Paso Robles Press • July 6, 2023

SAN LUIS OBISPO

COUNTY — California

Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and the County of San Luis Obispo could be entering court as a former student has filed a civil lawsuit against the university and several administrators — including the SLO County Health Officer — for violations of his federal and state rights.

Elijah Behringer is challenging the university and county against the legality of their COVID mandates that resulted in his suspension as a student there in January 2022.

Behringer, an electrical engineering student from San Bernardino County, attended Cal Poly for two years until the school denied him access to classes and university facili-

North County celebrates Fourth with parades, music

Templeton and Paso Robles come alive with community spirit on America’s 247th Independence Day

By CAMILLE DEVAUL, and BECCA SLIGH

NORTH COUNTY — Small-town America shines and comes alive every year on July 4, and North County was no different this last Tuesday on America’s

247th Independence Day.

Bright and early, Templeton started off the celebrations with its annual free pancake breakfast at the Templeton Fire Station. For over 40 years, the city has hosted its Templeton Fourth of July parade. It was started by the Kiwanis Club of

Templeton, who then turned it over to the Templeton Rotary Club. This year’s parade theme was “United We Soar.” Wendy Dow of the Templeton Rotary Club told Paso Robles Press on parade day, “I am most excited to see the Templeton Rotary float. We’ll

Meet The Miss California Mid-State Fair Pageant contestants

The pageant features eight local contestants this year

By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@pasoroblespress.com

NORTH COUNTY —

The 53rd Miss California Mid-State Fair Pageant will open the California Mid-State Fair on Wednesday, July 19. The pageant is a favorite with fair-goers and will take place on the Frontier Stage at 6 p.m.

All eight contestants from all over San Luis Obispo County will participate in four categories, an interview regarding what they would change or add to the fair, the talent portion, evening gown, and the final question of the night.

Like years prior, the crowned queen will receive a $1,000 scholarship, first runner-up will receive a $500 scholarship, and second runner-up will receive a $250 scholarship. Additionally, Miss Congeniality and the highest points in all categories receive $100.

Paso Robles Press asked this

year’s eight contestants some questions. Here are their answers:

Shirley Horzen, 17 School graduated from/ headed to next: I will be a senior at Mission College Prep in the fall.

Talent in the pageant: My talent in the pageant is CPR and how to use it.

Favorite thing to do in SLO County: My favorite thing to do in North County would be

spending time with my family.

Theme song for your life: “Mean” by Taylor Swift.

Julia Sanchez, 17 School graduated from/ headed to next: Attending Paso Robles High School as a senior in the fall.

Talent in the pageant: A bilingual poem.

Favorite thing to do in SLO County: going to Pismo Beach and going to the farmers market on Thursday in downtown SLO.

Theme song for your life: “Hasta La Raiz” by Natalia Lafourcade.

Marilyn Dahle, 18 School graduated from/ headed to next: I just graduated from Paso Robles High School, and in the fall, I will be attending Cuesta College to study law while taking my general education classes.

Talent in the pageant: I will be performing a cheer/dance routine.

Favorite thing to do in SLO County: My favorite thing to do in the North County would be going to Negranti’s Creamery with my friends or riding my dirt bike out in the country.

Theme song for your life: My theme song to describe my life would be “Story of My Life” by One Direction. I will always be a 1D fan.

Kali Stone, 20 School graduated from/ headed to next: I graduated from Fullerton High School, and recently I moved up here to start the next chapter of my life. In the fall, I’ll be starting

be at the end of a parade. We are the people that have been working hard for months to pull this parade together, partnering with the Paso in Templeton Chamber of Commerce, who is going to be handling all the activities at the park today. We are expecting the best turnout

CAMILLE DEVAUL

NORTH COUNTY

— Recently, Paso Robles Press reported on a proposed power transmission line that sparked controversy among North County residents. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is seeking approval to construct a new 70 kV transmission line

ever. We have six announcing booths this year, which is the most we’ve ever had. We also have a bus shuttle service, so the parking should be the most under control it’s ever been. We’ve got a lot of good things going on.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE A7

and substation, and residents were speaking out against the original proposed route for the lines.

This week, Paso Robles Press received an update and statement from PG&E on the proposed project. The original story, “Transmission Line Proposal: What is it and why are residents fighting against it?” published on June 22, can be found here pasoroblespress.com/ news/transmission-line-proposal-what-is-it-and-why-areresidents-fighting-against-it/

Last week, during a power outage on our deadline day, we uploaded the previous week's inside pages (A3, A4, A5, and A6) to go to press with the newspaper. Due to the rush, the printer did not check the folios

before printing. We are grateful for the support and understanding of our community, and we thank you for the emails and calls alerting us to the issue. Your feedback is invaluable, and we are committed to providing accurate and timely news. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused.

(From left) Marilyn Dahle, Shirley Horzen, Kali Stone, Julia Sanchez, Natalie Boyd, Jenna Wilshusen, Evelyn Velasquez, and Kerrigan Jensen will compete for the title of Miss California Mid-State Fair 2023.

Photo by Kellee Jean Photography

Top left: The Paso Robles Fourth of July Celebration ended the day of festivities at Barney Schwartz Park with a spectacle of fireworks. (Bottom right) Youth softball team Rebels

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Farmers see impacts of wet winter in state wheat yields

Less wheat planted for current crop year — 355,000 acres, down from 385,000 acres in 2022

By CHING LEE California Farm Bureau Federation

CALIFORNIA — Ample

rain this year has allowed some California farmers to produce more wheat, even though statewide acreage dropped, with some fields lost to flooding and the deluge last fall and winter. Farmers say prospects for the crop still appear positive even as prices have moderated from their all-time high in the spring of 2022 when the Russia-Ukraine war disrupted grain exports.

Wheat remains largely a rotational crop for California farmers, who take advantage of autumn rains to germinate fields. Hard hit by drought in recent years, they planted less wheat for the current crop year — some 355,000 acres, down from 385,000 acres in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

But they intend to send more of the crop to mills — from 115,000 acres compared to 105,000 acres in 2022 — with the rest harvested primarily for livestock feed.

Claudia Carter, executive director of the California Wheat Commission, said she thinks final harvested acreage of the grain will fall between 100,000 to 120,000. She said she has heard several thousand acres have been lost due to flooding, specifically in the Corcoran area and some in the resurrected Tulare Lake bottom.

Some of the crop losses will be offset by higher yields on other farms, especially those in the Central Valley that grow dryland wheat in which no irrigation is used. Roughly 30,000plus acres of wheat throughout the state are grown using just rainfall, she estimated.

“This year was an excep-

tional year for them,” Carter said, referring to dryland growers. “They’re really happy. We have some farmers (who) made comments like this is one of the best years they have had in a long time for dryland wheat.”

Steven Parsons, who grows dryland wheat in Tulare and Kern counties, said his yields so far appear to be above average, whereas lack of rain in recent years failed to make much of a crop, if at all. In following his normal rotation, he had not planned on planting more wheat last fall.

“I wish we would’ve put more in, but the rain started and stopped us,” he said, noting he was able to plant 90 percent of what he had planned. Because his fields are in the hills, with good drainage, he said he did not experience some of the flooding issues that some other farms did.

With harvest in the San Joaquin Valley still in the early stages, Parsons said he has not yet tested his crop but noted there “may be some quality issues of lower proteins in the grain.” He said the hot spell in May could have been a factor. Higher protein levels are desired by mills that produce wheat flour.

Because he farms on heavier soils, Sacramento County grower John Perry said too much water in his fields damaged his crop. He is still about a week away from harvest, but he said the damage is “going to show up in the yields.” He estimated yields on a third of his crop will be below average and two-thirds will be average to below average.

With plenty of rain this season, Perry said he did not need to irrigate, which saves him money, whereas he had to irrigate twice last year. But he said, “We would’ve much rather incurred the cost to irrigate versus having the excess moisture that damaged the plant.”

“Other than too much water, it’s been a pretty good growing

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season,” Perry added.

Carter said most of the wheat grown north of Stockton, such as in the Sacramento Valley, is marketed to mills to make flour. She said San Joaquin Valley growers, due to their proximity to dairies, tend to green chop their wheat earlier to make livestock feed. This allows them to doublecrop, as they can grow corn, for example, immediately after wheat harvest.

California farmers also planted less durum wheat this year — 20,000 acres compared to 35,000 in 2022, according to USDA. Most of the state’s durum production is in the Imperial Valley, where growers completed their harvest in May. Marketed as Desert Durum because it is grown under irrigation in the desert valleys of California and Arizona, the wheat commands a premium and is used to make semolina, the flour in pasta.

Carter said San Joaquin Valley growers used to grow more durum wheat, but there’s “not much incentive” anymore after Miller Milling in Fresno — their main market outlet for durum — stopped producing semolina when the nearby pasta plant shut down. Imperial Valley growers still sell to mills in Arizona that take durum or export it to markets such as

Cal Poly Cat Program urgently needs summer volunteers

Since 1992, nonprofit has provided shelter, medical treatments to countless homeless cats and kittens

STAFF REPORT

SAN LUIS OBISPO —

The Cal Poly Cat Program is in need of volunteers to keep operating at full speed through the summer.

The program is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) cat rescue and sanctuary run by students, employees, and community volunteers who care about the health and happiness of feral and domesticated cats. The program operates a Trap, Neuter, and Release program to responsibly maintain the local feral cat population as well as an adoption program that has placed more than 3,000 cats and kittens into caring homes.

During summer quarter, the majority of Cal Poly’s students leave the area to return to their places of permanent residence

or to take part in internships, international travel, or other activities outside the area. This leaves the Cal Poly Cat Program in need of volunteers.

“Our volunteers are the rock and the heart of our organization, and we treasure each and every one for their dedication to our feline friends,” said Dana K. Humphreys, a community volunteer with the cat program.

This year, the need is particularly stark, with so few volunteers signing up that the program currently lacks the people power to maintain the health and wellbeing of its cats.

