GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIX, NO. XIV
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Templeton Unified School District nears agreement with Templeton Tennis Ranch for pool use
SLOCOG presents City Council with potential measure and transportation investment plan
Proposed partnership offers Templeton High School swim team a home facility
City recognizes employees ranging from 5 to 25 years of work in Atascadero
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
TEMPLETON — Templeton Unified School District (TUSD) trustees have taken a step forward in an agreement with the Templeton Tennis The total solar eclipse of Monday, April 8, is shown in the sky from Buffalo, New York. Photo by Nina Skriloff Ranch (TTR) regarding the use of their soon-to-be on-site pool. TTR is looking forward to breaking ground soon on its eight-lane, 25-yard swimming pool. A partnership has 13 Stars Media writer modations, and patience. New York, for no particular Honestly, once you have reason other than I had never been proposed between TTR shares her experiand the district for the new ence viewing the solar arrived at your destination visited Buffalo before and for chasing an eclipse, it’s like was curious about its fascipool to be the home facility eclipse from western waiting for the Great Pump- nating history of opening for the district’s swim team. kin: Have you been a good American commerce to the Currently, the Templeton New York boy or girl? Is your pump- Midwest in the early 1800s High School swim team — By JUDY ABEL which was established around Special to the Atascadero News kin patch sincere? And most with the construction of the importantly, will the weather great Erie Canal. 2011 — has practiced and eeing a total solar hold clear skies? The weather Sunday, April competed without a districteclipse is a phenomeAfter much effort and a 7, was gorgeous, blue cloudowned pool, traveling to Paso non for the ages. For little luck, I successfully saw less skies and in the 60s. The Robles for practice and out of many, viewing this celestial the Great American Eclipse forecast for Buffalo on April town for competitions. The proposed agreement event is a once in a lifetime in 2017, alone with my son in 8 didn’t look promising with outlines terms for rental of experience. For others, a first a wide open field in Salem, a prediction of clouds. It seemed my fate and the the facility for THS swim- viewing leads to a lifetime of Oregon. It was a spectacular sight to see my first total hopes of 1 million visitors ming. The cost is currently eclipse chasing. proposed at $3,000 per Planning to see an eclipse solar eclipse under perfect to Buffalo would be dashed month during the swim takes a little science and conditions. by Monday morning under a For this week’s eclipse, I thick layer of overcast. season and $25 per hour per researching weather condilane for swim meets. tions, luck in finding accom- chose to chase it in Buffalo, Crowds began gathering Superintendent Aaron Asplund clarified, “This is an MOU that moves us toward a common understanding when the time comes.” The intimate play sold In October 2022, TTR requested a permit for the out its four-show run pool, and it wasn’t until Jan. By CHRISTIANNA MARKS 12, 2024, that the permit was christianna@atascaderonews.com approved. When the THS swim team PASO ROBLES — Wine isn’t using the pool, it will be available to TTR members Country Theatre premiered its and the North County arm first reader’s theater production of the Puma Aquatic Club with Lee Blessing’s “Eleemosswim team, which serves ynary.” The three-woman show local youth between the ages delves into the relationships of 6 and 18. The pool will between three generations in have three functions and one family. will be built with competiThe shows, which took place tion lap pool requirements for on Friday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m.; the high school and Puma, Saturday, April 6, at 2 and 7:30 including touch pads for elec- p.m.; and Sunday, April 7, at tronic timing. It will also be 2 p.m.; sold out. Atascadero used as a fitness pool, allow- News/Paso Robles Press was ing TTR to add different invited to the Saturday evening Rosh Wright is shown playing Dorthea Westcott in Wine Country Theatre’s proaqua-aerobic classes to their show to watch this story about duction of “Eleemosynary.” Photo provided by Wine Country Theatre. schedule. On top of that, it family and words unfold in it [‘Eleemosynary’] done as a So that was, I don’t know, eight reader’s theater show, and it has years ago, maybe. Then recently, will also be a resort pool for person. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 “I did this play because I saw always stuck out in my mind. I saw it again, like maybe
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 9, at 6 p.m. The hybrid meetingwas held in the City Council Chambers. The meeting started off with city employee recognitions. “One of the best things is when we get to recognize our employee family in front of their at the lawn of the former families,” said City Manager Buffalo State Asylum for Jim Lewis. “Atascadero is a the Insane, reimagined into choice place to work, and it’s the new Richardson Hotel, a just a privilege to see the loyalty, perfect location for viewing. experience, and just the amazThe architecturally signif- ing gifts and contributions our icant building is an impos- employees make every day. It’s ing Romanesque tower and a pleasure to work with them. campus. The grounds were Today, I get to celebrate tenure designed by Frederick Law from five to 25 years.” Olmsted, best known for Fire Engineer and Paramedic Manhattan’s Central Park. Scott Groomer and Police OffiAs a live band played for an cer Ryan Gabbard celebrated eclipse watching party folks five years with Atascadero. lined up in eclipse finery Senior Building Inspector including T-shirts and hats. Bruce St. John, lead zookeeper I wasn’t the only person Katie Mulder, police officer from LA who came to Ryan Sloan, and Deputy DirecBuffalo. T iffany Begin tor of Administrative Services from Cypress, California, Cindy Chavez celebrated 10 CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 years. Deputy City Manager Luke Knight celebrated 20 years. Finance Technician Lori Brickey celebrated 25 years. SLOCOG (San Luis Obispo Council of Governments) last summer,” said director addressed the council with and Wine Country Theatre’s a presentation on a Potenfounder Cynthia Anthony. tial Countywide Self-Help The production took place Measure and Draft Transporat a private residence in tation Investment Plan. Deputy Atascadero with a 24-seat Director of the San Luis Obispo theatre on the property. This Council of Governments James gave audiences an up-close- Worthley gave the presentaand-personal experience as tion on. Worthley encouraged the production unfolded, tell- the audience watching to go ing the stories of mothers and to localroadsfirst.com to see their daughters and vice versa. what he was speaking about “I did this same play, same for the evening. The plan was role, last year, and I wondered presented in draft form, with how it would be to do it future changes to be expected. again with two different cast SLOCOG is the regional members with me, and it’s been transportation planning agency really good,” said actress Rosh comprised of all seven cities and Wright, who played the fami- San Luis Obispo County. Its ly’s matriarch, Dorthea. “Not board has 12 elected members, only is this play different every including one from each City night, as every play is, but it’s Council and all five county different with three different supervisors. people, so like a brand new play “Looking at road main-
LOCAL NEWS
WEATHER
Moon over Buffalo: Witnessing a rare celestial event
S
Wine Country Theatre dives into reader’s theater with Lee Blessing’s ‘Eleemosynary’
COUNTY
NORTH COUNTY NEWS
SPORTS
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