Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. XLV
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
ARTISTRY
EDUCATION
Community Supports Artisan Crafters
places, but there is no place with such an abundance of art as at the Atascadero Lake. “My daughter, who is 3, loves the rock snake,” local resident Marin Smith told The Atascadero News. “She likes to walk next to it and delightfully announce each thing she sees. When I suggested that she add her own rocks, she thought it was the best idea she’d ever heard. Normally sort of hesiCONTINUED ON PAGE A15
CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
Annual Holiday Boutique moved outside at Atascadero Lake Park
ATASCADERO — It was hard to see the smiles under the face masks, but they were there and there was a sparkle in peoples’ eyes as they walked from vendor to vendor during the 15th Annual Holiday Boutique on Saturday, Nov. 14. People took advantage of the picture-per-
fect autumn day to support the 38 artisan crafters set up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Atascadero Lake Park, 9305 Pismo Ave., Atascadero. Nearly all of the booths were under portable canopies. Parking was scarce at both the upper and lower lots around Lake Park for the one-day-only craft show. Several people remarked how delighted they were to have the Holiday Boutique. “I’m so glad this did not get canceled,” a
PUBLIC HEALTH
woman said. “I always find great gifts.” Usually, the Holiday Boutique is inside the Pavilion on the Lake that sits at the top of the Lake Park and features stunning views of Atascadero Lake. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic guidelines, the City of Atascadero moved it outside and required attendees to wear face masks and to social distance. There was plenty of room between the booths. Lines were painted on the ground six
feet apart to help people with social distancing. The majority of people followed the COVID-19 guidelines. For many of the vendors, this was their first craft show of the year. Everything available for purchase at the Holiday Boutique had to be handmade. It’s what makes the craft show unique. CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
COMMUNITY
Rock Snake Grows At Atascadero Lake
SLO County and Many Others Back in Purple Tier By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com SAN LUIS OBISPO — San Luis Obispo County was one of many California counties sent backward Monday in the state’s reopening plan. SLO, along with several other counties, were moved from the Red Tier to the most-restrictive Purple Tier in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. On Monday, Nov. 16, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was pulling the “emergency brake” when he announced that nearly all of the state’s counties were being moved into the Purple Tier. Before Monday, there were 13 states in the Purple Tier. Now, 41 of the state’s 58 counties are in the most restrictive tier. “This is disappointing for everyone,” said SLO County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein. “For weeks, CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
EVENTS
Community members have continued to paint rocks and add them to the snake at the Atascadero Lake. Photos by Connor Allen
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — For roughly two months now, there has been a growing snake of painted rocks slowly slithering its way from the overflow bridge toward Lake View Drive and into the hearts of the Atascadero community. It is hard to put a date on exactly when the painted trail of positivity started precisely, but it was near the start of Octo-
SPACE
ber or the end of September. Over the past few months, pictures and descriptions of the various painted rocks have made waves through local social media pages and inspired others to add their creativity to stones of different shapes and sizes. The rock snake appears to have been the work of popular Facebook group SLO Painted Rocks as they have a sign posted at the beginning. The group has one simple goal, to brighten some-
ELECTIONS
one’s day through the discovery of a painted rock with a secret message somewhere in San Luis Obispo County. Members of the group are encouraged to paint a rock, protect it with an acrylic topcoat, and mark the bottom with a message sending the finder back to the page to post a photo of their find. Their page is full of happy posts from individuals finding rocks hidden in downtown San Luis Obispo and other fun
WEEKLY FEATURE
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees had a brief meeting on Tuesday night centered around reopening secondary schools, which is now delayed until San Luis Obispo County gets back into the Red Tier. On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom forced 27 counties in California back a tier in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, which included SLO and Santa Barbara counties moving to the most-restrictive Purple Tier. According to the Blueprint, schools that are open for in-person learning may remain open, but schools that are not must stay in distance learning until their counties are out of the Purple Tier for two weeks. Schools can still apply for an in-person waiver for elementary students. AUSD had opened its elementary schools with hybrid instruction when the County moved from Purple to Red nearly two months ago. The District also has a waiver for its elementary schools. Before Monday, Nov. 16, AUSD was planning to bring middle and high school students back to campuses for some in-person learning at the start of the second half of the school year on Jan. 5. SLO County has to be in the Purple Tier for three weeks and can only move out if its COVID19 metrics improve for two consecutive weeks. “If a school is open for in-person instruction, it may remain open,” AUSD Superintendent Tom Butler said. “This means that all of our elementary schools can remain open and will remain open at this time for in-person services. If the school is not open for instruction, this would apply to Atascadero High School, Atascadero Middle School, Paloma Creek High School, and the Fine Arts Academy sixth through eighth grade; they cannot open for instruction. If we are in Purple on Jan. 5, which is a little way out, if we are in purple on Jan. 5 … we will be remaining in full distance learning.” Butler continued explaining that certain parts of society will
Montse Cross, owner of Cookie Momo in Atascadero, was selling her cookie kits at the 15th Annual Holiday Boutique on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Atascadero Lake Park. Photo by Brian Williams
By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com
Atascadero Secondary Schools Will Remain In Distance Learning While In Purple Tier
atascaderonews.com
WEATHER
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HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS in Atascadero will be drive-by, drive-through and virtual | A3
CAL POLY ALUMN part of second historic NASA and Space X launch to ISS | A4
SLO ELECTIONS OFFICE ARTIST ADAM WELCH there are only 3,012 ballots remaining is at the intersection of street art and to be counted | A5 fashion | A13
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