“Since 1992, we have provided shelter, medical treatments, and unconditional love to countless homeless cats and kittens; working diligently to find them new homes,” Humphreys said. “We are absolutely crushed at the thought of not being able to fully maintain our mission. The staff and our devoted volunteers are using every tool to

recruit new volunteers. We are desperately looking for community members to come to our aid.”

The Cal Poly Cat Program was started as a senior project to solve the problem of a rising cat population on campus. Feral cats were trapped as an attempt to decrease the cat population, yet it did not alleviate the problem. The solution was modeled on the Trap, Test, Vaccinate, Medicate, Alter, and Release (TTVMAR) technique, developed by the National Feral Cat Resource Center.

A second senior project resulted in an adoption program in which students domesticated feral cats and found good homes for them.

More information about the Cal Poly Cat Program is available at calpolycatprogram. org. And any members of the community, who are interested in volunteering, please contact their volunteer coordinators at volunteercpcp@gmail.com.

Italy, a key buyer.

With drought decimating fields in Kansas, farmers in the nation’s top wheat-producing state are expected to produce their smallest wheat crop in at least 60 years. Yolo County grower Larry Hunn said he’s surprised wheat prices aren’t higher, given the Kansas drought and added uncertainty of the war between Ukraine and Russia, two top- producing regions. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, wheat prices reached a record high of more than $12 a bushel. Current prices stand in the upper $7 range, which Hunn described

the higher cost of fertilizer and labor “puts you maybe in the same place that you were.”

“At the end of the day, you don’t net any more dollars, or if you do, they’re worth less because of inflation,” he added.

Hunn said he’s still about a week away from starting harvest. He described yields as below normal, noting that heavy rains flooded some of his fields, which had to be drained. Still, he said his crop “looks better than I anticipated.”

The Russia-Ukraine war has had other impacts on the wheat market. U.S. Wheat Associates reported at least one mill, in Tampa, Florida, has been

The decision is based on economics, the group said, noting that moving foreign wheat across the Atlantic is now less expensive than railing it across the U.S. That’s because the war displaced a lot of commodities from Ukraine, flooding the Eastern European market and pushing prices down.

California remains the nation’s largest milling state by capacity, and as such, mills here import some 2.5 million metric tons of wheat annually from other states to satisfy their production, Carter said. They mix those sources of wheat with California-grown wheat, with some mills using no more than 10 percent from the Golden State in their blends, she noted.

Aside from durum, Carter said California wheat exports have been virtually “nonexistent.” Foreign markets moved away from buying California wheat years ago when supplies started to decline as farmers grew less wheat, she said. Nationally, the higher value of the dollar has hurt exports of U.S. wheat, which becomes more expensive against other currencies.

Despite these challenges, Carter said California farmers continue to grow wheat in their rotation because it gives them

Hard Red Spring Wheat growing in Shasta County is shown here in June. Photo by Camille DeVaul

PASO ROBLES

Discount pre-sale daily admission tickets for California Mid-State Fair now available

The California Mid-State Fair announced that discounted pre-sale Daily Admission tickets are now on sale at local Farm Supply Company stores across San Luis Obispo County. These tickets offer the lowest prices available for Daily Admission.

Farm Supply locations in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, and Santa Maria are participating in the pre-sale.

The discounted prices for Farm Supply Daily Admission tickets are as follows:

• Adult (Ages 13-61): $11.50 (regular price is $15)

Senior (Ages 62+): $10.50 (regular price is $12)

Youth (Ages 6-12): $8.50 (regular price is $9)

• Children (Ages 5 and under): Free

The 2023 California Mid-State Fair will take place from July 19 to July 30 and will embrace the theme of “Shake, Rattle & Roll!” Stay connected with the fair through their social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

City of Paso Robles prioritizes

homelessness in strategic plan

The City Council of Paso Robles has recently adopted Housing and Homelessness as one of its key priorities during the current and upcoming budget cycles. With a focus on enhancing emergency sheltering services and implementing collaborative strategies, the city aims to reduce the number of unsheltered individuals in the community. Progress updates regarding this goal will be provided on an ongoing basis.

To further engage the community, the City of Paso Robles has organized public workshops to develop a comprehensive fiveyear strategic plan to address homelessness. These sessions will provide an opportunity for residents to share their valu-

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able perspectives, suggestions, and insights, which will play a crucial role in shaping the goals and supporting objectives of the plan.

The public workshops are scheduled as follows:

• Date: Friday, July 7 Time: 6 p.m. Location: City Council chamber at 1000 Spring Street

• Date: Saturday, July 8 Time: 9 p.m. Location: City Council chamber at 1000 Spring Street

For those unable to attend the workshops, an online form is available to submit comments and contribute to the Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness. The city encourages community members to participate and appreciates their engagement in this important initiative.

Shots reported in San Miguel; investigation concludes without findings

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of shots heard in the 500 block of 12th Street on Friday, June 30, in San Miguel. Additional resources were deployed as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety.

A witness at the scene reported seeing an individual possibly armed with a firearm. However, after a thorough investigation, detectives were unable to confirm the validity of this information. Following an extensive search and investigation, no victims or suspects were located in connection with the reported shots. The Sheriff’s Office has not released any further details regarding the incident at this time.

Motorcylist killed in collision on State Route 46

On Saturday, July 1, at about 5 p.m., the Paso Robles Police Department received a report of a traffic collision with possible injuries at State Route 46 and Golden Hill Road. Officers arrived on scene and located two involved vehicles, a white minivan and a black motorcycle. The rider of the motorcycle

was found deceased at the scene. Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be a factor to this collision. The names of the involved parties are being withheld at this time.

This is an ongoing investigation, and the Paso Robles Police Department is requesting anyone with any information to call the PRPD at (805) 237-6464 or persons wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers’ 24-hour hotline at (805) 549- STOP or by texting “SLOTIPS” plus your message” to CRIMES (274637).

ATASCADERO

Sōleffect to perform at Atascadero’s First Friday in Downtown area on Friday, July 7

The City of Atascadero announced the First Fridays event in Downtown Atascadero on Friday, July 7, starting at 6 p.m. This month’s event will feature the Sōleffect band, promising an evening of soulful and energetic music.

The Downtown stage for the event will be located at the intersection of West Mall and Palma Avenue, facing Entrada. In addition to the fantastic live music, attendees will have the opportunity to explore a variety of food trucks, including Mary’s Cuisine, Zen Dog, and Paradise Shaved Ice. Numerous shops, eateries, and drink establishments in the Downtown area will also be open, allowing visitors to support local businesses while enjoying the festivities.

This First Friday event is just the beginning, as the City of Atascadero has planned a series of upcoming events for the coming months.

Mark your calendar for a variety of upcoming First Friday events in the Downtown:

• July 7: Downtown Stage with Sōleffect Band

August 4: Downtown Stage with Soundhouse

September 1: Concert in Downtown at The Plaza with DeJaVu Band

• October 6: Fall Sip & Shop

plus Complimentary Tours of Historic City Hall & the Duo Tones

November 3: Concert Downtown at The Plaza on El Camino with Erin and the Earthquakes

December 1: Light up the Downtown plus Holiday Sip & Shop

The city extends special thanks to the presenting sponsors of the event, Barley & Boar Brewhouse, Cielo Ristorante & Rooftop Bar, and Street Side Ale House.

Admission to the First Friday events is free, and they typically begin between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

For more information about the First Friday promotion or other events and activities, please visit VisitAtascadero.com/events or contact the City of Atascadero at (805) 470-3360.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

District Attorney secures commitment of sexually violent predator

judge concluded that there was sufficient evidence to support the district attorney’s petition for Mendez’s civil commitment as a sexually violent predator.

Under California’s Sexually Violent Predator Law, a district attorney can seek continued detention of an individual beyond their parole period if they have been convicted of sexually violent offenses, diagnosed with a mental disorder, and pose a present danger to the community due to the likelihood of engaging in further acts of sexual violence if released. The purpose of the law is to protect the community through treatment and rehabilitation, rather than imposing additional punishment.

Mendez’s prior convictions include offenses committed in both San Diego County and San Luis Obispo County, involving lewd acts on children and forcible oral copulation. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Mendez sexually assaulted multiple children while working at a daycare facility and committed further offenses against both male and female victims.

Alfredo Arcilio Mendez

San Luis Obispo County

District Attorney Dan Dow announced on Thursday, June 22, that San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Timothy S. Covello has granted the petition for the commitment of Alfredo Arcilio Mendez, 62, as a sexually violent predator. Mendez, who has been convicted of multiple sexually violent crimes, will remain in the custody and care of the California Department of State Hospitals. The decision came after a fourday court trial during which Covello reviewed evidence and heard closing arguments. The

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Testimonies from survivors and evaluations by four psychologists confirmed Mendez’s diagnosed mental disorder of pedophilia, indicating a predisposition to commit sexually violent offenses against children. Two of the evaluating psychologists also concluded that Mendez poses a substantial and well-founded danger to others and is likely to engage in predatory sexually violent behavior if released.

Following the ruling, Covello issued an order committing Mendez to Coalinga State Hospital as a sexually violent predator. The California Department of State Hospitals will review his progress bi-annually.

Deputy District Attorney Kimberly R. Dittrich, from the District Attorney’s Office Sexual Violence Unit, prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Grover Beach Police Department and the San

Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation. District Attorney Dan Dow expressed his commitment to protecting the community from dangerous sexual predators like Mendez.

Cannabis Business Tax rate to be reduced to 6 percent of gross receipts

During its Tuesday, June 20, meeting, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted to reduce the Cannabis Business Tax (CBT) rate to 6 percent, a reduction that will apply to transactions that occur on or after July 1.

Back in 2018, San Luis Obispo County voters approved the CBT, a measure applicable to cannabis businesses operating within the county’s unincorporated areas. This voter-approved measure stipulates an automatic 2 percent increase in the cannabis tax rate each July 1, up to a maximum of 10 percent, unless the Board of Supervisors votes to hold or reduce the tax rate.

