GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIX, NO. XXIII
THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Atascadero community gathers to celebrate the life of Adrian Gaona
The community showed up to remember Adrian Gaona and his lasting impact on Atascadero. Photo by Rick Evans
Gaona passed away at his home on May 17 By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
(From left) School Board Trustee President Terri Switzer, Trustee Denise McGrew-Kane, Trustee Vy Pierce, School Board Treasurer Tracy Ellis-Weit, Commencement Speaker Sebastian Marano, Trustee Matt Pennon, AHS Principal Nikki Baca, Trustee Rebekah Koznek, and Superintendant Tom Butler are shown as Marano give his Commencement Speech. Photo by Rick Evans
Over 250 Greyhounds get their diplomas The Atascadero High School Class of 2024 graduated on June 6 By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — On the warm evening of Thursday, June 6, at 6 p.m., Atascadero High School’s (AHS) graduating Class of 2024 stormed Memorial Stadium in celebration. Two hundred and sixty-one students filled up the center of the football field as their family and friends filled the bleachers on both sides of the stadium to cheer on the students in their
last step to leaving high school behind and heading out into the great big world of opportunity. “Hello and welcome to the 103rd Commencement Ceremony for Atascadero High School,” stated Principal Nikki Baca at the start of the ceremony. “Please stand and help me welcome the graduating Class of 2024.” The graduates were accompanied by the Greyhound Band playing “Pomp and Circumstance” and were followed by the senior choir singing the national anthem. The United States Armed Forces also presented the colors at the graduation.
City Council livestream stops near the end of intense Community Forum Draft ordinance for Objective Design Standards approved By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. The hybrid meeting was held in the City Council Chambers. Councilmember Heather Newsom attended via Zoom and due to a bad connection was absent for the second half of the meeting. During his Updates from the City Manager, Jim Lewis gave an update on kicking off the El Camino Real Downtown Safety and Parking Enhancement Project on Monday, June 10. They’re currently working on putting in an updated sewer line. Sewer main replacement work started on Wednesday, June 12. “They’ll work their way from south to north, beginning at the intersection of El Camino Real and West Mall,” said Lewis. During Community Forum, residents came forward to invite and speak to the council about Atascadero’s first-ever Pride Festival, which will take place at the Atascadero Zoo Garden Events Center this upcoming Sunday, June 16. Members
of the community, including youth, also asked that the council revisit last year’s proclamation to declare June Pride Month in Atascadero and make it official again this year. All three of the speakers also commented on the discrimination that the LBGTQ+ community faces. Three speakers entered the meeting via Zoom to make statements in opposition to the Pride Festival, a proclamation, and the lifestyle they promote. One of them stated she was a local resident. Two of the three Zoom speakers went as far as to state a desire for “European standards” and white pride to be celebrated instead. Other statements of white pride were made by the last speaker before the livestream abruptly ended, with the Community Forum having under two minutes left. Atascadero City Council’s Community Forum lasts 30 minutes, and each speaker has three minutes. As of Wednesday, June 12, both parts of the recording, including Community Forum, have been removed from the City’s YouTube Channel. At the time of going to press, the city has yet to respond to when it will be available to the public. Below is the official statement the City of Atascadero made on Wednesday in
AGRICULTURE
2024 Senior Class President Aurora Perry gave the opening speech. “To our families, thank you for your endless patience and your unwavering support. To our teachers, coaches, and mentors, you didn’t just teach us. You inspired us. You challenged us to think differently, to question, and to dream. You have been committed to furthering our education since day one. Thank you to the AUSD dignitaries and our board of trustees for always putting in the work behind the scenes,” Perry said. “We have spent the last four years together side by side through sporting events,
