Paso Robles Press • August 28, 2025

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By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com

PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) Board of Trustees gathered Tuesday, Aug. 19, for its regularly scheduled meeting, welcoming a new student trustee, approving critical technology upgrades, and receiving a back-to-school update from Superintendent Jennifer Loftus.

The evening began with Loftus administering the Oath of Office to Paso Robles High School student Grant Acevedo, who was appointed by election of the school’s Associated Student Body president to serve as Student Trustee alongside the PRJUSD trustees. Acevedo’s term will extend through June 2026. Trustee Kenney Enney was absent from the meeting.

The board also accepted several generous donations

By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com

SAN MIGUEL — The spirit of Paso Robles Pioneer Day festivities made its way to San Miguel this past weekend as the community gathered for the beloved Old Timers BBQ. Held on Sunday, Aug. 24, the annual event brought together longtime residents,

royalty, and local volunteers to share in food, fellowship, and tradition.

The barbecue, hosted by the San Miguel Lions Club, has been a staple of Pioneer Day activities for decades.

The Lions have proudly carried on the event since at least 1985, when they first installed the barbecue pits that are still used today. But the club’s roots in the community run even deeper. Founded in 1949, the

Paso Robles celebrates football and girls flag football debuts, Templeton battles in season opener, and Atascadero volleyball dominates early matches

By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com

NORTH COUNTY — High school sports are back in full swing across the North County, and fans have plenty to cheer for as local teams launch their 2025 seasons. In

Paso Robles, the Bearcats are set to light up War Memorial Stadium while also celebrating the debut of their first-ever girls flag football team. Templeton’s Eagles are fighting to prove themselves after a hard-fought opener under veteran head coach Don Crow, and Atascadero’s Greyhounds have already hit the ground running with a dominant start in girls volleyball. From the gridiron to the court, this fall promises spirited competition and community pride throughout the region. The Templeton High School football

team kicked off its 2025 season under the Friday night lights at home, but came up just short against Edison High School, falling after two overtimes 28-20 on Aug. 22.

The Eagles showed plenty of fight in their opener, keeping the game close thanks to a balanced offensive effort. Quarterback Colter Tannehill led the way, throwing for 196 yards and a touchdown while also scoring once on the ground. Running back Tyler Cunningham added 64 rushing yards and a touchdown to power the ground game.

San Miguel Lions have worked hand-in-hand with the Paso Robles Pioneer Day Committee, ensuring that the picnic and its traditions remain strong year after year.

“It’s been tradition. The whole idea of the picnic is giving back to the community,” said Lion member Mary Scantlin, secretary of the San Miguel Lions.

MIKE CHALDU michael@pasoroblespress.com

SAN LUIS OBISPO

COUNTY — The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors took a step toward its effort to reach its state affordable housing requirement by forwarding, with some modifications, an Ad Hoc Committee’s and the county Planning Commission’s recommendations at its Tuesday, Aug. 19, regular meeting.

The item stemmed from an effort that started March 12, 2024, when the board directed the county’s Department of Planning and Building to prioritize nine key Housing Element implementation actions by establishing the 2020-2028 Housing Element Implementation Framework, which contains near-term and longterm actions aimed at achieving the state-mandated Regional

Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for the unincorporated county. On Sept. 10, 2024, the board formed an Ad Hoc 2020-2028 Housing Element Implementation Steering Committee, led by Supervisors Dawn Ortiz-Legg and Jimmy Paulding, to provide guidance on stakeholder engagement and key implementation decision points relating to the Implementation Framework. Other members include representatives from the home builder industry and nonprofit affordable housing builders.

The main focus of the Aug. 19 meeting was giving first approval on the staff and committee’s Implementation Action 01, which was to Encourage Multi-Family Dwelling Development (like apartment buildings and mixed-use complexes) and Implementation Action 02, which established a Regional Housing Incentive Program. The recommended ordinances and resolutions were proposed to update current regulations

“If you’re 80 and older, you get a free meal. And the San Miguel Lions, that’s what they’ve always done, and giving it back to our community to help all the pioneers because we’re all farmers and ranchers.”

This year’s barbecue was made possible thanks to an extra effort from the Lions. With several members deployed to help battle the massive Gifford Fire, Scantlin called upon friends and neighbors to step in. Volunteers filled the gap to ensure that the tradition

from local organizations and businesses:

Charities Aid Foundation

America donated $500 to support Georgia Brown Dual Immersion School.

• The Wonderful Company contributed $800 for Virginia Peterson Elementary School.

Connect Builders donated a washer and dryer, valued at $1,580, for the new Career Technical Education (CTE)

Defensively, Templeton held its own, limiting Edison to just 2.7 yards per carry. Senior linebacker Garret Davis anchored the defense with a strong performance, while the team’s younger players gained valuable experience in their first varsity starts. Head coach Don Crow, now in his 42nd year of coaching and seventh season since returning to Templeton in 2019, acknowledged the defense’s inexperience but praised their resilience.