Starting from July 1, all cannabis business transactions taking place in the county’s unincorporated areas will be taxed at the revised rate of 6 percent. CBT reporting and remittance for the July period will be due on or before Aug. 31. It is important to note that CBT returns for the June 2023 period (due on or before July 31) will still be assessed at the current 8 percent CBT rate.

Should you have any questions, please contact the ACTTC Public Service team at ttc@co.slo. ca.us. You can find more information about the CBT on the Tax Collector’s CBT Information page at slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax-Collector-Public-/ Tax-Collector/Services/Cannabis-Business-Tax.aspx

Please note: Cannabis businesses operating within the seven incorporated cities in the county should consult with their respective city authorities regarding tax obligations.

Dorothy Dolores

Arrington Ruiz

A gift from God in January of 1930, Dorothy was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Samuel and Katherine Arrington.

“Dot” spent her childhood close to her daddy, who instilled her love of family, her

lifelong love of baseball, sports, hotdogs with onions, Gingerale, and pride in being a Detroit Tiger. She loved to ice skate and was a talented tap dancer. She moved to Buellton, California, in 1941, where her mother and her aunt operated the Greyhound Bus Depot. She would laugh when she talked about how she, her sister Ann and her cousin Danny ran the candy counter. They were just kids, not only selling candy but booking bus trips, mostly for the soldiers from Camp Cook to all over the United States.

Dot attended San Luis High School, where she was once again involved with sports, proud to be a SLO Tiger. She graduated in 1947 and continued onto Jr. college.

Richard Oliver Milner, age 84, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2023, with his daughter, Dawn, and good friend, Tracey, at his bedside. Rich was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, on August 19, 1938. His parents were Oliver Harvey Milner and Goldie Myrtle (Gillam) Milner. He had two siblings, Meryl

She married Richard Ruiz in 1949, and together they raised four daughters.

The couple purchased a chicken ranch in Templeton, California, from Phillip and Ethel Crum in 1961. The family learned quickly that they had bought themselves a job. With three thousand chickens and four little girls, Dot cared for them all!

Sparkling, Smiling Angel, she made each person feel taller, happier, and valuable. For these things, we are grateful. She was an example of joy. Her children continue to be the same positive influence.

Dot was such a display of what it looks like to personify strength as a woman throughout her lifetime. She was a

and Glenn. When he was young, the family moved to the Glendale/Burbank area in California. He attended Burbank Elementary School and Glendale High School. At 18, he joined the Marines and was stationed at Camp Pendleton. Upon his honorable discharge, he settled in Atascadero. In the early days, he met and married

cheerleader of life and the heart of her family.

Known as “Our Mama” by her grandchildren, she was the heart of her family, and like the heart, she permeated love, joy, strength, generosity, acceptance, and the importance of family to each of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Family was everything to Mama, and she fully embraced her role as the center of her family. Like a heartbeat, she fed each member with her consistent love, nurturing, dedication, joy, warmth, and protection. As our mother hen, Mama made everyone around her feel at home, safe and secure under her gentle,

Judy Chaplin. They had two children, Ronald and Dawn. Rich became a mason, working for Bob’s Bricklaying Service and Murphy’s Masonry. He learned about the lumber business working for DeCou Lumber and Hayward Lumber, where he became a yard foreman. For a time, they lived in Iowa and Montana and then returned

protective wings. We are forever grateful to our Mama. The heart of our hearts will beat on through generations because of the lasting and unbreakable connections Mama built with each and every member of her family.

There was no greater honor than her daughters being able to walk their Mom to Heaven’s Door on June 29, 2023.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Ruiz, and her beloved daughter Kathi Ruiz Agueda.

Dorothy is survived by three of her daughters and their families:

Terri Franklin

Joni Dusi

Toni Clevenger

The Agueda family

to California. Rich and Judy divorced, after which he led a bachelor’s life and worked in the lumber business. He was hard-working, honest, truthful and patriotic. Down the line, he married Debbie Reynolds. After quite a few happy years, they parted ways. Rich enjoyed hunting, fishing, the great outdoors, and watching sports on TV.

Stepson Richard Ruiz

Sister Ann Sobiesyczyk

“I am truly Blessed”

~Dorothy Ruiz~

A vigil service for Dorothy will be held on Monday, July 10, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 pm, at Chapel of the Roses, 3450 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA. The praying of the Rosary will begin at 6:00 pm.

A funeral mass will follow the next day, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 10:00 am at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 820 Creston Road, Paso Robles.

Following the Mass, a graveside service will be held at Templeton District Cemetery, 100 Templeton Cemetery Road, Paso Robles. A reception celebrating her life will follow.

He retired from Hayward Lumber. Rich was predeceased by his parents and survived by his children, Ronald and Dawn, his siblings, and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Tracey Heady and Hospice for the loving care they gave to Rich in his final time. A memorial will be held at

DOROTHY RUIZ 1930-2023

GERALD A. PIPHO

1942–2023

Askilled carpenter and craftsman, Gerald “Jerry” Arnold Pipho,

passed away on Monday, May 22, 2023, at the age of 81, surrounded by his wife and children.

Jerry had a passion for music in high school and went to Valley Community College in North Hollywood for two years, furthering his study of music. He could play any instrument! He then went on to use his creativity to do elaborate window displays for JC Penney’s in North Hollywood, then transferred to San Francisco, and eventually was transferred to Santa Maria, California, where he and his

has worked in several hospitals and radiology offices in the county.

As a radiology/mammogram technician, she found her calling in helping those Cancer patients in need. She spent much of her off time volunteering for local Cancer Society events.

wife, Rita, started their family. He then became a carpenter using his craftsman skillset for unique builds and continued doing that until he retired in 2004. His woodworking expertise extended to building his own boat in his garage, work benches, and furniture. In 1979 he and the family moved to Atascadero, where he built a beautiful home. Once his kids graduated high school, he and his wife moved to Santa Margarita for over 20 years. In 2014 they moved to Carson City, Nevada.

Jerry enjoyed barbequing and

In Loving Memory

1954 - 2023

Born: February 11, 1954, @ Corona Naval Hospital, CA.

Passed: June 6, 2023, with her loving family by her side.

Denise graduated from Atascadero High, Class of 1972, and later attended The University of Utah. After receiving her B.S. in Radiologic Technology, she came home to pursue her career.

Over the last 40 years, Denise

Her other off-time passion was knitting, working in Cambria’s knit shop, and using her talent to knit caps for local Cancer patients.

Denise is survived by her parents, Daniel C. Phillips & Ramona Phillips, Brother Daniel L. Phillips, Sister-in-Law Susan Phillips, and nephew, Daniel J. Phillips

Graveside service will be held on July 3, 2023 @ 10:00AM at the Atascadero Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to her favorite charity: the American Cancer Society

MARIE F. TOMASINI

1937 - 2023

On May 24, 2023, Marie F. Tomasini went to be with the Lord at 85 years young. Marie, also known by her loved ones as “Auntie” and “Sis,” was born in San Luis Obispo and raised in Santa Margarita, CA.

Marie was the daughter of Tildo and Marie Tomasini. She attended San Luis Obispo schools until 1946 when she

entertaining friends. He was often the listener rather than the talker, which is why he is loved by many. He met the love of his life, Rita, in 1960, and in 1963 they were married. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in July.

Jerry is survived by his wife Rita, and their three children and their families: Michele Burke and husband Michael Burke; Mark Pipho and his wife Suzanne Pipho, and David Pipho and his wife Judy Pipho; grandchildren Kyle Pipho,

transferred to Atascadero Unified School District.

She and her brother Jim grew up in Park Hill, where they terrorized the local population with all their mischievous shenanigans.

Marie was a scholar and was the female athlete of the year when she graduated in 1955 from Atascadero High School. After high school Marie worked for the Pacific Telephone Company in San Francisco. She then attended Cal Poly, where she received a teaching credential and later a Master of Arts in Education. She taught 6th grade at Santa Rosa School in Atascadero. She was an avid golfer, and a member of Park Hill Community church and the Rinconada church, where she led worship on the piano.

Tegan Piatti, Hope Piatti, Jake Pipho, Ava Pipho, and Jared Pipho; and one great-grandchild, Stella Martin.

A celebration of life, including barbeque, just like Jerry did, will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at the home of Michael and Michele Burke, 9045 Via Tortuga in Atascadero. This will be a time to remember Jerry and celebrate what would have been his and Rita’s 60th wedding anniversary. Please call Michele at (804) 382-3017 for RSVP.

Marie’s greatest love was her cats. A big part of her heart was devoted to caring for animals, both tamed and wild. She is survived by her brother Jim (Deanna) of Cottonwood, CA; sister-inlaw Marlene and nieces Laura and Julie Wuest; nephews Jeff and Ben (Sandy).

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Frank Wuest. Her family is very thankful for her gracious neighbors and the professional staff at French Hospital, as she could occasionally be a little “snarky.”

A memorial was held in June with family and close friends. Donations can be made to your favorite animal shelter. Marie will be greatly missed by those who loved her.

DEATHS

KENNETH EARING, 76, of Oceano, passed away June 22, 2023.

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

PHIL PERRAULT, 49, of Grover Beach, passed away June 14, 2023.

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

JOY GROGG, 69, of Grover Beach, passed away June 16, 2023.

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

GARY KIRCHER age 78 a resident of Paso Robles passed away on 06/20/2023

In the care of Blue Sky Cremation and Burial Service

PHILLIP MOFFAT, age 77 a resident of Morro Bay passed away on 06/22/2023

In the care of Blue Sky Cremation and Burial Service

ANITA GOETZ, age 96 a resident of San Luis Obispo passed away on 06/27/2023

In the care of Blue Sky Cremation and Burial Service

CRAIG STONE, age 68 a resident of Morro Bay passed away on 06/24/2023

In the care of Blue Sky Cremation and Burial Service

L. JUNE SMITH, 91, of Arroyo Grande, passed away June 28, 2023.

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

1950-2023

Donald Ray Holloway passed away peacefully in his Paso Robles home on June 22nd, 2023. Don was born to William and Dovie Holloway on September 24th, 1950, in Dexter, Missouri. In 1952, they came to settle in the small town of Templeton, California.

