Paso Robles Press • August 3, 2023

Cattlemen and Farmer’s Day recognizes three industry leaders at fair

Mike Massey, Suze Evenson, and George Donati honored at annual California Mid-State Fair event

By CAMILLE DEVAUL and CHRISTIANNA MARKS

PASO ROBLES — Friends and family gathered on Thursday, July 20, for the annual countywide reunion — the California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) Cattlemen and Farmer’s Day. Held near the Livestock Gate, the over-50year-old tradition celebrates the backbone of the county, our farmers and ranchers.

Three individuals were recognized for their contributions to the agriculture community, but not without paying tribute first to the mother of the California Mid-State Fair — Jo Ann Switzer.

For the second year, a recipient was chosen to receive the Jo Ann Switzer Scholarship. Switzer, along with the late Dick Nock, founded the Cattlemen and Farmer’s Day at the CMSF over 50 years ago. Sponsored by John and Pam McPherson, the scholarship went to Ely

Brooks of San Luis Obispo in the amount of $2,500.

The scholarship is given to a young individual who shares some of the same hardworking and dedicated characteristics as Switzer herself. Brooks graduated from San Luis Obispo High School earlier this year in April. She has been an indus-

try leader and served as both FFA and 4-H president and a member of the Young Cattlemen’s Association. She will be attending Oklahoma State University this fall.

Each year, the community excitedly anticipates the announcement for the coveted Cattleman of the Year, Cattle-

woman of the Year, and Agriculturalist of the Year awards. These individuals go above expectations in the industry. The honorees are selected by the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, San Luis Obispo County Cattlewomen, and San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association.

“This is a special annual tradition for our local agriculture community dating back to 1963,” explained Farm Bureau Executive Director Brent Burchett. “These three individuals embody our proud farming and ranching heritage in San Luis Obispo County.”

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PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Municipal Airport will be updating its fees after the Paso Robles City Council approved a new fee schedule during the Tuesday, Aug. 1, City Council meeting.

Airport staff proposed new fees and modifications to the structure of the airport. Similar airports in California were looked at when coming up with new numbers.

The new fees to be implemented include the following:

Transient Aircraft Parking $30/night (Jet)

Ten acts from across all genres played on the Michelob ULTRA Concert Series Stage

By CHRISTIANNA MARKS and BECCA SLIGH

NORTH COUNTY —

Paso Robles Press had the pleasure of attending six out of the

10 main acts on the Michelob ULTRA Concert Series Stage at the California Mid-State Fair this year. On top of the six performers we saw, Sammy Hagar, Parker McCollum, Pitbull, and Los Tucanes De Tijuana also graced the stage. Here are our thoughts on the rest of the CMSF’s headliner acts.

“This was the best-selling concert lineup across the board that we’ve had since I’ve been on the board,” said CMSF Board President Krista Sabin. “We had a little bit of everything. All the genres were covered.”

Opening day of the CMSF was nothing short of special.

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Over

NORTH COUNTY —

On Friday, July 28, over 50 San Luis Obispo County residents entered apple pies to be judged and tasted on the Headliner Stage at the California Mid-State Fair. The contest was sponsored by Visit Atascadero and featured multiple pie-tasting panels made up of three judges each. Each judge was tasked with tasting close to six out of the 50-plus pies, deciding on their top choice.

Those six apple pies would then be judged more closely, and the much-loved contest had its three winners. The pies were judged on overall appearance, taste, and overall impression. The judges were provided with a picture of the whole pie before it was cut and divvied up between them. The judges were culinary experts in the county with years of baking experience between them all.

Miss California Mid-State Fair Queen Kerrigan Jensen and her court — consisting of Natalie Boyd, Jenna Wilshusen, and Shirley Horzen —

judged the junior division of the competition.

“While they’re finishing up the adult division over here, I’m going to go ahead and announce the winners of the Jr. Apple Pie Contest. If you are here, please make your way to the stage,” said the emcee for the event, Payton Tucker. Third place and the $100 prize went to Charlie Vidito, who was there to receive his award. Second place, winning $250, went to Evelyn Otto, who was not in the audience at the time.

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The Miss California Mid-State Fair court, (from left) Princess Jenna Wilshusen, Miss Congeniality Shirley Horzen, Princess Natalie Boyd, and Queen Kerrigan Jensen judge the junior division of the Visit Atascadero-sponsored Apple Pie Contest at the California Mid-State Fair. Photo by Becca Sligh

Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson (left) presents a buckle to the 2023 Cattleman of the Year Mike Massey (right) at the Cattleman and Farmer’s Day on July 20.

Photo by Brittany App

IN

Memorial bench unveiled in Paso Robles to honor tragically lost siblings

Local family receives heartfelt tribute for two children lost in separate vehicle accidents

BY BECCA SLIGH Paso Robles Press Contributor

PASO ROBLES — A memorial bench has been installed in downtown Paso Robles for a local family after it tragically lost two of its three children to vehicle accidents independently of each other. Donna Epperson, mother of Deanne Martinelli of Martinelli Landscape, presented a memorial bench to one of Martinelli Landscape’s long-time employees.

“The father, Armando Montes, has worked for mine and my husband’s landscape company [Martinelli Landscape] for over 20 years. He and his family are like family to us,” says Martinelli.

In 2013 the oldest daughter, Jeanette Montes, was killed in an auto accident in Paso Robles. Her two younger brothers were also in the car but miraculously survived. Unfortunately, in 2018, the middle son, Joe Armando (Junior) Montes, was was helping a fellow co-worker in Paso Robles when he was struck by a car and killed instantly. Janette and Joe were survived by their parents, Armondo and Gabby Montes, and youngest sibling, David Montes, who will be a junior at Paso Robles High this coming fall. The idea of the memorial bench has been in the works for a couple of years.

“She [Epperson] tried to have the memorial bench made in 2019, but then COVID hit, and the bench order was put on hold”, Martinelli recalls. When asked why they decided to do a bench, Martinelli explains, “She [Epperson] wanted a place for the parents to go to where they could just sit and reflect”.

Martinelli also added the meaning behind the location of where the bench was installed as

well stating, “She [Epperson] put a ton of heart and soul into it. She walked around the park and downtown square and decided to have it over by Orale Taqueria and Cold Stone Creamery because she thought it would be a happy place where families go to eat and figured it would be a nice tribute to the kids.”

Martinelli also states that the process for putting in a memorial bench is actually through Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association.

“She [Epperson] got with the Main Street Association to get the bench idea going. She also talked with the business owners on the street where she wanted the bench placed to make sure it was okay, and they were on board with it.” Martinelli also explains the person who installs the bench does it on a volunteer basis and goes in the early morning hours to put the bench in.

The memorial bench was a complete surprise to the family and was finally unveiled Wednesday, July 19.

Martinelli also adds that if anyone happens to go and see the bench and take photos, the family would love to see them. All photos taken at the bench can be sent to Deanne Martinelli via email at deanne@martinellilandscape.com.

Riders donate to Paso Cares

ing, hygiene products, sleeping bags, tents, whatever the need we can meet for the unhoused community — that’s what we focus on.”

PASO ROBLES — On July 8, Paso Cares, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide for the immediate and longer-term needs of homeless and needy persons and families in the Paso Robles, was presented with a donation from the American Legion Riders Chapter 50 in the amount of $2,000. This is the second time this year the American Legion Riders Chapter 50 has made a donation toward Paso Cares and their organization.

Mary Booker, president of Paso Cares, gave some more insight on what these specific donations are used for: “We use them to supply food, cloth-

Booker explains that since Paso Cares fell under new leadership, one of the new leaders being Booker’s niece, Juanetta Perkins, she’s been with the organization now for roughly two years. Since Booker had experience with homeless outreach, she was invited to join the board and was soon after made president of the Paso Cares nonprofit.

When asked what Booker would like the public to know about the Paso Cares nonprofit organization, she responded, “They’re always welcome to send donations, we have a website, and they can find us on Facebook.”

Booker also gives information if anyone is interested in volunteering, saying, “If they would like to reach

out and volunteer, we do two pop-ups a month. We do one on the second Saturday of every month at Second Baptist Church [Paso Robles] and every last Saturday of the month in the JC Penney’s parking lot in Paso Robles.”

Booker also said the organization usually passes out cards to the unhoused community so they know when the pop-ups are as well as posting on social media when the pop-ups are so interested community members can come and volunteer.

Lastly, Booker remarked, “Anybody is welcome to volunteer and we appreciate anybody’s service for our community.”

For anyone who is interested in volunteering with the Paso Cares pop-ups or if you’d like to make a physical or monetary donation, please visit the group’s website, pasocares.org, as well as its Facebook page Paso Cares.

BY BECCA SLIGH Paso Robles Press Contributor

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Melon growers hail crop despite two-week delay

Cool

BY CHRISTINE SOUZA CALIFORNIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

CALIFORNIA — California farmers say this season’s melon crop was delayed by about two weeks due to cool temperatures and wet fields, which affected early harvest of watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydews.

It postponed melon deliveries to supermarkets before Independence Day, a disappointing development for some growers.

“We missed the big marketing window for Fourth of July,” said Fresno County farmer Joe Del Bosque, a farmer, packer, and shipper based in Firebaugh who grows organic cantaloupes, honeydews, and watermelons and operates a fruit stand.

“To get fruit in the pipeline for Fourth of July, you really need to be harvesting by the 25th of June, which is a normal start for us,” Del Bosque said. “We were a little later than normal, but a lot of guys didn’t get started until about the 10th of July.”

In southern Fresno County, he said a late-season storm dampened some early melon fields and delayed harvest for growers near Huron. Some farmers reported challenges such as being unable to access fields and having to confront pest issues for early-season melons. The onset of warm temperatures dried things out and harvest resumed.

As the season continues, Del Bosque described the quality of melons as good and demand as steady. He said he hopes there is not “a bunching up” of melons hitting the market at once.

“If there is too much overlap, then we could get into a lot of volume, and that will impact the market,” he said.

Garrett Patricio, president of Westside Produce, a grower, packer, and shipper of cantaloupes and honeydews based in Firebaugh,

reported some overlap of harvest in the melon-growing regions, leading to more volume on the market, which affects price.

However, Patricio said, “For cantaloupes and honeydews, pricing has been good. We’re probably in the range of $9 to $10 per carton.”

The state’s melon season typically begins in the southern desert in April and goes through early July. It starts again in mid-October, running through early December. On the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, harvest usually runs from June to October.

Imperial Valley farmer Joe Colace of Five Crowns Marketing in Brawley grows, ships, and packs melons, including cantaloupes and honeydews. He said the state’s melon crop is late, but quality is excellent.

“Everything looks above-average as far as sets and quality, and we’re anticipating a very high-quality crop throughout the season,” Colace

EVACUATION ZONES

said, noting that 40 acres of seedless watermelons he planted in the desert region were affected by cold weather early in the season.

After several years of drought, the state’s record snowpack and precipitation this year has been a plus for growers. Del Bosque, who receives water from the Westlands Water District, a federal Central Valley Project water contractor, said the district received a 100 percent water allocation. But he said growers did not learn the water allocation amount until after planting plans were made.

“We didn’t know at the start of the year what the allocation would be, so we planned for less than that,” Del Bosque said. “We got this extra water and you say, ‘I want to go out and plant some more,’ but you can’t get in the fields because of the late rain, so it was a little difficult to take advantage of all that water.”

A related bene- fit to plentiful

San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services launches new countywide evacuation zones

The initiative aims to enhance emergency preparedness and response

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services has launched a countywide evacuation planning project, urging residents to “know your evacuation zone.” This initiative aims to enhance emergency preparedness and response by providing pre-determined evacuation zones that will aid first responders in quickly identifying evacuation areas during emergencies. The newly established evacuation zones will enable the public to easily determine whether they are in an area under an Evacuation Warning, Evacuation Order, or other protective actions. These zones are specifically designed for scenarios that require large-scale evacuations.

To streamline the evacuation process during emergencies, residents are encouraged to find out their evacuation zone in advance. They can visit ReadySLO.org/evaczone and enter their address in the evacuation zone tool to discover their zone name. It is crucial to record this information and keep it easily accessible in case of an emergency.

According to Emergency Services Manager Scott Jalbert, knowing your evacuation zone ahead of time can be life-saving, as it allows for swift and efficient responses when evacuation orders are issued.

In the event of an Evacuation Warning or Evacuation Order, emergency officials will employ alert and notification systems, such as Wireless Emergency Alerts and Reverse

911, to inform residents about the affected zones. By being aware of their evacuation zone beforehand, residents can be prepared to act promptly when their zone is identified.

The countywide evacuation planning project was made possible through a grant from the FireSafe Council and resulted from collaboration between the County of San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Chiefs Association.

For any inquiries or additional information, residents can contact the County Office of Emergency Services at (805) 781-5678 or visit ReadySLO.org.

water supplies, he said, is the lower cost of supplemental water transferred to the district compared to drought years.

