Hometown News Since 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXX, NO. XLIV
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020
COVID-19 UPDATE
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
ESSENTIAL HEROES
COUNTY COVID-19 NUMBERS CONTINUE RECENT TREND
MASK MAKING BECOMES COTTAGE INDUSTRY
ESSENTIAL RESTAURANTS
Restaurants Remake their Models from Scratch
Shelter-at-home orders demand shifts from the food service industry
County/State leaders eye a strategic and cautious recovery process By NICHOLAS MATTSON nic@pasoroblespress.com AS OF TUESDAY, APRIL 14 SLO COUNTY STATISTICS:
• Confirmed Cases in SLO County: 120 • Recovering from Home: 15 • Hospitalized: 3 (2 in ICU) • Fully Recovered: 101 • Deaths: 1 DAY-OVER-DAY STATISTICS:
• Day-over-day Increase in positive tests: 3 • Day-over-day Increase in fully recovered: 6 • Day-over-day Increase in hospitalizations: 1 (0 change in ICU) • Day-over-day Increase in North SLO County cases: 0 NORTH SLO COUNTY:
• Confirmed cases in Paso Robles: 30 • C o n f i r m e d c a s e s i n Atascadero: 23 • Confirmed cases in Templeton: 6
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s the attention of the nation begins to shift toward reawakening of the community and the economy, San Luis Obispo County takes aim at local actions to participate. On Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom scripted a roadmap without specific timelines that spoke to the loosening of shelter orders statewide, but also to the localization of control. San Luis Obispo County Administrative Officer Wade Horton reported the County is working to establish a panel to bring information to the public about a scheduled return to an open community. I’m proud of what our community is doing together,” Horton said. “We believe our county will be in a good position to begin a phased reopening in our communities while CONTINUED ON PAGE A16
LOCAL NEWS
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@pasoroblespress.com
Supplies span the production process of Ellie Kelley’s mask-making effort to fill the gaps in need for personal protection equipment. Photo by Ellie Kelley
Business owners collaborate and donate to fulfill healthcare and public needs By NICHOLAS MATTSON nic@pasoroblespress.com
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s COVID-19 hit the Central Coast, frontline workers at hospitals were going face-to-face with the novel coronavirus and quickly called out to health officials about the need for personal protective equipment. The owner of Birch Fabrics, Cynthia Mann, saw a need for the masks locally, and immediately put her employees to work donating their time and fabric to the cause. “My store donated the fabric and the sewing groups made
the masks and donated them,” Mann said. “Ellie Kelley delivered a bunch to Twin Cities.” Mann was the lead supplier in getting the burgeoning industry up, and Kelley took it from there. Also joining the local ranks, Scissor Clothing owner Kate White fulfilled orders for local healthcare needs. “I jumped in on it and did some research with a friend’s husband who is a molecular biologist,” Kelley said. “We CONTINUED ON PAGE A16
CITY
City Circulates COVID-19 Community Survey Two surveys out to collect important pandemic-related information STAFF REPORT
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he City of Paso Robles is seeking input from local residents and businesses on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting their daily lives and livelihoods. The city has posted a resident survey and a business survey to the City website and encourages all Paso Robles residents and businesses to participate. The surveys should take 5 minutes or less to complete. They are anonymous, although there is an option for businesses to provide contact information if they would like to be connected to local resources. According to Mayor Steve Martin, “Just as trustworthy data is needed to evaluate the extent of COVID-19, we need to know how the disease is affecting our residents and local businesses in order to provide effective assistance. I’ve always said a strong economy makes a strong community. We want to support our residents and local businesses to ensure both. Stay strong, Paso Robles!” In addition to helping the City better serve the community, the data collected will help to provide important information to local agencies developing pandemic-related resources and relief options. To take the surveys, available in English or Spanish, or for more COVID-19-related information, go to prcity.com.
HOME & GARDEN
COVID-19 NEWS
We need to know how the disease is affecting our residents and local businesses in order to provide effective assistance.
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uring this time in the COVID-19 crisis, while Governor Newsom has ordered that all nonessential businesses close their doors, many local restaurants are still working hard and adapting to the new work climate to continue bringing us all the meals we love. Some places have had to rearrange their menus, switch to delivery, and curbside pickup while others will give you a box of ingredients that you can cook yourself. The Atascadero News and The Paso Robles Press took time over the last week to reach out and research some local restaurants that are still operating and have provided a list below of valuable information to each restaurant and how they are operating. ODYSSEY CAFE Hours: Monday-Sunday 12 - 7:30 pm (open till 8 pm on Friday and Saturday) Odyssey Cafe in Paso Robles had made the transition into take-out orders and even served up an Easter Special that customers could pick up beforehand. Odyssey is also serving up daily specials and family meals that can be seen each day on their website and consist of things like Mama’s Meatloaf, Chicken Parmesan, or your choice of a couple different items. SENOR SANCHOS Hours: Daily 4 - 8 pm Señor Sanchos has cut back their hours but are still offering their food to customers via curbside pickup and have also set up a delivery system on orders over $30 with a 10% service charge that goes directly to their drivers, which are their employees using their cars and gas. Señor Sanchos has also started mixing up all their favorite margaritas and cocktails (completely premade) into mason jars that can also be picked up or delivered and enjoyed in the comfort of your own home for the first time and Happy Hour is still running from 4 pm to 6 pm. Taco Tuesday’s are also always on, even during the shelter-at-home orders, but the specials will only be available for pickup. Señor Sanchos also posted a message on their Facebook page on March 27
STEVE MARTIN, MAYOR
SPORTS
CONTINUED ON PAGE A16
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WEATHER
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TEMPLETON HIRES New Interim School District Superintendent | A3
EARTH MONTH Learn great ways to celebrate Earth Month | A4
ECONOMIC RELIEF Comes to the Central Coast as resources solidify | A6
‘BE THE LIGHT’ National initiative to shine love on students and athletes | A13
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