Crow told Paso Robles Press, “We had one player who had never started a varsity game in the position they played Friday, and then a different kid had never started in more than two varsity games ever. So we were pretty young, and they played pretty well. We hung in there against the team ... [we’re] having some growing pains on defense. But I think we’re going to be fine, and I think our kids feel like we should have a very

for multi-family dwellings to increase flexibility for housing development in the county, while protecting the use and enjoyment of neighboring properties. The item Aug. 19 was for tentative action and authorization of the use of alternative publication procedures for Action 01. A second public hearing for final action is scheduled for the meeting Sept. 23. The staff presentation, given by Cory Hanh and Schani Siong of the County Planning Department, outlined the amendments for the Implementation Action 01 and 02: Modify the exception for residential use in commerical land-use, to

would not be interrupted.

Guests enjoyed a hearty meal prepared by the Lions, with Pioneer Day Queen Lorraine Cagliero summing it up simply: “The food was delicious ... it was a wonderful day. It wasn’t hot. I think there was a little less of a crowd.”

As always, the Old Timers BBQ paid special tribute to senior members of the community. Among those honored was Don Smith, recognized as the oldest gentleman in attendance, and Joy King, honored as the oldest woman. In addition, the Pioneer Day Belle and her attendants were present to mingle with guests and continue

class at Lewis Flamson Junior High School.

• The Blackbaud Giving Fund gave $315 to support Paso Robles High School’s Cross Country and ASB Leadership programs.

Trustees expressed gratitude to all donors for their investment in the success of Paso Robles students.

In a unanimous vote, trustees approved a major infrastructure modernization project for the district’s Central IT Room, which functions as the hub

competitive season. They feel pretty good about our chances to be good, and I think we could be a pretty good team.”

Templeton will lean on key returners, including linemen Weston Patch and Drake Sandoval, who both earned varsity time as underclassmen, as well as junior Colby Sims and running back Armando Soto. With this mix of experienced anchors and developing talent, the Eagles are aiming to build momentum before Ocean League play begins on Oct. 3.

On the sidelines during the Aug. 22 game, Coach Crow requested that all of the coaching staff wear Templeton Feed and Grain hats during the game. This was to show support for the Jermin family, owners of the Templeton Feed and Grain granary that was burned down after some juveniles threw fireworks onto the nearly 100-yearold building the night of July 4.

The Eagles also have rivalry games circled on the calendar, including the annual Clash of the Coast against Morro Bay,

allow 100% residential use in commercial land use categories to require dedication of 16% instead of 8% of total dwelling units as guaranteed affordable units for very low- or low- income categories.

• In increasing dwelling units per acre, to consider three site factors: [1] development status (developed or undeveloped), [2] parcel size, and [3] developability to provide required number of residential units

• Increase the maximum floor area, depending on site intensity (referring to proximity of paved road and sewer system) Reduce minimum off-street parking

of PRJUSD’s data systems. The plan includes replacing outdated servers with one Dell CTO Powerstore 500T and three PowerEdge R760 servers, along with five years of technical support.

District staff explained that they evaluated multiple manufacturers and vendors before selecting Dell equipment, ultimately securing a steep discount through competitive contracts. While the equipment’s list price was $350,543.05, PRJUSD negotiated the cost

and a rematch against defending league champion Nipomo, who edged Templeton by three points last season.

Templeton now heads on the road for the first time this season, facing Monache on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.

Win or lose, Crow emphasized the program’s deep connection to the community. “We feel and know that we’re the Templeton community’s team, and we want the community to come out and enjoy our games and come to the games and celebrate football and celebrate the community with us,” he said. “Hopefully, we can fill those stands every Friday night and be a representative of the Templeton community.”

Football season is back in Bearcat Country, and this year, Paso Robles High School fans have even more to cheer about.

The Bearcat football team, which lost its season opener against Kingsburg, on Friday, Aug. 22, will continue the season this Friday night, Aug. 29, against a tough opponent

Increase maximum building height to up to 45 feet

• Reduce minimum setbacks for residential use

• Reduce minimum open area

During public comment on the item, a numbers of representatives from local housing authorities and nonprofits praised the item and the proposed amendments and urged the board to approve them.

“We’re big proponents of the multi-family developements, and the demand is there for that,” said Ken Trigueiro of the People’s Self-Help Housing.

“I’d just like to thank Supervisors Ortiz-Legg and Paulding for rolling up their sleeves and putting in the work.”

Lenny Grant, a local architect involved with the REACH

their roles leading up to the October parade.

The Old Timers BBQ is just one of several events that make up the broader Paso Robles Pioneer Day celebrations. Now in its 95th year, Pioneer Day has become a cornerstone of Paso Robles history and culture. The celebration honors the region’s agricultural roots, culminating in the iconic Pioneer Day Parade each October.

Upcoming festivities include the Pre-Pioneer Day Kick-Off Party on Saturday, Sept. 27, followed by the Pioneer Day Ladies Luncheon on Sunday, Oct. 5. The events will lead into the

down to $93,608.55 through the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) cooperative purchasing agreement with CDW-G.

Superintendent Loftus provided an update as the new school year gets underway, highlighting the rollout of Yondr bags, magnetically locked pouches designed to store student cellphones during the school day.

“Feedback from staff has been positive about the increased focus of students in the class-

from the Central Valley, Garces Memorial High School. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium. With a strong core of senior leadership and talented underclassmen, expectations are running high for this year’s team.

For those unable to attend in person, the game will be streamed live on the NFHS Network. Local announcers John Doss and Greg Cunningham of the 805 Broadcasters team will provide play-by-play coverage. The NFHS Network, a subscription-based app similar to ESPN+, offers livestreams and on-demand video of high school sports nationwide, with a portion of proceeds benefiting PRHS Athletics.