Don graduated from Templeton High School in 1969. Growing up, Don enjoyed playing fast-pitch softball and cruising in his red 1964 GTO. On August 24th,

1972, he married the love of his life, Cheryl Jean Rogers and the two went on to have four children together. Don was generous, selfless, kind, and loyal. He would have given the shirt off his back to help the people he loved. He drove semi trucks most of his life to provide for his family and worked constantly so that his children would never go without. Before Don’s health issues worsened, he enjoyed fishing, golfing, hunting, and going for drives to look for deer.

Donald is survived by their wife of 50 years, Cheryl Holloway; children Crista Sonniksen, Dawn Orlando (husband Tonno), Erica Yeager (husband Mike), and Son-In-Law, Kenny Sonniksen. Don and Cheryl lost their son, Jeffrey Holloway, in November of 2022. He also leaves behind grandchildren, Shelbi Swank (husband Austin), Kaylee Sonniksen,

Lindsey Olinde (husband Parker), Carleigh Yeager, Presley Escalante, Cooper Yeager, Brooklyn Holloway-Escalante, and great-grandchildren, Saylor Sonniksen-Flaherty, Axel Swank and Kennedy Swank. Don is also survived by siblings Charles Holloway (wife Carol), Tom Holloway (wife Elaine), and late brother Jim Holloway. He also leaves behind a special cousin and best friend, Leon Holloway.

Donald’s passing has left a large hole in this family. Whenever you would walk into the Holloway household, you would be greeted by Don sitting in his Lazy Boy chair.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Donald at Templeton Park on July 2nd, 2023, at 11 am. All are welcome. The Holloway family would like to thank the community for their kind words and support during this tumultuous time.

KAREN DUSI 1950 - 2023

Karen was born in Ukiah, CA on Dec 19, 1950. She moved to the Paso Robles area at the age of 1 when her father was transferred to the Paso Robles Airport FAA Service Station.

Karen grew up in and attended school in Paso Robles. Upon graduation, she attended Cal Poly, where she received a degree in Home Economics and a K-12 teaching credential. While at Cal Poly, she met a fellow student Alan Dusi and they were married in 1972. In 1975, they moved to the San

Diego area, where Alan was employed. Karen worked at home until her children (Alisa and Kevin) were in elementary school.

Then she began a 32-year teaching career (kindergarten and 2nd Grade). Karen was a fan of soccer, having coached both of her kids, been a player herself, and continued to follow women’s soccer. In addition, she enjoyed spending time with family, gardening, reading, and traveling. Karen retired from teaching in 2014 and traveled to Hawaii and Europe. She also spent time in the Templeton/ Paso Robles area when visiting the Dusi family home. Karen passed away on June 25, 2023.

Karen is survived by her husband of 51 years, Alan Dusi; children, Alisa Dusi and Kevin Dusi; and grandchildren, Anthony Van’t Hof and Aidan Ashwell. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to your favorite charity in Karen’s name.

KATHLEEN RACHAEL MICHIE

95, of Grover Beach passed away on June 28th 2023.

Services are in the care of Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel of Grover Beach.

FRANK PENNER, 88, of Arroyo Grande, passed away June 27, 2023.

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

HonorLovedYourOnes

Share your loved one’s story with the community they cherished so that they may be remembered by all. Submit your obituaries to: Email: office@13starsmedia.com

1948-2023

John Phillip Anderson, age 75, passed away on June 25, 2023, at Twin Cities Hospital in Templeton, California, after a threeyear struggle with cancer. He died the same way he had lived his whole life–peaceful, content, with faith in God, and coming up with lists of things that still needed to be done.

John was born on May 7, 1948, in Bakersfield, California, to Marian and Marty Anderson. He spent his childhood playing tennis, playing the clarinet and saxophone, doing chores, ballroom dancing, and building contraptions with his brothers. In high school, he got the

crowds cheering as the school mascot, Danny Driller. John attended UC Davis, where he met his first wife, Kathleen. He then earned his doctorate in Dentistry at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, OH, before joining the Navy, where he served as an officer and the ship’s dentist for three years. After the service, John studied Orthodontics at the University of California San Francisco and graduated in 1979. Soon after, he started an orthodontic practice in Atascadero, California.

Serving nearly every teenager in town, his patients were at the mercy of his Orthodontics chair, unable to escape his endless upbeat chatting as he checked and tightened their braces. He and Kathleen raised three children in Atascadero. John was active in his children’s activities and was always on top of current community events and local happenings.

Inspired by his French roots and a trip to Paris, John started making hooch out of his garage with other amateur wine-maker friends in the late 1990s. His “hobby”

quickly grew, and soon he was planning his own vineyard. In 1996 he began dating Laural, whom he married in 1999. In the years that followed, they nurtured and developed quality grapes on his ideal plot of land. In 2007, John decided it would be a good idea to end his Orthodontics career (just as his grandchildren were reaching the age of needing braces) in exchange for fulltime back-breaking labor and low-margin earnings as the founder and owner of St. Hilaire Vineyard and Winery. John’s meticulous attention to winemaking produced quality red wines earning accolades in local and regional wine competitions, including Best of Show at the Mid-State Fair.

John enjoyed tending the vineyard and reaping the benefits of his very fruitful garden. Friends and family were always welcome to enjoy some wine while hearing a detailed tutorial on the intricate process of making wine, though any interest of his was fair game for him to share in detail. He loved a good meal and playing games around the

dinner table. When given a chance, he loved traveling with Laural and friends and experiencing different places, cultures, and cuisines. John adored people, loved to get involved with different groups, and welcomed opportunities to practice his amazing ability to learn and perfect skills. This included joining Wines and Steins, which helped him perfect his craft, getting hooked on fly fishing, and flying remote control planes. For John, there was no such thing as a stranger; he would offer a helping hand to anyone that needed it. He has been a member and Elder of Bethel Lutheran church for 45 years, serving in many capacities.

John was preceded in death by his parents and beloved brother, Robert. He is survived by his wife, Laural; his children, Josh Anderson, Mollie Watkinson, Peter Anderson, Heather Reuterskiold, and Crystal Jensen; his sisters, Bonnie Green and Mary Harbor and his brother Tracy Anderson; his grandchildren, Nicholas and Stephen Anderson, Liam

Murphy, Carina and Caitlyn Reuterskiold, Abraham, Lydia, and Caspian Watkinson and Gage Anderson; his brother-in-laws Wayne Green and Terry Harbor; son-in-laws Jack Watkinson and Dave Reuterskiold and daughter-in-law Gretchen Anderson and many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

A celebration of life will be held for John on July 9th, 2 PM @ Atascadero Lake Pavilion (9315 Pismo Ave. Atascadero, CA 93422)

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapel of the Roses in Atascadero.

Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ atascadero-ca/john-anderson-11347413.

Please make a donation in lieu of flowers to any of the following organizations:

Unicef

Hope Spring Community

• American Cancer Society

• Women’s Sports Foundation

• Bethel Lutheran Church of Templeton

RESERVOIR LEVELS SANTA MARGARITA LAKE (Salinas Reservoir): 99% capacity LOPEZ LAKE: 99.9% capacity LAKE NACIMIENTO: 89% capacity LAKE SAN ANTONIO: 69% capacity WHALE ROCK: 100% capacity

WEATHER

FRIDAY 75º | 50º

SATURDAY 77º | 51º

SUNDAY 80º | 53º

MONDAY 82º | 55º

TUESDAY 86º | 56º

WEDNESDAY 84º | 54º

DR. JOHN ANDERSON

DONALD HOLLOWAY

DENISE L. PHILLIPS

SCOTUS affirmative action ruling: Are we going backward or forward?

great strides have been made in sanctioning overt racism, we are moving in reverse on the systemic side of the issue.

has its gestation in the womb of misguided political ideology.

ized racism in America in plain sight was created and supported by so called “progressives” for what they call “affirmative action.”

I would decide that the last thing this world needed would be another lawyer and pursued a career in public policy that would last four decades. The Supreme Court is losing the faith and trust of the people, and for good reason. The recent decision on affirmative action is indicative of pure political malfeasance.

Being a child of the Great Society, I was faced with a career decision in college in the early 1970s and opted to devote my energies to public policy rather than law school.

I took an undergraduate course in constitutional law, which would find me studiously reading case law on key civil rights issues, and it inspired my career direction. I marveled at the foresight, dedication, and wisdom of recent Supreme Court decisions, particularly those in the Warren era. Therefore, it is disheartening and difficult to stomach the current clown show of jurisprudence that is leading a retreat to the broken systems that the Warren Court so assiduously attempted to fix over a half-century ago.

And if you think that racial inequities were of a bygone era, think again; it was not that long ago. In 1971 I was reprimanded for using a medical facility restroom in Statesboro, Georgia, as the startled nurse informed me that I had used the “colored restroom.” The following year I was part of a recreational/educational program at the local prison where convicts who would be found clearing the roadways as part of the notorious “chain gang” during the week would come out and play baseball with us on the weekend and then retreat to two separate dormitories — one black, one white. The package store in an adjacent county was split right down the middle with a gate that separated pool tables for blacks and whites. And while

Five years ago, I attended a function sponsored by the Thomas Mann Foundation at the Getty Museum and the opening address was delivered by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the president of Germany. His impassioned speech warned that America, a nation revered by many as the beacon of democratic virtues, was facing perilously divisive times around the concepts of diversity and reason. The outright politicization of our judicial system is currently on full display and is poisoning the roots of our democracy.

