Paso Robles Press • July 23, 2020

Page 1

Hometown News Since 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXI, NO. VI

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

CONFERENCE

pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY

LOCAL BUSINESS

GOVERNMENT

A COVID-19 Odyssey Longtime Downtown Paso Robles restaurant adapts to remain open during pandemic

L

Central Coast Writers Conference Will Take Place Virtually 36th annual event will move forward on Sept. 24-26 By MEAGAN FRIBERG For The Paso Robles Press SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Central Coast Writers Conference will look a bit different in 2020 — it’s moving online. With social distancing practices in place throughout California due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers considered whether or not to postpone or move forward with plans to hold the popular event. “Once we looked at the logistics, and realized we had been successfully conducting business online for the past several months, it became clear that we needed to move forward and just change up the way we offered the conference this year,” said CCWC Executive Director Teri Bayus. “On behalf of our amazing, talented, and dedicated staff, I am thrilled to announce that our 36th Annual Central Coast Writers Conference is becoming a reality!” All of the expert advice, knowledge, and teachings that have made CCWC popular with writers for nearly four decades will be available again for three days in 2020 — Sept. 24, 25, 26 — in a virtual format via Zoom. Five 4-hour Master Classes will be offered on Thursday: Prewriting Your Novel, Composing Your Life Story, New Structures for New Audiences, Poetry, and Nonfiction Success. Choose from a selection of 100 classes on Friday and Saturday with categories in novel, beginning writing, poetry, screenwriting, and business. “Plus, attendees will have access to each of our keynote speakers,” said Bayus. “Author Christopher Moore will kick off Thursday evening, and will also offer a live Q&A segment. CONTINUED ON PAGE A15

SPORTS

Council Officially Adds Sales Tax Measure to Ballot

By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@pasoroblespress.com

Central Coast Writers Conference Executive Director Teri Bayus with award-winning screenwriter Peter Dunne. Contributed photos

isten to Odyssey World Cafe co-owner John Hawley talk about the past four months and one gets the feeling there is nothing his crew can’t handle. They’ve seen everything during the COVID-19 pandemic from complete shutdown, to take-out only, to limited-seating dine-in and outdoor eating. “It’s kind of a blur now to tell you the truth,” Hawley said. “We just kept reacting as fast as we could to whatever change there was.” The first part of 2020 was shaping up to be one of the best years for the restaurant Hawley and Dawn Gregory opened 23 years ago on Pine Street in Downtown Paso Robles. “Business was very good. It was going to be a stellar year,” Hawley said. Then on March 18, every-

Also, discussed using Borkey Flats site for temporary homeless housing By CAMILLE DEVAUL For The Paso Robles Press

will be significantly improved from what was offered when schools used it during the shutdown. Maas and Dubost said there is a good possibility they could bounce from plan to plan, depending on the COVID-19 numbers. They know that not everyone is going to be happy and some aspects of this are beyond their control. “All of this is contingent upon what happens with the numbers and what the

PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles City Council voted 5-0 to add a 1-cent sales tax increase measure to the Nov. 3 ballot during Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting. The Council continues to meet virtually due to COVID19 guidelines. The City is looking to use the money generated by the tax increase if approved by voters to bolster essential services, making fire, police, and streets priority. The City’s sales tax is currently 7.75%. After this year’s events, including an active shooter incident and fires in the Salinas Riverbed, the community has voiced the importance of making emergency services a top priority for the City, according to City staff. Emergency services include: • Fire protection • Wildfire and natural disaster preparedness • 911 Emergency response times, paramedic services • Homelessness, fixing streets and potholes • Support for local small businesses and retaining local jobs Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services Department continues to report it is “overextended and has difficulty responding to multiple 911 calls at this time, and can only meet accepted response time goals less than half of the time.” In the last two years, over 700 times, both fire engines were on call and unable to address other emergency calls. The police department has seen a 40 percent increase in calls within the past five years. As the state continues to release parolees early, the community has seen a rise in property and violent crime, according to City staff. Surrounding communities have seen an increase in serious gang activity. The City also needs to address

CONTINUED ON PAGE A15

CONTINUED ON PAGE A15

Odyssey World Cafe has table seating outside of the restaurant. The restaurant has adapted and remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Brian Williams

thing was shut down by Gov. Gavin Newsom to help curb the spread of COVID-19. “It hit us broadside,” Hawley said. “We went into panic mode. We had to close. How do we survive is what the panic was about.” Odyssey employs roughly

25 people, and Hawley said everyone is considered family. “They have families that depend on us. It’s very hard for us when we have to lay people off,” Hawley said. “We reacted very quickly like small businesses are able to do. We were able to adapt, but we had

to let some people go, which was not what we wanted to do.” Hawley’s staff received unemployment benefits, while the restaurant was closed for a couple of weeks. During this CONTINUED ON PAGE A15

EDUCATION

PRJUSD Explains Options for Starting School 86-page plan made available for public viewing on July 20

By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@pasoroblespress.com PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Superintendent Curt Dubost wants to open school the traditional way — with students and teachers on campus five days a week. But he realizes that is not going to happen with COVID-19 cases surging in the state and Gov. Gavin Newsom rolling back reopening of some business sectors. San Luis Obispo County’s COVID-19 cases have doubled since July 1, rising from 611 to 1,369 as of Tuesday afternoon. The County has also reported six COVID-19 deaths during that same span. “Just to reiterate our absolute goal is to get kids back into school five days a week,” Dubost said. “In all likelihood, that is not going to be possible with the numbers

LOCAL NEWS

where they are now, but we are not willing at this time to say we are going to make a commitment to go with distance learning only.” Dubost’s remarks came during a livestream presentation July 15 with PRJUSD Director of Student Services Nate Maas. They provided a “fly-by overview” of the three options being considered by the District for the start of the 2020-21 school year. The first day of school is scheduled for Aug. 20. Two days later, Newsom said all schools in counties on the state’s watchlist would

San Luis Obispo County for approval on Monday. It will then be voted on by PRJUSD School Board trustees during a special meeting at 5 p.m. on July 23. • Plan A is a traditional return to school in the fall. • Plan B would be a hybrid return with students on campus two days a week and distance learning the other three days. Maas indicated that maintaining six-foot social distancing would be extremely difficult under this plan. • Plan C is distance learning. Both pointed out that distance learning

So we have to be nimble and have numerous options to deal with what could happen, every possible eventuality. ~Curt Dubost, PRJUSD Superintendent begin the year with distance learning. San Luis Obispo County is on the watchlist. Schools finished the 2019-20 school year with distance learning after the state’s COVID-19 pandemic stay-home orders shut campuses in March. PRJUSD has been watching numbers, taking guidance from County and State health officials and working with input from teachers and parents to formulate plans for the upcoming school year. The District’s 86-page plan will be made public on Monday. It will be provided to

COVID UPDATE

TODAY’S SENIOR

pasoroblespress.com

WEATHER

twitter.com/ @PasoRoblesPress facebook.com/ @PasoRoblesPress

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HUMAN TRAFFICKING to start in January under new bust sees arrest of seven CIF guidelines | A3 men, two who are locals | A4

NEWSOM ORDERS ONLINE

learning for schools on State’s “watchlist” | A5

REVERSE MORTGAGES can be a creative solution during uncertain times | A13

Paso Robles Press

High 82º | Low 53º

pasoroblespress.com

67808 24135

Support Local Journalism Only one local newspaper.

Paso Robles. Real News. Good News • Real News • Your Hometown News

5

Ranked No. 1 online by alexa.com Traffic Metrics. Employs professional journalist. Owned by local publishers. The Paso Robles Press

Subscribe today!

7


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.