“That (supplemental) water has been extremely, extremely expensive, but that’s all we’ve had for the last couple of years,” Del Bosque said.

Colace said he relied on surface water this year as opposed to groundwater.

“The good news is that you have state water, so farmers are not having to rely as much on pumping water or subsurface water,” Colace said.

“This (surface water) is high-quality water, which really does produce a better-quality melon.”

Most of the state’s cantaloupe growers, who produce about 75 percent of the nation’s cantaloupes, have transitioned to varieties with a longer shelf life.

Faced with pressure from retailer customers and increasing labor costs, Patricio said, retailers required grow-

ers to plant longer-shelf-life varieties to lower the rate of rejected melons and reduce food waste. The newer varieties feature a harder exterior and firmer flesh, which means fewer passes by harvest crews and reduced costs, he said.

Patricio, who chairs the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board and serves on the California Melon Research Board, said he and some other shippers held off planting the new varieties because they felt melons grown with a requirement of 10 percent brix were not as flavorful as the traditional Western shipper varieties. In response, he said the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board instituted a higher standard of 12 percent brix to improve flavor for consumers.

“There will continue to be seed innovation, and I fully expect at some point in time we’ll have a hard-shell, low-food-waste cantaloupe that tastes fabulous,” Patricio said.

SLO County implements program to streamline services

Initiative

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The County of San Luis Obispo has introduced a new continuous improvement program called “Lean Forward,” based on the principles of Lean Six Sigma. The initiative aims to enhance service efficiency, optimize operations, and ultimately lead to cost savings for taxpayers.

Supervisors Dawn Ortiz-Legg and Jimmy Paulding, alongside County Administrative Officer John Nilon, unveiled the county’s commitment to implementing the Lean Six Sigma Program. Widely used in private sector organizations, Lean Six Sigma utilizes statistical analysis to improve efficiency and reduce wastage. The county plans to apply this methodology across all its departments, with the Department of Planning and Building leading the implementation as its champion.

Nilon emphasized that many local governments have adopted Lean Six Sigma to address the challenges posed by limited resources. He believes that this approach can result in financial savings,

improved morale, heightened performance, and elevated services for the residents of San Luis Obispo County.

To facilitate the adoption of Lean Six Sigma, a Lean Six “Master Black Belt” will serve as a consultant to guide the county through the program’s implementation. Ortiz-Legg emphasized that both the public and private sectors share a common focus on service and customer satisfaction. She expressed confidence that the “Lean Forward” program will help the county serve its community more efficiently and with reduced bureaucracy.

Nilon, who had previously implemented Lean Six Sigma in Kern County, credited the methodology with substantial cost savings and significant reductions in permitting process times.

Paulding highlighted the urgency of finding ways to streamline processes and improve efficiency in the face of limited resources and growing demands. He emphasized that “Lean Government” principles align perfectly with this objective.

“Lean Forward” aims to bring smart changes and improved governance to San Luis Obispo County, enabling the government to adapt and thrive amidst changing circumstances.

aims to enhance service efficiency, optimize operations, and lead to cost savings for taxpayers

Fresno County farmer Joe Del Bosque stands in a field of organic watermelons near Firebaugh. Despite a later crop this year, he and other farmers say melon quality is above average. Photo by Cecilia Parsons

The Lean Six Sigma team speaks at kick-off event for SLO County. Contributed Photo

temperatures and wet fields affect harvest of watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydews

PASO ROBLES

Public meeting scheduled for 6E/Union Interchange Project

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the City of Paso Robles have announced the completion of a draft Initial Study with Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental Assessment for the proposed State Route 46 East/ Union Road Intersection Improvements Project.

The project aims to construct an overcrossing and partial cloverleaf interchange at the intersection of State Route 46 East and Union Road/Paso Robles Boulevard in two phases. In an effort to gather public input and review the environmental assessment study results, a public meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Paso Robles City Council Chamber, 1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles.

The study results will be available for public review on the Caltrans website beginning Aug. 3 until Sept. 1. Caltrans and the City welcome feedback during this period and encourage interested parties to share their comments via email at info-d5@dot.ca.gov.

Paso Robles man sentenced for robbery crimes committed in May

NEWS BRIEFS

Good News • Real News • Your Hometown News

Paso Robles police officers located a dark gray BMW. When the officer was positioned to stop the BMW, the vehicle fled causing a fifteenmile high-speed pursuit along rural Nacimiento Lake Drive. The pursuit ended near Lake Nacimiento Resort, where Garcia fled on foot. He was not caught at that time.

Three days later, on November 28, 2021, Garcia carjacked a female victim outside of an apartment complex in the 1200 block of Creston in Paso Robles. The victim was seated in her car when Garcia opened her driver side door and ordered her out. The victim saw an item in Garcia’s hand she believed may have been a gun or a knife. The victim ran from her vehicle. Garcia got in and drove off. The car was found where it had been abandoned about three and a half hours later.

The next day, on November 29, 2021, Garcia was spotted by Paso Robles police officers in the area of the carjacking. Garcia ran but was arrested after a half-mile foot pursuit. When officers searched him, methamphetamine was found in his pocket.

“Richard Garcia’s violent crime spree was a menace to our community and my office is committed to aggressive enforcement of California’s Three Strikes sentencing laws for serious and violent offenders,” said District Attorney Dan Dow. “This sentence of life in prison is a message that should strongly discourage any other individuals from bringing their criminal activities here.”

The highlight of the wINC program will be a special luncheon on Sept. 28 at Springhill Suites by Marriott Atascadero. During the luncheon, each of the four distinguished women will share their experiences and contributions. At the event, one exceptional wINC participant will be named the 2023 Woman of Influence and will receive special recognition at the 2024 Atascadero Chamber Annual Awards Dinner and Gala in the following spring.

The wINC program serves as a platform to celebrate these influential women, inspire future leaders, and foster meaningful connections within the business community. The program’s proceeds will benefit recipients of the AAUW Tech Trek program.

Southern California Gas has already shown its support as an early event sponsor, and additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, interested parties can contact the Atascadero Chamber office at (805) 466-2044. Bridgeworks opens its doors for tours and possibilities Bridgeworks Coworking is inviting local residents to explore its space. The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce expanded Bridgeworks last year to meet the increasing demand for a professional work environment and a range of amenities.

Gracie, a young spaniel-mix who arrived at Woods with her eight newborn puppies from a shelter partner in Fresno. The litter, along with the mother, received foster care and medical support, including spaying or neutering, health exams, vaccinations, microchips, and other necessary treatments. This comprehensive care allowed the organization to swiftly find loving homes for the animals within the local community as soon as the puppies were old enough.

During fiscal year 2022-2023, Woods Humane Society faced increasing costs of supplies and equipment, leading to an average cost of $349.62 per animal for routine Adoption Veterinary Care. The current fiscal year, 2023-2024, is predicted to have even higher costs.

CEO of Woods Humane Society, Emily L’Heureux, expressed deep gratitude for the generous support and partnership of Petco Love, which enabled the organization to transfer 1,200 animals, accept 1,677 surrenders, and place 2,793 dogs and cats into loving homes during the past fiscal year. L’Heureux emphasized that such grants are essential for sustaining their life-saving efforts.

as the Concert Series Sponsor, and Grigger & Alice Jones, Solarponics, Stove & Spa Center, Guest House Grill, Fatte’s Pizza, Kirk Consulting, Coastal Communities Physicians Network (CCPN), and Waste Management as Presenting Sponsors. Supporting Sponsors include Starna Cells, Inc. and Union & Vine Ranch Kitchen, while Friend Sponsors are First 5 San Luis Obispo and Five Star Rain Gutters. In-Kind sponsors are All Signs & Graphics and Annie Gallagher Graphics. The city expresses its gratitude to all sponsors for their support in making these concerts possible.

For more information about the concert series, visit VisitAtascadero. com/events or call (805) 470-3360.

‘Hotel Transylvania: Transformania’ showing on Saturday, Aug. 5, for ‘Movies in the Park’

RICHARD QUNTAN GARCIA

District Attorney Dan Dow

announced on Tuesday, August 1, that Richard Quntan Garcia (31) of Paso Robles had been sentenced to 41 years plus 77 years to life in prison for attempted robbery, robbery, carjacking, and reckless evasion of a peace officer, with prior convictions under California’s Three Strikes Law.

On May 11, a San Luis Obispo County jury convicted Garcia of robbery, attempted robbery, carjacking, and reckless evading of a peace officer. The jury also found that Garcia displayed a handgun in the attempted robbery and shot a handgun during the completed robbery. Garcia was also convicted of three misdemeanor counts of resisting, delaying, or obstructing a peace officer and one misdemeanor count of possession of methamphetamine.

In a separate hearing, Judge Covello found that Garcia has suffered prior convictions for assault with a firearm for the benefit of a criminal street gang and assault with a firearm, both serious or violent ‘strikes’ under California’s Three Strikes Law.

During the trial the jury heard evidence of a multi-day crime spree perpetrated by Garcia. Shortly after 10 p.m. on November 24, 2021, Garcia entered Carl’s Jr. restaurant in the 2700 block of Black Oak Drive in Paso Robles and demanded money from a 15-year-old employee while pointing a handgun about six inches from the employee’s face. Another employee quickly contacted law enforcement and Garcia fled the restaurant without obtaining any money.

Three hours later, in the early morning of November 25, 2021, Garcia entered the Chevron Gas Station located in the 1800 block of Ramada Drive in Paso Robles. Again, Garcia was armed with a handgun. He demanded money from the employee and fired a gunshot over the employee’s shoulder and into the ceiling. The employee turned over money from the store’s cash register and Garcia fled in a dark BMW sedan.

One hour after the Chevron robbery,

The case was investigated by the Paso Robles Police Department, with the assistance of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Gang Taskforce, California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services, District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, and District Attorney’s Central Coast Cyber-Forensic Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Scott Hunter who is assigned to the District Attorney’s Felony Trial Team.

ATASCADERO

Shell Fire now 95 percent contained; remains at 100 acres burned

As of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 2 Cal Fire San Luis Obispo (SLO) reports the Shell Fire off HWY 58 and Shell Creek Rd. is now at 95 percent contained. It remains at 100 acres burned.

The vegetation fire began on Sunday, east of Santa Margarita. As a precautionary measure, Highway 58 was closed at Shell Creek Road due to the fire. It was originally reported by Cal Fire that due to the fire’s close proximity to the Las Padres Forest and to Black Mountain there was potential for for the fire to reach 300 acres. However, there were no structures in immediate danger of the fire.

The largest fire in that area occurred in 2003, known as the Highway 58 fire. According to fire officials, August through September will be the most active time for fires here on the Central Coast.

The cause of the Shell Fire remains under investigation.

Last call for nominations for Women of Influence North County

The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Atascadero chapter, is nearing the deadline for nominations for its inaugural Women of Influence North County program (wINC).

The program aims to recognize and celebrate outstanding women in the business community who have made a significant impact in their respective industries and communities.

Nominations for deserving women making a difference in North County are being accepted until Tuesday, Aug. 15, at 11:59 p.m. through the official wINC webpage at atascaderochamber.org. The selected honorees will be showcased during the month of September, with one inspiring woman highlighted each week.

“Bridgeworks is truly becoming a place for our community,” shared Josh Cross, president and CEO of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce. Besides providing a workspace for businesses, Bridgeworks has evolved into a versatile venue hosting piano recitals, community organization meetings, art shows, parties, client meetings, and chamber mixers. Cross encourages community members to tour the space and discover how it can be used for their next event or meeting.

The primary goal of Bridgeworks, a partnership between the Chamber, City of Atascadero, and Pacific Premier Bank, is to bridge the gap between people and the essential resources needed to thrive in business. The space offers 24-hour access, well-equipped conference rooms, high-speed internet, secure Wi-Fi, printing facilities, a breakroom, a kitchen, a physical mailing address, professional workshops, ample parking, utilities, premium coffee, filtered water, and convenient proximity to downtown Atascadero.

Daniel Armendariz, office manager for Tidemark Financial Partners, praised Bridgeworks for combining the comforts and convenience of a large office space with the personalized touch of individual workspaces. With its numerous work areas and amenities like snacks, Bridgeworks provides an ideal environment to focus and tackle the day’s tasks effectively.

Act quickly to secure one of the last remaining coworking desks, or join the waitlist for upcoming availability. There are still plenty of day use desks available for flexible working arrangements. For more information or to inquire about private office options, interested individuals can reach out to the Atascadero Chamber at (805) 466-2044. Discover more about Bridgeworks and join the waiting list by visiting their website at atascaderochamber.org/bridgeworks.