The most recent fissure emanates from the Supreme Court on the issue of banning affirmative action in admissions policies in institutions of higher learning, in this particular case admissions to the University of North Carolina and Harvard. Why Chief Justice Roberts insists that the nation’s military academies are exempt from such a ban reflects a measure of confusion that is another topic for another day, but the underlying decision clearly is a giant step backwards.

Diversity is a concept that is central to our democracy. Diversity is the lifeblood of this nation’s progress, and any actions that have the effect of reducing diversity sentences us to a prison of the past. Certainly this latest maneuver by the Supreme Court continues the dangerous pattern of retrenchment on key societal issues, i.e., reproductive rights, gay rights, and transgender issues. In essence we are witnessing a backwards-looking approach to the future that

According to Mildred Garcia, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, “Fifty years since the passage of civil rights legislation has not been nearly enough to address or correct more than 350 years of discriminatory practices intended to keep people of color away from higher education institutions or, starting in the 19th century, severely limit their prospects of increasing their educational attainment.”

DON SCHMITZ COMMENTARY From the Left From the Right

US News and World Report author Lauren Camera offers the following, “After California voters adopted Proposition 209 in 1996, which barred public colleges and universities from using affirmative action in admissions, Black enrollment at UCLA and UC Berkeley dropped from 7 percent to 3 percent, and roughly 10,000 Black and Latino students disappeared from the University of California system altogether … in Michigan, for example, the share of Black students enrolled at the University of Michigan dropped from about 7 percent in 2006 to just under 4 percent in 2021 — a period of time in which the share of Black collegeaged Michigan residents rose from 16 percent to 19 percent.”

Historian Douglas Brinkley has noted in a recent interview that he once asked Ronald Reagan whether he was trying to undermine the New Deal, and Reagan replied “ I don’t want to undo the New Deal, I voted for it four times, I want to undo the Great Society.” Future generations will look back on these times as if we had all lost our collective minds. We can truly make America great again by enforcing, not eviscerating, the Great Society.

Lance Simmens is an independent columnist for Atascadero News / Paso Robles Press, he alongside Don Schmitz write a bi-weekly column on national topics from the perspective of their political leanings. You can forward any comments you have to editor@13starsmedia.com.

The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) last week struck down unconstitutional race preferences for college applicants as a component of the admissions process. Rightfully so, the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment clearly affirms; “No State shall… deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Polling shows a firm majority of Americans support the ruling. In 1996, California voters passed Prop 209, outlawing preferential treatment in the areas of public employment and public education based on race or sex.

In 2020, tenacious folks on the left who can’t abide a meritocracy, tried to overturn that law with Prop 16. They vastly outspent those opposing them, but it was crushed by a larger margin than the passage of the original law, right here in very blue California. “Politically correct” discrimination is still discrimination, and it’s wrong. Many on the left, but certainly not all liberals or Democrats, are so deeply invested in their identity politics they can’t see the obvious truth.

Racial discrimination is abhorrent, and having good intentions behind it is the quintessential example of “the ends justify the means.”

Our country’s sordid history of institutionalized racism in employment and academia is thankfully relegated to the trash heap. It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to accomplish that, and how ironic that the last remanent of institutional-

Imagine you are a hard-working young person who hit the books K through 12 while your friends went out partying. Your parents sacrificed to save money to send you to your dream university, you have a high GPA, did great on the entrance exams, but you are told you are denied admission because of the color of your skin.

That is exactly what was happening at Harvard in the SCOTUS case. Harvard’s Asian student population had grown to 30 percent, but they are only 6.3 percent of the U.S. population. That just won’t do for those bureaucrats and admission boards who see the lines on the color bar, so for the “greater good” (as they see it) they were giving admission to less qualified applicants and turning away excellent candidates. Again, just because of their ethnicity.

UCLA, which has been barred from discriminating based on race for decades, is now 35 percent Asian. Good! May the best qualified earn their spot, it is just, fair, and results in the best people prospering from their hard work. That’s about as American as it gets. Tell me honestly, do you want the pilot flying your plane, or the doctor performing your surgery, to be there because of their race? There is such an inherent patronizing condescension in race preferences by the left. Biden campaign field organizer Erica Marsh stated, “No Black person will be able to succeed in a merit-based system.”

So vile, such racist poison, but she and her ilk feel good about it because they are “helping.”

Expect a strong reaction from leftists to this. Thomas Sowell stated, “When people get used to preferential treatment, equal treatment seems like discrimination.” Kamala Harris, who was overtly nominated for VP

Still Free, For Now

Four Hundred years ago, a group of religious dissenters began a journey in search of safe haven from a tyrant King of England who demanded they surrender their right of conscience and conform to the dictates of the Church of England. They refused and suffered imprisonment, torture, and sometimes death at his hands. They secretly fled to Holland and thrived there for a decade, only to have the English King threaten Holland with economic and military consequences if they continued to harbor the dissenters.

In 1620 the dissenters boarded a frail and leaky vessel for a five-month ordeal, storms, near shipwreck, false

starts, and arrival in America in December off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Over the next several months, during a harsh winter, half of them died. Before departing their ship for land, they formed the Mayflower Compact to govern themselves, and the Pilgrims, as we know them, settled into a wilderness, establishing self-government and the hope for a new freedom to practice their faith without interference from the King.

Over the next 169 years, the Pilgrims lived out their lives exercising freedom of conscience, principles established in the American Constitution in 1789. Over the next 234 years, the United States of America protected the right of freedom of conscience embodied in the Bill of Rights as our First Amendment, protecting freedom of speech, religion, and assembly while prohibiting the Congress from prohibiting the free exercise of these unalienable rights. (Rights granted by God, not man; we were born with these rights,

and no government has the right to abridge these rights).

For now, those rights enshrined in our constitution are safe, at least for a while longer. Last week the Supreme Court made several key decisions, the most important regarding a case of a graphic artist being harassed for years by the State of Colorado Human Rights Commission. The latter insisted the artist be compelled to create art that she personally found objectionable; the plaintiff was an LGBTQ activist-lawyer who wanted the artist to create a website celebrating aspects of the gay lifestyle.

The artist was a Christian and stated the request violated her deeply held Christian beliefs. She offered to sell the lawyer any other product but declined to create a custom-designed product advocating a lifestyle she found morally objectionable. Similar cases have cropped up over the years, a baker in Colorado and another in Oregon were harassed by local government civil rights agencies demanding

they violate their conscience and create customized products advocating or celebrating values they found morally objectionable. Both offered to sell other ready-made products available to anyone, but in each case the plaintiffs demanded that the bakers put aside any religious or moral objections and engage in “speech” (art is speech) for which they disagreed.

In essence, if you are truly free can the government compel you to violate your conscience? Each defendant took their case to the courts and lost in lower courts, won or lost on appeal until the Supreme Court took up the case. This week the High Court decided in favor of free speech, ruling 6-3 that the graphic artist (and bakers) did not have to violate their conscience and engage in speech they found objectionable. The justices made it clear that in no way was this decision permitting general discrimination, in other words, they can’t refuse service or products already available and this ruling applies only to custom requests.

because of her race and gender, stated, “the court has not fully understood the importance of equal opportunity.” Wow. SCOTUS affirmed color-blind equal opportunity, but their Orwellian worldview twists it all around. British Laureate Mike Rosen stated, “Conservatives believe in equality of opportunity. Liberals believe in equality of outcome.”

Not sure that my liberal friends espouse that, but as a conservative, as an American, I passionately believe in equal opportunity. I have been blessed in my career to work with many dynamic and brilliant Black and Hispanic people, and they excelled based upon their talents, period. This entire paradigm is so corrosive, the left constantly dividing us by race and gender. We needed to excise the cancerous bias that used to permeate our policies, and thank God we did, but now it’s time to move forward with a color-blind society in our colleges and workplace, or we will never “arrive.” No family should be denied their meritbased spot due to this racism.

In one of the greatest moments of American oratory, MLK delivered his 1963 “I have a dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” We carved a beautiful granite memorial to him close to where he delivered that speech. He inspired us to build a country true to our Constitution, true to that vision. We can’t do that by judging our children’s worth to attend college based upon the color of their skin.

Don Schmitz is an independent columnist for Atascadero News / Paso Robles Press, he alongside Lance Simmens write a bi-weekly column on national topics from the perspective of their political leanings. You can forward any comments you have to editor@13starsmedia.com.

(Nazis can’t demand that Jewish silk screeners create custom-designed T-shirts praising Hitler).

It’s unfortunate that the Left can’t abide anyone not conforming to every aspect of their ever-changing political messaging and continuously harassing people who simply wish to be left alone. Sadly, I’m not sure how this ruling will affect military personnel who are routinely compelled to participate in celebrations of the gay lifestyle, such as gay-pride parades and unit indoctrination on pronouns. Many military chaplains have been forced out of the service over the last decade under the Obama and Biden administrations for simply preaching the Christian Gospel in accordance with their contracts with the Department of Defense as they have done for generations.

There is no tolerance for standing upon principle in the current armed forces and thousands of young men and women are voting with their feet, abandoning successful military careers even as legacy parents and family members

advise prospective recruits to avoid service in today’s politically correct “woke” military. (Our family has served since the French and Indian War, and I can no longer advise anyone to serve under current conditions).

The war on the Bill of Rights is unending, such as the introduction of the “Equality Act” in Congress in June. The Act attacks the foundation of Free Speech and conscience, forcing individuals to express messages that violate their beliefs, destroying parental rights, stripping women of privacy rights in locker rooms, bathrooms, women’s shelters, and fair competition in athletics, encoding the right of men to compete in women’s sports, etc. The attacks on our liberties by the Left are endless and lead to tyranny. As Thomas Jefferson said, “When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.”

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

CONTINUED FROM A1

The Templeton Historical Society had a booth set out selling homemade cookies, cakes and bread to help raise funds for the museum and society.

Beth Walker from the Templeton Historical Society told us what she loves most about the towns Fourth of July traditions, “The hometown feel,

CAL POLY LAWSUIT

CONTINUED FROM A1

the kids, the parade, the celebration in the park and all the people loving America.”

