Paso Robles Magazine #207 • July 2019

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contents JULY 2018, Issue 207

FEATURES

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THE MID-STATE FAIR OLÉ!12 DAYS OF FIESTA!

HOTELS! HOTELS! HOTELS!

LOOKING AT THE FUTURE OF PASO ROBLES HOSPITALITY ECOSYSTEM

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CMSF HERITAGE FOUNDATION

MEMBERS EXHIBIT DEDICATION, DETERMINATION, AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY By Meagan Friberg

CHAMBER HOSTS BUSINESS SUMMIT

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT ASKS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF PASO ROBLES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT By Nicholas Mattson

DEPARTMENTS

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SOMETHING WORTH READING Publisher’s Letter

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ROUND TOWN 9 City of Paso Robles Rec Activities 10 Main Street & Downtown Daydreaming 12 Through the Grapevine: Morro Bay Art in the Park 14 Hoofbeat: Changing Saddles 16 San Miguel Reflections, by Lynne Schmitz 17 Borrowed & Bleu, by Azurae Shults 18 County Perspective: A Bird’s-Eye View of our County News PASO PEOPLE Michael Bradley: Mid-State Fair CEO Previews His Second Year 21 Mid-State Fair Pageant: More Than Just a Pretty Face 20

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BUSINESS 34 Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Summit 36 Business Spotlight: Paradise Grill 37 Local Goods Report: Life Elements OAK LEAF 38 Mid-State Fair: Junior Livestock Auction 39 Mid-State Fair: Industrial Arts Display & Auction 40 Education: Community Building, by County Superintendent James Brescia 41 Health & Wellness: Natural Alternative Explains CBD

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TASTE OF PASO 42 entrée: A PASO Dining Experience with Red Scooter Deli 43 Sip & Savor: Pinot & Paella, by Mira Honeycutt EVENTS All-New No. SLO County Activities and Events Guide: Everything You Want to Know in One Place 44

LAST WORD Maribeth Bonomi: Friend of the Fair of the Year 50

ON THE COVER

“America’s Favorite Fair Carnival”

Photo by Brandon Stier, Oak & Barrel Wine Photography

PASO Magazine, July 2018



Something Worth Reading

VOLUME 18 | NUMBER 3 (805) 239-1533 PASOMAGAZINE.COM

publisher@pasomagazine.com

AD CONSULTANT & WRITER Millie Drum AD CONSULTANT Pam Osborn

MAIL: P.O. Box 3996 Paso Robles, CA 93447

AD CONSULTANT Jamie Self

OFFICE: 1244 Pine St. Suite 204 Paso Robles, CA 93446 EDITOR & PUBLISHER Nicholas Mattson publisher@pasomagazine.com LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGN Denise McLean, Mode Communications LEAD DESIGN Travis Ruppe

GRAPHIC DESIGN Kevin Kaub ART PRODUCTION Sue Dill ONLINE EDITOR & WRITER Meagan Friberg COPY EDITOR & WRITER Melissa Chavez

COLUMNIST Tonya Strickland WINE EDITOR Mira Honeycutt

PASO Magazine ©2018 is owned and published by Nicholas & Hayley Mattson Co-Founder & Publisher Emeritus: Bob Chute Co-Founder: Karen Chute (1949-2004)

*No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form by any means without written consent from PASO Magazine.

GRAPHIC DESIGN Kris Fininen

WRITER Heather Young

AD CONSULTANT Karli Twisselman

Find and Share ‘The Story Of Us’ Online at PASOmagazine.com Like and Follow us: Facebook: @PASOmagazine Instagram: @PASOmagazine Twitter: @ThePASOmagazine

EDITORIAL DEADLINE

7th of each month preceding publication

AD ORDER DEADLINE

10 th of each month preceding publication

30,000 Printed | 26,200 Mailed

PASO Magazine is published monthly and distributed FREE to every residence and business in Paso Robles 93446, Templeton 93465, Shandon 93461, Bradley 93426, and San Miguel 93451 zip codes. Postage paid at Paso Robles, CA 93446.

3,800 Dropped at High Traffic Locations

PASO Magazine is also available for our visitors at wineries, Chamber of Commerce, North County Transportation Center, local motels, hotels, vacation homes, B&Bs, the airport, doctor’s offices, restaurants, and other high-traffic hotspots.

Subscriptions

Share PASO Magazine with your loved ones! Annual subscriptions to PASO Magazine, mailed to areas beyond the described distribution areas, are available for $26.99 per year (no international mailing). Subscribe online at PASOmagazine.com.

For advertising inquiries and rates, story ideas and submission of photos, letters, press releases, etc., email publisher@PASOmagazine.com.

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“Whatever your mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve regardless of how many times you may have failed in the past” — Napoleon Hill

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s summer is upon us and the kiddos are out of school and the joys of being outdoors bring us all together, we were able to take some time and really appreciate the hardest working team in the North County by getting together for a picnic in the park to reflect and share in the joys that we have gone through over the last 10 months. As we look back we are immensely grateful and honored for all the love and support we have received from our wonderful community here in Paso Robles, so much so we have decided to launch a “sister” publication in Atascadero called Colony Magazine. We are thrilled to be able to bring Colony Magazine to Atascadero, Santa Margarita and Creston starting this July! A piece of history in the making. A legacy that we can pass on to our children that teaches them the importance of being involved in the community and showing up for one another. From an advertising perspective we are extremely excited about this new addition to be able to share all your businesses and events direct to every home and business now in the North County — 40,000 businesses and residences!! Now we would not be able to do this without all your support and our incredible team of professionals. Their shared desire to tell your story and the love they have for our wonderful community we all call home, is what allowed us to make this leap. It is with their faith, dedication and passion that the magazines come together. It is with the trust and confidence from all our advertisers that the magazine is able to be printed and the stories told. And it is because of the incredible vision, love and energy that Nicholas has along with our shared desire to provide our communities with a one of a kind, exceptional product that pulls it all together. Our family is incredibly humbled to be able to call the North County our home and together with our team we will continue to do everything we can to help tell your story, share and promote your business and provide a valuable tool when you have loved ones come to town to help them experience the heart of community in which we live. We truly thank you all with our whole hearts… Please enjoy this issue of PASO Magazine. Hayley Mattson 805-239-1533 hayley@pasomagazine.com If thou wouldest win Immortality of Name, either do things worth the writing, or write things worth the reading. — Thomas Fuller, 1727

PASO Magazine, July 2018



ROUND TOWN W HAT’S H APPENING ON M AIN S TREET ? By Millie Drum

It’s Where Everyone Comes Together !

PANCAKE ALERT ! FREE Breakfast on July 26

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nother downtown tradition is the FREE Pancake Breakfast on Thursday, July 26 from 7:30 to 10:30 in the

City Park. The breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, OJ and coffee is FREE, but there is a catch! You must have a ticket! Tickets will be

available at downtown businesses from July 5 to July 25. Look for the sign in the windows. This 26th annual event for our community is presented by major sponsors, our Main Street Association and the Mid-State Fair along with the El Paso de Robles Grange #555, Paso Robles Waste Disposal and the Gomer family, Ranchita Canyon 4-H, Paso Robles 4-H, Chaparral 4-H, Sub-

urban Propane, Cahoots Catering, Steve Cichorsky (sound)…. and Chester Rougeot. Attractions for family fun include Harris Stage Lines hayrides, the Rawhide Express Train, and Pacific Animal Productions. Bookmark pasorobledown town.org for the happening all year long!

July 4 th - Happy 242 nd Birthday Amer ica By Main Street Ambassador

Karyl Lammers

Everything is changing with time. “They say I am old fashioned, and live in the past, but sometimes progress progresses too fast.” Downtown Paso Robles is the place to be these days. If you are one of those people who haven’t taken the time to stroll around town, you are missing out. Slow down and join the people here

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for the first time. They are delighted with their new discovery. We have frequent visitors who enjoy shopping, eating and just being here. In surveying the downtown businesses, I have learned that business is divided between loyal residents and visitors from all over. Visitors make up the majority of week-end business, while locals are in and out all week long. That means there are a lot of locals helping keep our downtown alive. Remember when we had to come downtown? We still have the nic-

est shops around. All the wonderful people I meet downtown cannot be wrong. The shops are owned and staffed by your friends and neighbors, so it feels like home. If you haven’t been downtown lately you are unaware of everything available to you. We even have a hometown pharmacy. Remember when you got personalized service, where you are known by your name? It’s back and called Brooklin Oaks Pharmacy at 597 12th Street; owned by Brooks Balaris. She’s at the pharmacy

every weekday, ready to help you with your prescription and pharmaceutical needs. It’s easy to have prescriptions transferred, stop in and ask Brooks. You can even park out back and use the back door. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own and you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go.” I recommend downtown Paso Robles for the best of everything. You owe it to yourself!

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ROUND TOWN | THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

Artists and craftspeople from throughout the Western States are preparing for one of the most popular art shows in the country.

The 63 rd Annual Morro Bay

Art in the Park July 7 and 8 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

As the second oldest continuous art show in California, independent artists and craftspeople come from throughout the Western States are joined by over 50% of the exhibitors from San Luis Obispo County. Under the direction of show organizer and promoter Steve Powers, Morro Bay Art in the Park has

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By Millie Drum

earned the stature of being the best art and craft show in the county. Every year, over 16,000 visitors attend the 3 holiday weekend events on Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. Bookmark the dates of September 1, 2 and 3 for the fall show. Along with novice and serious art collectors, shoppers for all things handcrafted and unique will enjoy the selection at this outdoor gallery and marketplace. Along with fine art and sculpture, craft categories include jewelry, pottery leather, woodwork, fiber, glass, toys, weaving and some unexpected treasures. Gourmet food will be prepared at the new Food Court by Mi Casa Restaurant. There’s plenty of free parking close to the show at the City

Park on the corner of Morro Bay Blvd. and Harbor Drive. Click morrobayartinthepark.com for more information and a roster of the artists, their art/craft specialty and contact information. In April of this year, Powers re-invented Paso Artsfest, naming it Paso Robles Art in the Park; patterned after the highly successful Morro Bay show. For the first year of many to come, Steve said “it went very well!” Artists interested is displaying their work at any of the shows can contact Steve at 805-440-8318, steve @pasoroblesartinthepark.com.

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ROUND TOWN

Get ready for some serious good times!

20th Annual Winemakers’ Cookoff Get ready for one of the biggest wine and food events on the Central Coast of California! The 20th annual Winemakers’ Cookoff is set to take place on Saturday, August 11th from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Paso Robles Event Center. The event, sponsored by the Paso Robles Rotary Club and presented by Stifel Financial Corp., brings visitors from all over the country to this community to showcase the quality of life we all share here in Paso Robles. While guests enjoy food and wine from 30 different local wineries and specialty breweries, local high school students benefit in the form of college scholarships awarded by Rotary from the proceeds of this event. To date, the Paso Robles Rotary Club District 5240 has raised nearly $750,000 toward this effort. Rotary is now the largest scholarship donor at the Paso Robles High School. This year, Paso Robles Rotary expects to award $70,000 in scholarships for high school seniors. With wineries vying for the Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice

Awards, those who attend will sample award-winning wines, beer and incredible food pairings. They’ll also enjoy live music by Julie Beaver and the Bad Dogs and experience some of the best Paso has to offer in a single 3-hour event at the fairgrounds. Each year, an estimated 2,000 people attend this exciting affair. Nestled between Monterey and Santa Barbara, and just inland from Hearst Castle, Paso Robles is home to the third largest wine region in California and is one of the fastest growing wine regions in the state. Close to the mountains and the beach, the area provides something special for everyone who visits. Tickets are $85/pp ($45 designated driver) and include a commemorative wine glass. Must be 21 years old to attend. For more information on the Winemakers’ Cook Off, or to volunteer as a winery or brewery to participate, please visit our website at winemakerscookoff.com or check out our Facebook page at facebook.com/winemakerscookoff. For visitor information, visit travelpaso.com.

