GOOD NEWS. REAL NEWS. HOMETOWN NEWS.
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXII, NO. XXIV
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021
CELEBRATION
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
HOLIDAYS
Lights of Hope Lights Up Downtown Irene received 160 cards from the community giving her birthday wishes. Photo courtesy of Westmont Living
Pioneer Day Queen Turns 100 Years Old Irene Elizabeth Smith Marquart born November 24, 1921 By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — This is a big year for local Irene Marquart. In October, Irene was named Paso Robles Pioneer Day Queen, and on Nov. 24, Irene turned 100 years old. Irene celebrated her 100th birthday with a luncheon attended by family and the Paso Robles Mayor, Steve Martin, who presented Irene with a certificate of recognition. Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham’s office and the County Board of Supervisors also sent congratulatory certificates. But the most discussed topic of the day was the number of cards that were sent to Irene with good wishes. The project started with the staff at The Oaks at Paso Robles, who thought it would be good to get the community involved by asking them to send greeting cards. The grand total was 160 cards, with most hailing from Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo County, but there were cards from as far away as Australia and Holland and from other states such as Washington, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, and Oregon. Irene Elizabeth Smith Marquart was born Nov. 24, 1921, in Fulton County, Arkansas. Going into the depression, Irene’s father moved out West to California to find work. “When you have a family of eight, I guess you’ll do what you have to do to keep them fed,” says Irene. In 1929, Irene’s mother sold all their belongings to buy a flatbed pickup truck, and seven siblings moved to the Creston area. Irene’s father was a farm laborer at the time, and she remembers her CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
NON-PROFIT
Mayor Steve Martin, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, the Snow King and Queen, Councilman Hamon and his wife Marjorie, Co-Chair of the Light up the Downtown and Main Street Association volunteers led Christmas carols in the park gazebo. Photo by Hayley Mattson
35,000 lights illuminated 17 oak trees for the Lights of Hope fundraiser
brim with families and community members on Friday, Nov. 26, to turn on the lights and begin the holiday season. At 6 p.m., the light switch was flipped, and 35,000 lights illumiBy CAMILLE DeVAUL nated 17 park oak trees. camille@pasoroblespress.com Following the lighting ceremony, the crowd lit their candles PASO ROBLES — The Paso and sang carols with Chad Stevens, Robles City Park was filled to the the Co-Chair of the Light Up the
Downtown, dressed up in a suit and a top hat to lead the singing along with the Snow King and Queen and Mrs. Claus all if the goal to grow the Grinch’s heart and show his Christmas spirit. Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin and Councilman John Hamon, with his wife Marjorie, joined the sing-along as well. Although the Grinch was a bit
COMMUNITY
stubborn at first, he eventually came around. I mean, who can resist singing along to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer? Mayor Martin concluded, “Everything went smoothly. We managed to convert the Grinch to Christmas, which is a good news thing. Mrs. Claus said we definitely have sufficient Christmas Spirit for Santa Clause to show up at the
Christmas Parade, so we’re very happy about that. And we had a great time singing together and holding our candles together, and it was a very successful and happy event.” It has been said that the Grinch’s soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing with the most CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
HERITAGE
Traditions and the Meaning of Hanukkah from Jewish Authors
The Thanksgiving crew served and delivered more meals this year than ever before. Contributed photo
Thanksgiving for Paso Robles Wraps Up Successful 37th Dinner Over 1200 meals were distributed on November 25 By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — On Thursday Nov. 25, over 1,200 meals were distributed to the community for the 37th Thanksgiving for Paso Robles at Centennial Park. Chairman David Kudija reports that while it was one of the lightest
EVENT
Amanda (right) and Lilli (left) co-run the Jewish book club, Matzah Book Soup together. Contributed photo
This year Hanukkah falls on November 28 through December 6
days they’ve had for dine-in meals, Turkey Day went “Amazingly!”The Thanksgiving crew delivered more meals than ever before, which Kudija attributes to COVID and people wishing to stay home. There were 1,500 meals prepared and about 1,200 meals distributed, about the same as the past few years. Originally, Kudija said they prepared for meals to be in higher demand due to challenging circumstances from the last two years. This week, Thanksgiving
for Paso Robles is working on distributing leftovers from Thursday’s meal. Some leftovers were brought to the El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) shelters in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo (SLO). About 20 pumpkin pies were brought to the Bridge Christian Church in Paso Robles and given out to the congregation. Afterward, three leftover pies were taken to the Centennial Park Staff.
ATASCADERO — Hanukkah showed up early this year! The Jewish Festival of Lights started on the night of Nov. 28 and will end at sundown on Dec. 6. The eight-night celebration of Jewish liberation can fall anywhere between late November and late December and changes dates every year on the Gregorian calendar. However, on the Jewish calendar, it always falls on the 25 of Kislev. “Whether we celebrate in December, November or [like one
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GOVERNMENT
WEEKLY FEATURE
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS For The Paso Robles Press
WEATHER
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ECHO TURKEY TROT Returned For In-Person Run On Thanksgiving Day | A3
NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS PRJUSD WELCOMES RETURN POINT SAN LUIS MEMORIES America Day is Dec. 18 Where Wreaths of Students’ Trustee on Board As 13 A Guardsman’s Are Placed on a Veterans Grave | A4 applicants approved for interviews | A5 Brother Remembers | A13
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