The parade strolled through Main Street with ponies, horses, mariachi band, vintage cars and local youth groups in tow. Chad Stevens announced parade floats alongside Bobby Horn. Following the parade, the Joy Bonner Band played in the park. Pacific Harvest Catering was present for its first Fourth of July in the Park.

ties in January 2022, according to the filed complaint. He is represented by Behringer Law (a Carlsbad-based law firm), per the filed complaint.

According to the court records, the defendants included in the suit are:

• Cal Poly Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong

Cal Poly Assistant Vice-President for Campus Health & Wellbeing

Tina Hadaway-Mellis

• Cal Poly Lead Coordinator for COVID Help at Campus Health & Wellbeing Valla Hardy

Cal Poly Assistant Director of the Disability Resource Center Amy Gode

San Luis Obispo County, a political subdivision of the state that provides municipal services, including law enforcement and public health services.

• County Director of Public Health

Penny Borenstein

In filed documents provided in the complaint, Armstrong issued a Presidential Order to go into effect on Oct. 14, 2021. It ordered students to

FAIR CONTESTANTS

CONTINUED FROM A1

Cuesta College as well as work-

The project, known as the Estrella Substation and Paso Robles Reinforcement Project, aims to enhance power reliability for residents from Paso Robles to Santa Margarita. It includes upgrades to the existing Estrella Substation and the connection of various transmission lines, creating more reliability between the Templeton, San Miguel, and Paso Robles substations.

To voice their opposition, the community has formed an organization, “Citizens for a Safe Paso Robles,” with former State Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham working as a spokesman for the organization through his CM Public Affairs.

CM Public Affairs partner Nick Mirman, provided Paso Robles Press the following statement, “Citizens for a Safe Paso Robles is opposed to the original proposed route (the light blue route on the map). PG&E’s original proposal would have put

Jessica Litten with Pacific Harvest Catering told us during the day’s celebrations, “This has been absolutely amazing. It’s our first time here at the Fourth of July in the park, and it’s been awesome so far. We are excited to see all of the community … and we hope to do more community events.” Paso Robles returned with their Fourth of July Celebration at Barney Schwartz Park, bigger and better than ever.

adhere to COVID-19 requirements such as wearing a mask, undergoing COVID-19 vaccinations or testing — all of which Behringer refused.

In September 2021, Behringer skipped enrollment with the intentions to return in January 2022. However, court filings say that in December 2021, he received an email from Hadeway-Mellis and Hardy who “demanded that Elijah participate in an ongoing COVID-19 testing program to attend class or be banned due to non-compliance. Elijah refused to be injected with a COVID19 vaccine, wear a mask over his face, or submit to COVID-19 testing,” per court documents.

Behringer requested an exemption, which he says was denied a month later, and he was subsequently suspended from the university.

Paso Robles Press reached out to Cal Poly for a response to the complaint.

The university’s Assistant Vice President for Communications and Media Relations, Matt Lazier, acknowledged receipt of the complaint.

“The university is not commenting on the litigation at this time, given that the legal proceedings are ongoing and because FERPA and other

ing as a special needs paraeducator for Atascadero High School.

Talent in the pageant: For

90-foot-tall transmission lines across Highway 46 at Union Road (where the city already wants to build an overpass over the highway), over an emerging commercial corridor, and adjacent to residential property owners, including those staying at the Cava Robles RV Park.”

The organization has circulated a petition against the originally proposed route, sighting dangers of fire and causing economic damage. However, now PG&E has stated they will be abandoning the originally proposed line for the EIR-approved one.

“The route in question that opponents state runs directly through town was the route originally proposed by PG&E in the application it filed in January 2017,” PG&E Communications Representative Carina Corral told Paso Robles Press.

The original route proposed in 2017 would have run across Highway 46 and north of Golden Hill Road to connect to the proposed Estrella

The day began early on with music, food, trucks, and plenty of activities for a day of family fun.

“We were thrilled to welcome thousands of visitors to the Fourth of July Fun Zone at Barney Schwartz Park,” said Lynda Plescia, recreation services manager for the City of Paso Robles. “The Fun Zone was the place to be with lawn games, face painting, bounce houses, obstacle courses, and an

privacy laws strictly limit the information the university can share or discuss publicly related to specific students,” he said.

Behringer notes that students are entitled to a hearing from Cal Poly administration in accordance with the student handbook. The handbook — which can be viewed online at osrr. calpoly.edu/process — reiterates that students have the right to a hearing if they do not agree with “proposed sanctions.” However, he was denied a formal hearing and then denied access to attend class, violating due process under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Within the complaint’s conclusion section, the plaintiff wrote the following without citing any health measure efficacy studies or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.

In the court filing’s conclusion, the plaintiff says, “Threatening populations into wearing suffocating material and getting injected with laboratory concoctions doesn’t only fail to preserve the public welfare, it is catastrophic to the public welfare. Likewise, those people who assaulted Elijah’s freedom and terminated his

my talent, I’ll be teaching basic self-defense with enthusiastic audience participation. Favorite thing to do in The

Substation near Union Road — cutting through residential homes and businesses.

According to the final draft of the EIR report, the preferred route and substation location is “Alternative Combination #2 (which would include Estrella Substation, Alternative PLR-1A, Alternative BS-2, and Alternative BS-3).”

EIR’s explanation for the preferred combination is it provides the best advantages from an environmental standpoint: “Specifically, this combination would route the new 70 kV power line north of the City of Paso Robles through a more rural, agricultural area of San Luis Obispo County. Thus, it would reduce the significant aesthetic impacts of the Proposed Project’s 70 kV power line.”

Instead of crossing Highway 46, the Alternative PLR-1A route would avoid the Golden Hill Road area, Cava Robles RV Resort, San Antonio Winery, and residents at the Circle B Homeowners’ Asso-

imagination playground. Seeing so many happy faces celebrating in the park brought our recreation team so much joy.”

The event, which was finished off with a spectacle of fireworks, was sponsored with the help of Travel Paso and made possible with help from the honorary planning committee chair John Arnold. Music kicked off at 5:30 p.m. with the Stephen Styles Band, followed by headliners the Young Dubliners,

education — all while parroting hollow appeals to ‘science’ and ‘safety’ — have a lot to answer for.”

They continued with the regard to COVID protocols, “By extorting tens of thousands of students, staff, and faculty into undergoing invasive medical procedures in exchange for government funding, Cal Poly acted as an apparatus of organized crime (see paragraph 17 and footnote 5 on page 7, Exhibit 2 on page 32, and Exhibit 3 on page 40). The only legitimate purpose of government is to protect property ownership, including the sanctity of the body. Neither San Luis Obispo County nor Cal Poly had any legitimate interest in using medical devices to molest massive numbers of people — with no basis in any intelligible emergency.”

Behringer incurred $41,433.19 in costs for his degree before being suspended from Cal Poly. The relief section highlights these costs as damages requiring compensation. This raises concerns about the entire system of paid public education, as Behringer argues that the consequences of his suspension exceed those of certain criminal convictions.

SLO County: My favorite thing to do in North County is watch the sunset almost every night because it’s breathtakingly

ciation. While the route is longer by 6.5 miles, and would increase construction time, it is the preferred route for not only EIR but also for residents and the Citizen’s for a Safe Paso Robles organization.

“Our organization would join the City of Paso Robles and drop our opposition to the project if PG&E and the CPUC decide to adopt the green route, which goes north from the proposed Estrella Substation and then west along Wellsona Road,” said Mirman.

“This alternative route is rated by the EIR as the most environmentally-friendly route. It is the EIR’s top ranked alternative because it drastically decreases visual and audible impacts on residents and businesses, wouldn’t require the removal of heritage oak trees and would not pass through Golden Eagle nesting grounds.”

So what is next for the transmission lines? Now, residents and PG&E will play the waiting game until CPUC issues the Permit to Construct

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and Pepper Daniels with 98.1 KJUG radio station bringing his bright personality to the event as well.

Many members of the community came together to make the event happen including Gary Eberle, the Atascadero Moose Lodge, Superior Crane, and more.

Wherever you were this Independence Day, we hope it was full of freedom, fireworks, and fun.

For the “issue of relief,” the plaintiff is requesting:

1. A jury trial on all triable issues,

2. Judgment against Cal Poly, Jeffrey Armstrong, Tina Hadaway-Mellis, Valla Hardy, Amy Gode, San Luis Obispo County, and Penny Borenstein, on all counts pleaded in the List of Counts within this complaint,

3. Compensatory damages of at least $41,433.19

4. Threefold the compensatory damages in accordance with the civil remedies afforded to victims of terrorism under 18 U.S.C. §2333 as pleaded in this complaint under 18 U.S.C. §2331,

5. A proper punitive damages award to deter the type of misconduct outlined in this complaint,

6. Any applicable statutory damages or penalties,

7. Compensation for any fees and costs of suit, and

8. Any other relief found just and reasonable by this Court. This is a developing story. Paso Robles Press is following this story and will provide more information as it becomes available.

perfect every time. Theme song for your life: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by

(PTC). Corrall estimates this could be issued by June of 2024 but that is just a guesstimate.

In response to the environmental review process, Corrall provided Paso Robles Press with the following statement, “Over the course of the environmental review process, the CPUC evaluated several alternative routes. On March 30, 2023, the CPUC released its final environmental impact report that identified a route that runs from a site east of the City and north of the city as the environmentally preferred route. Please see the attached map for your reference. The green line is the environmentally preferred route identified by the CPUC that runs beyond the outskirts of the city. It will start at a new substation called Estrella near Union Road and run north, then west, to the existing transmission line near Wellsona, where it will then connect into the existing Paso Robles Substation. The section of existing transmission line is within the

The Rolling Stones. Meet the rest of the contestants in next week’s issue of Paso Robles Press.

city, and it connects the Paso Robles Substation to the San Miguel Substation.”