Welcome Bec Braitling, our new Hoofbeat writer By Bec Braitling

I am thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to continue on the Hoofbeat tradition. I’m looking forward to keeping the Paso Robles community involved and up to date in all things Equestrian. I think a little introduction is in order! In 2008 I relocated to the United States from my home in Sydney, Australia. I briefly spent some time on the east coast, before settling on California’s Central Coast. America has an alluring equestrian culture like none other in the world. That diversity is ever present here on the Central Coast, mixing international level equestrian competition with western shows, prestigious hunter/jumper shows and a vast trail network that spans the stunning coast to rugged mountains. It is the home to world class breeders in all disciplines, aspiring equestrians furthering their education in local colleges and numerous world class trainers and horse enthusiasts. I feel very blessed to be a part of this amazing community. Horses have always been a huge part of my life, I’ve represented Australia in the sport of Three Day Eventing, competed at International competitions all the way through to the prestigious Adelaide International 4*. I am currently based out of Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles and Templeton Farms, Templeton, training and competing eventing horses throughout the US and the world. I look forward to showcasing the best of what we have to offer here on the Central Coast in the coming months.

Bec Braitling can be contacted at bec@pasomagazine.com

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PASO Magazine, July 2018


Cerro Alto trails

Type: Horseback or hiking View: Morro Bay Coast Line Access: CA 41 to Morro Bay, approx. 8 miles from Atascadero. Slow down at “Campground Ahead� sign, take left to Cerro Alto. Park at entrace or drive paved road to lot at end. Caution: narrow 2-lane road. Small lot may require backing in. Fees: Check dues required at kiosk; bring cash or check. Rated: Moderate to difficult. Horses and riders must be fit. Feet: Boots, athletic or hiking shoes recommended. Dogs: Allowed Trails: 3 trails; 2 from kiosk (Canyon & Bridge trails), 1 near entrance (Boy Scout trail; water crossing). All single track & rocky, long climbs. Trail to Cerro Alto top NOT suggested for horses (worth the walk; beautiful 360-degree view include Morro Rock and Paso Robles; great sunset, bring flashlight if staying late). Popular loop is Bridge Trail, AT&T Trail, Canyon Trail. Other: No horse camping. Water hose bibs available in parking lot. Day users can fill up the parking Trail Tales brought to you by lot. Morning is suggested. Trail Whitehorse Tack used by hikers, mountain bikers 2805 Black Oak Drive & equestrians. Be courteous. CritPaso Robles, CA 93446 ters include snakes. whitehorsetack.com Additional info: alltrails.com/ trail/us/california/cerro-alto

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ROUND TOWN by Lynne Schmitz

In

my collection of old newspapers I have quite a few copies of the San Miguel Banner which was published by Herb Comfort throughout the 1960s. His printing business was in the building on 14th Street which now houses Taco Mafia. It was a typical small-town newspaper filled with the minutiae in the lives of people who were neighbors, friends and relatives – who had visitors, birthdays, anniversaries, parties and who might be ill or have died. Everyone knew everyone else and kids couldn’t get away with much but felt safe and secure in the town ‘family’. We’ll look at the January 3, 1963 issue. On the front

San Miguel reflections

page, readers learned ‘Mail Rates Go Higher Monday’. Postmaster Kenneth Fee announced the raise, saying the new nickel letter rate was the same as when stamps were first issued in 1848. The new stamp was blue and featured a picture of George Washington. Mr. Fee reminded writers to add a one cent stamp if needed. Air Mail was going up to eight cents. Judge Ray B. Lyon was retiring from the SLO County Superior Court bench after serving since 1938. A lengthy article listed his accomplishments. Inside was a listing of church services. The pastor of Mission San Miguel was Fr. Donald Gander O.F.M., Rev. Gertrude Parker was pastor of the Community Methodist Church at 8th and L Streets, and Rev. Ernest Vaughn was pastor of the Assembly of God Church at 13th and L Streets. Thomas Wha-

ley was principal at Lillian Larsen Elementary School. Several businesses advertised in the paper, including Mission Trail Café on south Mission Street across from the Mission; Hugo’s Douglas Service, owned by Hugo Lichti just north of the restaurant (now Awalt & Son); San Miguel Variety Store, owned by Vivian Witcosky on 14th and Mission Street (now CHC), Casa Blanca Motel on east 12th Street (now a trailer court), the San Miguel Telephone Company on the corner of the alley on 12th Street and Turner’s Tavern & Restaurant at 1215 Mission Street. Witcosky’s Grocery, owned by Joe and Vivian Witcosky, advertised fresh ground beef and pork spare ribs at 45 cents per pound. Joe was an expert meat-cutter. Also advertising was Mission Restaurant and Truck Store owned by Angelis J.

Karascos at 1315 Mission Street. Next door, Chames Fountain and Chames Barber Shop were owned by the Chames family. The San Miguel Flouring Mill, incorporated in 1903 and owned by the Van Horn family, offered grain cleaning, rolling and storage and stock feeds. Ken’s garage, owned by Kenny Sanchez was located in the old building on 14th and Mission Street that is currently abandoned. Before he owned the business, he was in partnership with Louis Larsen, husband of the teacher for whom our school is named. Camp Roberts was active under the command of Colonel Henry Settle. Fifty-five years ago, San Miguel was a very different place. San Miguel story ideas? Lynne Schmitz can be contacted at lynne@pasomagazine.com

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PASO Magazine, July 2018


‘TIS THE SEASON

TO BE MARRIED W

edding season is upon us this time of year! As you plan your wedding, ‘tis the season to let your creative juices flow! After the Big By Azurae Shults 3 – Build Your Guest List, List Your Must-Have Amenities, Determine a Budget – have been decided, you have to take a minute to decide what kind of wedding you want to have. Will it be a casual backyard party, a garden party with champagne and exquisite appetizers or perhaps a church ceremony followed by an indoor 3-course meal? There are so many details to consider- so it’s best to begin by doing a little social media research…aka cyberstalking! We have some incredible resources at our fingertips these days that can really make your life so much easier! INSTAGRAM: Instagram is the perfect resource for local inspiration. By setting up an account and choosing to follow some of your favorite vendors you will see photos and videos of décor and design elements that may catch your eye and inspire you! Local vendors to follow should be coordinators, caterers, photographers, florists and hair/makeup artists. A few locals I recommend checking out: @TrumpetVineCatering, @sidecarcocktailco, @allysonmagdaphoto, @fluidbloom, @thequeensbees, @allaboutevents and @scout_rental_co Take screenshots of ideas you love and then you can upload them to your Pinterest account or send them directly to your vendor team. PINTEREST: I have a love-hate relationship with Pinterest. It is truly the “Library of Congress” of ideas and creative concepts. It can be overwhelming if not used properly and brides can truly fall down the rabbit hole when they don’t use this resource properly. I recommend creating a few very specific boards such as florals, hair & make-up, the dress & cake to help organize all of the ideas you love. Once you’ve maxed out your Pinterest screen time then you should make a “must have” design board. Pick and choose 2-3 favorite images from each board and hand this off to your vendors. This will help you have one consistent design message for everyone to work from and discuss. Trust me this will make your life so much easier! Social media isn’t the only place you can get inspiration from! Celebrity weddings, current styles and trending colors are also major influencers. In 2018, we are seeing a ton of new and refreshing design trends, much different than the past couple of years. Rustic barn weddings adorned with burlap and mason jars are becoming less popular and are being replaced with bohemian themes and richer color profiles; fewer pastels and more jewel tones, fewer wine barrels and more vintage furniture, fewer buffet dinners and more family style service. Weddings are a celebration of two families coming together. It’s an opportunity to give your guests a glimpse into your world, so let your personality shine! You should always be a little bit selfish when planning your wedding so that it reflects a few of your favorite things. We are all influenced by popular culture and things we see on television and online. Designing a wedding is the perfect opportunity to gather a few of your favorite ideas and flavors to share with your nearest and dearest. This part of the planning should be fun and should give you that anxious, excited feeling. If it doesn’t then you should definitely seek the help and guidance of a professional event designer. Local businesses like The Wedding Standard (theweddingstandard.com) and SLO Wedding Planners (sloweddingplanners.com) will offer you several resources if you just can’t take this all on yourself! HAVE A WEDDING QUESTION ?

Email me at hello@cielbleuevents.com Azurae Shults | Ciel Bleu Event Design www.cielbleuevents.com

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ROUND TOWN | COUNTY PERSPECTIVE

A Bird’s Eye View on County Unhealthy: Okay, to be blunt, I’m not a fan of the way Las Vegas airport runs its air traffic control (ATC) system. I think they do it a lot better in Norcal and Socal. As a corporate pilot, I get out to sin city fairly often but last time the faux pas defied belief: one controller got completely overwhelmed: Pilots were interrupting other pilots, late clearances, forgotten clearances,(me), had turned a normal arrival into chaos. One anonymous pilot had had it. He keyed his microphone and bellowed, “This is the worst ATC work I’ve ever seen!” That matters, because like health care, air traffic mistakes can be deadly. Speaking of health care, SLO County’s behavioral health services have come under heat for failing to admit mental health patients who ended up dying in custody at the county jail. The point that they should have been at the county’s mental health facility instead, largely drove the June political campaign for sheriff. Despite having a director who makes more than almost anyone else in county government, inmate health care looks to improve, with a new jail’s medical clinic contract in place. The county’s chief medical officer still has to sign off on the new $400,000 deal with Maxim Healthcare Services, but that part seems pretty perfunctory. Questions remain however; does the deal address the county’s mental health services’ previous failures, and

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News

By Bruce M. Curtis

will the price of that contract – nearly as much as the salary paid to our chief of behavioral health – prevent future deaths? Slide Away: Caltrans and contractors have been making rapid progress toward reopening Hwy1at the site of the Mud Creek slide ten miles north of Ragged Point. The $54 million project launched after millions of tons of rocks and soil pushed the pacific coast outward by about fifty yards, following 2016’s

continue.” • 50 trucks a day travel Highway 1 daily to and from the slide area, with 25 haul trucks and grading equipment working on site • A construction crew of 35 is working the project, working 12-14 hour day Massive Mortgage: California’s realtors weighed in on housing affordability here in SLO County in May, and the picture will split your walled down the seams. Only one in four county residents pull down enough money to get a mortgage on the median-priced home, currently closing in on six tenths of a stick, (almost $600,000 in non-realtor-speak). And yes, I

When the slide finally settled, crews hit the ground running, shaving the hillside, installing drainage and piling huge boulders along the surf line to stabilize the mountain. torrential winter rains. The reason for delaying the rebuild had nothing to do with Caltrans’ alleged slothfulness, despite shovel-leaning jokes and cynical sayings, ‘the road to hell is paved by Caltrans’, but in fact due to the fact the project had to wait until the mountain stopped moving. When the slide finally settled, crews hit the ground running, shaving the hillside, installing drainage and piling huge boulders along the surf line to stabilize the mountain. Here is an update: • More than 5 million cubic yards of material, reportedly the largest landslide in California highway history. • Reopening is estimated for mid-September, although, according to agency spokesperson Susana Cruz, “It’s expected that even after the highway is reopened, intermittent lane closures and roadwork may

know; that’s no laughing matter, because only 26% of us make the nearly $124,000 annual salary it takes to buy a home. If big numbers like that make your eyes water, think of it as only $3,100 per month and cheer up; that number includes your taxes and insurance. Besides, you could be living in either counties north and south of us where house prices are even higher. Gnawing Psyllids: My son, an engineering student who works tech support, has a wicked sense of humor. For his job he’s writing a phonetic alphabet, you know, like the military uses… alpha, bravo, charlie, etc, but his uses words with silent letters. When someone calls, he’ll say, check the power; that’s “p” as in pterodactyl, or, type in your password, “K”, as in, “knead”, “H” as in “honest”… He thinks the idea is hysterical.

