GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CVIII, NO. XLVI
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023
GOVERNMENT
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
COMMUNITY
County continues efforts to expand Atascadero Fall Bob Jones Trail The Festival was back for
Rain has no effect on Fall Festival crowds
Project has goals to connect Cal Poly and City of SLO with Avila Beach and Pismo Beach
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Supervisors are continuing the county’s efforts in expanding the Bob Jones Trail to the City of San Luis Obispo. As discussed in the Nov. 7 San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Board of Supervisors meeting, supervisors directed county staff to work with Caltrans in further designing the project to meet the grant funding timeline. Due to receiving campaigning funds from the Bunnell family, whose property is in direct line with the Octagon Barn to Ontario Road portion of the trail, District 1 Supervisor John Peschong recused himself from the action item. This specific portion of the project is also referred to as the Bob Jones Pathway Gap Closure Project. Ultimately, the Bob Jones Pathway City to Sea project has goals to connect Cal Poly and the City of SLO with Avila Beach and with another planned trail CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
its third year
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — As the saying goes, a little rain never hurt anybody, and attendees of Atascadero’s Third Annual Fall Festival agreed. The rain or shine festival rolled into the Sunken Gardens on Friday, Nov. 17; Saturday, Nov. 18; and Sunday, Nov. 19, giving festivalgoers a beautiful view of City Hall while enjoying live music, food, vendors, and fair rides. “After a rainy start yesterday, today seems to have a great crowd. Everyone’s in a festive spirit. People are buying, they’re eating food, and they’re listening to great music. It’s a great day in Atascadero,” said Atascadero Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Josh Cross on the last day of the fest. Just like years prior, the free-to-the-public festival was put on by En Fuego Events while being presented by Visit Atascadero and the City of Atascadero. The fest not only brought out people from Atascadero and the North County, but people traveled from all over the area
Fall Festival attendees enjoy live music on one of two stages in Sunken Gardens. Photo by Rick Evans.
to experience the fun. “People [came] from all over, Fresno, Bakersfield, Pismo, Santa Maria. They called En Fuego Events saying, ‘Do you have this Ferris wheel? Do you have Dippin’ Dots? Are you doing this?’ It’s very well known now, and people come from all over to come to our little Atascadero Fall Fest,”
said Julie Matthews, director of membership at the Chamber. “The Ferris wheel, the merry-go-round, there always a hit. A lot of great rides; it’s very family-friendly.” Not only did this year’s fest give us a different layout, it also gave us more of everything. From rides to food. The festival fun leaked out onto the
streets surrounding Sunken Gardens and had something for everyone to enjoy. Kyla Skinner, owner of Specs by Kyla, said that she and her family have been to the Fall Festival every year and that she always looks forward to riding the swings. Her daughter Tessa also mentioned that her favorite
thing is the Ferris wheel. “I think it’s so cool to bring this energy to our downtown and the City Hall in the background with the Ferris wheel. It’s just so picturesque and fun,” added Skinner. For music lovers, the festival also packed a punch with two stages full of over 30 bands CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
FUNDRAISER
THEATRE
Atascadero High School debuts local student’s play Winter wonderland of lights promised for this year’s ‘Lights of Hope’
Karson Deveraux is a junior who penned “Cowboy Noir and His Gang of Misfits” over the last year
37th annual Downtown Lighting Ceremony brings awareness for Cancer Support Community California Central Coast
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero High School (AHS) drama department is keeping things in-house for its 2023 fall production. Instead of doing a play penned by one of the many popular playwrights out there, this year’s fall play is written by AHS’s very own Karson Deveraux. Deveraux is a junior who reached out to drama teacher Shawna Volpa and asked her to look over his play, “Cowboy Noir and His Gang of Misfits,” and the rest is history that you can see on stage for yourself. “’Cowboy Noir and His Gang of Misfits’ is basically about a gang of cowboys who really want to be these outlaws but aren’t that great at being outlaws, and they live in the town of Cody, Wyoming,”
said Deveraux. “It’s a story of family and love and finding a sense of belonging while also being very melodramatic and over the top.” The play dabbles with semi-historical themes and is set in the 1860s, but just like any production you can see at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano, Deveraux
has taken plenty of liberties for laughs and the drama of it all, including the use of finger guns. Deveraux said that he’s always been super into writing and telling stories since he was just a little kiddo. “I would always write these stories and pictures on pieces of paper,” he said. “One year,
for Christmas, I asked for a stapler just so I could staple all my pictures together. That was my favorite gift that I’ve ever gotten. So stories have definitely always been something that I’ve been super into.” But it wasn’t until seventh grade, in the midst of COVID, when his theater assignment
COMMUNITY
EDUCATION
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
SPORTS
Atascadero High School drama students rehearse “Cowboy Noir and His Gang of Misfits” under the co-direction of Shawna Volpa and playwright Karson Deveraux. Photo Courtesy of AHS drama
CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
NORTH COUNTY — For its 12th year, the annual Lights of Hope fundraiser is ready to illuminate the Paso Robles City Park brighter than ever this Friday, Nov. 24. Supporting the Cancer Support Community California Central Coast (CSC-CCC), the City of Paso Robles has joined to bring in additional lights full of color, snowflakes and icicles to create a winter wonderland in the heart of downtown. CSC-CCC Executive Director Candice Sanders told Paso Robles Press/Atascadero News, this year’s event is one the community will not want to miss. “Its going to be more of a winter wonderland,” she said.
“I can’t wait.” The mission of CSC-CCC is to help those affected by cancer and their loved ones. They offer support through numerous programs “so that no one faces cancer alone.” The Lights of Hope fundraiser is one of CSC-CCC’s most anticipated and largest fundraisers of the year. Traditionally, patrons make donations to sponsor lighting a tree in the Paso Robles City Park, with the tree remaining lit typically until February. These funds sponsor more than 25 programs per month, which includes support groups, social activities, mind/body therapies, individual counseling, and educational seminars. All programs are offered at no cost and designed to support cancer patients, their families, and caregivers throughout their cancer journey. Looking back on the past 11 months with the nonprofit, Sanders says, “Its been a year of growth for us and we feel CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
WEATHER
atascaderonews.com X.com/ @AtascaderoNews facebook.com/ @AtascaderoNews
MID STATE CRUIZERS Donation to Nonprofits | B1
Voting Now Open!
h
N UA
L
UN
TY
AN
CO
CE
BR
LE
bestofnorthslocounty.com
STUDENT-ATHLETES Sign to D-I Universities | B8
LO
SLO COUNTY Religion and our Schools | A4
11 t
HOLIDAY EVENTS Happening in North County | A3
AT
IN
G T
HE BEST OF N
T OR
H
S
High 71° | Low 42°
5
67808 24135
7