Petco Love lifesaving investment helps Woods Humane Society

Woods Humane Society, achieved a milestone during fiscal year 2022-2023 by successfully rescuing, sheltering, and finding loving homes for nearly 2,800 dogs and cats in San Luis Obispo County. The nonprofit attributes this success, despite rising animal care costs, to the crucial support of a $15,000 lifesaving investment from Petco Love. The investment provided by Petco Love in April enabled Woods Humane Society to extend Adoption Veterinary Care to 42 additional animals during the closing months of the fiscal year, which ended on June 30. Among the beneficiaries was

Petco Love, a national nonprofit, is dedicated to creating stronger and healthier communities for pets and pet families. Since its founding in 1999, Petco Love has invested $350 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts, resulting in over 6.7 million pets finding loving homes through its partnership with more than 4,000 organizations, including Woods Humane Society.

Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love, highlighted the organization’s commitment to preventing unnecessary euthanasia of pets through investments like those made in Woods Humane Society. She also mentioned the recent launch of Petco Love Lost, a national lost and found database utilizing patented image-recognition technology to simplify the search for lost pets.

Woods Humane Society operates as a nonprofit dog and cat adoption center, relying solely on donations, grants, bequests, fundraising events, and fees for services. Collaborating closely with partner shelters and individuals unable to care for their pets, the organization provides shelter, veterinary care, and adoption services for more than 3,000 cats and dogs annually at its facilities in San Luis Obispo and Atascadero. The medical team at Woods Humane Society performs 5,000 spay/neuter surgeries each year as part of its commitment to managing pet populations.

For more information about Woods Humane Society, please visit WoodsHumane.org, and for more about Petco Love, visit petcolove.org.

Beatles tribute band to take stage for ‘Saturdays in the Park’

The City of Atascadero is promoting an upcoming concert featuring “Unfinished With The Beatles” as part of the “Saturdays in the Park” Summer Concert Series. On Saturday, Aug. 5, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Atascadero Lake Bandstand, this Central Coast-based Beatles tribute band will take the stage.

Attendees can indulge in tasty treats from Paso Catering and Paradise Shaved Ice, adding to the enjoyment of the evening. Mark your calendars for the next concerts in the series:

Aug. 12: Painted Red Music (Classic Rock)

Aug. 26: The Cinders Blues Band (Blues)

All concerts take place at the Atascadero Lake Park Bandstand from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and are free for the public. Bring your blankets, low-back chairs, and the whole family to savor warm summer evenings in Atascadero.

The “Saturdays in the Park” 2023 Summer Concert Series is made possible by the City of Atascadero and an array of sponsors, including Central Coast Community Energy

The City of Atascadero is bringing back the “Movies in the Park” event, presented by Tenet Health Central Coast, Country Touch Café, and Fatte’s Pizza. This year, the event will take place at a new location, the Colony Park Softball Field, located at 5599 Traffic Way, next to the Colony Park Community Center in Atascadero.

The movie series will run on Saturdays throughout August, except for Aug. 19, with each film starting around 8 p.m. All movies selected are family-friendly, providing an entertaining evening under the stars for everyone.

On Saturday, Aug. 5, “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” a 2022 American computer-animated adventure comedy film from Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation. Join Drac and his friends as they face an exciting challenge when Van Helsing’s new invention turns them into humans and Johnny into a monster. The pack must find a way to reverse the transformations before they become permanent.

Mark your calendars for the next movies in the lineup — “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile” (PG) on Aug. 12 and “Super Mario Bros.” (PG) on Aug. 26.

During each screening, The Sausage Slinger & Paradise Shaved Ice will be on-site selling concessions. Remember to bring your blankets and low-back chairs for a cozy and fun evening of entertainment. Best of all, the movies are free to the community.

The City of Atascadero thanks event sponsors: Presenting Sponsors — Tenant Health Central Coast, Fatte’s Pizza & Country Touch Café; Supporting Sponsors — First 5 San Luis Obispo County, Stout Pediatric Dentistry, and Waste Management; Friend Sponsors — All Signs & Graphics & Five Star Rain Gutters, Inc.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

One Cool Earth receives grant from Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust One Cool Earth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental education, is delighted to announce the receipt of funding from the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust for the 2023-2024 school year. The grant is specifically allocated to support the continuation of their bilingual garden education program at Pacheco Elementary.

Having previously completed a successful grant from the Miossi Trust for providing garden-based education at C.L. Smith Elementary and Pacheco Elementary in San Luis Obispo, One Cool Earth continues its mission to engage students in hands-on, experiential learning through this new funding.

The school garden program aims to connect students with their communities and offers a wide range of lessons led by Garden Educators from One Cool Earth. These lessons cover various subjects, including environmental science, nutrition, ecology, soil science, and renewability. Additionally, students are introduced to diverse fruits and vegetables, fostering healthier eating habits and encouraging them

to share homegrown produce with their families.

The Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust’s dedication to improving the quality of life for residents of San Luis Obispo and its surrounding areas aligns seamlessly with One Cool Earth’s goals. The Trust, established under the will of the late Mr. Harold J. Miossi, focuses on six key areas: animal-related, education, environment, the Catholic Church, fine arts, and youth development. Their support helps organizations like One Cool Earth make a significant impact in the community’s well-being.

As the new school year approaches, One Cool Earth expresses gratitude to the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust for their continued support, enabling them to inspire young minds and foster a deeper connection to the environment through engaging garden education programs.

Charges filed in connection with 2022 shooting incident near Lopez Lake, Arroyo Grande

iff’s Office has taken a step forward in the case of a shooting incident that occurred in 2022 near the Lopez Lake area of rural Arroyo Grande. Daniel Jacobo, 22, of Oceano, who was already in custody for an unrelated drive-by shooting, is now facing serious charges related to the incident.

Jacobo has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, using a firearm in commission of a felony, and making a false crime report in connection with the shooting. Additionally, two others are being charged as accessories to a crime and for filing a false crime report. Alexis Tapiapille, 21, of Oceano, is awaiting arraignment on the new case, while another individual, Perez, remains outstanding and is not currently in custody.

The incident, which occurred on Nov. 4, 2022, led to the tragic death of 28-year-old Arroyo Grande resident Alexander Montero Pille. Sheriff’s deputies had responded to Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, where Pille was transported after sustaining a gunshot wound. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Initially, those present during the incident reported it as a road rage-related shooting on Los Berros Road. However, as the investigation unfolded, sheriff’s detectives discovered that the victim and the three suspects were together in the same vehicle near the Lopez Lake area when the shooting took place. Subsequent findings led investigators to conclude that the shooting was unrelated to a road rage incident.

further details at this time.

SLO County and city partner on homeless encampment solutions for Bob Jones Bike Trail

The County and City of San Luis Obispo have joined forces to address homeless encampments along the Bob Jones Bike Trail in San Luis Obispo. The county recently accepted a $13.4 million grant from the State of California Interagency Council on Homelessness, which will be utilized to implement the Bob Jones Bike Trail Encampment Resolution Project.

The project comprises three main phases:

1. Cleanup of the San Luis Creek and surrounding open spaces near the Bob Jones Bike Trail.

2. Expansion of outreach efforts to individuals living in the area.

3. Development of a non-congregate housing facility named the “Welcome Home Village,” offering on-site wraparound services.

encing homelessness.

San Luis Obispo County currently has a high percentage of unsheltered individuals compared to other communities of similar size. In response, the county and the city have previously adopted strategic plans to address homelessness, with a focus on creating housing units to meet the unique needs of persistently unsheltered individuals.

City Manager Derek Johnson expressed gratitude for the grant and partnership, acknowledging the importance of tackling homelessness as a top priority for the City of San Luis Obispo. The Welcome Home Village, located adjacent to the county’s Department of Social Services headquarters, will provide 80 much-needed beds, including 34 interim and 46 permanent supportive housing units. The housing program will include mandatory case management and individualized service plans for residents.

DEATHS

VIOLA MAE VAN METER, 89, of Santa Maria passed away on July 21, 2023.

Arrangements are under the direction of Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel in Grover Beach.

CRAIG DANIEL DYER 33, of Arroyo Grande passed away on July 19th 2023. Services are in the care of Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel of Grover Beach.

JUDITH FRIEND age 90 a resident of Cambria passed away on 07/19/2023

In the care of Blue Sky Cremation and Burial Service

JACQUARD GUENON age 74 a resident of Paso Robles passed away on 07/20/2023

In the care of Blue Sky Cremation and Burial Service

RONALD ROBINSON age 78 a resident of Paso Robles passed away on 07/24/2023

In the care of Blue Sky Cremation and Burial Service

DANIEL JACOBO

The San Luis Obispo County Sher-

PASO ROBLES POLICE DEPARTMENT

JULY 24, 2023

02:51 — James Hicks, of Kern County was on view arrest on 13th and Railroad for DISORDERLY CONDUCT/DRUNK IN PUBLIC [647(F)PC], Case no. 232318

00:09 — Rene Jimenez, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of Rambouillet Dr. And Snead St. for POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)

H&S], BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no. 232313

01:13 — Adrian Guerra, of Paso Robles was summoned/cited on the 2100 block of Riverside for WILLFULLY TO VIOLATE A

WRITTEN PROMISE TO APPEAR IN COURT

[853.7PC], Case no. 232318

00:36 — Jose Ruiz, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 300 block of Cedarwood Dr. For DOMESTIC BATTERY [243(E)(1)PC], Case no. 232314

00:00 — Fernando Aguirre, of Cambria was arrested on the corner of Spring St and 8th St for DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED FOR

DUI [14601.2(A)VC], Case no. 232322

JULY 25, 2023

01:08 — Zachariah Garcia, of Atascadero was on view arrest on the corner of HWY

101 SB and HWY 46 W for DRIVING UNDER

THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)

VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT

[23152(B)VC], Case no. 232327

02:56 — Jason Horning, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 100 block of Santa

Ynez Ave for WILLFULLY RESISTS,DELAYS,OBSTRUCTS…[148(A)(1)PC],

POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED

SUBSTANCE [11377(A)H&S], BENCH

WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no. 232329

10:15 — Ashley Lojocano, of San Miguel was on view arrest on the 1100 block of 24th St for BATTERY [242PC], Case no. 232330

14:40 — Michael Contreras, of Paso Robles was taken into custody on the 1200 block of Ysabel Ave for BURGLARY [459PC], BENCH

WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no. 232331

00:28 — Cristino Sandoval, of San Luis Obispo was on view arrest on the corner of Riverside and 24th

for

Following a thorough review of the case, the District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against all three suspects. The authorities have not disclosed

side Ave for PUBLIC INTOXINATION [647(F)

PC], Case no. 232333

23:06 — Jared Anderson, of Arroyo Grande was on view arrest on the 2300 block of Riverside for PUBLIC INTOXINATION [647(F)

PC], Case no. 232337

00:21 — Joshuajohn Briones, of Atascadero was on view arrest on the 1100 block of 24th St for PUBLIC INTOXINATION [647(F)PC],

Case no. 232325

JULY 26, 2023

12:34 — Christopher Plymale, of Paso Robles was taken into custody on the 2400 block of Falcon Dr for INFLICTING CORPO-

RAL INJURY ON SPOUSE/COHABITANT [273.5(A)PC], Case no. 232342

15:32 — Joseph Smaglik, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 200 block of Oak Hill Rd for BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC],

Case no. 232349

16:01 — Albert Francis, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 2700 block of Spring

St for BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no. 232351

19:44 — Lilah Wood, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of Creston Rd and Laura St for POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF BRASS KNUCKLES [21810 PC],

Case no. 232353

23:21 — Christopher Staub, of Clovis was on view arrest on the corner of Paso Robles

St and 13th St for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC],

Case no. 232355

23:29 — Gizeth Avilamorales, of Fresno was on view arrest on the corner of Paso Robles

St and 13th St for PUBLIC INTOXINATION [647(F)PC], Case no. 232355

JULY 27, 2023

00:36 — Samuel Negretedelgado, of Atascadero was on view arrest on the corner of 24th St and Spring St for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC],

Case no. 232356

01:49 — Gregory Champagne, of Arizona was on view arrest on the corner of Spring St and 11th St for DRIVING

The county’s Homeless Services Division will collaborate with key partners to carry out the multi-phase project. The City of San Luis Obispo will lead the expansion of outreach services, while DignityMoves will construct a supportive housing community and LifeArk will build the modular homes. Good Samaritan Shelter will manage the supportive housing program. This collaboration marks a significant step in the county’s approach to homelessness, as they seek to implement successful methods employed by other cities like Santa Barbara and Austin, Texas. The initiative aims to create life-changing opportunities for the county’s residents who are experi-

232358

02:39 — Kerry Allison, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 600 block of Spring St for UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION [11550(A)HS], Case no. 232359

05:11 — Paul Brill, of Atascadero was taken into custody on the 100 block of Niblick Rd for OUTSIDE WARRANT/M, Case no. 232361

11:30 — Amber Bishop, of Atascadero was on view arrest on the 100 block of Niblick Rd for PETTY THEFT [484(A)PC], THEFT OF DEBIT/ CREDIT CAR [484E(D)PC], Case no. 232146

11:09 — Harlan Lenoir, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 100 block of Niblick Rd for WILLFULLY TO VIOLATE A WRITTEN PROMISE TO APPEAR IN COURT [853.7PC], Case no. 232365

14:42 — Todd Herrera, of Nipomo was on view arrest on Scott St and Via Ramona for BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no. 232369

16:36 — Albert Francis, of Paso Robles was on views arrest on the 2800 block of Riverside Ave for UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION [11550(A)HS], POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A) H&S], Case no. 232375

16:10 — Simon Duenas, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of Black Oak Dr and 24th St for RECEIVING/CONCEALING STOLEN PROPERTY,ETC [496(A)PC], Case no. 232367

20:35 — Matthew Smith, of Paso Robles was summoned/cited on the 600 block of Spring St for WILLFULLY TO VIOLATE A WRITTEN PROMISE TO APPEAR IN COURT [853.7PC],

Case no. 232378

21:31 — Michael Provenzano, of Santa Ana was on view arrest on the corner of 12th St and Pine St for PUBLIC INTOXINATION

[647(F)PC], Case no. 232379

23:49 — Jesus Santiagovazquez, of Paso

Robles was on view arrest on the 700 block of Tanner Dr for CHILD ENDANGERMENT [273A(A)PC], DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC],

Case no. 232381

JULY 28, 2023

12:27 — Erica Paramo, of Paso Robles was arrested for IDENTITY THEFT [530.5(A)PC],

The interim supportive housing units in the Welcome Home Village will offer private spaces for residents with electricity, air conditioning, heating, and a desk, while sharing communal bathroom, laundry, and kitchen facilities. The permanent housing units will have private restrooms and kitchen areas. The village will also feature a small park with a playground and dog run to foster a sense of community.