One silent-lettered pest is gnawing its way into your food and local farmers’ ire; the Asian Citrus Psyllid. Agriculture officials are asking you to buy local fruit and produce and not bring citrus or other fruit from outside the county. They’ve already identified 100 individual insects found here since January. The official count of nests is at 40, and given the way insects procreate, that’s…ahh, let’s see…well, it’s potentially an invasion army of bugs. So far the damage has been mostly limited to Nipomo, and psyllid numbers have tapered down from a spike early in March. Why have the tree-damaging psyllids invaded? Possibly warm weather, nobody is quite sure, but 33 adults have been found this year in the 2,000 traps that have been set. The potential loss to farmers is incalculable. Not Gonna Burn, No… Last year’s blazes were brought back to mind when Cal Fire got ahead of a 100 acre blaze in late May along Bitterwater road, about 11 miles east of Cholame. The small fire was a timely reminder that we live where things like to burn, so being prepared should be a done deal. Clear 30 – 100’ of defensible space around your rural home; if you burn leaves and brush, follow safety procedures in your permit: burn in cooler morning conditions or wait for higher humidity. Use spark producing equipment like mowers early in the day because blazing trees produce the saddest kind of second-hand smoke. Cal Fire even has a mobile app for iPhones and Android for more fire safe ideas, because knowledge a word with two silent letters – can save lives.

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PASO PEOPLE Mid-State Fair CEO

Mike Bradley

Gets Excited for “America’s Favorite Fair” By Melissa Chavez

tion of a state-of-the-art, “America’s Favorite Fair” 65,000-square-foot multijust got bigger, savvier, use pavilion with RV and even more fun. CEO hookups. Attached to the Mike Bradley and his staff Livestock Pavilion, the faare gearing up to bring cility now provides 95,000 attendees more bang for square feet of covered their buck for this year’s event, dubbed, “Ole’, it’s CEO Mike Bradley space, and complements the Hearst Equestrian Fiesta Time.” Among the Center, used throughout annually successful live entertainment lineup are two Hispanic the year for competitive events. acts featuring new and regionally “We’re increasing shade elenostalgic music artists. ments this year in a new Midway “The strategic plan,” said Bradley, Food Court with seating north of “has been to bring the public a spec- our newly enhanced Grandstand,” tacular venue with multiple uses – said Bradley. Along with funnot only during Mid-State Fair, but nel cakes, rice bowls and bloomyear-round, and we’re seeing more ing onions, a Hurricane Kitchen Southern Cuisine, Baja Lobster, a of that this year.” One tangible improvement last Hawaiian food booth, Jimmy’s Tayear, funded by the Fair’s nonprofit cos and Marcus’ Chicago Dogs are Heritage Foundation, was construc- among the new offerings.

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Bradley is especially motivated about placing emphasis on the Fair’s mainstay of Agriculture. “It’s a critical element for us. We want people to experience agriculture through taste and touch,” said Bradley. “At the south gate, Rancho Frontier will be dedicated to children and families. We’re bringing back the petting zoo, we’ll have a Turkey Stampede, pony rides, ag equipment on display, activities, contests, a milk shed by Cal Poly students, and an exhibit that demonstrates strawberry, olive, grape and olive production.” Among the activities added is an educational exhibit featuring birds of prey and how they help control the rodent population. Farm Supply will sponsor “Farm Alley” between the Fine Arts and Horticulture buildings with a “Quiz Jam” series of hands-on activities typically found on a farm, such as changing tractor tires, irrigation, farm equipment identification, irrigation systems and livestock nutrition. The marketplace at Estrella Hall will also showcase locally-sourced products with an accent on tech, food, history and

agricultural heritage. Another important agricultural aspect is the Job Fair. Representatives and demos by a series of trade unions – carpenters, masons, engineers and more – will offer leads for employment, and educational and vocational training information by JB Dewar and Cuesta College. New this year at the Frontier Building is an illuminated, animated, ten-window display of San Luis Obispo County communities. “It was Mayor Steve Martin’s idea,” said Bradley, and will highlight the attributes of Paso Robles, Atascadero, Templeton, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Oceano, Pismo Beach, San Simeon and Morro Bay. Hispanic Culture Day (Sunday) will feature bull rides. Motorcycle racing, along with a truck and tractor pull, is also hoped to attract the gearheads. “After all these years, I’ve still got the Fair bug,” said Bradley. “The rush, emotion, satisfaction… It pumps your heart and makes you want to live! George M. Cohan and Walt Disney knew theater, and they both got it done.”

PASO Magazine, July 2018


PASO PEOPLE

California Mid-State Fair Scholarship Pageant to expand focus on education By Melissa Chavez

Pageant contestants. Photo courtesy CMSF

Physical appearance has long been a recurring theme in any beauty pageant. But in 2018, California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) in Paso Robles has refocused its program to place greater emphasis on an imperishable beauty cultivated through education. What originated in 1969 as the Maid of San Luis Obispo County has just received a subtle, yet distinct update. Newly renamed as the Miss California Mid-State Fair Scholarship Pageant, the “scholarship” aspect will emphasize the Fair’s mission of empowering young

July 2018, PASO Magazine

women, ages 17 to 24, toward achievement of their academic goals. The contest takes place every year the evening before the Fair and will begin at 6:30 p.m. on the Frontier Stage. Nine contestants from throughout San Luis Obispo County will compete this year for the Queen title. They are Lorin Tapp (18) of San Luis Obispo, Alexa Pinter (18) San Luis Obispo, Sophia Riddering (19) of Morro Bay, Kimberly White (18) of Oceano, JamieLynn Stapf (21) of San Luis Obispo, Codie

Platform, Health and Fitness, Evening Gown, and Talent. Fifty percent of their points earned is based upon participation, with Interview weighted most of the five categories, or 25 percent of the total score. “Since 2002, the winners have always received scholarship money. The Queen receives $500, the first runner up receives $300, and second runner up receives $200,” said Director Patti Lucas of the prize money allotted at the end of their reign. “All my sponsors are very special and have participated “It’s a fun event, and it really does involve for several years. This year, we’ve planned to give more scholarship money along with some a sisterhood who supports one another.” of the categories.” Auditor Courtney Lucas Sponsors for 2018 include Cattaneo Brothers, Boot Barn, Kaliforna Tanz, Bahama Bay Whilhusen (19) of San Miguel, Brooke Lynn Tanning Salon, The Wearhouse, Body Glove, (20) of Atascadero, Ashley Davis (20) of Oak and Barrel Photography, Yogurt-A-Fair, Paso Robles, and Yvette Fiorentino (18) of San Pink Champagne Celebrations, Albertson’s Luis Obispo. and Alice Bertram. Contestants are evaluated in five categories, including Interview, Community Outreach See PAGEANT, Page 22

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Checking in with the CMSF Heritage Foundation

Members exhibit dedication, determination, and a deep commitment to the COMMUNITY By Meagan Friberg

As plans were underway for the 2018 California Mid-State Fair, I had a chance to catch up with a dedicated member of our local community – Heritage Foundation Chairman Dave Belmont.

If you don’t know about the CMSF Heritage Foundation, take a moment to read its Mission Statement: To preserve and enrich the heritage of the 16th District Agricultural Association and showcase agricultural industries to the community; to offer support to the 4-H and FFA projects and create agricultural education opportunities; maintain a standard of excellence in the facilities and create capital improvement opportunities and to serve as an arm of the California Mid-State Fair that can accept charitable donations.

fairgrounds. To say the 4-H and FFA kids and their animal projects benefited from this new addition to the fair is an understatement.

The original building was from the 1950’s and had become inadequate, according to Heritage Foundation Board Member Brenda Fletcher. “We’d wanted to do a project like this since 2008, and we were finally able to take on the financial aspects and make it a reality,” she said. “The kids deserve this and that is always our goal.”

The Pavilion also built a resurgence in interest about the Heritage Foundation, according to Belmont. “A lot of people saw the building, went inside it, noticed what we had accomplished and wanted to know more about what we do so they became members and are Currently, the Foundation boasts more than 350 members. Serving working alongside us now.” on the Heritage Foundation Board of Directors alongside Belmont are: Thank you to all of the CMSF Heritage Foundation members Daren Friedle, vice chairman; Debbie Dusi, secretary; Deana Nelson, for your dedication, determination, and deep commitment to our financial officer, along with Susan Beebe, Mike Coon, Joanne local community! Cummings, Brenda Fletcher, Tim Hartzell, Patricia Lawrence, John Peschong, Hugh Pitts, Michael Torgerson and Denise Stornetta. “Our members are people who want to give back to our community,” said Belmont. “There are generations of families involved in the Mid-State Fair and the Heritage Foundation. We enjoy giving back and seeing how the fairgoers appreciate the projects and improvements we have made over the years.”

Since its inception in 1999, the Heritage Foundation has donated more than $8,000,000 worth of capital improvements to the fair grounds. Donations and projects have included: hog panels, shade cloths, scales, covered equestrian arena, sales ring building, modified arena grandstands, the Heritage Building and Commercial Building 3. The most recent and perhaps the most amazing project completed to date was dedicated just before the start of the 2017 fair – the 100,000 square foot Paso Robles Pavilion, located on the northeast side of the

PAGEANT, From Page21

Previous winners have also returned to help with the pageant in various ways in practical help and through sponsorship, said Patti. To name a few, Katlyn Kaney (2002), who entered her competition on a dare by friends and family, is now CEO of Cattaneo Brothers. Destini Cavaletto (2004) now General Manager of Santa Margarita Ranch, will serve as a judge this year. Savannah Hoagland Romero (2012), currently the

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CMSF HERITAGE FOUNDATION One hundred percent of all monies received through membership and fundraising events for the CMSF Heritage Foundation go back into the Mid-State Fair and Paso Robles Events Center. During the fair, July 18-29, they have five popular concessions on the fairgrounds that help raise funds including the Island Bar & Grill. For more information, call 805-238-3745 or see thecmsfheritagefoundation.org; be sure to give them a “like” on Facebook at California Mid-State Fair Heritage Foundation.

helping contestants with interview skills this year. “We have had some women that competed in the California MidState Fair Pageant also compete in in other systems,” said Courtney Lucas, Auditor for the pageant, who assists her mother, Patti, throughout the pageant season. “Tommy Lynn Calhoun, who was CMSF 2017 Pageant Queen with our Queen in 2010, competed 1st and 2 nd runner ups for Miss California USA, as well Wine Club Manager at La Vigne as Miss Arizona USA.” Calhoun Winery, serves as one of Patti’s was crowned Miss Arizona USA assistants. Riley Shannon (2015) is in 2017.

“If anyone would like to be a contestant, they only need to fill out an application and turn it in by the due date, usually in April,” said Courtney. “It’s a fun event, and it really does involve a sisterhood who supports one another.” Admission and parking are free. For more information, call California Mid-State Fair Pageant Coordinator Patti Lucas at 805-239-0555 or visit midstatefair.com.

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PASO Magazine, July 2018






COMMUNITY LEADERS WEIGH IN ON PASO ROBLES

HOTEL CONSTRUCTION AND EXPANSION By Melissa Chavez

Lone Oak Hotel conversion of 37 The City of Paso Robles Com- rooms located at 715 24th Street munity Development Department recently confirmed the status of the next seven hotel projects that have been approved for expansion and construction, including two Downtown structures and an RV resort.

