Hometown News Since 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXX, NO. XXXIV
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020
CA MID-STATE FAIR
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
COMMMUNITY
Fair Announces Concert Lineup
CA MID-STATE FAIR
Fair Board Announces 2019 Award Winners Dinner, auction raise money for Ag foundation
Carrie Underwood, Eric Church set to return
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@pasoroblespress.com
on the Central Coast. Ray and his wife settled in Paso Robles and proudly call themselves Bearcats. The two met in high school and intend to celebrate their 52 wedding anniversary in August. Now retired, Ray spent 28 years working in the oilfields of San Ardo. He started as a roustabout, a casual laborer on an oil rig, where he eventually became an electrician. After Chevron purchased Texaco, Ray worked as a
PASO ROBLES — Friday night the California Mid-State Fair’s board of directors hosted their annual dinner and auction event which included, among many things, announcements of the upcoming concerts that have been scheduled, various awards including Employee of the Year and Volunteer of the Year, and a lot of money raised for the San Luis Obispo County Foundation for Agriculture Awareness. The night kicked off with a cocktail party and silent auction where friends and family gathered together in their best “Paso formal” attire and began speculation as to who they thought might be coming to the fair while also placing bids a little higher than they told their spouse due to the convenient veil of secrecy. Following the cocktail hour, everyone was herded into the event center where the live auction commenced and dinner was served. The live auction included five different packages all valued at more than $1,000 dollars that showcased our local area and businesses such as a tour through Hearst Castle and Firestone Brewery. But the most popular of all might have been the Mid-State Fair VIP package, which came with a front row
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STAFF REPORT PASO ROBLES — The California Mid-State Fair announced the bulk of it’s 2020 concert line-up this week including country music superstars Carrie Underwood and Eric Church, country/pop duo Dan + Shay, a cappella group Pentatonix. Heart lead singer Ann Wilson will host the “Evening of Music & Wine” and several artists will play for free on the Frontier Stage including classic rock band Blue Öyster Cult, county acts A Thousand Horses and LeAnn Rimes, rock/ pop/country artist Uncle Kracker and Mexican Technobanda group Banda Machos. Under wood will play the Chumash Grandstand Arena July 23 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices for the show are $36.50, $56.50, $91.50, $131.50, and $181.50 (Pit, standing only) and will go on-sale Friday, Feb. 21. Tickets will be available starting at 10 a.m. online at MidStateFair.com or by calling 1-800-909-FAIR (3247), and at 1 p.m. at the California Mid-State Fair box office located at 2198 Riverside Avenue in Paso Robles. Carrie Underwood is a seventime Grammy Award winner, she has sold more than 64 million CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
Raymond Pesenti, center, poses for a photo with his grandchildren, Brysan Pesent, left, and Sophie Prieto. Pesenti, a “leaper,” and his grandchildren will all be celebrating their 18th birthdays this year. Contributed photo
It’s All About Timing 72-year-old ‘leaper’ to celebrate 18th birthday
By MARK DIAZ she has not decided what to do mark@pasoroblespress.com for the upcoming celebration. The United States, along P A S O R O B L E S — with most of the rest of the Although 72 years of age, world, operates under the technically, Ray Pesenti has Gregorian Calendar. The only had seventeen birth- 365-day calendar has 11 days. Born on a leap day, Feb. months with either 30 or 29, Raymond’s actual birth- 31 days, except for February day only appears every four which has 28. The reason there years. This year, Raymond will is a leap year is all because of celebrate his “18th birthday” timing. It takes the Earth 365 with his two grandchildren; and one-quarter days to travel Sophie and Bryson. around the sun, so an extra day “ We had a lovely sweet is added every four years to keep sixteen party for him,” Ray’s the calendar balanced that, and wife, Pam said, adding that nobody really likes fractions.
Called “leapers,” “leapings,” or “leap year babies,” these unique people can choose which day to celebrate their birthdays. Some decide to celebrate on the last day of February or the first day of March and some, such as Raymond, celebrates it on both days. It is no surprise that the DMV did not make an exception for Ray, his California state driver’s license expires on his birthday of this year. Born in San Luis Obispo, Ray has spent his whole life
COMMUNITY
Rotaract Club Forms in North County Members aim to aide community and local youth
community,” Paso Robles Rotary For people in the 18 to 30-year-old Relations Chair Kylie Pugh said. She have a lot of turnover for the same member Joe Irick said. age bracket, Rotaract Clubs are a way added that Rotaracts are also a great reasons that colleges do; students gradRotary and Rotaract members work to embed members into the Rotary source of networking in the commu- uate, drop out of or move away. NORTH COUNTY — Founded side-by-side to take action through family without having to meet stricter nity. Irick said that NCR is off to a great in 1968 by Rotary Club members as service. In the North County, three requirements or paying hefty dues. The NCR is the first of its kind over start. an international youth program, Rota- Rotary Clubs — Paso Robles, Paso Rotary members are required to pay the Grade. Irick said that two clubs “The club is really moving quickly ract Clubs strive to involve the younger Robles Sunrise and Atascadero — dues that support the organization to exist in South County, a college-based towards 20 (members), and that’s generation in community service. joined together to support the launch of maintain their membership. organization and a community-based above average for Rotaract clubs, most Local Rotary Clubs recently helped the NCR, which received certification “We’re trying to get young profes- one. Community-based Rotaracts are of them are around 10 or 15,” Irick said. to for the Rotaract Club of North San in February 2019. Irick said the Rotary sionals involved in the community and generally for people that have graduIrick said that NCR plans to apply Luis Obispo County. Clubs helped to fund the formation being a part of something bigger than ated from college or that are in some for nonprofit status. Newly formed, “It’s a way to get the younger folks of the NCR and will continue to give themselves and trying to make it fun profession but are very early in their thinking about paying back into the guidance to their young counterparts. to do community service work,” Public careers. College campus Rotaracts CONTINUED ON PAGE A10 By MARK DIAZ mark@pasoroblespress.com
pasoroblespress.com
SPORTS
LOCAL NEWS
RECORD
ENTERTAINMENT
EAGLES too big for Bearcats; Brenneman get lone pin | B1
TEMPLETON resident Joyce Wright celebrates 103rd birthday | A2
KRISTIN SMART vigil held in Santa Rosa Park, hundreds attend | A7
TOBIN JAMES hosts barrel room tasting for weekend visitors | B3
WEATHER
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