Corrall adds that because PG&E is a state regulated utility, it will have to follow the CPUC’s decision on the preferred route and abandon the originally proposed one.

“This project has been approximately 15 years in the making, and once the CPUC finalizes its decision and issues permits for the project, PG&E will get to work to improve reliability due to increased demand for our customers in the northern portion of San Luis Obispo County, including San Miguel, Templeton, and areas east of Paso Robles,” Corrall told Paso Robles Press/Atascadero News. You can find the entire EIR report here: ia.cpuc. ca.gov/environment/info/ horizonh2o/estrella/FEIR. html

This is a developing story that Paso Robles Press is following and will update as more information becomes available.

New demonstration garden opens in Paso Robles

for community education.

PASO ROBLES — UC Master Gardeners, whose mission is to extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to the residents of San Luis Obispo County, is now officially in Paso Robles, welcoming residents to visit their new demonstration garden at the Centennial Park. On Saturday, Aug. 12, the UC Master Gardeners of San Luis Obispo County will host an Open House from 8 to 11 a.m. at 600 Nickerson Drive in Paso Robles.

The garden project has been two years in the making, beginning in August 2020 when the initial conversations started with the City of Paso Robles and the University of California Regents for the UC Master Gardener Program of San Luis Obispo County to take responsibility for the 3,500-squarefoot garden space at the city’s Centennial Park.

“The City of Paso Robles is thrilled to partner with the Master Gardeners of SLO County to present a beautifully renewed Centennial Park Demonstration Garden for the benefit, enjoyment and education of our community,” said Community Services Director Angelica Fortin. “As we continue to develop this 3,500-square-foot garden

space together, we will focus on demonstrating water conservation, providing food to the hungry and inviting community interaction. We believe the garden will become a special place for community members to learn and grow together toward these common goals.”

After a year of planning and planting, the garden space is now ready for viewing and offers a learning landscape and teaching garden to the community at large. With a collection of planted plots that are designed as an educational tool for garden visitors, the UC Master Gardener volunteers have put together eight different garden plots to explore

nity service by actively volunteering and raising funds for multiple nonprofit organizations throughout the year.

Three students from the board recently lent their time and effort to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Cost

PASO ROBLES — Must!

Charities Youth Board members have showcased their dedication to commu -

Tom Maas Clubhouse in Paso Robles, where they engaged with staff and students in

a positive and impactful manner.

Impressed by the vital services provided to families through the Paso Club, the students recognized the need for additional art supplies and craft materials to enhance the creative activities offered to the children. As part of their philanthropic efforts, the

including: Trees; Grapes and Berries; Turf Alternatives; Kitchen Garden; Curb Appeal/Pollinator Garden; Four Seasons Bulb Garden; Compost; California Natives and Wildlife Habitat; and the Succulents/Fire Safety Plot. All plots are models for low-water use gardening.

UC Master Gardener volunteers will be stationed in the garden to discuss the eight different garden plots, which reflect the joint goals of the two organizations for this garden space: developing community green spaces, demonstrating water-wise gardening practices, donating food to local food banks, and providing opportunities

Must! Charities Youth Board selected Tom Maas Clubhouse as one of the nonprofits they wished to support.

The generosity and hard work of these young individuals culminated in a moment of celebration as they presented a substantial donation check to the Tom Maas Clubhouse. The staff and beneficiaries of the clubhouse were thrilled and deeply grateful for the contribution.

Must! Charities is renowned for its dedication to managing social giving and fostering lasting solutions to address critical community needs. The support provided by the

Soon, workshops will be scheduled at the garden, with topics such as home landscape design, pest identification, and management, pruning, what plants do and don’t grow well locally, as well as other topics, keeping in mind the special climate requirements of North County. Workshop topics at the new garden will also be selected based on survey results collected at the upcoming Open House in August. Input from the community on preferred format and scheduling is encouraged and appreciated.

Future plans for the garden will include monthly open garden days, where UC Master Gardeners will be in the Centennial Park Demonstration Garden to answer questions.

“We’re so thrilled to engage with the North County and help support their gardening success,” said Maria Murrietta, program coordinator for the UC Master Gardener Program of SLO County. “While we’ve had a strong presence in San Luis Obispo at the Garden of the Seven Sisters Demonstration Garden, this new garden offers a second beautiful place to host UC Master Gardener Program events and engage with home gardeners who have questions or want to learn more about gardening.”

For more information about the UC Master Gardeners of San Luis Obispo County, call (805) 781-5939 or visit ucanr.edu/sites/mgslo/.

PASO ROBLES — The California Mid-State Fair announced that a brandnew show, Extreme Truck Madness, will take place on Sunday, July 30. The exciting final night of the fair will take place in a transformed Main Grandstand Arena starting at 7 p.m.

The night will include a parachute flag drop before the arena turns into a “mud bog” and “tuff trucks” course

Must! Charities Youth Board, combined with their ongoing commitment to philanthropy, exemplifies their mission to inspire positive change in the community.

It is worth noting that Must! Charities plays a signif -

icant role in supporting the clubhouse in Creston, making it possible for the facility to continue its valuable work.

For further information about Must! Charities and their initiatives, please visit mustcharities.org

where competitors will race through huge mud pits and speed through obstacle courses.

Local drivers are encouraged to participate with cash prizes of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. Categories include Tuff Truck Stock Class, Tuff

Truck Modified Class, Mud Bog Stock Class, Mud Bog Modified Class, Mud Bog Outlaws Class, and Power Wheels — Tuff Trucks. To sign up, visit williamsenterprises.regfox.com/midstatefair-drivers-2023

Pre-Show Pricing:

• Reserved Seating — Sections 1-4 and 8: $30 per

seat (All ages)

General Admission — Sections 10-12 and 16-20

Youth: $15 per seat / Adult: $20 per seat

Day of Show Pricing: Reserved Seating — Sections 1-4 and 8: $30 per seat (All ages)

• General Admission —

Sections 10-12 and 16-20: Youth and Adult $25 per seat

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at MidStateFair.com.

The 2023 California Mid-State Fair runs July 19 through July 30 and this year’s theme is “Shake, Rattle & Roll!”

(From left) UC Master Gardeners Jacqueline Adams Shubitowski, Karen Russu, and Dan Ulrich are shown hard at work in the Paso Robles Demonstration Garden. Photo by Beth Wray

NONPROFIT

Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast welcomes new chief philanthropy officer

brings

Atascadero Greyhound Foundation

AWARENESS - PREVENTION - INTERVENTION - EDUCATION

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.

NORTH COUNTY —

After a national search, Emily Reneau was named chief philanthropy officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast.

Reneau was promoted from the role of development director. She was originally hired to lead the efforts of grant writing and long-range fundraising campaigns.

Reneau will be leading a resource development team that includes overseeing events, marketing, grant writing, planned giving, and individual donor engagement, the chief philanthropy officer is the strategic visionary for the sustainable fundraising efforts that are the hallmark of the financial health of the organization. The CPO works with the C-Suite of leaders as a member of the executive team, and helps drive all decision-making and organizational development.

Reneau brings a wealth of expertise in philanthropy and nonprofit management to her new role. She has a proven track record of successfully leading fundraising campaigns and cultivating strong relationships with donors and community partners. As chief philanthropy officer, she will spearhead the strategic planning and execution of comprehensive fundraising efforts, working closely with the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers to advance the organization’s mission.

“Emily’s exceptional leadership skills and dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of young people

align perfectly with our organization’s values,” said Michael Boyer, CEO of the organization. “We are confident that under her guidance, our fundraising efforts will reach new heights and enable us to continue providing essential programs and services to the youth in our community.”

Reneau has deep roots in the organization’s service area and comes with a wealth of experience in nonprofit management and fundraising. Her work with organizations like the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce and the American Heart Association brings significant resources and community connections to the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Her tenure as CPO began July 1. She can be reached at emily.reneau@centralcoastkids.org or at (805) 602-0435.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast:

Founded in 1966, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Maria Valley and Boys & Girls Clubs of North SLO County) have been helping kids aged 6-18 create Great Futures. Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast provides after-school tutoring, mentoring, and access to healthy activities. Located on the Central Coast of California in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, we have 23 club sites in Atascadero, Creston, Guadalupe, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, and Shandon.

For more info about Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast, visit Centralcoastkids.org

foundation.org

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

CONTACT INFO

1051 Las Tablas Rd. Templeton, CA 93465 (805) 238-4411

Monday - Thursday 9 am – 4 pm

Fridays by Appointment cscslo.org

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

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.

PAGE B-2 • Thursday, July 6, 2023 Making Communities Better Through Print. atascaderonews.com • pasoroblespress.com Good News • Real News • Your Hometown News NONPROFIT Sunday Sept 10th, 2023 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tickets available through Eventbrite.com (805)

237-3751

Emily Reneau is stepping in as the chief philanthropy officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast. Contributed Photo

years of nonprofit leadership to the role

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CLASSIFIEDS & LEGALS

THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY: A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, CENTRAL COAST COMBATIVES, LLC, 7853 ESTRELLA ROAD, SAN MIGUEL, ca 93451

If Corporation or LLC- CA State of Incorporation/Organization CA 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.)

CENTRAL COAST COMBAT-

LLC, JUSTIN SPERBECK, MANAGING MEMBER

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo County on

File No 20231331 THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS/ARE DOING BUSINESS AS: LIGHT GARDEN 1, 189 RIVERBANK

CITY OF ATASCADERO

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT

The City of Atascadero will receive bids for the “Atascadero and Graves Creeks Debris Removal Project” at the Atascadero City Hall, 6500 Palma Avenue, Atascadero, CA until July 27, 2023 at 1:30 P.M., when they will be publicly opened. Proposals received after said time will not be considered. Proposals 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 C DRIVER’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 #8581851

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

Run Dates: July 6, 2023 and July 13, 2023

CITY OF ATASCADERO

PHASE 1 OF THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT PAVEMENT REHABILITATION PROJECT

PROJECT NO. C2021R02

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT

The City of Atascadero will receive bids for the “Phase 1 of the Downtown District Pavement Rehabilitation Project” at the Atascadero City Hall, 6500 Palma Avenue, Atascadero, CA until August 3, 2023 at 1:30 P.M., when they will be publicly opened. Proposals received after said time will not be considered. Proposals 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 will be available by July 7, 2023 to download for a fee of $22.00 on the City website, www.atascadero.org or at www.QuestCDN.com using project number eBid #8582891

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

Run Dates: July 6, 2023 and July 13, 2023

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1. TELEVISION: What is the name of Samantha's mother in the "Bewitched" comedy series?