The County’s Homeless Services Division applied for the grant in collaboration with the City of San Luis Obispo and was awarded the funds in June. The Bob Jones Bike Trail Encampment Resolution Project demonstrates the community’s commitment to addressing homelessness and creating safe and supportive environments for those in need.

Case no. 231644

22:18 — Javier Rosas, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of Navajo Ave and South River Rd for POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A) H&S], WILLFULLY TO VIOLATE A WRITTEN PROMISE TO APPEAR IN COURT [853.7PC], Case no. 232396

20:28 — Juan Anguianorivera, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 500 block of Creston Rd for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC],

Case no. 232393

JULY 29, 2023

02:08 — Adrian Ramierez, of King City was on view arrest on the 3200 block of Spring St for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 232399

00:02 — Susanne Angeloni, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of 46E and Buena Vista Dr for PUBLIC INTOXINATION [647(F)PC], Case no. 232398

10:28 — Edgar Canales, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 500 block of Pine St for PUBLIC INTOXINATION [647(F)PC], Case no. 232401

22:26 — Joshua Bender, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 2200 block of Oak St for INFLICTING CORPORAL INJURY ON SPOUSE/COHABITANT [273.5(A)PC], Case no. 232407

23:46 — David Hayes, of Templeton was on view arrest on the 2200 block of Riverside for CARRYING A LOADED FIREARM [25850(A)PC], Case no. 232411

JULY 30, 2023

23:48 — Dustin Iliff, of Paso Robles was arrested for VANDALISM [594(A)(1)PC], BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no.

OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 232415

17:52 — Ramsey Shadfan, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 700 block of Experimental Station Rd for BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no. 232424

22:37 — Rafael Martinezortiz, of Paso Robles was summoned/cited for BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no. 232427

ATASCADERO POLICE DEPARTMENT

JULY 23, 2023

10:23 — Gabriel Netz, was arrested-complaint sought on the 5900 block of East Mall for POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], Case no. 231531

13:25 — Steven Piechocky, was arrested-complaint sought on the 500 block of Ferrocarril Rd for DRIVING OR TAKING A VEHICLE WITHOUT A PERSON’S PERMISSION [10851(A)VC], Case no. 231533

20:01 — Gerald Davis, was arrested-complaint sought on the 9200 block of Curbaril Ave for INFLICTING CORPORAL INJURY ON SPOUSE/COHABITANT [273.5(A)PC], Case no. 231535

JULY 24, 2023

12:09 — Hope Rosa, arrested-bench warrant/non-APD arrest warrant on the 6900 block of El Camino Real for PROBATION VIOLATION:REARREST/REVOKE

[1203.2(A)], Case no. 231539

23:59 — Bradley Lee, was arrested-complaint sought on the 9100 block of El Camino Real for POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A)

H&S], Case no. 231545

JULY 27, 2023

04:19 — Nathaniel Brennan, was arrested-complaint sought on the 8200 block of El Camino Real for AGGRAVATED BATTERY WITH SERIOUS INJURY [243(D)PC], Case no. 231564

JULY 29, 2023

06:51 — Martha Bojorquezserna, was arrested-complaint sought on the 8100 block of

TARA SKINNER age 61 a resident of Santa Margarita passed away on 07/25/2023

In the care of Blue Sky Cremation and Burial Service

The digital revolution and community journalism

In the ever-evolving landscape of journalism, the rise of artificial intelligence and language models has brought both opportunities and challenges to the way news is disseminated and consumed. One of the prominent developments in this is ChatGPT, an innovative language model capable of generating humanlike responses. While this technological marvel has its merits, its integration into local news raises crucial questions about the importance of hyperlocal reporting and the vital role played by community journalists.

Undoubtedly, ChatGPT,

powered by AI and machine learning, has revolutionized the accessibility and sharing of information. News organizations worldwide have embraced this technology for its capacity to provide real-time answers to users’ queries. The seamless interaction and immediate responses offer convenience to readers, yet they also raise concerns about the authenticity and accuracy of information.

Relying solely on ChatGPT for local news updates may result in a lack of proper fact-checking and personalized insights, potentially compromising the overall quality of reporting.

In contrast, hyperlocal news, centered on specific neighborhoods and communities, holds unparalleled significance. While international and national headlines may dominate mainstream media, hyperlocal news forms the bedrock of a well-informed society. These local stories illuminate the essence of a community — its struggles, triumphs, and distinctive challenges faced

by its residents. Disregarding hyperlocal reporting in favor of automated responses undermines the crucial role that local journalists play in accurately representing and serving our communities.

Community reporters act as the eyes and ears of the neighborhoods they cover. With an intimate understanding of the area’s nuances, culture, and history, they bring forth an authentic and comprehensive perspective to their reporting. Their deep integration within the communities enables them to reflect the true essence of the people they serve. Whether reporting on local events, City Council meetings, or captivating human interest stories, our community journalists play a vital role in fostering a sense of unity and understanding among the residents they represent.

The importance of community reporters becomes evident during times of crisis and emergency situations. Their presence on the ground provides

vital information quickly and accurately. They offer a unique perspective that AI-generated responses simply cannot match, especially when it comes to understanding the impact of events on the lives of individuals and families in the area.

While technology can undoubtedly streamline news delivery, it must not replace the human connection that journalism thrives on. The faceless nature of ChatGPT can potentially erode trust in the media and lead to a disconnect between reporters and their audiences. Building and maintaining trust is vital for the survival of journalism, and this trust is nurtured through human interaction and relatable stories told by our community reporters.

The future of local news, amidst the emergence of ChatGPT and AI-powered journalism, hinges on finding the right balance. As a news organization, we will embrace technology to stay informed

and progressive while safeguarding the invaluable human touch. The essence of a proficient hyperlocal journalist lies in their irreplaceable role as engaged community members who establish connections and resonate with their audience.

AI may not be able to replace such dedicated journalists, but it can certainly replace those who lack community engagement and genuine connection. Our media company holds hyperlocal journalists in high regard, empowering them to immerse themselves in the communities they cover. We provide them with tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy in their reporting. Ultimately, any skilled journalist need not fear AI if they excel at their craft and embody the spirit of authentic storytelling and community connection.

Without a doubt, ChatGPT and AI have initiated a transformative shift in the media landscape, presenting efficient methods of disseminating and gathering information.

However, we must exercise caution and avoid excessive reliance on these technologies. The importance of hyperlocal news and community reporters cannot be overstated, as they safeguard the authenticity, trust, and sense of belonging in journalism within our communities. Amidst this digital revolution, we must always remember that each piece of news represents human stories that require empathy and precision in their conveyance, contributing to a more enlightened and compassionate future for everyone. The need to specify the “human” element is intriguing, reflecting the fascinating times we live in. Our commitment remains steadfast in supporting and empowering our local journalists, ensuring that you can continue to read articles in print and online, knowing that you are supporting a team of dedicated individuals who bring you trustworthy and dependable daily news. Together, we strive to Make Communities Better.

Appliance electrification: The coming public policy

blackouts.

in the Sierra Nevada and other California mountain ranges.

Despite those events, much more in-home electrification likely be forced on homeowners in the near future.

there may be delays in that requirement because a federal appeals court ruled this spring that Berkeley cannot enforce its new law requiring conversions in short order.

This would be much like the 1970s-era conversions to low-flow for most water-using devices, from bathroom and kitchen faucets to washing machines and shower heads.

Other cities have also begun mandating heat pumps when heaters are replaced, but are not yet forcing homeowners to dump natural gas space heaters.

There’s been copious news coverage of attempts by state government to force dense new housing construction on cities around California. Much less is said about attempts to compel Californians to switch almost every type of domestic appliance or machine from natural gas fuel to electricity.

At the same time, little note was taken of power blackouts – sometimes lasting a week or more – that accompanied the myriad storms of last winter, which set records for snowpack

It’s just possible that after the huge natural gas bills handed to most Californians early this year, some home and condominium owners feel full electrification can’t come soon enough.

Seemingly getting set for this, a movement among cities and counties over the last three years now sees builders installing electric appliances in most new housing throughout the state. At the same time, pressure will soon start building on owners of existing homes to electrify almost everything whenever they create significant additions or remodels.

Some cities are even adopting ordinances to force such conversions as part of all home sales after 2028 or 2030, although

and to raise their hands; every hand in the classroom went up, except mine. Recently returned from Vietnam, I was outraged at the one-sided presentation that so misled the students. Mislead is an understatement: at the end of the lecture, one student of Asian-American heritage said, “Japan didn’t do anything to America to deserve being bombed.”

Fifty years ago, I sat in on a history class at Cal Poly along with a friend who was enrolled as a full-time chemistry student. My friend took a history class only because it was required for graduation, not for any love of studying the past.

The subject matter that day was the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan in August 1945, ostensibly to end a long, bloody war that had taken tens of millions of lives. The instructor made the case that dropping the bomb was unnecessary, perhaps even done for racist motivations and not for any justifiable military rationale. When the lecture was over the instructor asked how many students believed dropping the bomb was unjustified

Is it no wonder then that today, according to recent surveys, 52 percent of people under age 35 don’t feel patriotic about America? Why should they when all they’ve heard is a gross distortion of America’s heritage?

We are a military legacy family: my father and all of my uncles served in World War II, all but one in the Pacific Theater against the Japanese. My dad served in the South Pacific from February 1942 until his discharge in 1946. I’ve spoken to many Pacific War veterans; almost all of them were quite bitter about the Japanese military, although they have softened towards the Japanese people.

These coming policies stem from conventional wisdom among officials that says fossil fuel natural gas furthers climate change. People holding this view often also insist California must lead in mitigating that as much as possible. Many local government staffers are also convinced gas appliances emit toxic fumes like oxides of nitrogen, a major component of smog. They urge anyone using gas stoves to run every available ventilator while cooking. So water heaters (even tankless ones), stoves and stovetops, ovens, clothes dryers, central heaters – virtually any appliance a homeowner might use – might become electric, rather than gas-fired, within a decade or so.

As with those changes and the thousands of switches from green lawns to drought-resistant plants, many cities and counties will likely subsidize folks who get on board.

This movement is strongest now in Northern California, where cities like San Mateo and Piedmont require homeowners to install new outlets for electric appliances during all kitchen and laundry room renovations. They also require installing high-capacity electric circuit panels whenever existing panels are altered or upgraded. Some cities encourage these changes when construction is happening anyway, making the changeovers cheaper than if they were separate projects.

Dropping the bomb

During one of my trans-Pacific crossings, I stopped at Wake Island. In December 1941 the island was attacked by the Japanese and her Marine defenders were immortalized in book and film, characterized as “The Alamo of the Pacific.” Eventually succumbing to overwhelming force, the survivors were subjected to summary executions, the remainder crammed into airless holds of ships and transported to Japan as slave laborers for the rest of the war. Few survived.