Paso Robles High School is also celebrating the launch of its inaugural girls flag football season. The new team, led by longtime Bearcat coach and district staff member Ken Hammond, is set to make history as they take the field for their first game on Thursday, Aug. 28, at Parish Field

coalition agreed.

“I’m heartened by the effort to encourage apartment buildings and multi-family complexes,” he said. “Just be cautious about fine-turning too much. This is fine.”

As the item returned to council, Paulding proposed some modificiations to the amendments on the table. He raised the question about whether setting a minimum density was necessary as it was rare to have a developer build less than what was allowed.

Fellow Supervisor Heather Moreno was skeptical about that also.

“In the past, have we had builders who build less than we allow,” she asked. “The challenge has been not being allowed to build more. I feel like we’re trying to solve a

Paso Robles Press

much-anticipated Pioneer Day Parade on Saturday, Oct. 11, where historic tractors, wagons, and vehicles will roll down the parade route alongside this year’s Royalty.

As the Lions Club continues its nearly four-decade tradition of hosting the Old Timers BBQ, the sense of gratitude and continuity remains strong. Year after year, the event honors those who came before while ensuring the Pioneer Day spirit carries into the future. For more information on the upcoming Pioneer Day festivities, visit pasoroblespioneerday.org

room,” Loftus said. Trustees voted back in May to adopt a new cellphone policy in compliance with the state’s Phone Free Schools Act, which requires restrictions on smartphone use by 2026. Following months of surveys, committee input, and policy drafts, the district approved a stricter approach: TK–8 students will be prohibited from using smartphones during the school day, while high school students may only use them during non-instructional times unless

against San Luis Obispo High School. Stats from that game were unavailable at the time of printing.

Flag football, a fast-growing sport nationwide, offers a non-contact version of the game in which players wear flags that are pulled instead of being tackled. More than 500,000 girls between the ages of 6 and 17 now participate across the country.

From Friday night lights at War Memorial Stadium to history in the making on Parish Field, Bearcat fans have plenty to look forward to this week as both programs launch their 2025 seasons.

The Atascadero High School girls varsity volleyball team opened its 2025 season with a commanding win, sweeping Santa Maria 3-0 at home on Thursday, Aug. 21.

The Greyhounds wasted no time setting the tone, overpowering the Saints in straight sets with scores of 25-5, 25-15, and 25-11. It marked the second consecutive victory for Atascadero over Santa Maria,

problem that doesn’t exist.”

However, Supervisor Bruce Gibson believed the minimum requirements had a purpose.

“I think it’s important to retain minimum densities. My experiences was that I saw a few where single-family homes were put on multi-family lots,” he said. “I suggest we stick with it, and catalog that times that was a problem, and we can revisit in a year.” Paulding said that idea sounded reasonable to him.

Paulding touched upon a couple of topics he brought up earlier: Minimum density for mixed-use projects which was proposed to go from 8% to 16%, and building height, which he thought was too high for the max. He proposed to meet in the middle for the minimum density, suggest -

permitted by staff. Disciplinary measures, including temporary confiscation, will apply for unauthorized use, and the policy will be reviewed in three years.

Loftus reported that districtwide attendance on Aug. 19 was 6,386 students, noting that enrollment numbers typically fluctuate at the start of the school year. The next Paso Robles Joint Unified School District meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m.

and the margin of victory showed just how sharp the Greyhounds were on opening night.

Senior standout Ezri Karp led the charge offensively, recording nine kills and five service aces to pace Atascadero’s attack. Setter Kiera Armstrong kept the offense rolling, contributing 17 assists in the victory. The loss dropped Santa Maria to 2-2 on the season and extended their road losing streak to nine matches, dating back to last year.

Atascadero carried its momentum into the weekend, securing another win with a 2-0 sweep over Laguna Blanca on Saturday, Aug. 23. The Greyhounds will now turn their attention to a busy week ahead, with a road matchup at Cabrillo on Wednesday, Aug. 27, followed by a home contest against Arroyo Grande on Thursday, Aug. 28, both set for 6 p.m. starts. Stay up to date on your North County Sports with our Sports Schedule, found on page 12.

ing the standared be 10%, and said he could back the staff suggestion of 45 feet for high intensity and 40 for low and medium intensity areas.

“I want to make sure requirement aren’t too onerous, and we’ll actually build units,” he said.

Ultimately, the board voted 4-0 with the following modifications: Lowering maximum height (to be reviewed for the Sept. 23 meeting), change the minimum density for mixeduse to 10%, keeping the overal minimum density while tracking it over the year, removing the interim residential use requirement, and emphasizing that cities maintain downtown character.

The Board of Supervisors will next meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9

PASO ROBLES

Vehicle fire sparks small vegetation blaze near Paso Robles Fire crews responded Saturday evening to a vehicle fire that spread into nearby vegetation along Nacimiento Lake Drive near Anthony Way, according to the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department.

The fire was first reported around 5:45 p.m. and quickly burned about a quarter of an acre before forward progress was stopped. Several resources, including air attack, water tenders, and engines, were dispatched to the scene.

By 6:36 p.m., officials confirmed the blaze was fully contained, with crews remaining on site for mop-up. No injuries were reported.

