Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. XLVI
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020
COVID-19
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
HOLIDAY
Local Health Club Remains ‘Open and Safe’ Amid Purple Tier By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com S A N LU I S O B I S P O COUNTY — “Standing Strong for our Community.” That is the message the Kennedy Club Fitness (KCF) Team sent to its gym members on Friday morning, Nov. 20. As San Luis Obispo County moved into the Purple Tier on Monday, Nov. 16, KCF has decided to continue operating as they have over the last several months: “So here we are, Central Coast...back to the Purple Tier with our county in regards to Covid-19. As a business, we here at KCF will continue to operate as we have been over the last several months...safe, clean, and supporting our members by providing a place of health, wellness, and exercise. We consider Kennedy Club Fitness to be an essential business, and we hope you all can agree. We are not only here for your physical health, but mental health as well. In a world where certain things (like changes in career, loss of a loved one, anxiety, and simply the emotions that the holiday season can bring to many of us) don’t stop...we can’t stop either. We are here for you...on happy days...hard days...real days. For the last 40 years, we have been here for our community. To help strengthen mind and body, to help as an outlet to life’s everyday stressors, and to build our immune systems...so that one day...we’d be ready to STAND STRONG for our community. Thank you for standing strong with us, Your KCF Team” According to Purple Tier guidelines issued by the State of California, gyms and fitness centers can operate outdoors only, with modifications. Indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms must close. Brett Weaver, a managing partner at KCF, said, “When we started hearing that we were going to go back to the purple tier, we decided CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
COMMUNITY
Hidden Springs Tree Farm has been locally owned and operated since the 1930’s and the tradition lives on five generations deep. From left to right: the late Patricia Frank, Fred Frank, Andrew, Craig, Auraly and Olivia Dobbs. File photo
Hidden Springs Ready for Season By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
H
idden Springs Tree Farm in Atascadero, located off Monterey Road, has been a staple in the North County for decades and can provide you the perfect tree for your long-awaited Hallmark moment. The tree farm has been a part of family traditions for over 58 years. Family owned and operated, Fred and Wanda Frank established the farm back in the 1930s, and in 1962 Fred Frank Jr. convinced his parents to start growing Christmas trees on a small
section of the farm. Fast forward to 2020; the tree farm is now operated by third and fourth generations, the Dobbs. Now with most other holidays that have come and gone throughout the pandemic, this holiday season will look a bit different but with the goal of keeping the annual family tradition alive. To keep your tree hunting experience safe and just as memorable as it always has been, Hidden Springs Tree Farm has implemented a few changes due to COVID-19. As Auraly Dobbs puts it, “We’re going back to the classic Christmas experience.”
To follow COVID safety precautions, Hidden Springs has created the following guidelines: • Mask required while on farm • Discourage groups of 8+ • Sanitizing stations for saws and carts • No photographers on the property during selling season (Unless you are a family taking pictures of your tree buying experience) • No shaking or bailing (We are not offering these services this year but will provide a free bailing alternative to our customers) • We will have stands for sale. If you own
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Video from compilation will help North County Dance and Performing Arts Foundation
By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com
By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com Paso Robles Chamber Ballet will be part of a regional video production of the ‘Nutcracker Ballet’ instead of a live show. Photo courtesy of North County Dance and Performing Arts Foundation
Because live theater is on hold this year, the Paso Robles Chamber Ballet (PRCB), NCDPAF’s pre-professional ballet company, was invited to participate in a film production called “The Nutshell,” directed by Nathan Cottam with Mannakin Theater and Dance in the Bay Area. This compilation project will be filmed and edited together with Companies from all over the world. “We were disappointed that due to COVID-19 guidelines, we were
GOVERNMENT
not able to be on stage in person for much of this year, especially our traditional production of ‘The Nutcracker Ballet.’” NCDPAF officials stated. “We are so excited to have the opportunity to participate in the video and hope you will enjoy it. Thank you to the community for all of your support during this challenging year.” PRCB dancers will be filmed performing the “Waltz of the CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
SENIOR LIVING
CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
Local Officials Will Act on ‘Egregious Violations’ of Limited Stay-at-Home Order
Paso Robles Chamber Ballet Joining Other Companies to Present ‘Nutcracker Ballet’
SUPPORT
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PURPLE TIER
PERFORMANCE
PASO ROBLES — The annual “Nutcracker Ballet” will go on but will be different as with most events in 2020. North County Dance and Performing Arts Foundation (NCDPAF) produces the annual “Nutcracker Ballet.” Instead of having live performances on stage in front of a packed theater, a selected scene will be filmed as a part of a regional video production and available for purchase this year. NCDPAF’s stage has been dark through most of 2020 due to COVID-19 protocols that do not allow for large gatherings.
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a spike stand, we will be happy to drill it for you We will have pre-cut Monterey pines of over 12 ft. available for purchase in our pre-cut area Brochure with a map outlining a one-way path around crowded areas will be provided No food or beverages offered Card payments are accepted, and we will take the exact change Offering senior hours, Fridays at 1–3 p Families are still welcome to bring their
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — “Egregious violations” is what local officials said will be enforced when the new limited stay-at-home order begins Saturday night, Nov. 21. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health issued a limited stay-athome order on Thursday, Nov. 19, as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the state. The order generally requires that non-essential work, movement and gatherings stop between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in counties in the Purple Tier. Violation of the public health order is a misdemeanor. San Luis Obispo County is 1 of 41 counties currently in the purple tier, representing more than 94 percent of California’s population. The order will take effect at 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and remain
in effect until 5 a.m. Dec. 21. This is the same as the March stay-at-home order but applied only between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and only in Purple Tier counties seeing the highest rates of positive cases and hospitalizations. The order does not prevent individuals from participating in an outside activity such as exercise and dog walking, completing essential activities such as grocery shopping, picking up take-out food orders and filling up fuel, or working as a part of the essential workforce. “We will respond to complaints of inappropriate behavior and take appropriate action against those who act in egregious violation of this order,” Paso Robles City Manager Tom Frutchey said. SLO County Public Health Officials reported 121 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, Nov. 20, bringing the overall total to 5,607. Friday’s total CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
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