“The City has seen a dramatic increase in hotels and lodging. Within the next 12 months, we expect to see 200 more hotel rooms and another 600 rooms within the next two to three years,” said Community Development Director Warren Frace, who is responsible for overseeing the City’s Planning, Engineering and Building Divisions.

By Fiscal Year 2019-20, the City foresees completion of another 418 rooms: Hotel Cheval (Phase 2), a new two-story, 20-room structure across from the existing Hotel Cheval on the northeast corner of Pine and 10th Street Marriott Residence Inn, a fourstory project with 128 rooms Fairfield Inn, a 119-room development Hotel Ava, a four-story, 155-room hotel with restaurant and retail at 944 Pine Street (previous Hayward Lumber 2.42-acre parcel)

Frace reported that four new lodging accommodations are expected to open by Fiscal Year 2018-19, including 187 rooms and 332 RV spaces. They include: Oxford Suites Hotel, a five-story, 69,209-square-foot project with 127 rooms at 4th and Pine Street The Piccolo at Paso Robles Inn, a four-story, 17,946-square-foot brick façade structure with 23 rooms. Cava Robles RV Resort, a 12,000-square-foot RV park with 332 spaces on Golden Hill Road

On August 2, 2017, the City of Paso Robles hosted an Emergency Services Community Workshop aimed at assessing the current level of fire and emergency first-response services in the city and to consider strategic, long-term planning. At the well-attended gathering, questions were raised about the effects of fire services relative to hotel construction. Implemented at the rate of 10 percent, the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) yields $4 million annually for an existing

HERE’S A LOOK AT WHAT’S IN THE PIPELINE AT CITY OF PASO ROBLES.

TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS

Within the next 12 months, we expect to see 200 more hotel rooms and another 600 rooms within the next two to three years 1,413 rooms. Deposited into the General Fund, these monies help support the City’s annual operating budget, including emergency services funding, which benefit both new and existing structures throughout the community. Mayor Steve Martin also pointed out that TOT’s help to subsidize emergency services, albeit with some limitation. The average property tax the City receives from single-family residences is $1,100 annually. For hotels, the cost is $450 per room. As for the strain on emergency services, City consultant Stu Gary explained that modern building codes and materials, such as sprinklers and fire walls, help to effectively mitigate danger, but underscored that state law requires certificated testing every five years. He added that, by nature, new hotel structures have more safeguards in place than older residences.

IMPACT ON WATER

A common worry for many Paso Robles property owners is water scarcity and California’s ongoing battle with chronic drought. “The City has a long-term Urban Water Management plan that was adopted in 2015 that covers all existing and proposed future development, including hotels,” confirmed Warren Frace. To help address the issue, the City established conservation measures, including seasonal water restrictions, graywater harvesting guidelines, a Landscape and Irrigation Guide, and a Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance with a “Landscape Documentation Package must be presented with or prior to the submittal of construction drawings for building plan check. A Conservation Element is part of the General Plan with action items for water sourcing, supply and distribution, including provisions and conservation programs for residents and business. In addition, the City began offering rebates to homeowners or businesses who replace irrigated lawns with drought-tolerant plants on drip irrigation, artificial turf, or permeable paving, provided that specific landscaping requirements are met. High-efficiency toilet rebates of up to $125 for residents and businesses are also available. What is important to note

New hotel construction and expansion projects are required to use low-flow fixtures, water-efficient appliances, droughttolerant landscaping and other water conservation practices. Marriott Residence Inn July 2018, PASO Magazine

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On average, year-round, our hotels are about 74 percent full. The taxes generated are revenue for road building that comes largely through tourism. Hotel AVA with new hotel construction and expansion projects is that they are required to use low-flow fixtures, water-efficient appliances, drought-tolerant landscaping and other water conservation practices. In related construction news, on May 15, Paso Robles City Council reviewed the EIR consultant contract for the Beechwood Specific Plan, located on Creston Road, just north of Franklin Hot Springs. The conceptual neighborhood was presented before the Planning Commission for 915 single- and multifamily residences (since decreased from 1,011), mixed use commercial development, open-space areas, parks, and multipurpose trails within a 236-acre parcel bordered by Meadowlark Road, Creston Road and Beechwood Drive in the southeast section of the city. Matt McLish, Executive Committee Chairman of Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, who attended the Open House for the Beechwood Specific Plan on April 11 concluded, “The feedback was good, and the project seems to be intelligently thought out with a good plan for water.” GROWTH: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

In 2010, the population of Paso Robles was 29,785. Slow, steady growth increased that number by 2,122 by 2016, when the population was recorded at 31,907. But those who have watched the city’s population expand in recent years may be surprised to learn that the most significant growth in Paso Robles actually occurred decades ago. Not only did Paso Robles weather the early recession of the 1980-1982, when nationwide bankruptcies rose 50 percent and agricultural exports declined, but the City saw its population more than double from 9,200 to 18,600

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between 1980-1990, according to the U.S. Census and State Department of Finance. By Y2K, the community’s population began to reflect a strong, steady decrease in population growth. However, by the end of the first decade, during the nation’s Great Recession, the population dropped to zero growth. Then, through 2014, the population alternately decreased and increased annually within one percent. Despite these economic ups and downs, the Downtown core has

the future, but I think each one will depend upon the process of approval, financing and time,” Masia said matter-of-factly. “It takes years to get hotels built and economic forces have a lot to do with that in the business of supply and demand.” He also observed that other hotel properties with room rates in the high tier tend to drive down prices of more moderately priced hotels, including his own, to remain competitive. “In the summer, we’re easily 100 percent full,” said Masia, “and

Vandenberg AFB, Camp Roberts, Fort Hunter Liggett, plus travelers from Lemoore, who prefer Paso Robles over King City,” he said. “On average, year-round, our hotels are about 74 percent full. The taxes generated are revenue for road building that comes largely through tourism. I’d be scared to think of what we’d be looking at without it,” said McLish. He added that in addition to the service jobs that hotels provide, he hopes to see a more diverse mix of industry, including “ag tech, which is

we average around 50 percent in the winter. But what often gets overlooked is business lodging throughout the week. We have 4H and FFA families who stay, military personnel, wine-related sales professionals and others, oil rig workers, and truckers. “We easily get 10 truckers a night needing lodging. Monday through Thursday we’re 75 percent full on average.” Chamber Chairman Matt McLish, who also serves as a Paso Robles School District Board Trustee, pointed out that when visitors come to Paso, it takes two days to generate the type of revenue from food, lodging and sales tax that a resident typically generates in a month. “We also have military bases nearby that depend upon Paso Robles hotels when they arrive for exercises in our area –

our strength.” Executive Director Norma Moye at Paso Robles Main Street Association has observed changes in Paso Robles for decades. A Paso Robles High alumnus, Norma is considered among the core contingent of Paso Robles historians who are deeply involved in hands-and-feet service to the community. Norma shared her perspective about the renewed building and expansion efforts throughout the city. “I think it’s wonderful; it’s progress,” said Norma. “We’re (Paso Robles) a destination. It’s a great Downtown now. It’s walkable and that’s neat. We’ve got good people who work here and make it a great place to live. We’re a can-do people who all work together.” When asked about the concerns some people express about

Despite these economic ups and downs, the Downtown core has flourished with restaurants, wine tasting rooms, shops and offices. Hotel Cheval (Phase 2) flourished with restaurants, wine tasting rooms, shops and offices. Courtesy of local support, business is brisk, in large part by tourist dollar support. Matt Masia, whose family has been in the hotel business since 1961, operates the Adelaide Inn and the neighboring Best Western Plus Black Oak property in the 24th Street corridor across from the Paso Robles Event Center. Still in process at the Planning Department is Black Oak Lodge, a four-story, 96-room, 59,229-square-foot hotel on a 1.8-acre lot at 2717 Black Oak Drive, adjacent to the 24th Street McDonald’s restaurant. Masia confirmed that when he breaks ground, local contractors will be hired to launch the project. “Everyone is looking toward

PASO Magazine, July 2018


the town increasing the number of hotel rooms, Norma said, “We can’t stop growth, for Pete’s sake. We can’t just shut the door, and we didn’t when people moved here who are now saying they don’t want any more to come in. TOT brings events and helps our quality of life here. We draw tourism, which is great, and they visit and leave. We could use more parking lots. Maybe we can build a (mixed use) parking garage and put retail on the bottom floor,” she theorized. “But think about it. Have those dollars ruined the Downtown? Nope. Look at it now!” A 10-year resident of Paso Robles, Chamber chairman McLish grew up in Orange County, and shared his perspective about biginfluence into North County. In his Chamber capacity, McLish said that, like anyone who has adopted Paso Robles as their town, he foresees more transplants arriving to do business that share a common mindset with Paso natives to keep everything in balance. People who have moved into Paso Robles to get

July 2018, PASO Magazine

“Tourism generates a tremendous amount of tax revenue ... two nights in a hotel pays more tax than a resident pays in a month.” — Mayor Steve Martin Oxford Suites away from the sprawl of large-city populations, he said, share the same concerns of those who grew up in North County. “I feel pretty confident that these folks know what positive growth is,” said McLish. “In Orange County, sometimes I didn’t know what community I was in because there was no delineation from one community to another. My parents live in Orcutt now and they visit. We enjoy the seasonal activities here, like Halloween and the tree lighting at the park, and I enjoy watching them with Eli, our four-year-old. We had wall-towall commerce and residential in

Orange County with a disregard for aesthetics. They lost that at some point,” said McLish. “Everyone I’ve been involved with here at the City is very concerned for retaining Paso history and the quality of life with a small-town feel.” Mayor Steve Martin reported recently that in Fiscal Year 201718, the top revenue generators for the City were property taxes, sales taxes and TOT revenue, which only underscores the need for tourist dollars, essential funds that keep the wheels turning on the City’s economic bus. The view from that bus isn’t bad, either, according to a recent City

survey conducted amongst residents. Mayor Martin reported that of 466 people who replied, 92 percent reported quality of life in Paso Robles as “good” or “excellent.” “Tourism generates a tremendous amount of tax revenue and it’s a trade-off,” Community Development Director Frace said of the ebb and flow of people that tourism brings into the community. “The more that tourists come to spend money here, the more they help pay for our city’s infrastructure.” Melissa Chavez can be reached at melissa @ pasomagazine.com

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LOCAL BUSINESS

Business Leaders Gather for Summit

D

PASO CHAMBER FOCUSES ON ECON-DEV

ozens of Paso Robles business leaders gathered at Adelaida Vineyards and Winery for the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Business Leader Summit on May 31. It was a sign of the Chamber’s direction as a true stakeholder in the future of commerce in Paso Robles, bringing elected officials, city managers, business owners, school board members, and other community leaders together to talk about what is next for El Paso de Robles. The Chamber’s new Director of Economic Development Josh Cross emceed the event, and Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin gave the keynote speech — unpacking a trunkful of optimism and pointed obligation to the citizens — to both business and residential communities — about the future of Paso Robles. He summed up the current cycle of Paso Robles concisely, “We are at the beginning of Paso Robles,” before

taking a quick look back at the past 30 years. “We were leaking millions of dollars in sales tax because we had a retail base in tatters,” Martin said. “People had to leave town if they had to do any significant shopping … that was Paso in 1986.” In 1991, a time when Martin also pre-

“We are going to be the next big thing.” sided as Mayor, Paso Robles completed a “massive” economic analysis of the retail base, and identified the niches where retailers were missing, and “we started filling them in,” according to Martin. “Paso Robles was going to be the retail hub of the North County,” Martin said of the attitude of the leaders at that time, but it was not an easy sell.