Feature Image courtesy of San Luis Obispo County Fire Department

Lithium battery fire contained in Paso Robles home Fire crews responded Sunday morning, Aug. 24, to a lithium battery fire inside the garage of a home on Ladera Lane, according to the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department.

Units arrived around 10:15 a.m. and found batteries on fire inside the garage. Crews were able to remove the battery storage and isolate the hazard from the home.

By 11:04 a.m., officials reported that fire and hazmat units remained on scene to ensure the batteries were fully extinguished. No injuries were reported.

Missing Paso Robles man found deceased in Kern County

The search for missing Paso Robles resident David Peterson has come to a tragic end. On Aug. 21, Caltrans personnel discovered Peterson’s 2014 Honda Ridgeline in a ravine off State Route 58 near 7 Mile Road in rural western Kern County. Paso Robles Police investigators confirmed a deceased male inside the vehicle, believed to be Peterson. Peterson, 86, was reported missing on Aug. 7 after leaving his home two days earlier.

A statewide Silver Alert was issued as authorities and community members worked to locate him. Police say no foul play is suspected, and the California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances of the crash.

The Paso Robles Police Department expressed gratitude to the businesses, residents, and friends who assisted in the search.

Sheriff’s Office warns of dangerous ‘Door Kick Challenge’ in Templeton

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a rise in reports of the so-called “Door Kick Chal-

NEWS BRIEFS

lenge,” a social media trend where kids and teens kick in doors — often garage or front doors — and then run away.

Over the past weekend, multiple Templeton homes reported property damage, including broken garage doors. Deputies stress that the trend is not a harmless prank but a criminal act that can lead to charges and put residents at risk if they believe someone is trying to break in.

Parents are urged to talk to their children about the serious consequences of participating in the challenge. The Sheriff’s Office asks anyone who experiences this type of incident or has information about those involved to contact law enforcement.

Templeton Glass on track to make a lasting impact with Habitat for Humanity

Just over halfway through the year, Templeton Glass and its customers have already contributed more than $2,000 to Habitat for Humanity SLO C ounty, helping to make a meaningful impact by building stronger communities right in their own backyard on the Central Coast.

At the start of 2025, Templeton Glass committed to contributing $5 to Habitat SLO for every window they install this year. With a year-end goal of $4,000, this commitment is sure to make a significant difference locally.

“For us, installing windows isn’t just about the glass — it’s about the lives and homes they’re part of,” said Kelly Flannagan, owner of Templeton Glass. “Supporting Habitat for Humanity SLO allows us to make our work even more meaningful by giving back to the community we care so deeply about. This initiative is important to me personally, and to our whole team, because it connects the work we do every day with the larger goal of helping local families build safe, lasting homes.”

Representatives from Habitat for Humanity also expressed gratitude for the partnership.

“Templeton Glass has been an incredible partner to Habitat for Humanity SLO County,” said Dawn Smith, director of development. “Their generosity goes beyond financial support — they’ve rolled up their sleeves in our ReStores, helped build a playhouse, and sponsored events like Build With Us and Home Sweet Home. We’re inspired not only by their fundraising commitment but also by their willingness to give their time and energy. Templeton Glass truly shows what it means for a local business to strengthen community, and we are so grateful for their dedication to helping families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership.”

Templeton Glass is proud

to know that every window installation completed this year has contributed directly to Habitat for Humanity’s mission. Customers can feel confident that when they choose Templeton Glass — they’re not only improving their homes and businesses but also helping to strengthen the community right here on the Central Coast.

Community board member openings at Almond Acres Charter Academy

Almond Acres Charter Academy (AACA) is seeking applicants from the public to fill two openings on its Board of Directors. The school is looking for community members interested in supporting its mission to “Grow Great Kids.”

Founded 13 years ago in San Miguel and now located on Niblick Road in Paso Robles, AACA is an independent charter school authorized by the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education. The academy serves more than 500 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, focusing on affirming students’ strengths, developing positive habits of mind, and fostering creativity.

Board members play an important role in guiding the school’s programs, partnerships, and campus development, including the opening of AACA’s state-of-the-art Paso Robles facility in 2021.

Those interested can find a role description and apply at almondacres.com

ATASCADERO

Two arrested on multiple child sex crime charges in San Luis Obispo County

Multiple charges of child sexual abuse, including the creation of child pornography, have been filed against two individuals in San Luis Obispo County.

Tristan Paul Naylor, 28, and Jazmyn Elain Sheetermedina, 29, were arraigned on Friday, Aug. 22, in a San Luis Obispo courtroom on 20 separate counts. Both defendants pleaded not guilty.

According to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, the alleged victim is a 9-year-old girl. The two defendants, who were intimate partners during the time of the alleged crimes, are accused of committing the offenses between Jan. 1, 2022, and Feb. 28, 2025, “with the intent of arousing, appealing to, and gratifying the lust, passions, and sexual desires” of the defendants.

Five of the charges relate specifically to child pornography, including one count alleging the possession of more than 600 images, with 10 or more images involving a prepubescent minor.

Naylor and Sheetermedina are currently being held at San

Luis Obispo County Jail on $2 million bail each, according to court records. They are scheduled to appear again in court on Thursday, Aug. 28, in Department 6 before Judge Michael Frye.

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office is urging anyone with information related to this case to contact their office, the Atascadero Police Department, or Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-STOP.

