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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025
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Council opts not to move forward on cannabis retail stores City code on marijuana dispensaries to remain unchanged after long discussion at Tuesday’s meeting By MIKE CHALDU michael@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — In its latest regular meeting, on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Atascadero City Council held a public hearing on the possibility of cannabis dispensaries opening within the city, with staff recommending the council give it direction to drafter an amended code allowing retail stores selling cannabis products to open in the city limits. However, after a discussion that lasted about 2 hours and 47 minutes, the City Council, by a 3-2 vote, opted not to go forward with that directive. The hearing, titled Cannabis Land Use Update Discussion, was presented by Community Development Director Phil Dunsmore, who at the start estimated that one or more cannabis stores in the city could bring up to $500,000 in sales tax revenue. Dunsmore said the current cannabis ordinance, adopted in 2021, can be found in Title 9, Part 17 of the city code. It allows for out-of-town delivCONTINUED ON PAGE 2
2025 Colony Days Royalty Queen JoAnn Davis and King Dave Davis (both sitting) are shown with their family during the Colony Tea on Oct. 12. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
47th annual Colony Tea honors 2025 Grand Marshal and Royalty
Atascadero tradition celebrates Colony Days Grand Marshal Mike Zappas and King and Queen Dave and JoAnn Davis By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — The spirit of Atascadero’s history was alive and well on Sunday, Oct. 12, as more than 100 local community members gathered for the 47th annual Colony Tea at
the Atascadero Bible Church Fellowship Hall. Following the Colony Days theme “Butterfly Drive — The Road to Atascadero,” the event honored the city’s roots and welcomed the newly named 2025 Colony Days Grand Marshal and Royalty. The invite-only gathering, a tradi-
tion since 1977, welcomed residents aged 55 and older who have lived in Atascadero for over 40 years. Many attendees represented multiple generations of local families, coming together to share stories, laughter, and memories that traced the community’s evolution from a small colony to a thriving city.
As teacups clinked and old friends reunited, attendees reminisced about the town’s past and reflected on how it has grown. There was no shortage of smiles and nostalgia as residents took turns recalling colorful moments from decades gone by, honoring those who CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Raquel Gottfried (bottom right), mother of Kyndal Gottfried, was joined by her siblings and parents, at the dedication of a memorial bench to Kyndal at Atascadero Lake Park. Photos by Camille DeVaul/ATN
Family unveils memorial bench honoring Kyndal Gottfried at Atascadero Lake Park Overlooking the playground where she once played, the new bench offers a place for family, friends, and the community to remember Kyndal’s joy, courage, and love for life
A group of civic leaders, El Camino Homeless Organizaiton (ECHO) staff and board members have shovels at the ready Oct. 6 for the groundbreaking of ECHO’s Balay Ko Family Resource Center. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN
ECHO breaks ground on Balay Ko Family Resource Center New 30-bed facility to provide private family housing, workforce training, and support services By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — A new chapter began for El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) on Monday, Oct. 6, as shovels hit the dirt for the groundbreaking of the Balay Ko Family Resource Center. The event, attended by more than 150 community members, marked not only the start of construction but the start of renewed hope for families in North County seeking stability and a safe place to call home. “The groundbreaking marks the begin-
ning of a powerful new chapter for ECHO — one built on hope, home, and community,” said ECHO Development Manager Stephanie Potter. “We’re laying the foundation for a future where families on our waitlist will have a safe place to call their own.” The two-story, 7,200-square-foot facility will sit adjacent to ECHO’s existing Atascadero shelter and add 30 new beds in private rooms designed specifically for families. Construction of the modular building is expected to be completed by October 2026. The new space will also
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include a workforce training classroom, a children’s activity room, counseling offices, and shared living areas, with each element designed to support both stability and dignity for families rebuilding their lives. The Balay Ko Family Resource Center is being built in partnership with the Balay Ko Foundation, an organization with a long history of funding housing and support programs for families experiencing homelessness across California. “The Balay Ko Foundation representatives are deeply passionate about making CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
BUSINESS
By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — A new bench now sits overlooking the playground at Atascadero Lake Park. On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Gottfried family gathered with friends to unveil a memorial bench dedicated to Kyndal Leah Gottfried, a bright, joyful little girl whose spirit continues to inspire all who knew her. The setting was one Kyndal would have loved. The park was alive with children’s birthday parties and laughter. As the
family prepared for the unveiling, a familiar sound filled the park — Katy Perry’s “Roar,” Kyndal’s personal theme song, playing from a nearby party. It was an unexpected, heartfelt reminder that her presence, in many ways, is still here. “We wanted this bench to honor Kyndal so we’d have a place to remember some of her most happy moments along with her sweetness and her laughter — which was so contagious — and her love for us and for life,” shared Cecilia Gottfried, Kyndal’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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