Japanese maltreatment of prisoners of war was the norm, with no regard given to the Geneva Convention protections of prisoners. Summary executions, beatings, torture, and starvation were routine, with almost no medical aid provided to prisoners. This experience was universal by all Allied prisoners held by Japan, including civilians. When the Japanese conquered the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong, they raped all the nurses in St. Stephens College Hospital, tortured them, and then executed by bayonet all

the nurses, patients and doctors. Many civilian women and girls, wives and daughters of colonists, were transported to “rape camps,” where they were forced into sexual servitude by Japanese soldiers for months, some for years. This happened across the Pacific, wherever the Imperial Japanese Army prevailed. It was a modern military force with a feudal mentality. Most of us know of the fanaticism of the Japanese soldier, his refusal to surrender, and the suicide planes used against our fleet. But few are aware of the massive atrocities committed by Japan during the war; (well documented by Japanese scholars), the use of poison gas and biological weapons against Chinese civilians, barbaric medical experiments conducted upon prisoners and conquered civilian populations (200,000 Chinese murdered by Japan’s secret biological weapons unit) not to mention the “Rape of Nanking” in 1937, a cosmopolitan city where Japan’s Imperial Army raped 40,000 women and girls and murdered 200,000 civilians.

That will likely come within the next 10 to 20 years, but probably not until the state’s electric grid grows considerably, as must happen anyhow for the state to reach its stated goal of ending sales of strictly gasoline-powered cars by 2035.

But the real shock will come when and if cities adopt and enforce almost complete electrification at time of sale. That could cut home sellers’ profits by thousands of dollars on almost every transaction.

This putative requirement will surely meet heavy resistance among homeowners, who have lived with gas appliances for many decades without apparent harm, at the same time enjoying more reliability than electricity offers in an era of frequent

As the allies closed the ring around Japan and defeat was an absolute certainty with Japanese civilians starving at home, the militarists controlling the government planned for the mass suicide of the nation, training schoolgirls to charge advancing Allied troops with bamboo spears on the beachheads. The Imperial General Staff also ordered the systematic execution of all allied prisoners of war in December 1944, an action first carried out on the Philippine Island of Cebu, burning alive hundreds of allied prisoners of war. In the home islands of Japan, the military had built and concealed over 5,000 suicide planes and hundreds of suicide vessels to be rammed against the allied fleet. American casualties would have run to the tens of thousands, but Japanese civilian casualties would have been in the hundreds of thousands. I’ve read estimates of at least 2 million Japanese dead, and that was the best-case scenario had we been forced to invade the home islands. One estimate stated

Their likely resistance is bound to produce a series of local ballot measures seeking to maintain the status quo, where homeowners and apartment landlords can freely choose whatever appliances they like.

Of course, just as with housing policy, state government lurks in the background. If the Legislature passes new laws mandating mass electrification no matter the cost, some local governments will surely mount legal challenges, egged on bty change-resistant homeowners.

Then, as with today’s housing issues, it will be up to the courts to decide whether charter cities, normally free to make local laws that diverge from state rules, can also decide this issue on their own.

Thomas Elias is an independent opinion columnist for Paso Robles Press / Atascadero News; you can email him at tdelias@aol.com.

that Japan would have suffered as many as 25 million civilian and military dead had the war been forced to continue without dropping the bomb. Japan’s military tentatively agreed to an armistice but only without occupation of Japan, preservation of the military’s primacy in government and no war crimes trials, terms totally unacceptable to the Allies given Japan’s conduct during the war.

After two atom bombs were dropped, Japan’s military was determined to continue the war. When the emperor agreed to Allied surrender terms the military attempted a palace coup to imprison the emperor, which fortunately failed.

The atomic bomb served one purpose, to break the will of Japan to continue to fight. It succeeded in breaking the will of the one person whose vote counted the most, the Emperor of Japan.

Al Fonzi is an independent opinion columnist for The Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press; you can email him at atascaderocolumnist@gmail.com.

AL FONZI COMMENTARY

THOMAS ELIAS COMMENTARY

HAYLEY MATTSON PUBLISHER

CATTLEMAN CONTINUED FROM A1

Cattleman of the Year Award Mike Massey

The San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association has given the Cattleman of the Year award annually since 1963, making Mike Massey the 60th person to receive this honor.

“It was humbling and I feel honored. Im blessed, fortunate,” Massey told Paso Robles Press on how he felt when he found out the news.

Massey was born in Illinois, and his family moved to Fullerton in 1971 when he was about 8 years old. As Massey says, at 17 he decided to run off and be a cowboy. Inspired by his agriculture teacher Gary Hunt, Massey knew he wanted to be a part of the agriculture community one way or another. That same man who started it all was there to congratulate Massey on his Cattleman of the Year award that hot July fair day.

PR CITY CONTINUED FROM A1

$7/night (Helicopter)

$75/night (Type 1 Helicopter)

• $75/night (Airship Mooring)

Based Aircraft Parking

• $350/month (Jet)

Massey would go on to learn the ropes of the cowboy life at Costerisan Farms and eventually made it to Cal Poly where he met his future wife, Lillian (Lil) Varian. He would later gain experience at other ranching and ranch-related jobs before getting married and settling on the V6 Ranch in Parkfield, where the couple started a cowherd leasing ground throughout the county and raised their two daughters, Sage and Sammy. In 2000 Massey had the opportunity to manage the Templeton Livestock Market with Randy Baxley and Chad Davis for 11 years and remained in the cattle industry thereafter.

Massey told us what agriculture means to him, “It means everything ... great community. San Luis [Obispo] Cattlemen is such a [great] organization and its been great ... It’s been a great ride.”

Cattlewoman of the Year Suze Evenson San Luis Obispo County

(Non-Aviation)

$1,500/event (per event)

CattleWomen have selected San Miguel rancher and community leader Suze Evenson as the 2023 Cattlewoman of the Year.

“I was so honored. To be able to be apart of the group of ladies that I am a part of, the cattlewomen, its amazing. It makes my world happy,” Evenson told Paso Robles Press of finding out about her award.

Born in Ojai, Evenson fondly remembers riding her horse to town with friends and the smell of sweet orange blossoms in the spring. But she was officially introduced to the agriculture industry after marrying her husband Dale in 1986. Together, the Evensons have two sons Ahrean (Aaron) and Casey, and four grandchildren, August, Aymie, Holt, and Callahan.

Evenson’s community service includes serving as board member and secretary for the Adelaida School House Historical Society, board member on the Pleasant Valley-Estrella Cemetery District, a docent at the Paso

utilized/per day

Robles Pioneer Museum, and as a member of the San Miguel Lions Club. She is a California Mid-State Fair “Friends of the Fair” member, having served as a volunteer for 20 years, helping out in the Livestock Office and Arena. The Evensons are members of SLO County Farm Bureau, the Range Improvement Association, and Independent Grape Growers of Paso Robles Area.

“We do have to eat and cattle are a big part [of that]and not only do we eat the meat we have a lot of things that are in cattle that are byproducts ... and the farming part is nice. It is good and bad years but we also always hang in for it,” said Evenson of her passion for agriculture. She has been actively involved in various leadership roles, including serving as president from 2018-20. Her extensive community service, dedication to agricultural education, and commitment to the beef industry have made her a cherished member of the organization.

Agriculturalist of the Year George Donati

San Luis Obispo County

Farm Bureau has selected local farmer and vineyard industry leader George Donati as the 2023 Agriculturalist of the Year. When hearing the news of his recognition, Donati said, “I told Brent [Burchett] they must have run out of nominees.”

With a 50-year career in agriculture, Donati’s family roots in SLO County agriculture run even deeper. His paternal great-grandparents emigrated from Switzerland to Cayucos in 1875, and the Donati family has been on the Central Coast ever since. After graduating in 1969 from St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria, Donati attended Cal Poly majoring in agricultural business management. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1974 and married his wife, Kristi, in 1975. Seventeen years later, Donati got the opportunity to return to the Central Coast as Vineyard Manager of Pacific Vineyard Company

from landing fees.

in 1996. He served in that role until 2019 when he became owner and general manager of the company, now called Pacific Coast Farming.

Donati has been married to his wife, Kristi, for 47 years. The Donatis have two children, son, Kory, 40, and daughter, Kayla, 36. Kory and his wife, Cheri, live in Clovis, California, with their two sons, Brody, 11, and Lucas, 9. Kayla and her husband Matthew Barnes live in Orcutt with their three children Ava, 11, Owen, 8, and Cody, 4.

To Donati, agriculture will always be important because “It’s the way of life and being here in San Luis Obispo County; I grew up in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County and its great. A lot of great people here. You get to know them and see them all the time, especially here at the fair.” Learn more about this year’s honorees at pasoroblespress. com/lifestyle/artsandculture/ california-mid-state-fair/2023agriculturalist-cattlewomancattleman-of-the-year-named/

• $250/land (Landings 155,001 lbs.

– 220,000 lbs.)

Terminal Building Use/Rental

$2/SF (Per square feet utilized per event)

Airfield Access Rental

CONCERTS CONTINUED FROM A1

Carnival rides were free, the smell of kettle corn and corn dogs filled the Paso Robles Event Center, and the Michelob ULTRA Concert Series presented by Visit SLO CAL kicked off with a special performer: Tim McGraw.

This was McGraw’s eighth time performing at the fair. His opener, Annie Bosko, is a California Native singer-songwriter who has written songs for music legends like Willie Nelson and performed on stage with some top names such as Adele and Darius Rucker.

McGraw took to the stage and started off with his top hit, “How Bad Do You Want It.” McGraw also shared some memories with the crowd about performing at the CMSF.

McGraw wasn’t much for talking and instead continued to play over 18 of his top hits, including “Truck Yeah,”

PIE CONTEST CONTINUED FROM A1

Airport Testing Site Usage

$100/month (20ft

Container Storage)

Airport Testing Site Usage

• $150/day (Reservation and Use of Site)

For anyone interested in utilizing the airport for events, there are now fees in place for that. Anyone from the public can utilize the airport space for rental and use for the following fees:

1. Rental of terminal building: $2/SF

“Where the Green Grass Grows,” “I Like It, I Love It,” and “Live Like You Were Dying.”

Contemporary Christian singer Lauren Daigle took the stage on Thursday, July 20. Lead singer of Switchfoot, Jon Forman, opened for her, singing hits like “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move,” which was a massive part of the soundtrack for the 2002 film, “A Walk to Remember.”

Daigle brought the house down with a worship-filled set geared toward the myriad of ages in the crowd. From her gospel-style backup singers to the brass section of her band, everything mixed perfectly with her vocals.

She took breaks between her hit songs like “Rescue” and “You Say” to share fun stories of her hometown in Louisiana and growing up.

The crowd loved her performance, and there was even a group of kids who were yell-

“And can I get drumroll for first place, please? In first place, winning $500, we have Mason Granstrom,” stated Tucker.

Visit Atascadero, who sponsored the event, also provided $850 in prizes

2. Non-aviation airfield access: $1500/ per event up to 8 hours

3. Testing site storage (20ft container): $100/month (for storage of testing equipment)

4. Testing site rental: $150/day

Two fees previously associated with landings will be discontinued including: maximum daily and maximum monthly charges for landing fees for aircraft less than 20,000 pounds. Instead, staff is proposing the addition of industry-common exemptions

ing, “Lauren Daigle, we want a bagel.”

The fair got funky on Saturday, July 22, when The B-52’s took the stage. The show was a production, starting with filmed visuals that catapulted into the band taking the stage. The Georgia new wave band was preceded by Lou Gramm, former lead singer of Foreigner, who blessed the crowd with some of the band’s hits, like “Hot Blooded” and “Juke Box Hero.”

The B-52’s had everyone on their feet dancing, and though they started out with a few songs that the crowd wasn’t as familiar with, as soon as they launched into their hits, there was no stopping them. From “Private Idaho” to “Love Shack,” everyone was having a great time. There was even an inflatable lobster being waved around, and once “Rock Lobster” hit, it was tossed around like it was a beach ball.

July 23 was this fair season’s

for the top three contestants in each division.

Once the top six pies were selected, the judging panels had the tough job of picking the top three winners in the adult division. Both third and second place, which went to Cathy Vierra and Jessica Pahl, were not in attendance.

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Staff also proposed changes related to fuel at the airport by discontinuing the fuel facilities development fee of $0.03 per gallon and increasing both the fuel flowage (AvGas) and fuel flowage (Jet Fuel) fees by $0.03 per gallon. This does not affect total fuel flowage fees is intended to streamline the fee process. Proceeds from fuel sales will be used to provide funding for anticipated fuel tank replacement costs.

It should be noted that for based

first sold-out show featuring none other than Luke Bryan. Opening for Bryan this year was upcoming artist Conner Smith.

“This is about to go down,” Tom Keffury screamed into the microphone while a drone flies over the crowd to capture the sold-out audience. This was Bryan’s second time performing at the CMSF, with his last show in 2018 also selling out. Keffury, who is the morning show host of local country radio station 98.1 KJUG, stated, “Every time we have a sold-out show here, we like to get evidence of it, so we’re going to take a picture and fly a drone over to capture all this.”