Atascadero man arrested after domestic violence report and police pursuit

A 29-year-old Atascadero man was arrested following a domestic violence incident and vehicle pursuit earlier this month, according to the Atascadero Police Department (APD).

On Aug. 12, officers responded to a report of domestic violence involving Ivan Sandoval-Farias, who fled the scene before police arrived. Sandoval, who was on parole for evading a peace officer, was later spotted driving on Highway 101. When an APD detective attempted a traffic stop, Sandoval led officers on a pursuit through rural Templeton and into Paso Robles before abandoning his vehicle on Stoney Creek Road.

After several days of investigation, detectives located Sandoval on Aug. 21 in a vehicle near Highway 46 West and Vineyard Drive. With assistance from the California Highway Patrol and Paso Robles Police Department, he was taken into custody without incident.

Sandoval-Farias was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of felony domestic violence, felony evading a peace officer, and a parole warrant. He remains in custody.

Community rallies to ensure ECHO children start school year prepared and confident

As students across San Luis Obispo County sharpen their pencils and lace up new shoes for the first day of school, children at El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) are walking into classrooms with the same sense of excitement and readiness, thanks to the generosity of our community.

From backpacks fully stocked with notebooks, pens, markers, and calculators, to gift cards for clothing, socks, and shoes, local partners stepped up to make sure every child at ECHO had the tools needed to thrive.

The Atascadero Police Association, San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, and The Paso Sherpa came together with ECHO to ensure that no student was left without the essentials.

“We always like to offer help to ECHO in the small ways we can, and Back to School

is one of our favorite times of year,” said Kat Westcott, owner of The Paso Sherpa. “Not only is it fun to shop for the right supplies, but knowing these items will help children feel confident and succeed at school makes it exponentially better.”

With 130 beds across two campuses, ECHO serves an average of 40 children every night. For these students, starting the school year prepared goes beyond just pencils and paper. It provides stability, dignity, and a sense of belonging — key building blocks for academic success and self-esteem. Research consistently shows that students who begin school with the necessary supplies feel more engaged, perform better in class, and are less likely to fall behind.

Families and children at ECHO’s shelters expressed their gratitude and joy as they received their new supplies — smiling ear to ear and eager to show off their backpacks.

“These donations don’t just provide school supplies; they help restore hope and show our families that the community is behind them,” said Wendy Lewis, President/CEO of ECHO.

For more information about ECHO and its programs, visit echoshelter.org

Youth basketball registration now open in Atascadero Registration is now open for the City of Atascadero’s Winter Youth Basketball program, welcoming players from kindergarten through 12th grade of all skill levels. The recreational league emphasizes skill development, teamwork, positive attitudes, and fun in a non-competitive setting.

Skills clinics and player assessments for grades K–8 will be held Saturday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at drop-in times. Practices start the week of Dec. 1, with games running on Saturdays from Jan. 10 through March 7, 2026.

The cost is $118 for Atascadero residents and $129 for non-residents. Registration closes Oct. 24. Volunteer coaches and program sponsors are also needed.

For more details, or to sign up as a coach or sponsor, contact the Recreation Team at 805-470-3360 or email sports@atascadero.org

Atascadero Wraps Up Summer

close out its 2025 Saturdays in the Park Summer Concert Series with an End of Summer “Blues Bash” on Saturday, Aug. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Atascadero Lake Park Bandstand.

The free outdoor show will feature The Cinders Blues Band, known for their Chicago-to-San Francisco blues sound, and Leslie & The Soul Shakers, a Central Coast group bringing soulful R&B, Motown, and blues to the stage. Concert-goers can enjoy food from Paradise Shaved Ice and drinks from Wild Fields Lakeside.

Attendees are encouraged to bring low-back chairs and plan for an evening of music and community. Full concert details are available at V isitAtascadero.com/events or by calling (805) 470-3360

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

Gifford Fire Update: Evacuation orders lifted, some warnings remain Fire crews continue to make steady progress on the Gifford Fire as milder weather aids containment efforts. The fire, located 15 miles northeast of Santa Maria, has burned 131,614 acres and is now 95% contained. It began on Aug. 1 and remains under investigation.

As of Tuesday, Aug. 26, all evacuation orders have been lifted, though some warnings remain in place for residents only. Officials remind the public that these areas are not open for recreation. Portions of Los Padres National Forest remain closed under a closure order effective through Feb. 28, 2026. Violations are subject to fines. Residents are urged to drive cautiously, as fire crews and equipment are still active in the area.

The fire has threatened 106 structures, destroyed five, and caused 13 injuries. Currently, 1,578 personnel remain assigned, along with 28 hand crews, 57 dozers, 30 engines, and 32 water tenders. Crews continue strengthening fire lines, conducting suppression repair, and removing equipment from the fire zone.

