GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXIV, NO. XXV
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
THANKSGIVING
DOWNTOWN
Paso Robles shines bright at 37th annual Light up Downtown and Lights of Hope fundraiser City Park transforms into a winter wonderland supporting Cancer Support Community
Thanksgiving for Paso Robles volunteers (from left) Jan Hopp, Katie Doctor, and Stermer clean up after the annual dinner on Nov. 23. Photo by Camille DeVaul
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — Paso Paso Thanksgiving tradition serves Robles City Park was brighter than ever Friday night on Nov. over 1,400 meals at the 39th 24 for the 37th Annual Light annual community feast up Downtown and 12th annual
Thanksgiving for Paso Robles unites community with homemade meals, generosity, and a vision for the 40th year ahead
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — Over 1,400 homemade meals were made and distributed at the 39th annual Thanksgiving for Paso Robles. Held at Centennial Park, over 200 volunteers worked to put together the meal for anyone who wanted to sit at their table on Thanksgiving, Nov. 23. Thanksgiving for Paso Robles is a celebration of thanks serving over 1,500 men, women, and children from all communities, a traditional Thanksgiving meal at no cost. A true expression of
community that brings diverse people together to share the day with others. “What I always say is everyone is welcome either from a financial need or a social need,” says David Kudija, the events chairman. Volunteers began cooking the homemade meal on Monday at the Paso Robles Culinary Arts Academy on Golden Hill Road. They then bring and set up the meal at the Centennial Park Activity Center. But preparations for the dinner begin months ahead. That includes pre-ordering supplies in which costs have escalated for in the last few years. Kudija notes that when he began volunteering with the nonprofit 28 years ago, it cost them about $5,000 to $8,000 CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
Lights of Hope fundraiser. Supporting the Cancer Support Community California Central Coast (CSC-CCC), the City of Paso Robles joined to bring in additional lights full of color, snowflakes and icicles to create a winter wonderland in the heart of downtown. The event that officially kicks off the holiday season in Paso Robles was welcomed with a park filled with people to sing carols. This year, the Paso Robles City decided they wanted to join the Paso Robles Main Street Association in bringing more lights to the City Park. “I’ve had the privilege of attending the downtown lighting ceremonies for a couple decades now,” said City Manager Ty Lewis on the inception of the lighting plan.
The Bastas family enthusiastically sings along at the 37th annual Light up Downtown in Paso Robles City Park on Friday, Nov. 24. Photo by Camille DeVaul
“After becoming city manager and attending last year’s event, I talked with Freda Berman (our public works director) about how we might improve. We thought about some of the other communities that have some pretty fantastic lighting events and hatched the idea to light the park better than ever.” Bigger and brighter was certainly the theme for Friday night as the Main Street Asso-
ciation ran out of candles that were passed out to the crowds. Some people arrived around 3 p.m. to claim their seats near the park gazebo where City Councilmembers and Mrs. Claus led the crowd in carols. “I had been to the tree lighting in previous years but this was spectacular,” said newly appointed Councilmember Sharon Roden. “I love Christmas, so this kind of event hits
FUNDRAISER
Paso Robles High School wrestling team raises nearly $5K in annual Turkey Trot fundraiser
Community support shines as nearly 100 runners rally for PRHS wrestlers
GOVERNMENT
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PARKING
Council approve changes to Downtown Parking Program Starting in January, parking will be $1 per hour from minute one of each parking session By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — Bright and early Thanksgiving morning, nearly 100 runners ran to support the Paso Robles High School wrestling team in their 18th annual Turkey Trot 5K and 10K family fun run. The annual run supports transportation and gear fees for the team. The turkey trot is the team’s largest fundraiser of the year. According to head coach Nate Ybarra, between $10,000 to $15,000 is needed each year to pay for the costs such as hotel stays for tournaments and entry fees. Ybarra says there will be 14 student-athletes heading to tournaments this season. “Right now, we have a young wrestling [team],” he said. “We are pushing the program towards
home for me. So many turned out for the occasion, and in every direction I looked, there was a sea of smiles and candlelight. The Grinch outdid himself this year and was a kid’s favorite. A big thank you to all those who made this event possible. And a special thank you to Norma Moye, who continues to be an inspiration to us all for her hard work and
A family shows up dressed to run in the 18th annual Turkey Trot supporting the Paso Robles High School wrestling team on Thanksgiving morning. Photo by Camille DeVaul
the younger crew so that when they are seniors, they’ll be pretty strong. Our goal is to be top 10 in the state as a team.” Early in the season, one senior wrestler has already made his way into the 11th seat in the state in the 120-pound weight
class, and that would be Dominic Marquez. In 2021, the Bearcats made it to state after placing in the top 10 at the Central Section CIF championship. Senior wrestler Saul Bautista is also looking forward to the next season, particularly the
weekend tournaments. “It’s a good bonding experience with the team, and they are just fun in general,” he said Gaining more popularity in the high school wrestling world is adding a girls team.
NEWS
NORTH COUNTY LIFE
SPORTS
CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
PA S O RO B LES — Changes are again coming to the downtown parking program in Paso Robles. After heavy discussion at the Tuesday, Nov. 21, City Council meeting, councilmembers came to a conclusion for some changes to the program. With a 3-2 vote — Councilmembers Chris Bausch and Fred Strong voting no — council approved $1 per hour from minute one of each parking session, and signage and kiosk operations to be improved for clarity. These changes will come to downtown in early 2024. The city will also issue unlimited senior parking permits for residents over 65 years old within the city limits for one vehicle per household. All other established terms and conditions
will remain in effect for senior parking permits. Senior permit applications are expected to be released in March 2024. Several members of the public showed and spoke at the meeting, most of which issued their support against the parking program. Park Cinemas part owner Jennifer Roush Kloth, asked council, “How much time and money are we going into a program that we have continuously proven over the years does not work?” She continued stating a survey conducted this summer received 520 responses — 360 of which said the program is negatively impacting the Downtown Paso Robles. Another survey conducted CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
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