Hometown News Since 1889
Good News Real News CALIFORNIA
VOL. CXXX, NO. XX
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
New Dispatch Center Coming to Templeton? SLOCSO, Cal Fire propose joint facility By MARK DIAZ mark@pasoroblespress.com TEMPLETON — Cal Fire Cheif Scott Jalbert and Sheriff Ian Parkinson presented preliminary plans to the Templeton Area Advisory Group on building a co-located dispatch facility in Templeton. The proposed project combines Cal Fire and the sheriff ’s department’s separate dispatch operations to serve all of San Luis Obispo County. As of now, the Sheriff ’s dispatch handles all incoming 911 calls for the entire county which are then distributed to relevant stations. A fire emergency is first received by the sheriff ’s department and then sent to Cal Fire to handle the call. Both departments operating from one hub would increase efficiency. “A couple of years ago we had a discussion of how we take two aging centers and move them into one,” Parkinson said. “We think it’s much more efficient and safer for the community to have one center for when the 911 call comes in.” Both Jalbert and Parkinson said that each of their departments have outgrown their respective sites. A dispatcher’s worksite, known as pods, are packed with monitors that display information such as maps and traffic conditions. As technology has evolved over the past several decades, the facilities that house the pods did not. CONTINUED ON PAGE A12
Thank You Sandy
Creston Village gives therapy dog a retirement party By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@pasoroblespress.com PASO ROBLES — When Sandy walks into a room, people can’t help but smile and want to be near her or pet her. She has the innate ability to bring the best out of people. From her wagging tail, to her big brown eyes and her soft yellow coat, Sandy instantly puts people at ease. Sandy, a 10-year-old therapy dog owned by Larry Schiffer, has been visiting Creston Village, a Pegasus assisted living and memory care community, in Paso Robles for the past eight years. “Pet therapy for our residents is just magical. All ages love a big friendly dog. It (therapy dog visit) is one of their very favorites,” said Michael Mayfield, Creston Village executive director. Sandy mingles with people in the facility’s “living room” and then makes personal visits to apartments before finishing up in the “memory care” area. Visits by therapy dogs happen twice a week at Creston Village. Therapy dogs differ from service dogs. According to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, ser-
People look at a live bee display on Saturday at the Golden Oak Honey and Pumpkin Festival in the Paso Robles Downtown City Park.
PASO ABUZZ at Golden Oak Honey and Pumpkin Festival Students participate in Spelling Bee By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@pasoroblespress.com
W
hat do honey, pumpkins, mini-golf and spelling have in common? If you answered the Golden Oak Honey and Pumpkin Festival you would be correct. The eclectic Fall festival organized by the Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association for the past six years drew hundreds of people to the Paso Robles Downtown City Park Saturday, Oct. 26. Nearly 75 booths, some taking up more than a couple of spots, were spread across the City Park, making it easy for festival-goers to stop and spend some time at any spot of their choosing. While the focus of the event was honey and pumpkins, a majority of the booths featured hand-made arts and crafts and by all appearances, sales were brisk as people looked to possibly get a head start on their holiday shopping. The Central Coast Beekeepers Alliance and several of its members were selling honey and other bee-related wares but also providing information about bees. A couple of the booths had the inside of a bee-hive on display with live bees that had people stopping to get a look at or snap a photo. The Paso Robles Kiwanis Club set up a mini-golf course in the Park. This was a new addition to the fesCONTINUED ON PAGE A12
Larry Schiffer and his therapy dog Sandy have been visiting Creston Village in Paso Robles for the past eight years. Earlier this month, Sandy retired and received an appreciation party from Creston Village.
Bauer-Speck third-grader Finely Tjong spells “wonderful” to win the afternoon session of the Optimist Club Spelling Bee on Saturday at the Golden Oak Honey and Pumpkin Festival in the Paso Robles Downtown City Park. Photos by Brian Williams
Halloween Fun in Paso Robles By MELISSA ALLEN For the Paso Robles Press
Contributed photo
vice dogs are trained to perform tasks and to do work that eases their handlers’ disabilities. Therapy dogs also receive training but have a completely different type of job from service dogs. Their responsibilities are to provide psychological or physiological therapy to individuals other than their handlers. CONTINUED ON PAGE A12
TIME CHANGE
The Main Street Witches Coven makes an appearance during a past Safe and Fun Halloween event in downtown Paso Robles. This year’s event will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 with trick-or-treating at downtown businesses. Contributed photo
SPORTS
ENTERTAINMENT
PASO ROBLES — For well over a decade, families have been flocking to downtown Paso Robles for a wonderfully spooky and lively Halloween celebration and this year will be no different. On Thursday, October 31 from 4 to 7 p.m., kids of all ages can trick-or-treat their way through local businesses in a safe and fun environment. This event, sponsored by the Downtown Paso Robles Main Street Merchants, offers hours of music, dancing, food and community. Admission is free. CONTINUED ON PAGE A12
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HALLE NASH Leads Girls Water Polo Team to Victory Against Hounds | B1
JASON MRAZ Brings Smooth Tunes to Vina Robles Ampitheatre | B8
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