A virtual public meeting held last night provided updates and was well attended. For evacuation inform ation, visit ReadySLO.org/zones or call (805) 543-2444. Road closure details are available at Emerge ncySLO.org/road-

Our zoo’s name should reflect our community

Dear Editor,

It should be obvious that the rebranding of our zoo to Central Coast Zoo has created problems for the city and our zoo. A Google search states that the Central Coast is generally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Central Coast implies “coast,” which is 17.4 miles from Atascadero. Being more specific, the Central Coast probably is more aligned between Santa Cruz and Lompoc, but no one can be sure. I did a limited search for those companies, entities, etc., that start with Central Coast and found close to 30, including 3CE (Central Coast Community Energy) located in Monterey. It is also interesting that Monterey has its own zoo named Monterey Zoo. Central Coast is an attractive and general name that works for many things, but the feeling from many in this community is that it is a little boring, bland, not location specific, and it definitely does not work for our historic zoo in Atascadero

Rebranding seems to be a hot topic these days on social media, but also on the major news networks, and the most current example is Cracker Barrel. There are always two sides to every story, but this one is complicated because, according to reports, in just one day there was a casual 7% stock drop and nearly $100 million in market value gone. This might also be the result of reported active boycotts and empty parking lots. Some are just fine with the change, but there are a lot of comments on social media, and here are just a few: loss of identity, disconnection from heritage, absolutely soulless, generic, and void of character. “Rebranding” is the current buzzword, but over and over we are witnessing process failures. A marketing expert said that when you decide to rebrand, start with just a bit of change,

“ADecent Interval” was the name of a book written by former CIA analyst Frank Snepp, detailing the treachery of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s negotiations with the North Vietnamese to end the Vietnam War. Ostensibly the bargain made with Hanoi was for a “decent interval” to pass after American withdrawal from Vietnam and North Vietnam could do pretty much whatever they wanted to South Vietnam. We tried for 20 years to keep Vietnam in the Western fold but America wants out so just don’t invade too soon. Snepp didn’t get official sanction to publish his book so the CIA confiscated all the book’s proceeds. The courts upheld the government’s case. That was 50 years ago, not

OPINION

Letters to the Editor

and also have a story and narrative ready on what exactly is being changed and why. Also he said, it is wise to do a tiny survey of your most loyal customers to see how this change is received.

Rebranding might work if you know your clients, but the reason for outrage over this rebranding is that people who were in shock about the change are filling the silence. The real lesson is that loyalty is hard to build and easy to lose. Any of this sound familiar? The rebranding of the Charles Paddock Zoo was also the result of a very flawed process, and at the same time resulted in defamation of character to its founder. After an 18-month process of rebranding, the first time that many of us heard of the name change was around June 7, 2025, and the change had already taken place. Charles Paddock founded the zoo and started building it over 70 years ago, in the same spot that the zoo is located today. The Charles Paddock Zoo was first adopted by the County of San Luis Obispo and then by the City of Atascadero when it first became a city in 1979, 45 years ago. You can’t erase history, so why did the city try with rebranding? In June of 2025, 45 years after the city adopted the zoo, Charles Paddock was accused of a crime that can’t be proven. If you have read any of the Sally Bishop Smith letters, it is obvious that there is also the possibility of a defamation-of-character case to defend the Charles Paddock name and his character. Our basic law says that a person is innocent until proven guilty, and was this law applied to Charles Paddock after 45 years of silence? Absolutely not! There is a very good reason why all zoos are connected to a real city and not a general region, such as the Los Angeles Zoo and not the Southern California Zoo. It should also be obvious that you get better support by local and loyal customers, better attendance, improved financial support, and the marketing is unified along with local pride of owner-

ship that our zoo belongs to a city and not a general region or area. With all the marketing that has been done over the years with Atascadero, the name Atascadero has always been front and center, and then all of a sudden, we are in the back seat with Central Coast. Not sure who, but someone was responsible for being out of touch with our identity, history, and character in a disconnected, disappointing, and illogical marketing and rebranding decision about renaming our zoo. A good example of a city making a great decision is Tampa, Florida. Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park was originally known as the Tampa Fairyland, and later Tampa Fairyland Zoo, and then Lowry Park Zoo. For a long time, they struggled with the name and finally came back to the city of location, and obviously for very good reasons.

It is so obvious that the process for making this decision regarding our zoo was extremely flawed. There were no public hearings, no outreach to the community through newspapers and news sources, or through social media. As the Atascadero News reported, the rebranding of our zoo was hidden from the public, because there was no outreach, questioning, or sampling of the community regarding this decision. Once again, a very wide segment of this community did not hear about the changing of the name of our zoo until the decision had already been made. The zoo is on our doorstep, not the Central Coast, so no other name than Atascadero is appropriate or acceptable. Our personality is missing. The zoo is on our property, along with our famous Atascadero Lake, Atascadero Lake Pavilion, Park and Bandstand. It is on Atascadero property and needs to have the Atascadero connection, which defines our local pride and the real basis for marketing.

Currently, the Friends of Charles Paddock and the Bishop family are in a three-phase campaign to change

A Decent Interval

much has changed. When I left Vietnam in 1972 the North Vietnamese had just made a dry run attempting to conquer the South with their Easter Offensive that began in March ’72, a fullscale conventional invasion with tanks and artillery across the DMZ. Were it not for American airpower, they would have finished off South Vietnam that spring. Fast forward to the spring of 1975 and repeat but this time, the Democrat-controlled Congress banned ANY American military support or operations on behalf of South Vietnam. Our assurances made by Kissinger that we would protect South Vietnam if the North violated the Paris Peace Agreement were worthless as used TP. We’d built an army requiring fuel for their combat aircraft and shells for their artillery; they had none. The South Vietnamese Air Force was grounded, their artillery had no ammunition so their military collapsed under the onslaught of a conventional invasion fully supplied by the Soviet Union, unimpeded by any treaty agreements to respect South Vietnam -