With the crowd in an uproar, the widely anticipated concert of the season gets underway as the arena goes black and the guitars start. A familiar riff fills the ears of the crowd when all of the sudden, the music builds, and then we hear Bryan sing “Kick The Dust Up,” kicking

First place and the $500 prize went to Stefanee Maurice of Atascadero.

“It was an apple pie with a crumble topping filled with lots of cinnamon and love,” Maurice said in her acceptance speech.

This was Maurice’s first time entering the competition, and her goal was to place somewhere in the top three,

aircraft, federal government, Angel Flight, Life Flight, air ambulance, and touch-and-go operations are exempt from fees. All new rates and modifications will go into effect on Sept. 1.

The next Paso Robles City Council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. There are also two events coming up for the city, including the Teen Center Ribbon Cutting on Aug. 19 at 10 a.m. and the Teen Center Grand Opening on Aug. 21 at 2 p.m.

the show off with one of his most popular songs to date, to which the crowd went absolutely wild. Bryan proceeded to sing over 25 of his most popular hits, including a few new songs, as his show lasted until about 10:30 p.m.

Though the show on Monday, July 24, got off to a late start, rapper T.I. got everyone on their feet after a set by the DJ on stage. Performing some of his hits like “Live Your Life” and “Whatever You Like.”

This was the first time Nelly, who busted onto the rap scene in 2000 with his debut “Country Grammar,” graced the CMSF stage. He grabbed the audience and held them in the palm of his hand with fantastic vocals and the quick raps we’ve all come to know and love. He performed every hit in his 20-plus-year career, including “Just a Dream,” “Ride Wit Me,” “Air Force Ones,” and “Hot in Herre.” He even surprised the

so taking first place was everything to her.

“I think it was just a lot of practice,” Maurice says of her win. “I went through a lot of variations of crusts and baking times and approaches. Luckily my partner was willing to eat all of them.”

As a Cal Poly professor who teaches

Paso Robles Press

crowd with an appearance by his nephew J-Kwon who performed his 2004 hit “Tipsy.”

The last concert on the main grandstand took place on Friday, July 28, for the ever-favorite, An Evening of Music and Wine. This year’s entertainment was provided by Styx, who have filled our airwaves with hits since their debut album in 1972.

Seeing Styx live felt as exciting as a confrontation with your ex-boyfriend. A mix of nostalgia done well with a little dash of something new. As they hit the stage that night, the rock band played all of their hits like “Come Sail Away,” “Too Much Time On My Hands,” “Lady,” “Mr. Roboto,” and my personal favorite, “Renegade,” which they closed their encore with.

Paso Robles Press even had the pleasure of sitting next to a couple who have been seeing Styx live since 1977, and that vibe was felt throughout the arena.

sports psychology, Maurice said the science of making the perfect pie was so much fun for her. She worked on her award-winning pie for the last month and made close to a dozen pies in preparation for the contest.

“I’m just in disbelief. I’m so excited,” Maurice added.

Sold-out crowd cheers on cowboys and cowgirls at rodeo finals

Cody Mora named All-Around Cowboy at California Mid-State Fair Wrangler Country Rodeo Finals

BY CAMILLE DEVAUL & BECCA SLIGH

PASO ROBLES — Local cowboys and cowgirls took to the Chumash Grandstand Arena on Saturday, July 29, to compete in the California Mid-State Fair Wrangler Country Rodeo Finals. A sold-out crowd filled the stands to watch as contestants competed in over seven events, including barrel racing, double mugging, and ladies’ breakaway, among others.

This year, Cody Mora was named the 2023 All-Around Cowboy after placing in the open draw team penning, sorting/open draw, ranch rope and brand, and mixed ribbon roping.

“The finals themselves were, in my opinion, spectacular,” CMSF Board President Krista Sabin said of Saturday’s competition. “The flag drop is always impressive. I feel like it’s a night that is full of so much pride and patriotism.”

Sunday was also full of action at the arena, with another Country Rodeo Finals during the day and the Monster Truck Madness show as the grand finale.

After the Sunday Country Rodeo, more winning titles were given, including:

• All-Around Award: Cody Mora

• Women’s All-Around: Josie Pereira

• Top Hand Award: Danny Leslie

Dummy Roping Winner: Ava Twisselman

Additional event winners from Saturday’s finals include:

• Team Penning: Janalee Johnson, Misty Taraglia, and Quinn

Tannehill

• Barrels: Kathryn Varian

• Ladies Breakaway Roping: Becca Mora

• Ranch Roping and Branding: Franky Martinez, Danny

Leslie, Colter Negrianti, Francisco Cruz

• Mixed Ribbon Roping: Colter Negrianti, Brittany Kelly

• Double Mugging: Tristan Schmidt, Edgar Machado

• Match Team Roping: Dugan Kelly, Danny Leslie

For a full list of results, visit, midstatefair.com/fair/results.php

Saturday’s rodeo kicked off with the beloved parachute flag drop and featured acts such as the renowned Tomas Garcilazo, who has been a featured act at the National Finals Rodeo held in Las Vegas for the past two decades. Other voices of the night included PBR announcer Luke Kaufman, who provided the commentary, while PBR entertainer Brinson James kept the audience upbeat and cheering throughout the evening. James also did a fun competition for the crowd when he gave a Yeti water bottle signed by all

SCHOLARSHIPS

the bull-riding contestants to one lucky fan who showed the most enthusiasm throughout the night.

Sabin explains that by working with Flying U Rodeo to produce the CMSF Rodeo Finals, more opportunities have been given for top-notch entertainment. Founded by legendary Cotton Rosser over 60 years ago, Flying U Rodeo has been producing some of the industry’s most treasured rodeos.

Along with the talented local hands, Sabin said, “They put on a heck of a show.”

Over the last few years, some internal changes have been made within the Horse Show Office at the CMSF, which has seemed to bring more contestants back to the rodeo after a few hard years with implications from the COVID pandemic.

“There were a lot of improvements made to our country rodeo internally, and I think that those changes and improvements have again drawn those contestants to enter the rodeo,” Sabin explains.

Preliminary rodeo events held throughout the week narrowed down some of the best contestants, including Brittany Kelly, who told PRP/ATN why she loves competing: “I love the horses. That’s my passion.” That evening Kelly competed in the Mixed Ribbon Roping event and placed first along with Colter Negranti.

Sunday’s Country Rodeo at CMSF proved to have the same success, with families competing with each other in the family calf branding. On Friday, the Junior Gymkanna (contestants 18 and under) had an impressive 96 entries — back to the pre-COVID era of entry numbers.

Fortunately, the heatwave did not stop fans from coming to the rodeo finals on Saturday, where breakaway roping was added — an event gaining popularity in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit. Adding to the excitement was bull and bronc riding.

Overall, Sabin said, “It was a spectacular fair ... the entire vibe felt great, the energy was great, the grounds were immaculate. They were beautiful. Our maintenance staff are second to none.”

Atascadero Elks award $6,000 in college scholarships

Since 1987, the Atascadero Elks Lodge has made over $850,000 in donations to community programs

ATASCADERO — On July 27, the Atascadero Elks Lodge #2733 celebrated the academic achievements of local high school graduates by awarding six $1,000 scholarships to students from Atascadero High School and Templeton High School. The Elks Scholarship program aims to support and empower young individuals as they embark on their college journeys.

Ronnie Maxwell, the exalted ruler of the Atascadero Elks Lodge, expressed the organiza-

tion’s dedication to helping local graduates succeed and thrive in their higher education pursuits. Recognizing the immense potential of the youth, Maxwell emphasized that they represent the future leaders who will shape society in the years to come.

Since its establishment in 1987, the Atascadero Elks Lodge has made significant contributions to various community programs, totaling over $850,000 in charitable donations. These programs encompass a wide range of areas, such as youth activities, local sports, assistance for handicapped and needy children, patriotic initiatives, and veterans’ support. Additionally, the Elks actively engage in drug awareness programs at local schools and generously distribute dictionaries to third-graders in the area.

The Atascadero Elks Lodge operates with a

Hambly Farms bids farewell to lavender U-pick season while unveiling new lavender oil

Lavender went from bud to break in record time brought on by the high temperatures

SAN MIGUEL — As we say goodbye to the 2023 lavender U-Pick season at Hambly Farms, closing Aug. 7, we say hello to its estate grown 2023 Essential Oil, Lavender Water, and celebrate its brand-new product, Calming Lavender Oil.

While at the beginning of this year’s season it was anticipated the U-Pick Experience may linger on into late summer, though Ma Nature made other plans. Lavender went from bud to break in record time brought on by the high temperatures we’ve been experiencing here on the Central Coast. Only two weeks remain to partake in the Hambly Farms Lavender U-Pick Experience featuring lavender of multiple varieties, from culinary to craft.

Whether you are an experienced U-picker, or a first timer, as a Hambly Farms guest, you may select a one-hour morning or sunset farmer lead U-pick session, allowing plenty of time to hit the trail for more agritourism activities found throughout San Luis Obispo County.

With this year’s lavender harvest season reaching its finale comes the release of the 2023 Hambly Farms essential oil, lavender water, and their newest product, Calming Lavender Oil. New to the Hambly Farms lineup of estate-grown lavender products is a custom blend of estate-grown lavender varieties distilled into a lightly scented essence applied with an easy-to-use roller vessel. Its tranquil aroma is calming to the senses and soothing to the soul.

Like many locally grown products, each year brings its own set of characteristics derived from water, weather, and gifts from mother

nature. This year’s harvest is proving to be a bumper crop of quality flowers that will become the primary ingredient for Hambly Farms estate-grown products as well as for those who use the locally grown flowers in their own products such as Life Elements, Leo Leo Gelato, and Sierra Honey Farm.

Hambly Farms is a multi-generational family-owned U-pick lavender farm nestled in Paso Robles Wine Country amidst the Central Coast of California. Hambly Farms nurtures the land and gathers their harvest to create estate-made lavender products in a place where family, new friends, and old will come together to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Learn more about Hambly Lavender Farms, their products and confirm available dates for the final days of their U-pick harvest experience at hamblyfarms.com

mission to uphold the principles of charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity. The organization firmly believes in promoting the welfare and happiness of its members while fostering a spirit of American patriotism.

Committed to cultivating good fellowship, the Elks aim to perpetuate themselves as a fraternal organization that serves the community through benevolent programs.

The scholarship recipients, Ashlin Imhoff from Atascadero High School, and five other deserving graduates, were honored during a dinner event held at the Elks Lodge. As these young scholars prepare to step into the next chapter of their lives, the generous financial support from the Atascadero Elks Lodge will undoubtedly alleviate some of the burdens associated with pursuing higher education.

Lodi zoo delegation visits Charles Paddock Zoo, meets with city

Micke Grove Zoo leaders were particularly interested in Atascadero zoo’s record of successful animal care

ATASCADERO — An expert delegation from the Micke Grove Zoo in Lodi met with the City of Atascadero leadership and toured the Charles Paddock Zoo on July 12. This team of stakeholders met with Mayor Heather Moreno, now-retired City Manager Rachelle Rickard, and Zoo Director Alan Baker to understand what has made the Charles Paddock Zoo successful with its limited resources.

Micke Grove Zoo leaders were particularly interested in the Charles Paddock Zoo’s record of successful animal care and continued accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA accreditation ensures animal well-being and protects endangered species like the Paddock facility’s Malayan tiger, Menderu. Both zoos are municipally owned and similar in size, factors that offer challenges in regard to funding operations and capital improvements.

Manuel Mollinedo of the Lodi delegation has worked in zoo administration for decades in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu.

“We are impressed with the Charles Paddock Zoo and what they have accomplished with limited resources,” said Mollinedo. “It is encouraging what can be done in a small, city-owned zoo with grit and resourcefulness. They work miracles.”

Mollinedo is among a number of individuals with wide-reaching experience who is interested in gaining AZA accreditation for Micke Grove Zoo.

Atascadero leadership welcomed the Lodi delegation and was honored to demonstrate the success of the Charles Paddock Zoo, which continually garners industry recognition despite the challenges of sustained funding for operations and capital improvements.

“We were happy to share our experience with this delegation,” said Moreno. “They care deeply about the value that the zoo adds to their community and what it means to local families.”

Baker encouraged the Lodi delegation to continue pursuing accreditation.

“We look forward to assisting Lodi’s Micke Grove Zoo as they seek accreditation with the AZA,” he said. “Getting accredited and staying accredited is no small feat, and we know firsthand how hard it is with limited resources.”

The delegation’s visit underscores the enormous benefits the zoo creates for residents and visitors in Atascadero and the entire Central Coast, according to the zoo. The Charles Paddock Zoo is the only AZA accredited zoo within 100 square miles of Atascadero, one of only 238 accredited zoos out of thousands in the United States, and is a leader in conservation, with programs like Saving Animals From Extinction (S.A.F.E.) and ensuring that no animal in the zoo is taken from the wild.

