GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIX, NO. XL
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2024
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Three local candidates vying for two open seats on the Atascadero City Council participate in forum
City Council approves Tourism Business Improvement District Assessment Increase
Topics touched on were L-24, affordable housing, and homelessness By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
Council declares Oct. 6 through 12 Fire Prevention Week By CHRISTIANNA MARKS christianna@atascaderonews.com
(From left) 2024 Grand Marshal Karen McNamara, Colony Days Royalty Committee Chairman Kent Kenny, King Don Giessinger, and Queen Janey Giessinger led the 50th Annual Colony Days Parade. Photo by Rick Evans
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. The hybrid meeting was held in “The construction was a bit of a the City Council Chambers. The procession challenge, but I think we all made At the start of the meeting, featured a new route it work. The City of Atascadero Councilmember Charles Bourwas very helpful in accommodatbeau read a proclamation that due to ongoing ing the parade, and we are gratedeclared Oct. 6 through 12 Fire construction on the El ful for their partnership,” stated Prevention Week. Camino Real Project Liz Enriquez-Phillips, parade “Whereas the City of By CHRISTIANNA MARKS chair of Colony Days. “A big Atascadero is committed to christianna@atascaderonews.com ensuring the safety and secuthanks to Public Works, APD ATASCADERO — The (Atascadero Police Department), rity of all those living in and and Avila Traffic and Safety for visiting our city. Whereas fire high-temperature — over all their assistance in keeping the is a serious public safety concern 100 degrees — heat that hit parade safe and fun for all.” both locally and nationally, and Atascadero on Saturday, Oct. Enriquez-Phillips went on homes are the locations where 5, didn’t keep local residents to say that Colony Days will be people are at greatest risk of from hitting the streets to enjoy fire,” Bourbeau read at the the 50th Annual Colony Days having a survey very soon that will be shared with the commubeginning of the proclamation. Parade, which started at 10 a.m. nity to ask if they enjoyed this The proclamation went on The theme this year was “50 Atascadero News came in second place for Commercial Float at the 50th Colony Days Parade on Oct. 5. Photo by Hayley Mattson year’s route or would prefer to go to encourage everyone to make Years of Fabulous Floats,” and sure they have smoke alarms chairs were lined up and filled Safety and Parking Enhance- traveled down to Highway 41, back to the traditional route next in their sleeping rooms and up around the parade’s new route ments Project (ECR Project). then south to El Camino Real year. The survey will also ask if throughout their houses and to due to ongoing construction on The new route started on Lewis and then returned with floats the parade should be moved to make sure that they are all in the El Camino Real Downtown Avenue behind City Hall and traveling along West Mall. CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 working order by testing them at least once a month. “Whereas the 2024 fire protection week theme, Smoke Alarms Make Them Work for You, serves to remind us of the Williams’s win was announced importance of having workat the second annual wINC ing smoke alarms in the home. Now, therefore, on behalf of the Recognition Luncheon City Council and the City of By CHRISTIANNA MARKS Atascadero, I hereby proclaim christianna@atascaderonews.com Oct. 6 through 12 of 2024 as Fire Prevention Week and call ATASCADERO — The Springhill upon the people of Atascadero Suites by Marriott event space was filled to make sure their homes have to the brim with women from all over working smoke alarms. Signed the county, with a few men sprinkled Heather Moreno, Mayor,” in here and there, to celebrate the three concluded Bourbeau. finalists for The Atascadero Chamber of Fire Chief Casey Bryson Commerce’s Women of Influence North thanked the council for the County (wINC) at the second Annual proclamation. wINC Recognition Luncheon. The lunch Director of Community started at 11:30 a.m., and the fun contin- (From left) Emcee Loreli Cappel interviews the 2024 wINC finalists Young Won, Yessenia Echevarria, and Elissa Services and Promotions Terri ued for two hours before the 2024 wINC Williams during the 2nd Annual wINC Recognition Luncheon. Photo by Rick Evans Banish then addressed the was officially announced. I’m very honored to be our emcee for noon’s Emcee Loreli Cappel. council with a Marketing Plan “Thank you so much for attending the day, but more importantly, I’m very The whole of the Atascadero City Update for the city. It featured the Women of Influence North County overwhelmed by the energy in the room. Council was in attendance, including CONTINUED ON PAGE A2 Luncheon. So excited to be here, and The people in the room,” said the afterCONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Atascadero celebrates 50 Years of Fabulous Floats at this year’s Colony Days Parade
Elissa Williams chosen from field of three as Atascadero Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Woman of Influence North County
COUNTY
CRIME
NORTH COUNTY NEWS
SPORTS
ATA S C A D E R O — Two at-large councilmember seats on the Atascadero City Council will be up for election on Nov. 5 this year. Constituents got a chance to hear from the three candidates running for those spots during the Atascadero City Council Candidate Forum on Monday, Oct. 7. The forum was held at 6:30 p.m. at the Atascadero United Methodist Church. It was moderated by the League of Women Voters of SLO County in partnership with the Atascadero branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Current Councilmembers Charles Bourbeau and Mark Dariz’s terms are ending this year, with Bourbeau running unopposed for mayor and Dariz running for reelection as an incumbent. Tori Keen (who participated remotely) from the Atascadero Planning Commission and Seth Peek, local business owner of Peek Realty and Peek Painting, are also running for the two open seats. Each candidate had to answer 12 questions, ranging from their thoughts on adding more pickleball courts, affordable housing, homelessness, and L-24. L-24 is a continuation of F-14, which is a halfcent tax measure used for road maintenance. Marilee Hyman of the League of Women Voters moderated the forum. The candidates were asked what three of their priorities were if they were elected to the City Council, and all three agreed that economic development was a priority. Hyman then asked the candidates, “Do you support L-24, the sales tax measure?” “Yes, I absolutely support the sale tax measure,” stated Keen. “It’s actually a continuation of F-14, which was passedabout 10 years ago, and it will sunset, I believe, in the next couple of years if we don’t pass this extension.” CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
WEATHER
atascaderonews.com X.com/ @AtascaderoNews facebook.com/ @AtascaderoNews
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Bridge Housing program | A3
MAN CONVICTED Criminal Threats | A4
TRACTOR PULL Templeton FFA | B1
FOOTBALL WIN Atascadero beats. Santa Ynez | B8
High 86° | Low 54°
5
67808 24135
MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT OCT 15TH TO DEC 7TH
Medicare &
You 2025 35 YEARS LOCAL
“GET THE ‘HEDGE’ OF PROTECTION”
(805) 466-9048 ∙ 8105 Morro Road, Suite C ∙ Atascadero, CA 93422 www.hedgesinsurance.com ∙ agent@hedgesinsurance.com License #0H75634
7