ese territorial integrity. We watched it from offshore and on TV as millions of South Vietnamese panicked and attempted to escape the communist tyranny to come. It wasn’t the first time we experienced failure. The Korean War (1950-53) was very unpopular at home, especially after just starting to recover from the global holocaust of WWII. Americans had had enough of war (400,000 plus American dead, hundreds of thousands wounded and we were almost broke). Many WWII veterans were drafted again to fight in Korea (my two uncles and my father) after serving years in overseas combat, especially pilots. Reservists were rapidly deployed while most of America stayed home and sulked. Five months after that war began with a North Korean invasion of South Korea, Soviet propaganda had convinced a third of the world that America started the war. We had massively demobilized after WWII, scrapping thousands of ships, planes and closed forwardbased logistical supply points. That complicated logistics for combat forces to the point

the name of our zoo to Atascadero Paddock Zoo, kind of similar to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Another suggestion is the Atascadero Zoo, Founded by Charles Paddock. The first phase is the one in which myself and interested citizens are currently engaged. We are asking the Atascadero City Council to change the name as requested, because we don’t know of anyone privately or publicly that says that Central Coast is an appropriate name for our zoo. We are hopeful that the city will do what is right, which will also bring justice and closure for Charles Paddock, its founder. Let’s use an old-fashioned technique of getting the people together, do some brainstorming on this decision and involve our leaders in an open, transparent and honest process. If that does not happen, then we are asking that this measure be placed on the ballot for the people of Atascadero to decide. Do you want the name our zoo to be Atascadero Paddock Zoo or Atascadero Zoo, Founded by Charles Paddock, yes or no? Along with that, we will publicly endorse any councilmember, mayor, or any new candidates that support this platform. Lastly, if the city is not willing to follow either of our two suggestions, then we are prepared to take legal and other steps.The Friends of Charles Paddock, the Bishop Family, and those that support this change are not stopping or going away. This is not about rebranding, it is about protecting our community, and its unique identity and history, which revolves around Atascadero.

Rolfe Nelson, Atascadero

P.S. I moved to the Atascadero Lake area in 1953, knew the Paddock family very well and Charles Sr. when he founded the zoo 70 years ago, and was a member of Atascadero’s first City Council in 1979, when we adopted the Charles Paddock Zoo from San Luis Obispo County. As the saying goes, I have skin in the game.

that our armed forces had to fight that war on a shoestring with attendant casualties for the first year. North Koreans are tough and we lost thousands of men, a dozen or more ships sunk and innumerable aircraft as a result of our Pollyanna view of the world. We fought the war with limited means and objectives against an enemy who fought a total war and mocked our adherence to UN resolutions. They attacked our troops by land, sea and air and rapidly retreated into UN sanctuaries in China; our aircraft were not even permitted to cross their border while in hot pursuit even though they routinely crossed it to attack us. Diplomatic fictions were more important than the lives of American troops. Our timidity then has resulted in a nuclear-armed North Korea under the control of a pathological murderer aiming nuclear missiles at America.

Fast forward 50 years and we’ve seen two additional defeats, in Iraq and Afghanistan where once again Democrat presidents abandoned the field, making 20 years of blood and sacrifice all for naught. Our enemies have noticed we lack the fortitude to win. Another nation is now fighting for its life, Ukraine, against a tyrant intending to take all of Ukraine and then as much of Eastern Europe as he can, one bite at a time or all at once.

In 1994 we persuaded the Ukrainians to surrender their nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Memorandum, signed by America, the British, the Russians and Ukraine, in return for honoring Ukraine as a sovereign nation and its borders. Russia violated that agree -

“Were it left to me to decide if we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

O– Thomas Jefferson

ment; the USA and most of Europe have hedged on their commitment. President Trump blamed Ukraine for being invaded by Russia, (first in 2014 Russia seized and colonized Crimea) and then in 2022. The Ukrainians have fought back fiercely inflicting massive casualties on Russia, but at 10X the size of Ukraine, Russia is slowly squeezing the life out of a nascent democracy.

President Trump has attempted negotiations but seems to value a treaty more than the rights of the Ukrainian people. Russia abducted 20,000 Ukrainian children to indoctrinate them against their homeland, colonized Crimea and displaced thousands of Ukrainian civilians while destroying cultural institutions in occupied territory. Trump threatened severe sanctions and then failed to act; he also foreclosed the idea of American troops on the ground for a security guarantee and Russia demands the right to dictate what, if any security guarantees would be permitted.

President Trump should take the counsel of an American Naval Officer during the Korean War explaining why it’s important for a great power to not make idle threats. “The worst thing a great power can do is get caught in a bluff and not be willing to back it up (as) failure to meet…the challenge would be so morally derelict that it might fatally endanger America’s leadership and ability to avert a third world war.”

Al Fonzi is an independent opinion columnist for The Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press; you can email him at ajfonzi2@ hotmail.com

ver the past several weeks, I’ve been candid with you about the crossroads we’re facing in local news. The landscape of newspapers is in flux, and I’ve been weighing whether or not to continue the print editions of our papers. It’s not a decision I take lightly, and the outpouring of support from the Atascadero community has reminded me just how deeply this publication matters. So many of you have reached out — sharing ideas, offering encouragement, and simply letting me know what the paper means to you. I cannot thank you enough. It has been humbling to hear that even as the way people consume news changes, the value of what we do has not diminished. Many readers have told me they rely on our websites and daily emails to stay connected and informed. That feedback means a great deal. When I was recently covering the Templeton Feed & Grain fire, I heard directly from fire chiefs who said they look to our online platforms first when events are unfolding. That speaks volumes about the world we live in today. News at our fingertips has become the expectation, and we’ve worked hard to meet that need — without putting up a paywall. That could change depending on where we go next, but for now, accessibility remains a core priority. I’d also like to thank Ann Little for taking the time to meet with me at Malibu Brew on Saturday to talk through ideas. Conversations like that remind me how invested our neighbors are in seeing local news survive and thrive.