By Nicholas Mattson

“In 1991, there was great consternation about what would happen to Paso Robles as it grew, would we lose our quality of life?” Martin said, “but we all had different ideas of what quality of life was.” Martin and the council penned a definition that carried into his keynote speech three decades away. “Quality of life is defined as a place where a great majority of people can live, work, and shop,” Martin said. “If we do those three things, we will always have our quality of life in Paso Robles.” Much is said about the power of intention, and Martin’s testimony adds to the metaphysical lore. “We look around today, and see that Paso Robles is the retail hub of the North County,” Martin informed. “We have multiple See SUMMIT on Page 34

EVENT AHEAD? TRAFFIC. HANDLED.

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LOCAL BUSINESS SUMMIT from Page 32

levels of shopping, opportunities for people to buy goods and services that we never had before. We see a community whose quality of life has not diminished, but has improved.” Nearly 30 years later, and Martin has a new vision to offer Paso Robles, but the same mantra. “We are at a crossroads in Paso Robles,” Martin said. “Are we going to become … gentrified — with very expensive housing, very expensive shopping, and we become a retirement community where everyone else needs to go find a place to live in the hills. Or are we going to continue that philosophy of being a balanced community where a great majority of the people can live, work, and shop?” Martin advocated for tourism, but warned against putting all Paso Robles’ eggs in one basket. “During the great recession, but for tourism, we would have suffered mightily,” Martin said. “Tourism accounts for roughly 50 percent of City revenue, when you take into

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account transient occupancy tax and sales tax generated by visitors. We are blessed by that fact, but the problem is, it is a monolithic industry. So goes tourism, so goes Paso Robles. Diversify … that is what we need in Paso Robles if we are going to proceed with the vision of being a place where people can live, work, and shop. We need employment opportunities in sectors other than tourism so that over the years, Paso Robles will have a resilient economic base — to provide head of household jobs, goods and services, and things that cities are expected to provide for citizens and maintain a high quality of life. That is why this meeting is so important, and why all of you are so important.” Martin expressed the importance of the Chamber of Commerce’s role in economic development. “It is so important to Paso Robles, and we are relying on the Chamber of Commerce to spread the word about Paso Robles — to spread the story that we are the retail hub of the North County, and we will be the economic development hub of this county — not just

for tourism, but other industrial sectors: light manufacturing, tech, things that come in and provide diversity of jobs and a bigger em-

ployment base so people can afford to buy new homes in Paso Robles.” Likely recalling the consternation of the community 30 years ago, Martin recognized the possibility

of fear in pioneering a new direction for the community. “Being at the beginning of Paso Robles can be a little scary,” Martin said. “It can be fun, but it can be scary. Now is the time to be very careful how we plan our residential development, our roads, our infrastructure, our sewer and water, to maintain that quality of life and give those who live here the confidence that the quality of life will not be compromised.” Steadying the ship, Martin readied the leadership crew for the next phase of the summit to answer questions about the future of Paso. “This is our time,” Martin said. “The city of Paso Robles has always been a wonderful place to live, but it has been a community that is catching up, technologically, economically, but we are now primed like no time in the past to proceed forward down this trail. Never have we been so prepared to take advantage of the change.” With a fire in his belly, an excitement shared verbally to PASO Magazine by other members of the City Council, Martin urged the

PASO Magazine, July 2018


summit to pay attention to the big picture … and get ready. “We are going to be the next big thing,” Martin said. “If we don’t look 10 to 20 years down the road and declare what we are going to be, we are going to be swept away by change. Surf the wave or get run over by the wave.” Martin was not only inviting the members of the summit, but to the entire community of Paso Robles to join in the vision of what Paso Robles will become. “As the Chamber comes together with different committees, work projects, and opportunities,” Martin said, “get involved with your expertise, your excitement, and your passion about the ‘beginning of Paso Robles’ to the table, because without that, we will fail. We are depending on you for that.”

This is the first in a series of articles following the progress of the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee’s work as the Lead Agency in Economic Development.

July 2018, PASO Magazine

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LOCAL BUSINESS | BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Let’s Welcome

PARADISE GRILL

Steak and Seafood Restaurant By Millie Drum

P

aradise Grill is now open in the iconic location occupied by Wilson’s Restaurant for decades. Based on a long-term friendship between Hector Jimenez and Ampelio Rangel, and help from their families, Paradise Grill is truly a dream come true. The men, now business partners, met at church where they are both very involved. After getting to know each other and their families, Hector spoke to Ampelio about his dream to open a family, steakhouse-style restaurant that would become their customers “favorite place to eat.” With plenty of faith, hard work and Hector’s many years of experience as a chef, the two men created Paradise Grill that is carrying on Wilson’s legacy as a popular restaurant for families, large groups and everyone who enjoys good food and attentive service. For those of us who remember Wilson’s tradition, the new owners have preserved the same décor and excellent service with comfortable booth, table and counter seating.

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Hector’s daughter Esmeralda says, “Nothing satisfies my father more than seeing people enjoy his food that is prepared just the way they like it. At Paradise Grill, there is no such thing as a tricky order or picky eater.” Meals are prepared with attention to dietary needs and personal preferences. The menu was created by the Jimenez family; making it unique by adding its own original flavors to many popular American dishes. Since the recent opening, comments from customers on the good food and attentive service have been very complimentary.

Refer to the ad in this issue for breakfast, lunch and dinner specials. Enjoy Happy Hour on Monday through Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. Paradise Grill is open every day; located at 635 28th Street in Paso Robles. For menu, visit steakseafoodparadise.wixsite.com /paradisegrill.

Hector and Ampelio

The Paradise Grill Family

PASO Magazine, July 2018


LOCAL GOODS REPORT

from

General Store Paso Robles

L IFE E LEMENTS MIXES KNOWLEDGE, HEART, AND THE BEST NATURAL INGREDIENTS

Martha Van Inwege, the CEO of Life Elements, is one of the most industrious producers we work with. We’ve been loyal fans of her Healing Honey Stick for years. She’s now supercharged the Honey Stick idea with Hemp derived CBD. The General Store team has been using these locally-made handcrafted, organic CBD ointments for months to nourish and help heal everything from sore muscles to achy joints, skin rashes to bites and burns. THEY WORK. But there’s been a lot of confusion about CBD... we thought we’d ask the guru to explain what’s so great about it. People get nervous that anything made with any kind of cannabis is illegal to use. Can you set the record straight?

Martha Van Inwege

Yes. The first thing to remember is that there are many varieties in the cannabis family. There is marijuana, which has both CBD and THC oils. THC is what makes marijuana psychoactive and gives you a ‘high’ and therefore can only be purchased in a dispensary. Then there is hemp, which is from the cannabis family, as are the hops in beer, believe it or not. Hemp is full of CBD, but has less than .3% THC, so there are no psychoactive effects and it’s thereby legal to sell in stores in the United States. What’s the most fantastic result you’ve seen from people using your products?

This is a tough one because we get a lot of great testimonials and so many that just bring us to (happy) tears. One of most impressive results we’ve seen is from a man who has an auto-immune disease and could not use his hands due to the severe cracking. His doctors had prescribed several medications, including steroids, but nothing helped. I asked him Working Bees for her Healing Honey Stick to try our Healing Honey Stick and see if it would at least ease the pain a bit. Three weeks later, his daughter sent us a picture of his hands. They were completely healed. He is now off the medications and using just the CBD Healing Honey Stick.

General Store carries both the Everyday Skin Repair and the Ache and Pain Relief sticks that are all natural, local, and incredibly effective. Sure worth a try after a long day at the beach! And stay tuned for our late summer opening of our second downtown location - General Store Notable Goods! It will be just around the corner, and will be filled with books, cards, and things that make us happy. Enjoy Summer! Come see us! The General Store Team

July 2018, PASO Magazine

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OAK LEAF | Agriculture

2018 CMSF Junior Livestock Auction, 4-H, and FFA

After months of hard work, it’s show time for student exhibitors By Meagan Friberg

Preparations are underway for the 2018 California Mid-State Fair and it’s almost go-time for the many 4-H and FFA members and student exhibitors throughout the county. Thanks to the efforts of CMSF Heritage Foundation volunteers, the 100,000-foot Paso Robles Pavilion is ready to welcome visitors for the second year. “The new pavilion and arena area is fabulous,” CMSF Livestock Superintendent Jo Ann Switzer said. “The animals, the students and people who stop by to visit are much more comfortable now.” Switzer encourages everyone to come by to see the animals, talk with the students, and ask questions. A vast array of animals – poultry, rabbits, swine, sheep, cattle, goats,

and more – will be on display. The barn area is open daily to the public during the fair from noon to 8 p.m. For decades, Switzer has dedicated countless hours helping young people in our community participate in livestock activities at the fair. “I just love these kids and I believe in this program,” she said. “And I can’t say enough about the leaders and instructors who teach these children; it’s a great undertaking and a lot of responsibility – they do a great job year after year.” On Tuesday, July 18, stop by and support 4-H and FFA kids during the Poultry Show and Turkey Show and stick around for Dairy Goat Showmanship. New this year, the California Junior Livestock Association (CJLA) brings attention to the Wether Dam Doe Goat Breeding Show. The always popular Cattlemen

Photo courtesy of CMSF

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and Farmer’s Day happens on Thursday, July 19. The day’s activities include a barbeque luncheon, the Cattlemen and Farmer’s Social Hour, a steak dinner and the presentation of awards in the evening. The first weekend is filled with events including the new Specialty Sheep, Rabbit, and CJLA Wether Dam Ewe shows on Friday, the 4-H Dog Show on Saturday and the Farm Supply Junior Livestock Quiz Jam on Sunday. As the week unfolds, things pick up with the brand-new Dairy Cattle Show and the Breeding Sheep Show on Monday. Tuesday brings the Market Hog, Market Lamb, and Meat Goat shows. Wednesday is packed with the Breeding Beef and Market Steer shows, the Ladies and Lads Lead/Costume Show, and the Supreme Champion Selection featuring Meat Goats, Market Sheep, Market Swine and Market Beef. On Thursday, July 26, the morning brings 4-H and FFA showmanship in the Swine, Meat Goat and Sheep categories followed by the Replacement Heifer Show in the evening. On Friday, Beef Showmanship happens in the morning with the Replacement Heifer Show starting at 6 p.m. The much-anticipated Junior Livestock Auction begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 28. Potential bidders should purchase buyer numbers ahead of time or arrive early to obtain a number at the gate. “The auction is a life-learning ex-

Photo courtesy of CMSF

perience for the kids,” said Switzer. “It teaches business sense, responsibility, and money management skills. Most put away the money they earn for college or to purchase their next fair animal.” This year’s primary Livestock Judges are: Swine - Brian Anderson; Cattle - Dr. Scott Schaake; Market Lamb, Market Goat, and Breeding Sheep - Charles Seidensticker. Sunday events include Round Robin and Pee Wee Showmanship, the Livestock Judging Contest and, new this year, the Stock Show Mom and Stock Show Dad Showmanship Contest. Finishing up the 2018 CMSF season, the Livestock Judging Contest and Round Robin Showmanship Awards Ceremony is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Follow daily updates in the livestock area at: facebook.com/Midstatefairlivestock. The Replacement Heifer Sale and the Junior Livestock Auction will livestream on Facebook as well. The CMSF Livestock Office will be open daily during the fair from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. or call 805-238-3272 for more info. *Be sure to check midstatefair.com/ fair/livestock.php for any last-minute schedule updates Meagan Friberg can be reached at meagan@pasomagazine.com

PASO Magazine, July 2018


Industrial Arts | OAK LEAF

Industrial Arts Display & Auction showcases talents of local youth Bid on and take home handcrafted, unique, award-winning designs

By Meagan Friberg

Looking for a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted barbecue grill, water fountain, outdoor bench, or wine rack? Find a wide variety of projects designed and fabricated by SLO County youth at the 2018 California Mid-State Fair Industrial Arts Display and Auction. Check out 50+ projects on display in The Barn on Equestrian Lane. You’re sure to find one or two musthave items, so plan to grab a bidding card and head over to the Industrial Arts Auction in the Livestock Pavilion on Thursday, July 19. The auction takes place on Cattlemen

July 2018, PASO Magazine

and Farmer’s Day, following the awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m. The popular annual event is sponsored by Airgas, along with contributing sponsor Cuesta College. Designed to showcase the many talents of local student fabricators, the Industrial Education Program involves SLO County high school industrial and technology education instructors overseeing the students as they design and create projects. Basic and advanced techniques are used – projects must have been completed in the past year – with results including trailers, utility racks, shop

benches, porch swings, coffee tables, and more. “We have wonderful vocational and technical programs at our local high schools and Cuesta College,” Event Organizer Blake Wallis said. “All of the schools have outstanding facilities and they have been able to get these facilities through the tenacity and dedication of the instructors. The instructors are great about staying up on the learning curve, and these students are being immersed into a field of technology that is current and state-of-the-art.” Entries are eligible for prizes and awards, and will remain on exhibit through the duration of the fair; first and second place projects may enter the auction. The Airgas Industrial Education Program was started nearly 25 years ago, and the amount raised for the students at the annual project auction increases yearly. Wallis and Debbie and Joel Twisselman have been involved with the Industrial Arts Display and Auction for many years – Wallis for about 25, and the Twisselmans for about 20.

