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SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIX, NO. XVIII
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024
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Local parents address trustee board on class size School board approves keeping AUSD meeting recordings on YouTube for 90 days By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
Peggy O’Malley, wife of former mayor, passes away Atascadero native, educator, and community leader By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher
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ATA S CA D ERO —T h e Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) Board of Trustees met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 p.m. At the meeting, seven parents from within the district addressed the board during Oral Communications from the Public on concerns with class sizes within AUSD, which has been an ongoing discussion. The group was given a total of 20 minutes to talk on the issue of class size. One mother, Tara Walker, who has also been in education for 14 years and has been a counselor at Cayucos Elementary for the last two years, compared the differences between AUSD and Cayucos. “It ’s mind-blowing, the type of disparities there are,” she stated. “For example, at Cayucos, there are 23 students and a teacher’s aide from 8:30 to 1:30.” She went on to say that her child is in a classroom with 32 students, and as far as she can tell, there is no teacher’s aide for a class of that size. Parents also stated how their children don’t always feel challenged, don’t get individualized attention, and that some students are sometimes intimidated to speak up in such large AUSD classrooms. AUSD currently has a 32 students to one teacher ratio. Though class sizes have been limited to a 26 students to one teacher in kindergarten in the district. At the start of his Superintendent ’s Report, Tom Butler replied to the parent’s comments on class size. “Right now, I can share
eggy Joyce O’Malley, the wife of former Atascadero Mayor People came from all over to experience the eighth annual Tamale Fest. Photos by Rick Evans. Tom O’Malley, passed away on April 9 after a two-year battle with cancer. Her family shared that during her final years, she devoted herself to her family, her children, and The festivities kicked there’s also lots of local vendors creating cherished memories off early on Friday night as well. with her eight grandchildren. “It’s become a staple of our By CHRISTIANNA MARKS Peggy and Tom shared 48 christianna@atascaderonews.com city, and it definitely gets all of years of marriage. She was the merchants out,” Banish said. a true Atascadero native, ATASCADERO—The “All of your Mexican restaurants, born at Atascadero Hospi- streets around Atascadero’s Mexican cuisine that we have. A tal and graduating from famous Sunken Gardens were lot of local restaurants are particAtascadero High School. lined with delicious tamales, ipating.” Throughout her youth, she long lines, and smiling faces for It isn’t just about the tamales actively participated in vari- the eighth annual Tamale Festiat the festival; on both Friday and Saturday, entertainment ous activities such as Pioneer val. The festival took place on Girls at Atascadero Gospel Saturday, May 4, from 11 a.m. lined the streets. The 90’s Babiez Chapel, band, and the flag to 7 p.m. But the fun didn’t stop performed on Friday night team, all while demonstrat- there. The festival and Cinco de The winners of the eighth annual Tamale Fest Best Tamales contest are shown. before the fireworks, and Saturing her creativity in crafting Mayo weekend officially kicked day boasted a full lineup. The Famous Dancing Horses and homecoming floats. Peggy off on Friday, May 3, from 5:30 This year, around 30 tamale Coast and beyond. furthered her education at to 8 p.m. and concluded with a vendors came out for Friday Cambria resident Maureen ranchero artist Manuel Enrique Cuesta College and Cal fireworks show. night to get a head start on sell- Fox was at the Tamale Fest for and his horse were there. MariPoly, maintaining ties to the “We are really starting to ing their yummy tamales of all the first time this year, and it was achi Voces Tapatias, La Marcha community by attending vari- work on Tamale Festival Week- kinds early, but it was just a small her love of tamales themselves Sound, and Mexicanisimo Marious local Atascadero churches end, making it really a Friday/ glimpse of what was to come on that brought her to Atascadero. achi Band all took to the stage. Saturday thing,” said Director Saturday. over the years. “I love tamales. I used to live Paso A Pasito Dance Group and D u r i n g h e r p r o f e s - of Community Services and “There was like 150 vendors. down in San Diego. We used to Paso Ballet Folklorico danced in sional career, Peggy served Promotions Terrie Banish. “That That’s a lot more than in the go to a [tamale] fest in Escon- front of City Hall. And the Stepas an educator within the not only helps people who want past,” added Banish. dido,” stated Fox. pin’ Out Band, Brass Mash Band, Atascadero Unified School to sell tamales and sell all of the Last year, there were closer In fact, one of the tamale and Dante Marsh & The Vibe District for 25 years. She thousands that they brought but to 100 vendors filling the vendors was one of her favor- Setters also performed. taught at several school also [helps] our hotels and tour- Sunken Gardens, which shows ites at the Escondido festival. Just like in past years, a group sites, including Carrisa ism. Then for our community, it’s that the festival is picking up She didn’t know they would be of esteemed members of the Plains, Creston Elementary kind of like Friday night is locals speed. In fact, it brings people in Atascadero, but said it was community taste-tested both School, Santa Rosa Elemen- night.” in from all over the Central a pleasant surprise. Of course, CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 tary School, and, ultimately, Atascadero Middle School. Locally made film ‘Hidden Creek’ Renowned for her fervor for shines light on dementia struggles literature and her dedication to helping students uncover Second screening of Robles will be the host to the second screening of “Hidden their true talents, Peggy left film at Park an indelible mark on count- Cinemas supports local Creek,” which tells the story less young lives. of an elderly rancher and his nonprofits and battle with dementia. Peggy and Tom united raises awareness their passions to establish the The screenplay was writBy CAMILLE DEVAUL Portola Inn, a venture they ten by Cambria psycholocamille@atascaderonews.com pursued together with joy. gist and writer Steve Brody, NORTH COUNTY — who was inspired to write Their shared vision of cultivating a beautiful property The community will have a the screenplay for “Hidden for weddings and celebrations chance to see and give feed- Creek” after his mother’s own reflected their deep connec- back on a Central Coast-made battle with dementia. Many of tion and commitment to each film this month. On Thursday, Brody’s patients struggle with The crew films a scene from “Hidden Creek,” a locally produced film about an elderly rancher and his battle with dementia, other and their community. May 23, Park Cinemas in Paso CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 at the Fiscalini family ranch in Cambria. Contributed Photo
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Eighth annual Tamale Festival brings in more tamale vendors than ever before
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