Publisher’s Letter

THE STORY OF US | ISSUE NO. 228

PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nicholas Mattson PUBLISHER, OPERATIONS Hayley Mattson AD DESIGN Denise McLean Jen Rodman EDITOR Luke Phillips LAYOUT DESIGN Michael Michaud

CONTRIBUTORS AD CONSULTANTS Carmen Kessler carmen@pasomagazine.com Dana McGraw dana@pasomagazine.com Jamie Self jamie@pasomagazine.com AnnMarie Cornejo Camille DeVaul Connie Pillsbury General Store James J. Brescia, Ed.D. Karyl Lammers Jeannette Simpson Jennifer Best Lynne Schmitz Meagan Friberg Mira Honeycutt Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Patricia Alexander The Natural Alternative

(805) 239-1533 pasomagazine.com publisher@pasomagazine.com MAIL: P.O. Box 427 Paso Robles, CA 93447 OFFICE: 945 Spring Street, Suite 11 Paso Robles, CA 93446

Proud to be Local! Paso Robles Magazine ©2020 is a local business owned and published by local people — Nicholas & Hayley Mattson *No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means without written consent from Paso Robles Magazine.

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8 | pasoroblesmagazine.com Something Worth Reading

As we start to see the changes in the season allow for more light and warmth in the air, we are faced with a challenge never seen nor experienced before. This issue of Paso Robles Magazine was planned out eight weeks ago with our annual theme in mind for April. Featuring stories of the beautiful Wildflowers, enjoying the great outdoors with our Hikes, Bikes, Walks & Rides, and sharing our community love for Pets and Animals. April is one of our favor- ite times of the year because it seems to be the month that we as Californians start to get that sunshine bug to get outdoors after months of hibernating inside due to the cold and darker days. And even though the sunshine is starting to shine again and that bug is nipping at our toes, we all have been forced into an economic health crisis like never before.

For only a month ago, we were a prosperous and lively commu- nity. Today we are all trying to make sense of a life that literally was written for a movie screen and not reality. With the school closures, our cities declaring a State of Emergency, social distancing becom- ing a necessary new form of “normal.” To mandatory “Shelter in Home” and all businesses, not essential fighting to find a way to connect with their loyal consumers in order to remain safe and open, has made us stop and reflect on what really is important.

As the publishers of The Paso Robles Magazine and The Paso Robles Press, we are facing the same challenges as everyone else. No one person or company at this time is immune from this economic impact. We are all in this together, and that is what we are pulling strength and hope from. Together we are one. Together we will get through this, it just may not look like what we planned when we walked into 2020.

Our promise to you, we will continue to tell the stories of the incredible people and businesses that make up our community, and that is why we did not change the featured stories in this issue. We value each of our business partners’ support, which allows us to print and mail to every home in the North County and beyond. We will use our platform to seek out and recognize the Essential Hero’s whose stories may not have been told if this epidemic had not occurred. We will do everything we can to help support and love our communities as we all walk through this no matter what it looks like on the other end. Because at the end of the day, we genuinely believe that we are all in this together. And together, we can do anything.

We hope this issue of Paso Robles Magazine brings a smile to your face and warmth to your heart. Please be safe and well. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

— Fred Rogers “Love seems to be something that keeps filling up within us. The more we give away, the more we have to give.”

— Fred Rogers

All our love, The Mattson Family

If thou wouldest win Immortality of Name, either do things worth the writing, or write things worth the reading.

— Thomas Fuller, 1727

Saturday, May 2 10am-1pm Centennial Park Special Discounts & FREE Activites SPRING BREAK ENRICHMENT CAMPS Blast O Into Spring Break Science Fun Cheers of delight and astonishment emanate from the Centennial Park classrooms whenever science educator Tim Baker of Science-Dipity comes to town. Baker’s hands-on science exploration camps leave kids enthusiastic to learn more and share their scientific knowledge. Baker has a week of science shenanigans planned during spring break beginning with 3,2,1 Lift O! camp Monday, April 13 through Wednesday, April 15 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Centennial Park. During this hands-on camp, children ages 6 to 11 will soar into aeronautical science exploration with exciting experiments using air and forces. The camp will culminate with each student launching their own water rocket. Registration for this class is $150 per student + $50 supply fee. Science-Dipity will continue the exploration with Abracadabra Science Camp on Thursday and Friday, April 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. until noon or until 3 p.m. for an extended day of magical science. Students ages 6-11 will engineer dozens of their own magical science artifacts sure to wow and delight. Half day (9 a.m. until noon) $50 + a $20 supply fee or all day (9 a.m. until 3 p.m.) $100 + $30 supply fee. Students will keep everything that they make during these camps to share and amaze their friends and family.

Raytoons Camps

Join Ray Mullikin, cartoonist and technology instructor for a week of spring-break camps designed to boost creativity and fuel fun.

Students ages 11 and older will learn to create games and applications with easy to use graphical programming software during App Creation for Computers, Tablets and Smartphones on Monday and Tuesday April 13-14 from 9:30 a.m. until noon. $80 + $10 supply fee (no programming knowledge necessary). Create cartoon characters in a Sunday funnies style during Draw Like a Cartoonist! camp on Monday and Tuesday April 13-14 from 1-3:30 p.m. Students ages 6+ will learn to draw humorous simplified faces, figures, cartoon animals and more. $80 + $15 supply fee. Students will learn how to jumpstart the writing process, overcome writers block and stay inspired during Creative Story Writing Games and Activities camp on Wednesday and Thursday, April 15-16 from 9:30 a.m. until noon. $70 + $15 supply fee, ages 11+ Have you ever wondered how the cool action figures that you love are created? During Raytoons Toy Figure Design class, students ages 6 and older will learn the process of designing and making their own toys from sketches to finished art. Their final figure prototypes will be in special toy packaging. Wednesday and Thursday, April 15-16 from 1-3:30 p.m. $80 + $30 supply fee. Mindful Teen Art & Movement Camp Help your teen reduce stress and live happily. Join Dee DiGioia of Mindful YOUniversity and Vanessa Orr of Yaya Yoga for this special camp just for students ages 11 to 18. Teens will discover how to positively impact their relationships and navigate challenges in daily life both at home and school. Students will explore their inner world of thought, emotions and attitudes through creative arts, games, relaxation practices, mindful awareness training, movement, yoga and journaling. Monday though Thursday, April 13 through 16 from 1-5 p.m. $160 + $10 supply fee. @ Centennial Park