Awards are given in numerous categories including: Best of Show, Industrial Arts Sweepstakes, Best Fair Theme, Junk-A-New, and Basic Welding. Sponsors include: Airgas, Bow Valley Agri-Land Services, Central Coast Barns & Buildings, BHE Renewables, Coast Pipe, La Panza Ranch, JMR Manufacturing, Lowe’s, Advancement for Youth in the Industrial Arts, Madalene Farris, and R. Franklin Farming Co. And what does it do for the student when someone purchases his or her project? “If you buy an item at the auction, there is nothing else like it,” Wallis said. “The item is built by a local individual, and it’s going to last for years. When you see the expression on some of these fabricators’ faces when people start bidding on their handcrafted work, it’s really something else. They see someone is buying the item, and they realize they might be able to make a living doing this.” Meagan Friberg can be reached at meagan@pasomagazine.com

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OAK LEAF | Education

BUILDING COMMUNITY SUMMIT

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King –

By Jim Brescia, SLO County Superintendent

North County is a wonderful place to work, live, play, and raise a family. Our schools and society have many linguistic, cultural, religious, ethnic, and racial issues. Small rural communities like ours are experiencing changing demographics just like large cities, and our leaders must confront these needs, perspectives, and challenges. How do we collectively address everyone and build up our community? Violence across the United States was the topic of my March Superintendent’s Council which included Atascadero school leadership, law enforcement,

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mental health professionals and social services. Multi-agency discussions from my March meeting served as a springboard for the May summit. The goal of our summit was to facilitate multi-agency communication and collaboration, present positive strategies for engagement, and to build community. Summit participants included students, parents, non-profit agencies, religious leaders, city & county officials, school leaders, elected officials, and law enforcement. Over 120 participants joined the afternoon summit held at the Vina Robles Signature Room. Twelve table workgroups of 8-10 were formed consisting of multi-agency representation. Participants left with both short-term and long-term actions to proactively

address community and school tragedies. Sheriff Ian Parkinson stated in his comments that “We can address our issues proactively, one relationship at a time.” I opened the “Building Community Summit” reflecting on my initial student teaching experiences in San Diego just after the 1984 San Ysidro Massacre. Our Sheriff explained current practices in place to ensure student and community safety. He highlighted the high levels of collaboration between law enforcement and our schools, the digital mapping of every campus, and plans for testing of a mobile school safety App. Our county is one of the first in the state to digitally map every campus and to collectively prepare for disasters. Student speakers from North County, San Luis Obispo, and Nipomo stressed

the importance of working together. Tony Milano, a local graduate, and owner of RadHuman, was joined by representatives from Atascadero detailing Bank of America’s “Rachel’s Challenge” resources. Participants focused on examples of disconnect that have preceded conflict, concern, or crisis. Each workgroup presented at least one proactive suggestion that might mitigate disconnect. My office is now planning with the Children’s Services Network, the Sheriff, the Chief of Probation, and the Family Care Network to host a fall summit. I believe that together we can invest in our future by facilitating multi-agency communications, working collectively, and acknowledging that we are all part of a community. It is an honor to serve as your County Superintendent of Schools.

PASO Magazine, July 2018


THE NATURAL ALTERNATIVE NUTRITION CENTER

What is CBD??

CBD (canabidiol) is one of the 100 or so phytocannabinoids from the hemp plant and is one of the most well-known and studied for its amazing healing properties. Virtually free of psychoactive THC, these compounds, including CBD, have shown to affect the brain and body in very positive ways without any mind-altering effects. We must be clear--we are NOT talking about marijuana. Although CBD (derived from industrial hemp) and marijuana originate from Cannabis sativa, the plants are very different. Hemp oil is from industrial hemp plants selected to be low in THC (0.3 % or less), while medical and recreational marijuana is from plants selected for increased THC content,

the compound that causes a “high.” By law, hemp oil cannot contain any significant amounts of THC. In 1992, scientists discovered the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) that contains receptors for cannabinoids that basically affect every organ and system in the body. The ECS system modulates our mood, appetite, energy, immune system, hormones, brain chemistry, sleep, metabolism, and overall well-being. According to a study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, CBD is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-seizure, anti-nausea, and anti-psychotic compound.

July 2018, PASO Magazine

The Natural Alternative carries only the highest quality “whole plant hemp oil” containing all beneficial cannabinoids utilizing CO2 extraction (no solvents). Industry leaders such as Charlotte’s Web, Lidtke, hempSmart, Terry Naturally, Earthly Body, and Nature’s Plus have earned spots on our shelves and the customer feedback is amazing! Our hemp “phytocannabinoids” contain CBD as well as botanicals for stress, sleep, pain relief and overall better health. Don’t forget our local bacaea cannabis confections! These are not only decadent dark chocolate confections, but customers are reporting better sleep and pain relief! In addition to phytocannabinoid drops and capsules, we carry Daily Intensive Cream, Soothing Serum, and Active Spray. “I’ve had back pain, my husband arthritis in his knee & we LOVE the results of the CBD Cream. My 82-year-old mother with rheumatoid arthritis uses it on her lower back and has shown a huge difference in her pain. I recommend this for everyone!” - Denise. Join us on Join us on Saturday, July 7 & 14 from 1 until 4 p.m. for a “Meet & Greet” with Paula Vetter, board certified Holistic Family Nurse Practitioner. Paula is excited about introducing hempSMART, a line of quality full spectrum CBD. She’ll be here to answer questions and have samples available! See You Soon! Bobbi & Team at the Natural Alternative

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TASTE OF PASO

Featuring a Picnic in the Park with Red Scooter Deli by Meagan Friberg

:: GUEST LIST :: (Almost) the entire PASO & COLONY Magazine Team! :: SPECIAL GUESTS :: The PASO & COLONY Magazine Production Team: Denise McLean, Travis Ruppe Sue Dill, Kevin Kaub (Kris Fininen was missed!) After a short break from writing the entrée column in June, I am thrilled to be back sharing the local flavors of Paso! For July, I am diving head first into summer by joining my friends and fellow writers, designers, ad consultants at PASO Magazine…and the brand-new COLONY Magazine…for a family picnic in the beautiful Downtown Paso Robles City Park hosted by our publishers, Nic and Hayley Mattson. While planning the day, we knew just the person to contact to ensure a picnic spread to please the entire group – Stephanie Johnston at Red Scooter Deli. Wow – this was the perfect choice! Stephanie and her team put together a bountiful selection of sandwiches, wraps, salads, and desserts. “Having all of this delicious food prepared by the Red Scooter team made planning our gathering a breeze!” Hayley said. “It was so nice to order everything online; very convenient. Stephanie followed up with a phone call to confirm and made some suggestions. She really is all about personal service.” I sat down with our production team – Denise McLean, Lead Graphic Designer; Travis Ruppe, Design, Composition, and Photo Editor; Sue Dill, Lead Art Producer, and our newest team member, Kevin Kaub, Graphic Designer (Kris Finenen, Graphic

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Designer, was unable to join us) – to get their take on the meal.

Here’s what they had to say… “The Red Scooter Deli team has outdone themselves!” Denise said. “Each and every item I tried today was fresh and absolutely delicious. There was an abundance of flavor in this spread all the way around.” Everyone agreed! It was almost as if the Red Scooter Deli team was right there at the park preparing the food for us! And it was so nice to have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options – they really do have something for every dietary need. Denise’s favorite: Pasta Salad Bowl – with fresh basil, sun-dried

tomatoes, red and green bell pepper, olives, red onion, pepperoncinis, Italian vinaigrette, sweet tomatoes. “The pasta salad was lovingly flavorful; it had great seasoning and a lot of texture. The bell peppers were fresh and crisp, and I liked the combination of all of the ingredients – great mixture and really tasty!” Kevin’s favorite: Chicken Curry Sandwich – fresh roasted chicken, curry, dried cranberries, celery, green onions, mayo, and spices. “This is delicious! Served on a soft butter croissant, it wasn’t too spicy and it had just enough flavor to make it interesting. I’ve tried something similar elsewhere and found this type of sandwich to sometimes be on the dry side, but

Some of The PASO & COLONY Magazine Team! Photo by Nicholas Mattson

this was amazing! I would definitely order it in the future and recommend it to others.” Sue’s favorite: Veggie Wrap – a vegetarian/vegan option with roasted red pepper hummus, avocado, cucumber, tomato, red onion, mixed greens, shredded carrots, and red bell pepper served with a side of balsamic vinaigrette. “There is all kind of veggies in this and it is so good! It’s light yet filling and something I would eat again. Honestly, everything I tasted today was great. And to have the option to order online and have take-out and delivery…well, anytime I don’t have to cook it’s really wonderful!” Travis’s favorite: Fruit Salad Bowl – pineapple, strawberries, seasonal melon, grapes, seasonal berries, citrus (varies on seasonal availability). “This offered a great selection of seasonal sweetness that was perfect for a warm summer day. I never pass up a chance to eat fresh blueberries, so I zeroed in on those immediately, and then filled my plate with grapes, melons, pineapple, and more berries. The only downside was knowing I had to leave some fruit at the bottom of the bowl so others could have some too!” Meagan’s favorite: I liked EVERYTHING! The egg salad sandwich is amazing, and I could eat the salads every day for lunch. Yet, here I am again commenting on the desserts! Those brownies, those cookies – wow! Fresh, soft, house-made goodness! The perfect ending to a delightful summer picnic in the park with friends and family. Produce from Berry Man, and breads from Hush Harbor, Brian’s Bread, and Edna’s Bakery are delivered daily to Red Scooter Deli.