A horse continues bucking after getting rid of its rider during the California MidState Fair Wrangler Country Rodeo Finals July 29 in Paso Robles.

Photo by Becca Sligh

Paso Robles Press/Atascadero News Contributor

Enrollment opens with expanded programming at Paso Robles Youth Arts Center

Atascadero Greyhound Foundation

AWARENESS - PREVENTION - INTERVENTION - EDUCATION

CONTACT INFO

P.O. Box 3120, Atascadero, CA 93423 (805)712-6356 atascaderogreyhound foundation.org

Session 4 of its arts education program, commencing on Aug. 7 and running through Oct. 6

STAFF REPORT

PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Youth Arts Center (Youth Arts) announced the opening of enrollment for Session 4 of its arts education program, commencing on Aug. 7 and running through Oct. 6. Local youth aged 5 to 18 are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to explore the diverse world of arts through free after-school classes. With an array of offerings, including dance, art, music, theatre, and creative enrichment, Youth Arts aims to inspire and empower young minds of all skill levels.

The youth of Paso Robles will have a chance to delve into an extensive range of art forms, reflecting the rich diversity both within the community and the broader arts world. From Acting 1 & 2 to Voice & Movement for the Actor, Musical Theatre Dance to Art Journaling, Cooperative Storytelling to Fiber Arts, and even beginning graphic design, this session is set to be an unforgettable experience.

Among the highly anticipated new classes added to Session 4 are Acting 1 and 2, designed to nurture young talents in theatrical performance. Voice and Movement for the Actor will offer essential training for aspiring thespians, while Musical Theatre Dance will bring the magic of Broadway to Paso Robles. For those looking to express their creativity through

visual arts, Art Journaling and Fiber Arts classes will provide the perfect canvas for their imagination to flourish. The addition of beginning graphic design classes will open doors to the digital world of creativity.

In response to popular demand, the program is welcoming back the ever-popular classes such as AP Band, Urban Dance, and Hip Hop. Due to high interest, additional classes in Guitar and Culinary Arts have been scheduled. Notably, the talented student filmmakers enrolled in the Video Production class will once again showcase their work at the Estreno Youth Film Festival, thanks to the support of Must! Charities.

Founded in 1998 by artist and philanthropist Donna Berg, Youth Arts is celebrating its 25th anniversary of providing free visual and performing arts classes to children aged 5 to 18. Regardless of socioeconomic status, all children in Paso Robles and surrounding areas are welcomed with open arms, providing them with a creative outlet to cope with the pressures of life. Over the years, Youth Arts has touched the lives of more than 10,000 students, nurturing their voices, fostering confidence, promoting higher education, and steering them away from negative influences like gangs.

Thanks to generous donors who believe in the power of arts education, Youth Arts continues to thrive as a nonprofit organization. For those interested in enrolling their children in these enriching programs, more information can be found at pryoutharts.org/enrollment/ or by contacting (805) 238-5825.

CONTACT INFO

1000 Spring Street Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 237-3870 prcity.com

CONTACT INFO

1051 Las Tablas Rd. Templeton, CA 93465

(805) 238-4411

Monday - Thursday

9 am – 4 pm

Fridays by Appointment cscslo.org

About: The Atascadero Greyhound Foundation has been serving the Atascadero community for more than 20 years, gradually adding more events that serve its mission. We have grown, and continue to give because of the generous donors, sponsors and participants of our events. Our events are a benefit to the community in healthy activity — either athletically, musically, educationally, or in the fight against addiction.

Donations: Our support comes from generous donors and sponsors. To make a difference, visit: atascaderogreyhoundfoundation.org/donate.html

Friends of the Paso Robles Library

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Support the Library through a Friends of the Library membership, starting as low as $10/year. The Friends of the Library appreciates donations, which are either added to the Library’s collection or used to generate considerable funds toward the purchase of new books, library materials, programs, services, etc. Support the Library in a 100% volunteer-run retail environment. We are seeking volunteers to assist with Gift Shop sales, book donation sorting, and to provide book sale support.

Due to limited storage space and staff, we are only able to accept two boxes or two bags of materials per household per day.

Cash donations always welcome!

BOARD MEETINGS: Call 805-237-3870 for info

Cancer Support Community – California Central Coast

DONATION OPPORTUNITIES

All of our direct services are provided free of charge. Your donations make this possible. You can trust that you are making a difference for local families. We know you have many options when it comes to putting your charitable gifts to work! Our funds go towards the invaluable programs and services that help so many in our community facing cancer. Our online donations are processed securely through authorize.net. Your donations are 100% tax-deductible.

For more information or to discover how you can help, visit cscslo.org/DonationOptions

Redwings Horse Sanctuary

For information about making donations, adoptions, etc, visit redwingshorsesanctuary.com. For upcoming events, visit facebook.com/pg/redwingshorses/events

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

CONTACT INFO

6875 Union Road Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 237-3751 redwingshorse sanctuary.org

Redwings is always looking for volunteers to help us provide the highest standard of care for our horses and burros. You do not need to have any prior horse experience to volunteer at Redwings. If you would like to work with our horses, the first step is to take a Volunteer Training Class. This class covers sanctuary rules, basic safe horsemanship skills, and an introduction to some of the horses that you will be working with. After completion of the class you are welcome to come volunteer and help with the horses any time during our volunteer hours. Volunteer hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 8am to 3:30pm, and we are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Note: We do not allow volunteers to ride the horses at Redwings. There are other ways to get involved and volunteer at Redwings too. We have opportunities to help in our rose and memorial garden, volunteering in the office, helping with events and fundraising, and more. Please submit the form below to schedule a volunteer training or contact our office: info@redwingshorsesanctuary.org or (805) 237-3751.

TOURS Redwings offers guided tours to the public Tuesday through Saturday between 10am and 3pm. Tours are by appointment only. Please phone 805-2373751 for more information, or to make an appointment.

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DUCTED BY: AN INDIVIDUAL, HECTOR MAYORGA, 120 PACIFIC AVE, PASO ROBLES, ca 93446 If Corporation or LLC- CA State of Incorporation/Organization I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows is false is guilty of a crime.)

/S/ HECTOR MAYORGA, INDIVIDUAL

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo County on 06/22/2023

TRANSACTING BUSINESS DATE: 03/31/2007

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No 20231557 THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS/ARE DOING BUSINESS AS: BUMPER2BUMPER, 2605 THEATRE DR.,

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CERTIFICATION: I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. ELAINA CANO, County Clerk By ABAUTISTA, Deputy New Fictitious Business Name Statement, Expires 06/22/2028 PUB: 07/13, 07/20, 07/27, 08/03/2023 LEGAL CM 347

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No 20231334 THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS/ARE DOING BUSINESS AS: CENTRAL COAST BIKE RENTAL,

shall be submitted in a sealed envelope plainly marked with the project title, bidder’s name, and address.

The Contractor must possess a valid  CLASS A CONTRACTOR’S LICENSE at the time of award. This project is subject to the payment of Prevailing Wages, therefore the Contractor shall pay all wages and penalties as required by applicable law.  Per SB 854 (Stat. 2014, Chapter 28), no contractor or subcontractor may work or be listed on a bid proposal unless registered with the DIR.  Every bid must be accompanied by a certified check/cashier’s check or bidder’s bond for 10% of the bid amount, payable to the City of Atascadero. Bid packages may be downloaded for a fee of $22.00 on the City website, www.atascadero.org or at www. QuestCDN.com using project number eBid #8601912

Question may be directed to the City of Atascadero at (805) 470-3180 or AKing@atascadero.org

Run Dates: July 27, 2023 and August 03, 2023

the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo County on

I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office.

1. GEOGRAPHY: Which European city is home to the Prado Museum?

2. MOVIES: What is Forrest's hometown in the movie "Forrest Gump"?

3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the only vowel that isn't on the top row of letters on a keyboard?

4. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What breed of dog is the TV star Lassie?

5. CHEMISTRY: What is a common name for nitrous oxide?

6. MUSIC: Which musical instrument does the singer Lizzo play?

7. LITERATURE: What is a bildungsroman?

8. U.S. STATES: Which two states share the most borders with other states?

9. TELEVISION: What decade is represented in the TV sitcom "The Goldbergs"?

Novel that focuses on the moral and psychological growth of a protagonist from childhood to adult. 8. Tennessee and Missouri, with eight bordering states each. 9. The 1980s.

Flute.

Laughing gas.

Rough Collie.

Greenbow, Alabama.

Madrid, Spain.

10. FOOD & DRINK: In which century was coffee introduced to Europe? © 2023 King Features Synd., Inc. Answers

PERSPECTIVE

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

ATASCADERO GOSPEL CHAPEL

8205 Curbaril Ave. (corner of Curbaril & Atascadero Ave.): Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. Ted Mort, Pastor. (805) 466-0175. atascaderogospelchapel.org

Awakening Ways Center for Spiritual Living

A New Thought Spiritual Community. Living the Consciously Awakened Life. Rev. Elizabeth Rowley Hogue Sunday 10:00am at the Pavilion

9315 Pismo Way, Atascadero (805) 391-4465. awakeningways.org

GRACE CENTRAL COAST NORTH COUNTY CAMPUS

9325 El Bordo Avenue, Atascadero; Sunday Services at 9:30 and 11 a.m.; (805) 543-2358; gracecentralcoast.org; Helping people find and follow Jesus.

St. William’s Catholic Church

6410 Santa Lucia Road, Atascadero, CA (805) 466-0849 www. stwilliams.org Weekday Masses : 10:30 AM Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:30 PM Sunday Masses: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM Spanish

FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH

9925 Morro Road, Atascadero; "The Church on the Hill"; An independent church committed to the teaching of God's Word.; Praise and Prayer - 10 a.m.; Morning Worship - 11 a.m.; Evening Worship - 6 p.m.; Wednesday Prayer - 6:30 p.m.; Nursery care and children's classes provided.; Pastor Jorge Guerrero; (805) 461-9197.

GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

535 Creston Road., Paso Robles ; (805) 238-3549 ; Dr. Gary M. Barker, Pastor; Goal of church: To teach Believers to love God and people.; Sundays: 9 a.m. Sunday School; 10 a.m. Fellowship; 10:30 a.m. Service; 6 p.m. Eve Service; Wednesdays: 7 p.m. prayer meeting.

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH ELCA

A place of hope! Join us for in-person worship on Sundays at 9 A.M. Services are also streamed on our YouTube channel, Hope Lutheran Church Atascadero. We offer Sunday School for all ages after worship. Learn more at ourhopelutheran.net. 8005 San Gabriel Road, Atascadero. 805.461.0430. office@ourhopelutheran.org.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER-LCMS

4500 El Camino Real, Atascadero; 466-9350; Morning Bible class at 9 a.m. Sunday; Coffee and Sunday Worship with Holy Communion at 10 a.m. Sunday; Thursday morning Bible class 10 a.m. followed by refreshments and fellowship; Developmentally disabled Bible class 1st and 3rd Saturday mornings; redeemeratascadero.org; redeemeratascadero@gmail.com; Pastor Wayne Riddering.

PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC

We honor ancient scriptures, responding to God’s contemporary call to be just and kind.; Join us for Worship Sunday, 10 a.m.; Church School Sunday, 10:15 a.m.; Coffee Fellowship 11 a.m.; Men’s Bible Study, Wednesday, 8 a.m.; Women’s Bible Study, Friday, 10 a.m.; Youth Group; 1301 Oak St., Paso Robles; (805) 238-3321.

ST. ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH

820 Creston Road., Paso Robles; (805) 238-2218- Parish Office open Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; website: www.saintrosechurch.org; Mass times;Daily Mass- 12:00 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.; Tues. 7 p.m. Spanish; Saturday 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Spanish Vigil Mass; Sunday 8 a.m. & 10 a.m.; Spanish Mass at 12:30PM. Father Rudolfo Contreras.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

940 Creston Road, Paso Robles; has Sunday worship services at 9:30 a.m; For more information, call the church at (805) 238-3702. Ext. 206.

ATASCADERO FOURSQUARE CHURCH - FATHER’S HOUSE

2100 Ramona Road. Sunday service at 10am. Will & Lori Barrow, Pastors; (805) 466-3191; fathershouseafc.com

ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

513 Palma Ave., Atascadero; Sunday services: Holy Eucharist — 9 a.m., Taize — 8 p.m.; the Rev. W. Merritt Greenwood, interim director; the Rev. James Arnold, Deacon; the Rev. Jacqueline Sebro, Deacon; office (805) 466-0379, fax (805) 466-6399; website stlukesatascadero.org; email office@stlukesatascadero.org

THE REVIVAL CENTER

A division of Alpha Beth Ministries; 3850 Ramada Drive (corner of Ramada and Cow Meadow), Paso Robles; 805-434-5170; Pastor Gabe Abdelaziz; a charismatic non-denominational fellowship; Reaching People, Building Homes; Sundays 10am, Wednesday 7pm; alphabeth@tcsn.net, www.alphabeth.org; Instagram @the_revival_ center

barbie butz COLUMNIST

We all know someone out there who has talent and is just dying to perform for an audience. Please tell them that the Printery Foundation in Atascadero is presenting a talent show on Friday, Aug. 11, at the Printery Outdoor Stage located at 6351 Olmeda Avenue, Atascadero.

