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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020
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COMMERCE
La Plaza and Block Shops Taking Shape Downtown
TUSD Targeting Nov. 30 to Reopen All Schools Hybrid plan will be presented to trustees on Oct. 22 By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com TEMPLETON — Templeton Unified School District trustees made it clear with a 5-0 vote Thursday night it will begin hybrid instruction at all grades on Nov. 30. What was not clear to parents and TUSD staff is precisely how that will look, and the majority of questions and concerns from staff and residents during public comment centered on this. TUSD Superintendent Aaron Asplund did not provide specific details on a hybrid plan but said it would be brought back for board approval on Oct. 22. Some people questioned beginning hybrid at all of the schools on the same day. The District had previously stated it would bring middle school and high school students back in January at the beginning of the second semester. The consensus from TUSD’s board for changing course was that they needed to do it sooner rather than later. If Templeton Middle School and Templeton High School begin hybrid learning on Nov. 30, students would be in this model for two weeks and take finals in the third week before going on their winter break. School districts in much larger neighboring cities, Atascadero and Paso Robles, are starting hybrid learning for secondary schools in January to allow for less disruption for the teachers and students due to extensively revising the master schedule so close to the end of the semester. Asplund explained staff would be revising their reopening plan CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
LOCAL NEWS
An aerial construction update, left, of La Plaza from September 2020. Z Villages CEO Max Zappas, right, gives a tour of the La Plaza project while under construction. Contributed photos
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — For Atascadero residents, it is impossible not to notice the construction that has taken over the downtown area as the city slowly works its way through its metamorphosis amid the pandemic. The Atascadero News reached out to the Z Villages Development Company to
find out what we know is coming and when we can start to utilize the new buildings that are already part of the Atascadero skyline. Under construction across the street from the Sunken Gardens, the La Plaza Project broke ground early in 2019 and is now taking shape as the bricks have started being laid. The name La Plaza is inspired by the first set of buildings that the town’s founder, E.G. Lewis, erected in the early 1900s that served
as one of California’s first enclosed shopping malls. In 1917, when the original La Plaza building was finished, it not only serviced the people of Atascadero by providing a vibrant hub of retail but also included residential living on the upper floors, which is something Z Villages is hoping to recreate. “We have two buildings. Building B and Building A,” Z Villages CEO Max Zappas said. “Building B is the smaller building next
to the tunnel that goes under the freeway. You can see brick going up on that building already, a lot of the roofing materials are up there. We are just about to begin drywall.” Building B also contains the clock tower that will have two faces. One will face oncoming traffic heading North on El Camino Real while the other will sit on the adjacent side CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
BUSINESS
GOVERNMENT
Don’t worry, McPhee’s Grill will be open soon
Atascadero City Council Creates Path to Remove Racist Deed Language
McPhee’s Canteen Opening in Tin City By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com TIN CITY — McPhee’s in Tin City? Seriously, why hasn’t anybody thought of this sooner? McPhee’s Canteen and Quality Meats is opening Oct. 20 at 3070 Limestone Way in Tin City, the evolving industrial makers market, south of Paso Robles. It is next-door neighbors with Etto Pastificio. The new eatery is the brainchild of McPhee’s Grill owner-chef Ian McPhee and son Max McPhee. The space has sleek, industrial lines with a roll-up front door, a spacious open kitchen,
LOCAL NEWS
Ian McPhee, left, and Max McPhee, right, spotlight the logo for the new McPhee’s Canteen opening soon in Tin City. Photo courtesy of McPhee’s Canteen
two large wood-fired pizza ovens, and a large patio with a dramatic rock waterfall. “It’s got success written all over it,” said Ian as they were hashing out the menu that will feature some items from McPhee’s Grill down the road in Templeton.
McPhee’s Canteen will be more casual than McPhee’s Grill’s fine-dining experience but still feature the same high quality, locally sourced produce and meats that the Grill prides itself on. “Before they ( T in Canteen) did table service,”
COUNTY
Ian said. “Ours is going to be counter service. The whole thing is designed to be pretty fast. “Not fast food, but pretty fast food,” Max said. “Yeah, fast prepared but the quality of the food is going to definitely be McPhee’s as far as the products we are using,” Ian said. The restaurant portion of McPhee’s Canteen will open first, followed by a meat counter, Ian said. “Probably not right at the start, but after we get things running pretty smooth, we are going to develop a meat counter where people can
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council met Tuesday night, Oct. 13, and unanimously agreed to create a process for Atascadero residents to redact or repudiate racist language on the deeds to their properties. The item was brought before the City Council by Mayor Heather Moreno and Councilwoman Susan Funk, following a dialogue with R.A.C.E. Matters SLO, the Police Chief and the City Manager on how to be a more
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COVID-19
Police Chief Jerel Haley Recognized Before Retirement By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com
atascaderonews.com
WEATHER
twitter.com/ @AtascaderoNews facebook.com/ @AtascaderoNews
LIGHTHOUSE GOLF EVENT has a record-setting day in raising over $20K | A3
ATASCADERO ELKS LODGE awards $2,500 Gratitude Grant to TCSD Rec. Dept. | A3
COURTHOUSE DOG PROG. is approved by SLO County Board of Supervisors | A7
CALIF. PUBLIC HEALTH released updated guidance for private gatherings | A7
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