Soups, salads, baked goods, and special orders are prepared fresh in-house daily; vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary options always available. And don’t forget breakfast – start your day with breakfast sandwiches, wraps, eggs benedict scrambles, and more. Great any time of the day, the smoothies are simply the best in town! Made with fresh fruit and a choice of coconut, soy, or almond milk – healthy and delicious! For the summer series of Concerts in the Park, have your order ready to go by calling or filling out the online form ahead of time then enjoy a picnic in the Downtown Paso Robles City Park while listening to local bands. “We are all about making and serving good, wholesome, homemade, fresh food,” Stephanie said. “We maintain a family-friendly atmosphere and environment, and we are situated in a beautiful location overlooking the park. Plus, we have a nice, dog-friendly outdoor patio area.” Meagan Friberg can be contacted at meagan@pasomagazine.com Stop by and see Stephanie and her team at Red Scooter Deli

Tell them you saw their story in PASO Magazine! 1102 Pine St., Paso Robles 805-237-1780 — Open Daily —

See website and Facebook for hours, delivery and catering options redscooterdeli.com

PASO Magazine, July 2018


Paso Pinot Producers celebrate

H

eady aromas of saffron and spice mixed with smoky meats wafted through the tree-shaded Templeton Community Park as pinot-philes and paella fans gathered together at the 15th Annual Pinot and Paella Festival. Presented by the Paso Pinot Producers, the popular event showcased 20 local pinot producers offering their artisanal pinot noirs paired with paella cooked up by 15 local chefs. Each culinary expert added his/her spin on this one-pan Spanish dish, with one ingredient common being the use of Spanish Bomba rice. The park offered a picnic ambiance as attendees spread blankets and chairs, enjoying upbeat music of the Paso Wine Man Band led by singer Casey Biggs who also served as the festival’s emcee. There were some purists such as chefs Andre Averseng and Elaine Rivera Glenn dishing out a traditional seafood paella and chef Johnny Jantz of Boccabella Farms layering his dish with mussels. Others opted to do the paella sans seafood, using chicken, pork and sausage: chef Dallas Holt garnished his dish with coconut and pineapple, Gabriel Diaz of Sabor de Gabriel tossed vegetables and chef Charles Palladin-Wayne roasted a whole pig for his paella. Neeta Mittal (owner of LXV Wine) did a non-traditional vegan take with vegetables and berries. It was chef Jeffry Wiesinger’s wine country paella “made with

July 2018, PASO Magazine

Pinot & Paella Festival love” and Portuguese sausage that nabbed the top People’s Choice award though. His secret? “Homemade stock and sauces extracted from shrimp shells and chicken bones,” he revealed. This is the fourth win for the chef and his wife Kathleen who will soon open their eatery, Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ, in downtown Paso. The runner-up kudos in the People Choice Awards went to Mittal, Averseng and Rivera Glenn. The paella flavors were further heightened when paired with silky, seductive pinot noirs crafted by Paso producers, some using local fruit while others sourced from cooler regions such as Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties. The festival was started in 2004 by Marc Goldberg and Maggie D’Ambrosia (owners of Windward Vineyard) as a community grass roots gathering by pinot-fanatics. The criteria at the time was that winery participants use only local Paso fruit in their pinot noir wines. “We have just allowed pinot producers who use fruit from other areas,” Goldberg commented on the recent changes. Indeed, rules have relaxed over the years since Paso is not a region known for pinot noir and many local winemakers use fruit from other Central Coast regions. Among the wineries offering pinots crafted from local Paso fruit were Windward, Jack Creek

Cellars, Carmody McKnight, Asuncion Ridge and Sculpterra. Then there was the special 2016 Full Circle pinot noir from Tablas Creek Vineyard, a winery known for its Rhône style wines. The pinot from the Templeton Gap District is made from Haas Vineyard, a small patch that was planted by the late Robert Haas in front of his house in Templeton. Both RN Estate and TH Estate poured pinots crafted from prestigious Santa Barbara County vineyards. Derby Estates and Bodega de Edgar pinots were produced from the cool wind-swept regions of San Simeon and Cambria. There were several refreshing pinot noir rosès: Hoyt Family Vineyards’ from the Willow Creek district and Lazarre Wines Vin Gris made in a lighter Provençal style were welcome sips on a warm afternoon. Calcareous Vineyard, Castoro Cellars, Dunning Vineyards, Opolo, Pomar Junction and Rocky Creek Cellars rounded out wineries pouring exceptional pinots. An elaborate cheese display was set by cheese artist Maliysa Lou representing 15 Degrees C Wine Bar. Funds raised from the event benefit Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation (PRYAF) and other local charities. Each year approximately $40,000 is donated to PRYAF, Goldberg noted. Over the 14 years, Goldberg assessed that the event has raised over $425,000. “We hope to hit half a million in the next couple of years,” he said with confidence.

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EVENTS

Special Events July 4 — Paso Pops 4th of July Celebration and Concert hosted

at Paso Robles Event Center. The gates open at 4 p.m. with familyfriendly activities until the concert begins at 8 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit paderewskifest.com.

July 14 — Ice Cream Zoofari at the Atascadero Charles Paddock Zoo is a great time with the whole family. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., come enjoy lots of ice cream along with the animals! For questions call 805-461-5080 or visit charlespaddockzoo.org.

July 4

— 2nd Annual Bluegrass Freedom Festival at the Atascadero Lake Park from 4 to 8 p.m. Admission and music are free, with the option to purchase BBQ by the Atascadero Moose Lodge, beer, wine, cider and more. atascaderofourthofjuly.com for BBQ tickets or info.

July 18-29

July 4

Chill. Relax on the Petite Terrace with cool wine, rockin’ music and delicious food crafted by Executive Chef Randal Torres. The event menu and tickets are available from vinarobles.com

— Templeton 4th of July Celebration begins with the Templeton Fire Department’s Pancake Breakfast at 7 a.m., parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street, and family fun, food trucks, live music and more until 3p.m. Breakfast Tickets are available to purchase from the Templeton FD. Visit templetonchamber.com.

July 4

— 4th of July Parade and Day in the Park in Santa Margarita kicks off with the parade at 10 a.m. followed by fun for the whole family in the park at 11 a.m. The events are sponsored by the Community Church and community leaders.

July 7 — 10th Annual Lavender Festival in Paso Robles in the

Downtown City Park. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to the public. Meet with the lavender producers from across the region; enjoy food, refreshments, displays, and activities. Visit nosloco.com for info.

July 7 & 8 — Morro Bay Art in the Park runs both days from 10

a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at the Morro Bay City Park, this 62nd event offers handmade arts and crafts by over 100 local vendors. Sign up at morrobayartinthepark.com for more information.

— California Mid State Fair is back at Paso Robles Event Center. Carnival rides, exhibits, concerts, rodeo, food, games, agriculture, entertainment, art shows and auctions. Special event information and more is available from by visiting midstatefair.com.

July 21 — Vina Robles invites you to join their Summer Grill &

July 21 & 22 — Central Coast Renaissance Festival at Laguna Lake

Park in SLO is an old-world experience in the modern age. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., two days are filled with food, entertainment, jousting and family-centered activities. More info & tickets at ccrenfaire.com

July 26 — Annual FREE Pancake Breakfast sponsored by Main Street and the Mid-State Fair is held 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Paso Robles City Park. Enjoy pancakes, entertainment and rides with either Cowboy Ken and his train or Harris Stage Lines. Visit downtown merchants. Aug. 2 — The Beauty of Wine Math – Increase Your Understanding

of Winemaking Numbers and Calculations — Seminar reviews and discusses the most important numbers and calculations in winemaking - impacting decisions from harvest to bottling. Whether you grow grapes, make wine, or love learning about wine, you will find this seminar enriching. 8am-12pm; La Bellasera, Paso Robles; $175 ($150 before June 29); meristemlearning.com/the-beauty-of-wine-math

Submit listings to events@nosloco.com, and visit nosloco.com for more information on events.

Fundraisers July 28 — S.O.U. L. Kitchen Fundraiser for the Wellness Kitchen at Peachy Canyon Winery, thewkrc.org

Concerts & Entertainment — Visit NoSLOCo.com

for

Concerts in the Park Paso Robles Downtown, every Thursday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Concerts in the Park Templeton Park, every Wednesday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the Park Atascadero Lake Park, every Saturday, 8:30 p.m. Festival Mozaic Summer Festival — July 17-29 Music Without Borders. festivalmozaic.com, 805-781-3009

More Info Live Music Wednesdays on the Veranda — 5:30 to 8 p.m., Paso Robles Golf Club. See ad in this issue for local musicians. Reservations 805-2384722, PasoRoblesGolfClub.com. Saturday Live — Every Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m., slowdown from your week, sit back and enjoy live music - all while savoring award-winning Vina Robles wines. Whale Rock Music Festival — Sept. 15 & 16 Castoro Cellars, whalerockmusicfestival.com.

Culture & The Arts Winery Partners Wine Bar — Wine tasting at Studios on the Park every Friday and Saturday, 5 to 9 p.m. benefits the free arts education program for local kids. Studiosonthepark.org

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Art After Dark Paso — first Saturday, wine tasting, 5 to 9 p.m., Downtown Paso. Hosted by Studios on the Park.

PASO Magazine, July 2018


July 2018, PASO Magazine

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EVENTS | North Slo County

activity

& Event

guide

Business Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Atascaderochamber.org • 805-466-2044 6904 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422 July 11 — 4 Chamber Mixer See Paso and Templeton Chamber of Commerce events for more details below. July 13 — Women in Business Luncheon, more details online Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce pasorobleschamber.com • 805-238-0506 1225 Park St, Paso Robles, CA 93446 Office Hours with Supervisor John Peschong Third Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m., Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Conference Room.

Taking Care

of

Contact Vicki Janssen for appointment, vjanssen@co.clo.ca.us, 805-781-4491. Office Hours with Field Representative for Senator Bill Monning — Third Thursday, 2 to 4 p.m., Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Conference Room. Contact Hunter Snider for appointment, 805-549-3784. July 11 — Membership Mixer — 4 Chambers of Commerce, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Rava Wines, 6785 Creston Road, Paso Robles. Produced jointly by the Chambers of Commerce in Atascadero, Templeton, Paso Robles and San Miguel.

Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Restaurant of the Month Appreciation, first Tuesday, pasorobleschamber.com for info. Templeton Chamber of Commerce templetonchamber.com • 805- 434-1789 321 S. Main Street #C, Templeton, CA 93465 Templeton Women in Business — July 10 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Changala Winery, 805-4341789, info and RSVP, info@templetonchamber. com Chamber Board of Directors Meeting — July 11 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Pacific Premier Bank Conference Room on Las Tablas Blvd.

Business Networking International — Wednesdays, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Cricket’s, 9700 El Camino Real, #104, Atascadero. Visitors welcome, bniccc.com. Above the Grade Advanced Toastmasters — first Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m. Kennedy Club Fitness, Paso. 805-238-0524, 930206.toastmas-

tersclubs.org. BNI — Partners in $uccess —Thursday, 7 to 8:30 a.m. Paso Robles Assn. of Realtors, 1101 Riverside Ave. Visitors welcome, bniccc.com. Speak Easy Toastmasters — Friday, 12:10 to 1:15 p.m. Founders Pavilion, Twin Cities Community Hospital. 9797.toastmastersclubs.org.

or $20 for 4 meetings paid in advance. Call for location 805-479-7778. BookOfComforts.com. Line Dancing, Tuesdays, 6 to 7 p.m., Centennial Park Banquet Room. $50 for 10 Punch Pass or $5 per class drop in. Beginning and intermediate taught by Tina Scarsella, prcity.com/

recreation-online, 805-835-2076. Community Quilting — third Saturday, assists children and senior organizations, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bethel Lutheran Church, Old Country Road, Templeton. Cynthia Bradshaw, clbrad1313@hotmail.com.

Business

North County Toast ‘N Talk Toastmasters — Mondays, 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Keller Williams Real Estate, Paso, 805-464-9229. BNI— Early But Worth It Chapter — Business Networking International — Tuesdays, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Culinary Arts Academy, Paso, Visitors welcome, bniccc.com

Workshops & Classes Free Improvisation Workshop — July 25 for ages 12 to18, 1 to 2 p.m., PR Youth Arts Foundation. Writing Support Group with award-winning author/editor Patricia Alexander. Every other Monday, July 9 & 23, 6:30 to 9 p.m. $25 per

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PASO Magazine, July 2018


John’s Video Palace

Celebrating 30 years in Atascadero! Join us on Saturday, July 21st. 8120 El Camino Real, Atascadero 805-466-5525

LOTS OF FREE PRIZES!

