest, monster mash dance contest, antiques, arts, crafts and other merchandise, along with a kid’s flea market.

OCT 28

ZOO BOO

CHARLES PADDOCK ZOO, ATASCADERO

5-8:30pm

The event promises Halloweenthemed adornments all around the Zoo, along with a medley of carnival games, a costume competition, Halloween-themed undertakings, a haunted house, and a collection of

tricks and treats to relish. With over 200 residents the Charles Paddock Zoo is the backdrop for this engaging and unforgettable Halloween celebration.

OCT 28

TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL HARVEST FESTIVAL

940 CRESTON ROAD, PASO ROBLES

3-6pm

Bounce houses, climbing wall, euro bungee, food trucks, trunk and treat and carnival games. $20 per child 4 yrs and over, adults and younger kids are free, pay at the door.

OCT 31

SAFE AND FUN HALLOWEEN

DOWNTOWN PASO ROBLES

3–6 p.m.

Trick-or-Treat throughout downtown at welcoming merchants.

NOV 2-5

PADEREWSKI FESTIVAL DOWNTOWN PASO ROBLES

The annual Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles celebrates Ignacy Jan Paderewski's diverse legacy with concerts, exhibits, wine tastings, youth piano competition, and cultural exchanges, highlighting the region's rich heritage. Find more information on concert times and locations here paderewskifest.com

Hot El Camino Cruise Nite

Car show, Dancin' in the Streets event helps car-themed weekend draw record-breaking crowds

A colorful procession of 500 classic cars, golf carts, scooters, and even a tractor paraded down El Camino Real, led by Atascadero's motorcycle officers. Interim Chief of Police Joe Allen and Deputy City Manager Terrie Banish even took the wheel of Atascadero's iconic 55 Chevy Police Car.

While most vehicles hailed from the Central Coast, this event's charm attracted 145 cars from out of town, offering spectators a diverse lineup of classic automobiles. The festivities expanded with the 32nd Annual Mid-State Cruizers Car Show, which featured 231 antique cars from 44 different cities. The weekend continued with the 7th Annual Dancing in the Streets, featuring live music, food trucks, and open downtown businesses. Despite some rain, record crowds of over 7,000 attended the event, with increased offerings of adult beverages and sold-out food vendors.

Photos by Rick Evans

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Suzie VanBenthuysen: A Life Well Lived

by Christianna Marks

Chances are, if you've been a part of the Atascadero Community for the last four decades, you have seen Suzanne "Suzie" VanBenthuysen's name and face in the local paper, volunteering with local organizations, starting the North County Women's Resource Center, or running her clothing boutique Second Hand Rose. Though she was an Atascadero resident for most of her life, Suzie lived in Henderson, Nevada, for a few years until her passing on July 7 at the age of 79.

Back in 1981, Suzie and her family moved to Atascadero when her husband Pete got a job at Vandenberg Air Force Base. It made sense that Suzie would open a second-hand store in her beloved town as she was a bargain hunter who managed to always find the deals she was looking for, whether it was frequenting thrift stores or using coupons.

During her 42-year residency in Atascadero, Suzie established the North County Woman's Resource Center, a nonprofit organization. Having personally endured domestic abuse in her first marriage prior to Pete, she became profoundly attuned to the challenges faced by other women in similar circumstances. Eventually, she found herself in a position to make a difference. To this day, the North County Woman's Resource Center continues to assist women

in the community.

The Atascadero chapter of Quota Club International also benefitted from Suzie's selflessness and desire to constantly help the community she loved so much.

"Suzie loved to wear hats. That was her thing. She wore lots of hats, and they were

every year at the receiving desk. Dyann chaired the event for many years and stated that you could always find Suzie there.

Suzie was also involved with Camp Hapitok, a summer camp for children with speech and language disorders that closed in 2015. She also worked with the American Cancer Society and a project called Canines in the Park that raised money to purchase a new police dog for the Atascadero Police Department.

"She cared about her community, and of course, she cared about her children," stated Pam Froman, who met Suzie when their daughters played softball together. "She was just interested in people's lives. She cared about my children, and my grandchildren. She had an interest in people's lives."

Suzie's kindness and devotion also reached out to the homeless residents of Atascadero. She meticulously crafted bundles filled with sleeping bags, apparel, and basic hygiene items, then took it upon herself to distribute these essentials at the local creek where many homeless individuals congregated.

really cute on her," stated Dyann Shepard, who knew Suzie through Quota for 15 years.

Dyann said that Suzie got a kick out of participating in the Colony Days Reception

No matter how you were acquainted with Suzie, her benevolent spirit will be keenly missed in the community. As Atascadero celebrates Colony Days this year, her memory will undoubtedly be in the hearts and thoughts of the community.

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