Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. XXVI
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020
FUNDRAISER
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COMMEMORATE
Four Young People ‘Touched Many Lives’ Car crash on June 29 outside of Templeton, kills four local youths
CAPS Co-Chairs Nicole Hider and Hayley Mattson present check to the Atascadero School Board in October 2019. File photo
CAPS’ ‘Evening for Education’ Moves Online for 2020 By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — The Committee for Atascadero Public Schools (CAPS) is moving its annual August fundraiser for 2020 online due to COVID-19. The popular fundraising event is 14 years old and has raised over $900,000 for the Atascadero Public School District. Organizers are hoping for a big turnout this year as they know budget cuts and a struggling economy due to the pandemic might leave teachers needing more assistance. The theme of this year’s fundraiser is “Mission Possible” and the “Evening for Education” has become a “multiple-day event” as the bidding for items will be available for a few days. “We know that if there is ever going to be a year where some funding is going to be needed, it is going to be this year more than most,” CAPS Online Event-Chair Lori Bickel said. “We really wanted the teachers to know that CAPS is standing by them and doing what we can for the classrooms.” CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com
T
he four young people who died in a car crash outside of Templeton on June 29 were friends “who touched many lives.” At approximately 9:23 p.m. June 29, Kegin Dakota York, 22, of Creston, according to the California Highway Patrol, was driving his 2007 Infiniti G35 sedan too fast on the backroads east of Templeton and lost control. The car left Neal Spring Road and slammed into an old oak tree, killing Kegin and his three friends in the car — Shelby Lynn Biaggini, 23, Taylan Elaine Perez, 22, and Karen MontesCabrera, 21. Kegin and Shelby worked together for a short time at 15 degrees C Wine Shop and Bar in Templeton. “Kegin and Shelby were extremely friendly, outgoing, happy people who touched many lives,” said 15 degrees C owner Ali Carscaden. “They were a joy to have at work and quickly became friends with everyone. “The weight of their passing is something that affected the entire staff, as well as customers,” she added. Kegin worked at 15 degrees C for the past year, while Shelby
KEGIN YORK
SHELBY BIAGGINI
TAYLAN PEREZ
KAREN MONTES-CABRERA
started there in 2020 after moving back to North County from Bend, Ore. Carscaden said Kegin loved children and animals. “Whenever my son was here, he would play with him and encourage him to do tricks on his bike and scooter,” Carscaden said. “Kegin’s
middle name is Dakota and my dog’s name is Dakota. He would always play with her and ask if he could take her to the park for a walk.” Shelby and Karen worked together at Joebella Coffee Roasters of Atascadero. They were scheduled to work Tuesday, June 30, said
LOCAL BUSINESS
owner Joseph Gerardis. Karen, of Paso Robles, started working at Joebella when she was 18. She quickly became a popular barista. “She was the barista that was the shining star,” Gerardis said. “EveryCONTINUED ON PAGE A15
ELECTIONS
McPhee’s Waiting to Reopen for Dine-In When staff feels safe to return, business will return as well By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com TEMPLETON — McPhee’s Grill Chef-Owner Ian McPhee is asked daily when the iconic Templeton restaurant is going to reopen. It’s a no-brainer for him — when his employees feel safe. “There is so much going on and so much just trying to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong that you just got to take care of your people,” Ian said from the tidy upstairs office at the rear of the restaurant at 416 S. Main St. “First you have to take care of your employees and make sure that they are safe and OK with being here. And your next worry is going to be your customer. And then, after that, you just let your business run.” The restaurant has been closed since March 18, when Gov. Gavin Newsom forced them to close and a day later issued the stay-at-home order. A couple of weeks ago, restaurants in San Luis Obispo County reopened to dine-in but needed to follow the state and county social distancing guidelines, meaning
LOCAL NEWS
most eateries were at less than half capacity. Ian and his son, Max, are meeting with staff and gauging when to reopen. They will move forward when the team feels safe. “I need to know that they are all the way on board,” Ian said. “If they aren’t, then we just stay closed until the end of July and see what happens. “I have no problem with staying
closed. I know we are OK,” Ian said. “As long as they are OK, then we are good. I get it.” Ian opened McPhee’s Grill in 1994. The popular fine-dining restaurant features fresh seafood, wood-grilled steaks, local produce and gourmet pizza and pasta in an old converted saloon with contemporary country decor. It is open for lunch and dinner. Ian said that when everything
McPhee’s Grill Chef-Owner Ian McPhee, left, and his son Max McPhee pose for a photo. The iconic Templeton restaurant has not reopened and Ian is not in a hurry to open. Contributed photo
EVENTS
COVID UPDATE
shut down, he immediately laid off his employees so they could quickly start getting unemployment. “I think that is why we are one of the last dinner houses to come back because I just looked at my employees and felt like they were safe,” Ian said. “Some of them were making more than they would normally make. And then my family was safe. It just then became a point of let’s see what goes on.” Reopening isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. People may think it is, but it’s costly and time-consuming. “It’s funny to me how people think you just open the door,” Max said, adding that it costs thousands of dollars to restock and they will need four to five days of kitchen preparation. And training staff on the county, state and CDC guidelines will take time. The dining room has undergone some cosmetic changes, mainly the addition of plexiglass on booths that allow for increased seating. Without the plexiglass, Ian said they wouldn’t even be thinking about opening until more restrictions are lifted. Pre-COVID-19,
NORTH COUNTY — The general election is less than four months away and that means it’s time for people to decide if they are going to throw their hat in the local political arena. The filing period for local candidates to be on the Nov. 3 ballot begins July 13 and runs through 5 p.m. Aug. 7. If an incumbent does not file, it extends to Aug. 12. Candidate information and essential election dates can be found online at slocounty.ca.gov. North County voters will be deciding a slew of local offices, including city council and school board races. Atascadero voters will choose a mayor as the two-year term of current Mayor Heather Moreno is set to expire. The four-year at-large seats of present Councilmembers Charles Bourbeau and Roberta Fonzi will also be on the ballot. On the Atascadero Unified School District
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BUSINESS
Filing Period for Local Races Begins July 13 By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com
atascaderonews.com
WEATHER
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COMMUNITY UNITES for the Fourth of July with rallies and fundraising | A3
‘SATURDAY IN THE PARK’ goes virtual as Atascadero announces lineup | A4
REOPENING ROLLBACK
for 19 counties due to two-week cases spike | A5
THRIFT SHOP in North
County gets flooded with donations | A13
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