Stop by for your chance to win!

Coupon Valid Now

Rent 1, Get 1 Free! (with this coupon)

July 2018, PASO Magazine

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EVENTS | North Slo County

activity

& Event

guide

Service Organizations American Legion Post 50 — fourth Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. 270 Scott Street, Paso Robles. Info: Commander John Irwin, 805-286-6187. Hamburger Lunch — American Legion Post 50, - $5, Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 240 Scott St., Paso. Pancake Breakfast — third Saturday 8 to 11 a.m., $6, American Legion Post 50, 240 Scott St., Paso Robles Exchange Club — second Tuesday, 12:15 — 1:30 p.m. McPhee’s, Templeton. 805-610-

8096, exchangeclubofnorthslocounty.org. Daughters of the American Revolution — first Sunday. For time and place, email dmcpatriotdaughter@gmail.com. Lions Club Meetings Atascadero — second & fourth Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Atascadero Agriculture Hall, 5035 Palma Ave. Paso Robles — second & fourth Tuesdays. 7 p.m., PR Elks Lodge, 1420 Park St. San Miguel — first & third Thursdays, 7:00 p.m.,

Community Hall, 256 13th St. Santa Margarita — second & fourth Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Community Hall, 9610 Murphy St. Shandon Valley — Please call 630-571-5466 for more information. Templeton — first & third Thursdays, 7:00 pm, Templeton Community Building, 601 Main Street PR Grange Pancake Breakfast — second Sunday, 7:30 to 11 a.m., 627 Creston Road, Paso

come, no charge. PR Community Church, 2706 Spring St., 805-712-7820, guests welcome, multifloragardenclub.org. Monthly Dinner at Estrella Warbirds Museum — first Wednesday, 6 p.m., guest speakers. 805296-1935 for dinner reservations. ewarbirds.org. North County Newcomers — July 24 deadline for August 1 luncheon at Estrella Warbirds Museum, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gatherings held first Wednesday for residents living here less than 3 years. RSVP at northcountynewcomers.org. Active Senior Club of Templeton — first Friday, 10:30 a.m., Templeton Community Center, 601 S. Main St, Templeton

North County Women’s Connection Luncheon — July 13, featuring classical pianist Marion Walker. 11 a.m., Templeton Community Center. $12.00. Reservations by July 10 to JoAnn Pickering, 805-239-1096. Central Coast Violet Society — second Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Brookdale Activity Room, 1919 Creston Road, Paso. Znailady1@ aol.com. Classic Car Cruise Night — second Saturday (weather permitting), 5 to 7 p.m., King Oil Tools, 2235 Spring St., Paso. Tony Ororato, 805712-0551.

Cancer Support Community cscslo.org • 805-238-4411 1051 Las Tablas Road, Templeton • Support, education and hope. Cancer Support Helpline, 888-793-9355, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. SPECIAL PROGRAMS: 7/10 • 6 p.m. Education: Immunotherapy. 7 p.m. Young Survivors Peer Gathering in Templeton 7/18 • 11:30 a.m. Pot Luck Social 7/12 • 11 a.m. Advanced Cancer Group 7/19 • 11 a.m. Advanced Cancer Group 7/25 • 11:30 a.m. Mindfulness Hour, RSVP required 7/26 • 6 p.m. Young Survivors Peer Gathering at Sierra Vista Hospital, 2nd floor, San Luis Obispo 8/1 • Life Beyond Cancer

WEEKLY SCHEDULE: MONDAY: 11:30 a.m. Therapeutic Yoga at Dharma Yoga TUESDAY: 1 p.m. Educational Radio Show WEDNESDAY: 10 a.m. Living with Cancer Support Group — Newly Diagnosed/Active Treatment. THURSDAY: 10 a.m. Coffee Chat FRIDAY: 7/13, 7/27, 6 p.m., Grupo Fuerza y Esperanza. Special Programs — Navigate with Niki Thursdays by appointment. Cancer WellFit® at Paso Robles Sports Club, Mondays and Thursdays 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. pre-registration is required with Kathy Thomas, kathythomas10@hotmail.com or 805-610-6486. Beautification Boutique offers products for hair loss and resources for mastectomy patients (knittedknockers.org).

Clubs & Meetings Almond Country Quilters Guild Meeting, July 6 at 6:30 p.m., lecture by Patsy Carpenter. Trinity Lutheran Church, 940 Creston Road, Paso. Contact kajquilter@ gmail.com. General info: lisajguerrero@msn.com, acqguild.com. Coffee with a CHP — second Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., Nature’s Touch Nursery & Harvest, 225 Main St., Templeton. Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 465 — second Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Paso Airport Terminal. Getting youth involved with aviation. EAA465.org. North County Multiflora Garden Club — second Wednesday, Noon to 3 p.m. Public is wel-

Health & Wellness The Wellness Kitchen and Resource Center thewkrc.org • 805-434-1800 Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wed. until 6 p.m. 1255 Las Tablas Rd., Templeton • Healing and Wellness Foods meal programs, volunteer opportunities, and classes (RSVP, register and pay online.) July 19 — Healthy Cooking Classes — Cool Summer Foods! Instructor Evan Vossler. 5:30 to 7:30, FREE for those facing illness, otherwise $20. No one will be turned away. July 20 — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Idler’s Home, 122 Cross St., San Luis Obispo. RSVP required to 805-434-1800 or nancy@TheWKRC.org. July 25 — Intro to Wellness — A Taste of Change with Registered Dietitian Hayley Garelli. 10 simple ways to begin your clean eating journey 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP. Class is FREE.

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PASO Magazine, July 2018



LAST WORD

MARIBETH BONOMI honored as Friend of the Fair of the Year 2017

By Meagan Friberg

S

troll along the grounds of the Paso Robles Event Center during the annual California Mid-State Fair, peruse the exhibits, enjoy the concerts and rides, and then step back and take a moment or two to appreciate all that goes into making it the “Biggest Little Fair Anywhere!” Chances are, some of the people responsible for landscaping, decorations, crowd control, and monitoring the exhibits are volunteers – Friends of the Fair – that give freely of their time year after year. One such volunteer was recently recognized for her work in 2017 and over the past several years – Maribeth Bonomi. When her name was announced as the Friend of the Fair of the Year 2017 at the annual volunteer dinner, Maribeth said she was “shocked!” “When I heard my name, I could not believe it,” she said. “I see people helping out and doing amazing things around the fairground; they work for hours upon hours, spend days out here, maybe even the entire length of the fair. So, for me to be singled out – wow! I am truly humbled and I appreciate this show of kindness a great deal. This is such a nice honor.” One unexpected but much-coveted bonus? Maribeth now has her ACC, Inc. 47 Adelaide Inn Worship Directory 49 Adrienne Hagan 32 AM Sun Solar 23 Amdal Transport 31 American Riviera Bank 04 Associated Traffic Safety 32 Awakening Ways 35 Blake’s True Value 35 Blenders 33 Bob Sprain’s Draperies 46 Body Basics 13 Bridge Sportsmen Center 15 Brooklin Oaks Pharmacy 38 Cal Sun Electric & Solar 16 California Mid-State Fair 25-28 CASA 48 Central Coast Renaissance Festival 46

very own parking spot during this year’s Fair! “I am used to walking from blocks away and so this will be quite a treat to not have to look for parking this year!”

A retired local elementary school teacher, Maribeth became involved with the Fair when she offered to help her friend, Patti Lucas, with the Miss CMSF Pageant She refers to herself as being Patti’s “helper bee.” “I ask the girls questions, help them get what they need, and go to events as a chaperone,” she said. “I help get notices out to the local high schools and colleges to get more girls involved, and work behind the stage with the girls. I enjoy getting to know the girls and establishing close relationships with each of them. I try to help boost their confidence, keep them moving forward, and remind them of what they need to do.” As part of the pageant requirements, the contestants help in various aspects of volunteer work with Friends of the Fair, so it was natural for Maribeth to become involved with helping in that area as well. Tisha Tucker of the CMSF said, “Maribeth has been a fantastic volunteer for the Friends of the Fair program. She also helps a lot with the pageant and helps Patti before and during the fair. She has also

Chandra Corley 34 Cider Creek Bakery 46 City of Paso Robles Concerts in the park 17 City of Paso Robles-REC 09 Connect Home Loans 19 Cotton and Rust 11 Dale Gustin 43 Di Raimondo’s Italian Mkt 32 Diversified Landscaping 20 Dr. Chalekson, Charles 33 Dr. Stanislaus, Maureeni 20 Dutch Maytag 45 Edwards Barber Shop 31 Equine Experience 15 Estrella Warbirds 02 Fox Hill Pools 23 Full Service Power Equipment 48 Gallagher Video Services 40 General Store Paso Robles 36

50 | pasomagazine.com

Helper Bee

helped with the parade; whenever she is [at the parade] with the pageant girls she’s willing to jump in and help push one of the floats. She is willing to take extra shifts that may need to be filled; she always does her best to try and help [including] in the information booth. Maribeth has gone above and beyond and she truly deserves the title of Friend of the Fair of the Year!” Maribeth said one thing she learned the first year she volunteered was how much work is involved. “I’d gone to the Fair for probably 38 years and I somehow never realized this. You go there, and it’s all done – the flowers are blooming, the signs are up, and everything looks pretty. When I started volunteering, I realized people work really hard to get the grounds to look so beautiful and to get things organized and moving; that shocked me that I never took the time to think about all the work involved to get ready for Fair time.”

Many Hands Make Light Work

When asked why she volunteers, Maribeth’s answer was simple: “I work on the theory of…if we all work together and help each other we can accomplish more. I tell my kids all the time, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK! During one of the work days in June, everyone was working together, asking one another what we could do to help someone else, and we got a lot done a lot faster…it just makes more sense!” Part of the fun with being a Friends of the Fair volunteer, Ma-

DIRECTORY TO OUR ADVERTISERS

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CMSF Board Member David Baldwin and Maribeth Bonomi. Contributed photo

ribeth shared, is the opportunity to work with and get to know others in the local community. “I have met lots of people through the Fair; it’s a fun adventure and I enjoy it. I am involved with other volunteer work in the community as well, but I don’t do it for any kind of recognition. I do it because I want to be involved and I don’t expect anything in return. I just like to help.” Many people will recognize Maribeth from her years of teaching at local schools. After working in Lockwood for four years and San Lucas for two, Maribeth taught for nine years in Shandon and, most recently, 17 years at Winifred Pifer Elementary School. Maribeth and her husband, Jim, are parents to three adult children – Kyle, Cherish, and Lindsy – and have a five-yearold grandson, Zander. Find information on becoming involved with Friends of the Fair at midstatefair.com. Meagan Friberg can be reached at meagan@paso magazine.com

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The Harley Group 13 The Loft 39 Vic’s Cafe 39 Voice of Paso 43 Western Janitor Supply 19 Whit’s Turn Tree Service 24Whitehorse 15 Wighton’s 02 Wink Lash & Brow Bar 47

PASO Magazine, July 2018



20th

AUGUST 11, 2018 • 6-9PM PASO ROBLES EVENT CENTER

FOOD, WINE, LIVE MUSIC AND FUN! Don’t miss Paso Robles Wine Country’s most popular event! 30 wineries serving gourmet food straight off the grill and paired with each winery’s most outstanding wines!

Sponsors

Founding Sponsor Regular tickets are $85, sales are limited. Designated driver tickets are $45. • Must be 21 to attend • Blankets & beach chairs are welcomed • No children or pets are allowed • No ice chests are allowed

Order online: www.winemakersCookoff.com All proceeds benefit the Harlow Ford Scholarship fund for local high school seniors.


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