Among the judges will be Doriana Sanchez, an Emmy nominee and a two-time American Choreography nominated creative director and choreographer. She received a World Choreography Award for concert Choreography for the Cher D2K Tour. Some of her TV credits include the Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, “Dancing with the Stars,” Macy’s 4th of July Spectacular, and many more.

Doriana is a proud Ambassador for the Global Dance Initiative and is a producer

Talent, bunco, and cold salad

for idance4acure, benefiting pediatric cancer and brain tumor research. She continues to teach master classes, lectures, and coaches dance and healing worldwide. She was honored to receive the Courage Award from UCLA Neurosurgery.

Her father, Frank Sanchez, a retired professional dancer, is a pillar in the Atascadero community and donated many hours to the popular fundraiser Dancing With Our Stars. So, if you, or someone you know, is interested in entering to show us your talent, email Brenda May at dbmjmay@aol.com for more information. Cash prizes will be awarded with $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place.

The doors for the show will open at 5:30 p.m., and the show will start at 6:30 p.m. General admission is $10. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Funds raised from the talent show will aid in the restoration of the historic Printery building.

Mark your calendars now for Quota of Atascadero’s next evening of Bunco, on

Thursday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m., at Kiwanis Hall 7848 Pismo Avenue, Atascadero. “Halloween Booo-unco” is a fundraiser for the many philanthropic projects Quota members are involved in.

Play Bunco for cash prizes. Food and beverages are included in the ticket. Since it is so close to Halloween, costumes are encouraged but not mandatory. Tickets are $20 per person. To make a reservation, contact Sylvia at (805) 237-7326

With our warm days, cool salads are definitely in order, so here are some recipes that should fill the bill as a main dish for lunch or as a side salad for dinner.

Chicken Orange &Rice Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water

• 1 chicken bouillon cube

Grated zest of 1/2 lemon

1cup uncooked regular white rice

1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken

• 1 2.25-ounce can sliced ripe (black) olives, drained

• 1/4 cup sliced green onions

2 oranges, peeled and cut

From a cow’s perspective

lee pitts COLUMNIST

I’ll never understand the bovine brain. For example, cattle are absolutely afraid of a man on foot. At first sight of a human, they will bound through the grass like a scared jackrabbit. And yet, put the same person on a horse, and cattle are ready to make you part of their family. Why is a man on foot seen as dangerous to a cow, but a man on horseback is less of a threat than a heel fly?

I guess you just have to think like a cow. Here is how a cow and her steer calf probably viewed a recent episode involving my wife and me.

“Uh, oh,” said the steer to his momma, “here comes a cowboy, and he’s swinging a long loop.”

“Don’t be stupid, my sterile steer. Even if he does manage to rope one of us, what’s he gonna tie to? And look closely

and you’ll see that he’s already hurting from those new cowboy boots he’s wearing. Wanna really have some fun, child? Let’s run him over the rocks and through the brush a few times and it won’t take a half hour before he’s hurting from some nasty blisters. Oh, watch, I really like this part. Now he’s getting in the pick-up with his wife and they are going to try to herd us with the truck.”

“Shouldn’t we run, momma?” asked the trembling steer.

“Oh, this never works. You can’t herd cattle with a truck. Too big a turning radius. I remember last year, your halfbrother and I ran them in circles so much that the truck blew a transmission, and the cowboy and his wife yelled and cussed at each other so much they didn’t speak afterward for three months. Rumor has it down at the water trough that episode darned near ended in divorce. I’ll tell you what,” said the cow to her calf, “Let’s both run for the hidden gully as fast as we can.”

“But won’t the cowboy and his wife bounce up and hit

their heads on the roof of the truck when they crash through the gully?”

“Now you are thinking, my child.”

“But what if they trap us?”

“Are you kidding? Have you taken a good look at these fences lately? Son, you can walk through them like they’re cobwebs. Now let’s go.”

“Boy, that was fun,” said the puffing steer after leading the truck around in circles. “But I think we are done for now. The cowboy is going to fetch his horse.”

“Don’t be silly, son. On a horse, he’s no threat at all.”

“But momma, he’s swinging another rope and getting kinda too close for comfort,” said the steer preparing to run.

“No big deal. I’ve seen this guy try to rope before. He couldn’t rope a fence post from three feet away. The rope is just for looks. I’ll tell you what, let’s really have some fun. When the cowboy gets fairly close and thinks he has got you in his sights, you run one way, and I’ll run the other. Here they come, ready, let’s go.”

“Momma, I don’t think I’ve

into half-cartwheel slices

Butter lettuce leaves (bowls) for serving Fresh Orange Dressing

Ingredients:

• 2 oranges, juiced

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 1 teaspoon celery salt

• 1 teaspoon dried tarragon leaves, crushed 1/4 teaspoon paprika

Directions:

In a saucepan, bring water to a boil with the bouillon cube and lemon zest. Add rice and return to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed. Let cool slightly.

Prepare the dressing in a jar with a lid. Combine all dressing ingredients and shake well.

In a bowl, combine the rice, chicken, olives, green onions and orange slices. Toss gently with the dressing; cover and chill. To serve, arrange on butter leaf lettuce leaves on individual plates. Makes 4 servings.

Stay Cool. Cheers!

Barbie Butz is an independent columnist for The Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press; you can email her at bbutz1@outlook.com

ever had this much fun in my life,” said the steer after running the cowboy’s horse ragged for an hour. “But I’ve never heard such cussing in all my life. Maybe we should let the cowboy and his horse rest. The horse is shaking like a willow, and the cowboy looks like he might have a heart attack.”

“No such luck, my child.”

“Why didn’t the cowboy just get his horse in the first place, momma?”

“Because lazy cowboys always think it’s too much trouble to go and catch a horse, saddle him, and then ride out here just to doctor a cow or her calf. To gather cattle, son, you have to think like a cow, and for most cowboys, that means they really have to put their thinking caps on. This has been a good lesson for you, son. You have just discovered the most undeveloped territory in the world ... the space underneath a drugstore cowboy’s hat.”

Lee Pitts is an independent columnist for The Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press; you can email them at leepitts@ leepittsbooks.com.

Do you want to be right or happy?

of affinity, isolation, disempowerment, inauthenticity, and so on.

Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy? Asking yourself this one simple question can save you time and energy that can be used to create what you deeply desire for yourself and your life.

Some of us were raised with the need always to be right, or maybe you know someone who is always right, or at least they think they are. Getting caught up in the need to be right has one payoff: you get to be right. The cost is very high if your single goal is to be right — loss

The need to be right usually occurs unconsciously and dictates how you move through the world. Once you become aware of this habit, which you likely picked up from your family, community, or other societal structure, it will no longer run you or your life.

With this new awareness, you now know what you didn’t know, and you can consciously choose between being right or being happy — being right results in temporary happiness. True happiness comes from the deepest place within you as the result of your being satisfied with the finished kingdom through which you walk.

Living your life from an authentic, empowering, connected, and loving context is a much stronger foundation to move through the world with.

It takes practice. Transformation occurs as you slowly begin to loosen your mental grip on the need to be right. You’ll start to notice the areas in your life where you’re putting too much of your precious time, energy, and effort into making yourself right.

Without the need to be right, you activate freedom. This freedom is the fertile ground for your mental and creative energy to imagine and breed greater possibilities in your life rather than the mediocre satisfaction of being right.

No longer are you a hamster running on the wheel of “I need to be right,” wasting your one precious life. You are now free to talk about your dreams, ideas, and vision. What do you love about your life as it is today? What would you like to experience in your life? Where have you been, and where are you headed?

The artist, musician, speaker, writer, philanthropist, or you name it, which is within you, and has been waiting to come bursting forth into existence through and as you now has an opportunity to do so. Doesn’t this idea spark joy and uplift you? I believe it’s time to “Marie Kondo” your need to be right. Time to be like Elsa from Frozen, singing, “Let it Go!” Time to release this energetic, mental usurper that no longer serves your highest and best good.

Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy? Choose happiness and be amazed at the transformation you experience for yourself and your life. And so it is.

Rev. Elizabeth Rowley Hogue

rev. elizabeth rowley hogue COLUMNIST

California Mid-State Fair in Photos

AUGUST

Calendar of Events

AUGUST 3, 10, 17 & 24

CONCERTS IN THE PARK CITY PARK, SPRING AND 12TH STREETS, PASO ROBLES

6-8pm Paso Robles Concerts in the Park is a family friendly, free community event in which proceeds from concession sales and donations collected at the concerts benefit the REC Foundation (Recreation Enhances Community), a local non profit organization that helps provide youth recreation scholarships to members of our community. August 3 - Back Pages Band, August 10 - Incendo, August 17 - Dirty Cello and August 24 - Joy Bonner Band.

AUGUST 1, 8, 15

COMMUNITY BAND IN THE PARK ATASCADERO LAKE PARK BANDSTAND

7-9pm Community band plays every Tuesday in the park. As always, our concerts are all free to attend. Donations are always gratefully accepted. More information can be found at atascaderoband.org.

AUGUST 3 & EVERY FIRST THURSDAY

THURSDAY CONCERT

J DUSI WINES, 1401 CA-46, PASO ROBLES 4-7pm

Enjoy live music, food and wine.

AUGUST 5, 12, & 26

SUMMER MOVIES IN THE PARK

COLONY PARK, ATASCADERO

8-10pm

Bring a blanket, chair and snacks to enjoy movies free to the public, beginning around 8:15pm. August 5 - Hotel

Transylvania: Transformania (PG), August 12 - Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (PG) and August 26 - Super Mario Bros. (PG).

AUGUST 5 & EVERY FIRST SATURDAY POCKET GALLERY ON PINE

849 13TH STREET, PASO ROBLES 4-7pm

The new pop-up art studio hosts the recurring event where you can meet the artists showcasing their printmaking styles.

AUGUST 5, 12 & 26

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

ATASCADERO LAKE PARK, ATASCADERO

6:30-8:30pm

concert series. August 5 will have music from Unfinished with the Beatles, Painted Red Music on August 12 and The Cinders Blues Band on August 26.

AUGUST 12

WINEMAKERS COOKOFF

PASO ROBLES EVENT CENTER

6-9pm

Enjoy choice wine and excellent food prepared by some of the best winemakers in the Paso Robles Appellation. Tickle your tastebuds, listen to live music, and have a great time while benefiting local high-school seniors. Come join us for this unique, must-attend event.

AUGUST 12

5TH ANNUAL CENTRAL COAST

CIDER FESTIVAL PAVILION ON THE LAKE AND ATASCADERO LAKE PARK

5–8 pm

The 5th Annual Central Coast Cider Festival offers a great opportunity to taste a variety of ciders, meet the cider makers, and enjoy the community of Atascadero.

AUGUST 18

30TH ANNUAL HOT EL

CAMINO CRUISE NITE

DOWNTOWN ATASCADERO

6:30–8:30 pm

Hot El Camino Cruise Nite is one of the largest and most popular annual events in San Luis Obispo County and one of the City’s signature events. On Friday evening, over 400 local cruisers from the 1950s and 1960s come downtown from across California.

AUGUST 19

MID-STATE CRUISERS CAR

SHOW

ATASCADERO LAKE PARK

10–3 pm

Check out the interior and exterior of a wide variety of antique cars. These cars will then cruise to downtown at 5 pm and park in a VIP area next to City Hall to kick off the 7th Annual Dancing in the Streets.

AUGUST 19

7TH ANNUAL DANCING IN THE STREETS

evening with performances from local bands scattered throughout downtown. Enjoy your favorite bands, community entertainment, food trucks, beer, wine/ cider, and distillery vendors who will be ready to celebrate a fun evening of music and dancing.

AUGUST 19

TRADING DAY & KIDS’ FLEA

MARKET

DOWNTOWN CITY PARK, PASO ROBLES 9 am-3 pm

Shop for vintage, new, and used items for sale and kids’ flea market. For information, visit pasoroblesdowntown. org.

AUGUST 22

BONUS ENSAMBLE CONCERT

ATASCADERO LAKE PARK BANDSTAND

7-9pm

chair to sit on and enjoy

summer at “Saturdays in the Park”

VIP early entry begins at 4 pm with special pours from producers and short educational talks from cider and industry professionals.

DOWNTOWN ATASCADERO

5 pm

Dancing in the Streets will jump-start the

we will be presenting a bonus summer concert made up of several different ensembles made up of musicians from the Atascadero Community Band. There will be a saxophone quartet, a flute choir, and more. As always, our concerts are all free to attend. Donations are always gratefully accepted. More information can be found at atascaderoband.org.