GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXII, NO. XLII
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022
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Chamber of Commerce Announces Roblans and Beautification Honorees Honorees are Patricia Bland, 2020; Brian Thorndyke, 2021; along with Beautification Award to Central Coast Beer Co.
MAYOR STEVE MARTIN
Los Angeles Times Article Focuses on Paso Robles’ Lack of ‘Color’
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce (PRCC) has announced honorees for the 2020/2021 Roblans of the Year and the Beautification Award. Roblan of the Year is chosen from the previous Roblans of the Month. An initiative put together by the PRCC to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to Paso Robles through community action, donations, and other ongoing community outreaches. Patricia (Pat) Bland has been named the 2020 Roblan of the Year. The chamber delayed its announcement because of COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean Pat is any less deserv-
Paso Robles City’s Mayor responds to writer’s concerns By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Roblans of the Year, Patricia Bland, 2020 (left) and Brian Thorndyke, 2021 (right) in downtown Paso Robles. Photo by Rick Evans/PRP
ing of being recognized for her commitment to the Paso Robles community. Bland finds herself attracted to organizations that offer more opportunities to youth, “I think the organizations that I like the most, and those are the ones I’ve
spent the most time at, are the ones that have kids involved.” Her involvement with the Boys and Girls Club began in 2011. During her time there, she served as corporate secretary, treasurer, and unpaid interim CEO. She helped create proce-
CITY
dures and policies for the organization. Additionally, Bland is currently serving as President on the Board of Directors for the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation, secretary for REC Foundation, and treasurer for Swim Paso. That doesn’t include
occasionally lending a hand to various committees and organizations. But then there is her other role, Grandma, to her six grandchildren. Brian Thorndyke has been announced as the 2021 Roblan CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
ON THE STAGE
Templeton High’s Drama Department Performs Musical, ‘Sugar’
Paso Robles Moves Forward with Spaceport Proposal The city could see approval for a spaceport license as early as June 2024 By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 29. The meeting was a joint informational workshop with the planning and airport commission. CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
SPORTS
The Cast of “Sugar” is shown on the Templeton Performing Arts Stage. Photo by ASB advisor, Matt McFarlane
Three performances of the show are available this upcoming weekend By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@pasoroblespress.com
TEMPLETON — The Drama Department at Templeton High School kicked off their two-week run of the stage musical “Sugar” last weekend, with three more
EVENT
performances available to catch this upcoming weekend. “Sugar,” which premiered on Broadway in 1972 and hit London’s West End in 1992, is a musical based on the 1959 film “Some Like It Hot” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon. The musical’s plot centers around Joe and Jerry, two out-ofwork musicians who accidentally witness the famous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in
NEWS BRIEFS
Chicago. While hiding from gangsters, they pose as female musicians in an all-girls traveling band. However, things get hairy when Joe ( Josephine) falls for fellow bandmate Sugar Kane, and Jerry (Daphne) catches the eye of millionaire Sir Osgood Fielding. “This is really special to me because it’s my first musical lead. And I’ve worked really hard. I’ve just worked really hard to get where I am musi-
PERSPECTIVE
cally, so it’s really exciting to be able to showcase the skills that I’ve developed,” said senior Katelann Harms, who plays lead, Sugar Kane. “There’s a lot of, I would say, weight to it because of Marilyn Monroe, but I took it a different direction so that it wasn’t just based on Marilyn. I love the character. She’s really funny, she’s really sweet, she builds friendships wherever she goes, and CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
PASO ROBLES — A Los Angeles Times article published on the front page last Sunday, March 20, has created controversy among residents of Paso Robles. The article titled “This California wine country town is multicultural. So why do so many feel invisible” written by LA Times staff writer Tyrone Beason after his visit to Paso. While the article described Paso Robles as idyllic, the writer noted the city’s lack of people of color despite the population of Paso Robles being almost 40 percent Mexican-Americans and Latinos. The article the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District’s (PRJUSD) controversial ethnic studies course and ban on Critical Race Theory (CRT). It also includes comments and interviews with PRJUSD Board President Chris Arend, ethnic study course teacher Geoffrey Land, a local student of the course, Paso Robles High School athletic coach Juanetta Perkins, resident Michael Rivera, and Cal Poly instructor and psychologist Susana Lopez. Paso Robles Press received a response from Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin, answering questions in response to the article: Do you believe it was a fair representation of Paso? Mr. Beason “writes about America through the lenses of race and culture.” This honest disclaimer at the end of the article in question informs CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
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PASO ROBLES ART CITY COUNCIL HOSTS BARBIE BUTZ TALKS in the Park returns in April ”Norma’s Arch” much needed rain and | A4 Dedication Ceremony | A5 dump soup | A13
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