GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXIV, NO. XXIV
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023
COUNTY
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
FOUNDERS DAY
County continues Rain doesn’t stop community from celebrating Templeton history efforts to expand Founder’s Day at Bob Jones Trail museum marks when Project has goals to connect Cal Poly and City of SLO with Avila Beach and Pismo Beach By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Supervisors are continuing the county’s efforts in expanding the Bob Jones Trail to the City of San Luis Obispo. As discussed in the Nov. 7 San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Board of Supervisors meeting, supervisors directed county staff to work with Caltrans in further designing the project to meet the grant funding timeline. Due to receiving campaigning funds from the Bunnell family, whose property is in direct line with the Octagon Barn to Ontario Road portion of the trail, District 1 Supervisor John Peschong recused himself from the action item. This specific portion of the project is also referred to as the Bob Jones Pathway Gap Closure Project. Ultimately, the Bob Jones Pathway City to Sea project has goals to connect Cal Poly and the City of SLO with Avila Beach and with another planned trail connecting to Pismo Beach. The prominent driver of the project’s continuation is safety. In 2012, a Shell Beach man died after he was hit by a big-rig truck while bicycling near the intersection of Ontario Road and South Higuera Street south of San Luis Obispo. Thirty-nineyear-old Damian Horstman was the chief of anesthesiology and vice chief of staff at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. His wife, Jennifer Horstman-Chase, spoke at the supervisors meeting urging supervisors to approve the “overdue route,” saying, “The roadway is unsafe not because of how it is being used, but because of how it was designed, and it will be until it is fixed.” Currently, the project has completed the environmental studies and is in the final design phase. During the Sept. 26 meeting, supervisors directed staff to work on a plan that would avoid construction on the Bunnell property. Staff provided an CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
COMMUNITY
first Southern Pacific passenger train arrived on Nov. 20, 1886 By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
TEMPLETON — Rain did not keep people away from celebrating the founding of Templeton last Saturday, Nov. 18. Hosted by the Templeton Historical Society and Museum, the community took shelter in the town’s historical buildings to celebrate Founder’s Day on Main Street. Templeton’s Founder’s Day is marked by when the first Southern Pacific passenger train arrived in the new town of Templeton on Nov. 20, 1886. Southern Pacific was extending the railroad from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Templeton was the route terminus for three years. The day was complete with dessert — traditionally the museum serves cake, which is a community favorite — live
(From left): Chet Finley, and Dede and Greg Webster, whose families share multi-generational local history, enjoy the Founder’s Day event. Photo by Derek Luff
music, blacksmithing demonstrations, and museum tours. Templeton Historical Society Chair Jayme Finley, said of the time honored event, “We feel it’s important for people to be aware how Templeton was founded and the history
and teach especially kids how important the history of Templeton is.” David Thayer returned to provide blacksmithing demonstrations in the museum’s early 1900s blacksmith shop. Additionally,
the museum house and railroad depot were open for the public. Antique vehicles, railroad artifacts, hit-and-miss engine displays, and activities for children were available throughout the day. This was Thayer’s second
FESTIVAL
year demonstrating blacksmithing at Founder’s Day. While he has been a fabricator artist most of his life, he dove into blacksmithing following the COVID pandemic. As a certified level 2 instrucCONTINUED ON PAGE A7
FUNDRAISER
Winter wonderland of lights promised for this year’s ‘Lights of Hope’ 37th annual Downtown Lighting Ceremony brings awareness for Cancer Support Community California Central Coast By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
With even more carnival rides and games, the third annual Fall Festival was back in Atascadero. Photo by Rick Evans.
Rain has no effect on Fall Festival crowds The Atascadero Fall Festival was back for its third year
NORTH COUNTY — As the saying goes, a little rain never hurt anybody, and attendees of Atascadero’s Third Annual Fall Festival agreed. The rain or shine festival rolled into the Sunken Gardens on Friday, Nov. 17; Saturday, Nov. 18; and Sunday, Nov. 19, giving festivalgoers a beautiful view of City Hall while enjoying
live music, food, vendors, and fair rides. “After a rainy start yesterday, today seems to have a great crowd. Everyone’s in a festive spirit. People are buying, they’re eating food, and they’re listening to great music. It’s a great day in Atascadero,” said Atascadero Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Josh Cross on the last day of the fest. Just like years prior, the freeto-the-public festival was put on by En Fuego Events while being presented by Visit
Atascadero and the City of Atascadero. The fest not only brought out people from Atascadero and the North County, but people traveled from all over the area to experience the fun. “People [came] from all over, Fresno, Bakersfield, Pismo, Santa Maria. They called En Fuego Events saying, ‘Do you have this Ferris wheel? Do you have Dippin’ Dots? Are you doing this?’ It’s very well known now, and people come from all over to come
EDUCATION
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
SPORTS
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@pasoroblespress.com
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PASO ROBLES — For its 12th year, the annual Lights of Hope fundraiser is ready to illuminate the Paso Robles City Park brighter than ever this Friday, Nov. 24. Supporting the Cancer Support Community California Central Coast (CSC-CCC), the City of Paso Robles has joined to bring in additional lights full of color, snowflakes and icicles to create a winter wonderland in the heart of downtown. CSC-CCC Executive Director Candice Sanders told Paso Robles Press/Atascadero News, this year’s event is one the community will not want to miss. “Its going to be more of a winter wonderland,” she said. “I can’t wait.” The mission of CSC-CCC is to help those affected by cancer and their loved ones. They offer support through numerous programs “so that no one faces cancer alone.” The Lights
of Hope fundraiser is one of CSC-CCC’s most anticipated and largest fundraisers of the year. Traditionally, patrons make donations to sponsor lighting a tree in the Paso Robles City Park, with the tree remaining lit typically until February. These funds sponsor more than 25 programs per month, which includes support groups, social activities, mind/body therapies, individual counseling, and educational seminars. All programs are offered at no cost and designed to support cancer patients, their families, and caregivers throughout their cancer journey. Looking back on the past 11 months with the nonprofit, Sanders says, “Its been a year of growth for us and we feel like we’ve shaken [off ] the pandemic. All of our groups are available now in person. People are starting to come back into our center. We are starting to be able to grow that strength in our community that we were missing during COVID.” Sanders is also looking forward to next year’s Fryer’s Club Roast which will be held on Cinco de Mayo.The next “roastee,” Sanders says, is sure to excite the commuCONTINUED ON PAGE A7
WEATHER
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HOLIDAY EVENTS Happening in North County | A3
SLO COUNTY Religion and our Schools | A4
TREE LIGHTING Coming to Templeton | B1
STUDENT-ATHLETES Sign to D-I Universities | B8
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