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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2024
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School board moves forward with Infrastructure Incentive Project AUSD welcomes Joey Arnold, Jodi Taylor, and returning trustee Corinne Kuhnle to school board By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Before the start of its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 17, the Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) held an organizational meeting at 5:15 p.m. At that meeting, incoming trustee members Joey Arnold and Jodi Taylor were sworn in alongside returning trustee Corinne Kuhnle. Trustee Tracy EllisWeit was also selected as board president with Trustee Denise McGrew-Kane taking over EllisWeit’s old title of board clerk. The regularly scheduled board meeting started at 7 p.m. “It was a really nice way to start the evening bringing on and welcoming our two new elected trustees, Trustee Arnold and Trustee Taylor, as well as re-elected Trustee Kuhnle,” said Superintendent Tom Bulter at the start of his Superintendent Report. “It’s great to have the team together and looking forward to doing a lot of good work for our students tonight.” During their board reports the rest of the trustees also welcomed CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Joe’s Little Train, with a little passenger, moves along the parade route during Atascadero’s Winter Wonderland on Friday, Dec. 13. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
Over 7,000 people celebrate holidays at Winter Wonderland at Sunken Gardens Seventy tons of snow were brought in to create holiday magic
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATA S C A D E R O — Atascadero’s snow-filled holiday extravaganza Winter Wonderland was back for its
21st year on Friday, Dec. 13. There was entertainment on the steps of City Hall, Sunken Gardens was full of family-friendly activities, and 70 tons of snow was split between two snow piles and the event’s massive snow slide, which looked even bigger this year to the naked eye. “This year the snow slide
was the same amount of snow, but the ice was not as cold, so it was easier to blow and had more of a “fresh powder” effect so fluffy and more enjoyable,” stated Director of Community Services & Promotions Terrie Banish. The slide had a steady line of parents and kids waiting for their turn to make their jour-
ney down the beautiful snow. Like in past years, the slide was built and manned by the Kiwanis Club of Atascadero, Atascadero Hay & Feed, and Cuesta Springs Ice Company. There were also two snow piles on Entrada and multiple snowball fights could be witnessed if you walked by. “I absolutely love seeing
everybody and just being back in the community is so nice,” said this year’s Miss California Mid-State Fair Megan Pagnini. “It’s just so huge. I think there’s not a lot of events besides the fair that attract so many people. So, to see this many people all together in the Central Coast is really cool and special.” CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Coats for Kids founder Barbie Butz (right), shown with her husband John at the Paso Robles Event Center, helps distribute warm items directly to North County families in need, and teamed with the Toy Bank for the Day of Giving on Dec. 14. Photo by Camille DeVaul/ATN
North County nonprofits bring warmth and joy with annual Day of Giving
(From left) Granddaughter Jennifer Little Pierce, Donald’s son Bruce Rauch, granddaughter Stephanie Little, Donald’s son’s wife Janet Rauch, and Donald’s daughter Ann Little join Donald Rauch (sitting) at his 100th birthday party. Contributed Photo
Toy Bank and Coats for Kids celebrate decades of support for families in need
Local veteran honored on his 100th birthday
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
Donald Rauch celebrated 100 years of a wonderful life on Sept. 11 this year By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Local Atascadero resident Donald Rauch celebrated his 100th birthday on Sept. 11 of this
year. Rauch, the father of 2022 Colony Days Grand Marshal Ann Little, became a resident at Ingleside Assisted Living in June when she moved him here from the Bay Area. Between Little, Ingleside, and Atascadero Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 2814, Rauch’s birthday was rung in with the fanfare it deserved. “He was born Sept. 11, 1924. Knowing my dad was new to
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Ingleside and the community and it was just really me and my girls, they [Ingleside] said, ‘You know, VFW sometimes will present a certificate or something in honor of a veteran on a special occasion. You might call them,’” said Little. So, Little reached out to the Atascadero branch of the VFW and connected with Quartermaster Chris Rohrberg. He
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told her that he’d be able to put something together for her dad. Rohrberg told Atascadero News he submitted Ann’s request to a couple of the local veteran groups. “We had not just the Veterans of Foreign Wars, we had the American Legion, American Legion Riders, we had some of the Welcome Home Hero guys CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
NORTH COUNTY NEWS
NORTH COUNTY — The Toy Bank of Greater Paso Robles (Toy Bank) celebrated 30 years of bringing magic to families in need of some extra support during the holiday season. The organization has been able to provide toys and clothing to about 500 families and 1,400 children from newborn to 12 years old. They specifically work to serve low-income families
from Paso Robles, Shandon, San Miguel, Bradley, and Heritage Ranch. On Saturday, Dec. 14, Toy Bank again was partnered with Coats for Kids of SLO County for their annual Day of Giving. Held at the Paso Robles Event Center, volunteers gather toys and coats to be distributed to the over 700 families who seek assistance from the nonprofits. Coats for Kids has been helping keep families warm for 37 years now. Their mission has always been to distribute warm items such as coats, jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts directly to North County families in CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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