school activities, and in the classroom, watching each other grow into who we are today. I’m proud to stand before you as our class president, so here’s to us. Let’s go get our diplomas and become one degree hotter.” Superintendent Tom Butler then presented the Salutatorians, of which there were two this year, and the Valedictorian to the enthusiastic crowd. “It is my honor to present to you the students who have achieved the highest GPAs for the class of 2024,” said Baca as the three students took to the stage. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero community showed up in a big way to celebrate the life of Adrian “Bubba” Gilberto Gaona on Sunday, June 9, at Rocky Canyon Ranch. Gaona passed away on May 17. It was clear from the stories told and the tears shed at his celebration of life that his life had a huge impact on the Atascadero community as a whole. At the start of the celebration, where people shared their memories of Adrian, his father, Gilbert Gaona Sr., rang the Greyhounds bell that was made for Adrian to ring at all the Atascadero High School (AHS) games 35 times. Once for each year of Adrian’s life. “We’re very, very grateful for your love for Adrian, and we’re grateful to be able to celebrate his life today. Today’s going to be a good day. It’s going to be a day where we can share memo-
ries, and it’s going to be a sad day, too,” said Adrian’s brother, Jerry Gaona. Adrian’s best friend, Joseph Harms, gave the eulogy. The two met when they were both being fostered by the Gaonas. “We were finally both in a loving home together and as time went on, we got closer. There wasn’t ever a time when we were out that I wasn’t behind Adrian pushing him. Those hills got tough sometimes. That never changed no matter how old we got,” added Harms. Adrian was born with spina bifida and used wheelchairs throughout his life. Harms also reminissed that when Adrian would get new one, they would both ride around and pop wheelies together. Adrian was with multiple foster families before the Gaonas started fostering him when he was 11. The family already had six children of their own by then. “He [Adrian] bonded with us right away. When he went CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Newly graduated students toss their mortarboards in the air at the end of the Templeton High School graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 6. Photos by Matt Macfarlane
Eagles soar to next chapter at Class of 2024 graduation Nearly 200 students receive diplomas in memorable ceremony featuring flyover and heartfelt speeches By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
TEMPLETON — Templeton High School celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2024 on Thursday, June 6, at Volunteer Stadium. The event was marked by nearly 200 students receiving their diplomas from the Templeton Unified School District (TUSD) Board of Trustees. The ceremony began with a rendition of the national
NORTH COUNTY NEWS
anthem by the Wallace brothers. A highlight of the event was the flyover tribute by the Estrella Warbird Museum, adding a memorable touch to the celebrations. Templeton High School Principal Jessica Lloyd welcomed students and their families in the crowd on Thursday night. “As we gather to honor the achievements of our seniors, I am filled with immense pride and admiration for each one of these young adults. They have reached a significant milestone,” said Lloyd. She continued by thanking family, friends, and the commuCONTINUED ON PAGE A2
EVENTS
nity for supporting the students throughout their educational careers. Lloyd then recognized some THS employees who were also graduating into retirement: Coach Phil James, Matt Macfarlane, Chris Hildebrand, and Cindy Deazer. She again addressed the graduates sitting on the stage: “I hope you look back fondly on your time at Templeton High School and your years in Templeton Unified School District. More importantly, my hope is that you have grown into young adults with character, motivation, and resilience.” Senior Class President James Black presented the senior gifts,
WEATHER
which included new benches for the campus and a red carpet emblazoned with their class year. Eagle of the Year and Salutatorian Walker Craven addressed his fellow classmates: “The Class of 2024 did not become so superb without trial and error. Life ebs and flows. It has its ups and its downs. Life is not always easy, nor should it be.” “All of us on this stage know how hard life can be. But as the old addict states, ‘this too shall pass,’” Craven added. “The hard times do come to an end and result in personal growth and strength. This class is the most respectful, loving, caring and supportive class I have seen.” In a Templeton High School tradition, Lloyd introduced the pasoroblespress.com X.com/ @PasoRoblesPress facebook.com/ @PasoRoblesPress
BLUEBERRY CROPS Pressure Markets | A3
DOWNTOWN
Construction Begins | B1
WINEMAKER DINNER Supports ECHO | B8
High 79° | Low 51°
5
67808 24135
7