2. MOVIES: What is the name of the shark-hunting boat in the film "Jaws"?

3. SCIENCE: What is the most lethal consumed plant in the world?

4. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a female goat called?

5. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who served as vice president in Abraham Lincoln's first term as president?

6. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of alcohol is traditionally used in a drink called a sidecar?

7. LITERATURE: What city is the primary setting for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"?

8. ASTRONOMY: Which planet in our solar system was the first to be explored by a space probe launched from Earth?

9. MUSIC: In what year did MTV launch?

10. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the famous St. Basil's Cathedral located? © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

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 SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY

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) 460-0762. 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.

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ATASCADERO

11605 El Camino Real, Atascadero; Sunday Service Time: 10 a.m.; Nurs-ery Care Provided:; 9:45 a.m.- 12:15 p.m.; Mid-week student ministry; PreK-12th grade Sept-April, Weds, 4 p.m.; (805) 466-2566; Pastor Steve Poteete-Marshall; atascaderoumc.org.

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 Be

barbie butz COLUMNIST

A birthday and traveling recipes

continues his career as a graphic designer and a professional artist and printmaker.

Today, June 30, as I type this, I am reminded of the birth of our second son, David, who was born at the only hospital in the Palm Spring/Palm Desert area in 1963. The maternity ward had one room with two beds for new mothers. I happened to be the only “new” mother at the time. The nursery was also very small, as I recall.

That hospital later became the Eisenhower Medical Center. How times have changed in 60 years!

Happy Birthday, Dave. Continue to enjoy the journey as you enter a new decade of your life. Love you!

David and his family are Paso Robles residents. He

Bernadette Bernardi, CEO of Literacy for Life, reminded me that Literacy for Life, which has provided services to empower adults in SLO County to learn to read, write, and speak English since 1982, received the largest donation in the organization’s history, a gift of $180,000 from the estate of longtime community member James “Jim” Sargen, who passed away in October 2021.

Bernadette indicated that a donation of that size can cover the cost of tutor training, books, materials, and administrative oversight for 200 people over the next 2 years.

Literacy for Life (formerly the SLO Literacy Council) is a nonprofit organization serving SLO County. To find out more about Literacy for Life services or to donate, visit literacyforlifeslo.org or call

(805) 541-4219. Recipes for this week are geared for those “pack and travel” evenings when you want to head for the beach or a local park, and just get out of the house and enjoy a lovely summer evening. These offerings can be made ahead.

Asparagus and Gruyére

Tartlets

Ingredients:

1 (11 1/4 ounce) sheet ready-rolled puff pastry, defrosted if frozen

• 4 tablespoons créme

fraiche

• 1 tablespoon Dijon

mustard

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

1 tablespoon chopped tarragon

1 3/4 ounce gruyére, grated

• 14 ounce asparagus spears

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 egg, lightly beaten with a fork

Sea salt and freshly ground black peppercorns

Directions:

Mismatched

It’s no wonder that brides cry on the day they’re married. It’s because they know the odds of their marriage ending in divorce are 50 percent. If the bride is brave enough to try it a second time the odds are even worse with two-thirds of all second marriages ending in divorce. You wouldn’t believe the number of adults I know that are on their third marriage, and 75 percent of those marriages will end in divorce. With more and more people marrying people online they’ve never met, the odds of a marriage succeeding are about the same as a cow catching a rabbit in a foot race.

With the rise of technology, these numbers are only going to get worse. I knew one couple wasn’t going to make it after the first week in which the man who worked outside the home had the ability to adjust the heater/air conditioner from his phone so his poor wife at

home had to either freeze or get heat prostration because he was always adjusting the thermostat to save money. Just by reading obituaries, it sure seems to me that ranch couples get divorced a lot less. I think one of the reasons for this is that part of a rancher’s success depends to a large extent on his or her ability to sort out the keepers from the culls. I’ve found that judging team members tend to have far greater success in what is now referred to as the “sociocultural interface.” Another reason ranch marriages tend to last is because ranchers are seldom home and are outside working, whereas the traditional ranch wife is inside doing the books and running the household, so they rarely have to come in contact.

Over the years, I’ve formulated rock-solid rules that the “matrimonially challenged” should take into consideration before tying the knot. For example ... a hay farmer should never marry someone who loves horses because the horse side of the operation will grow to that exact point at which the horses will eat up all the farmer’s profits. Headers and heelers should never tie

the knot because it will always be the other’s fault and even if they do manage to win it will always be because the male’s beautiful head catch and all the female had to do was come along and clean up the mess. Finally, a dairyman should never marry a rancher. I don’t know why this is, it just is. A spender should never marry a saver, a meat eater should never marry a vegan and a smoker shouldn’t marry a non-smoker. One who snores should never marry someone who doesn’t unless they have separate bedrooms way far apart, one of them is deaf or is going to sleep outside. Finally, a male rancher should never marry a female younger than his youngest daughter.

Personally, I love being married and I’m living proof that if you do it right the first time, you don’t have to do it often. But I’ve had so many urban friends get divorced that I can tell on their wedding day if the marriage is going to last. Especially if it’s obvious the marriage is for “resource extraction” purposes only.

I’ve reached the conclusion that most marriages end in divorce because one or the other is married but not fanat-

You are amazing

floating by in your conscious awareness. Whatever you mentally grasp becomes your new reality. What do you want to create? You get to choose.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll puff pastry on a baking sheet and cut it into 4 equal rectangles. In a bowl, combine the créme fraiche, Dijon, garlic, tarragon and gruyére. Season with black pepper (no need for salt-there’s enough in the cheese). Spread the gruyére mixture over the pastry rectangles, leaving a 3/4 inch border. Snap the woody ends off asparagus and discard them. Put asparagus in a bowl and drizzle olive oil over it. Season, toss well to coat the spears, then divide them evenly between the tartlets. Brush pastry border with beaten egg and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Cool on baking sheet on cooling rack. Wait until tarts are completely cooled before packing for travel.

Enjoy the “travel.” Cheers! Barbie Butz is an independent columnist for The Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press; you can email her at bbutz1@outlook.com

ical about it. If either person constantly refers to the other as honeybunch, darling, luv, or “their current wife,” it’s because they’ve been married so many times they can’t keep all the names straight. If the groom and the preacher are on a first-name basis, have a frequent user club, or their parting words are, “Good job, see you next time,” the marriage is guaranteed to fail. If a man jokes that he has a five-mile marriage license or their marriage license has an expiration date the couple will split the sheets eventually. If on their third honeymoon the bride and groom get separate rooms and not too close together, the marriage is going to fail faster than the pinata at a child’s birthday party.

So, if you are a woman contemplating marriage, I have a word of advice: It would be cheaper and far more rewarding to get yourself a cat instead of a husband because they’ll basically both do the same thing ... lay on the couch all day and shed hair.

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

Don’t believe everything you think. Thoughts come like clouds in the sky. They are always passing. Not every thought that passes belongs to you. They could be thoughts in your consciousness, lingering from friends and family, other communities to which you belong, television, podcasts, radio, school, etc.

Remember that quantum theory suggests there are an infinite number of possibilities existing as wavelengths that only become a reality once the wave of possibility is collapsed into reality. The same is true for the thoughts

When you feel like you don’t have a choice and the negative thoughts are piling on and weighing you down, practice meditation. Meditation allows you to become the observer. It forces you to take a backward step where you will recognize the thoughts are always passing. From this space, you have merged with the Infinite Presence of Love.

Ernest Holmes observed, “One, alone, in consciousness with the Infinite, constitutes a complete majority.”

This quote suggests that an individual who is aware and connected with the Infinite (a higher power or universal consciousness) possesses a sense of wholeness and strength that surpasses any external factors. It emphasizes the idea that true power and

fulfillment come from within oneself rather than relying on the approval or consensus of others. In this context, being united with the Infinite grants a person a sense of being part of something greater, making them a majority in terms of their inner strength and self-assurance.

You are a powerful, radiant, magnificent being of Divine love. All of your heart’s deepest desires will come to be. It’s the natural order of things for you to be, do, and have all that you so deeply desire in this life, so long as it does no harm.

It’s time to quit thinking it won’t happen for you. It’s time to start thinking not only will it happen, but it does happen because it is happening now and will continue happening as your life unfolds. You are always becoming more of who you came here to be. This good news serves the entire world.

You are never alone because you have the Divine in your

life. Whoever has Spirit lacks nothing. You are whole, perfect, and complete, exactly as you are.

Remember, just because you think it doesn’t mean it’s true. Just because the story seems real doesn’t mean it is.

Finally, even if there are negative or less-than-pleasant stories or experiences you have had or care to admit to anyone, you are loved and perfect exactly as you are. You liberate yourself when you come to the great altar of the Divine, surrendering, allowing, and accepting its love into your heart.

Today is a perfect day to set yourself free. Live the life you have imagined for yourself. Be who you came here to be. You are amazing.

And so it is.

Rev. Elizabeth Rowley is an independent columnist for The Atascadero News and Paso Robles

you can email her at revelizabeth@cccsl.org.

lee pitts COLUMNIST

rev. elizabeth rowley hogue COLUMNIST

Fourth of July in Photos

Robles

of July | Photos by Brittany App

Templeton Fourth of July Parade | Becca Sligh

Atascadero 4th of July Music Festival | Photos by Rick Evans