As for the ongoing discussion surrounding the “Central Coast Zoo” name change, the city council has not responded to Rolfe Nelson’s request to revisit the idea of restoring the original Atascadero Zoo name or opening the matter up for community discussion. Given the amount of money already spent marketing the new name, it seems unlikely the city will reverse course. What is particularly interesting, however, is that Nelson’s letter was not published on the city’s website. This raises fair questions — especially since I was told that all letters must be published, including ones that were far more controversial, such as the defamatory letter about Charles Paddock. Why one letter is deemed publishable and another is not is an issue that deserves clarification. As I reflect on all of this, I want to again express my gratitude to our advertisers, subscribers, readers, and community supporters. Every subscription and every ad has made it possible for us to keep publishing all these years. One point I want to make absolutely clear: our monthly magazines will continue, and so will our online coverage of all newsworthy stories. The only question on the table is the future of the weekly print edition. Your continued support proves one thing — while online chatter may suggest otherwise, true community backing is alive and well. We’ll keep you informed on what comes next.

Doug Mitchell made his way to heaven on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at the age of 81.

As a young teen, Doug migrated from his birthplace

of Portsmouth, Virginia, to San Diego County. In his early twenties, he began a long career with Caltrans, District 11. As a resident of Escondido for several years, he and his first wife, MaryAnne, became parents to two boys. Brian, age 60, resides in Carlsbad with his wife, SueAnn, along with their daughter, Summer, age 22. Doug’s youngest son, Bob, age 57, resides in Escondido with his mother, MaryAnne Miller. Doug became a resident of Atascadero in 1990 when he accepted a job in District 5 as the Maintenance Superintendent at Caltrans in Templeton. He and his future wife, Debbie

911 service restored in San Luis Obispo County The Sheriff’s Office announced that 911 service in the county has been fully restored after a statewide system issue disrupted emergency calls on Monday, Aug. 25. The problem, reported by Cal OES, prevented dispatchers from automatically receiving caller phone numbers and locations, requiring callers to verbally provide the information.

Officials confirmed Monday night that the issue has been fixed and 911 is now functioning normally. Anyone still experiencing problems is urged to call the Sheriff’s non-emergency line at (805) 781-4550, option 3.

ECOSLO announces 2025 Creeks to Coast Cleanup

ECOSLO is excited to announce the

PASO ROBLES POLICE DEPARTMENT

AUGUST 18, 2025

03:10 — Luis Ramirezramirez, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 800 block of Niblick Road for POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A)H&S], Case no. 253330

12:08 — Abimael Ayala, of Oceano was on view arrest on 16th and Railroad for POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

[11377(A)H&S], BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no. 253334

01:06 — Miguel Oceguerasuarez, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of Creston and Capitol Hill for POSSESS NARCOTIC CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE

[11350(A)H&S], DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL [23152(G) VC], Case no. 253328

20:36 — Vicente Valdez, of Paso Robles was arrested for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 253342

23:23 — Scott Fontanilla, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 100 block of Niblick Road for POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A) H&S], Case no. 253343 01:54 — Jjesus Pantaleonescalera, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 2900 block of Union Road for BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no. 253329

AUGUST 19, 2025

20:05 — Brent Pilkington, of Utah was taken into custody on the 2300 block of Theatre Dr for BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC], Case no. 253353

20:57 — Heather Hanson, of Paso Robles was arrested for DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 253355

AUGUST 20, 2025

01:19 —Nancy Hurlbert, of San Luis Obispo was on view arrest on the 1300 block of 24th Street for SUSPENDED/REVOKED DRIVERS LICENSE [14601.1(A)VC], BENCH WARRANT [978.5PC],

RECORD

Mitchell, purchased a home in Atascadero and were married in September of 1991. Doug retired in 2004 as a Caltrans Maintenance Manager II.

Although Doug had a successful work career, his resume didn’t end with Caltrans. He was proud to be a father to Bob and Brian and “Poppa Doug” to his beautiful granddaughter, Summer. Doug was also Debbie’s protector, cheerleader, soulmate, and perfect life partner. She is heartbroken that dementia stole her husband and brought their love story to an early end.

Doug is also survived by his dog, Gracie, and his cats,

20th Annual SLO County Creeks to Coast Cleanup, an annual volunteer event uniting communities across San Luis Obispo County to protect and restore our coastal and inland waterways.

Taking place throughout the county on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., this annual cleanup empowers community members in SLO County to come together to protect our waterways, communities, wildlife and neighbors. From San Simeon to Nipomo, ECOSLO has mobilized thousands of volunteers at this event since 2005, removing tons of waste from sensitive ecosystems. In 2024 alone, volunteers collected nearly 8,000 pounds of trash from our local waterways.

“The Creeks to Coast Cleanup isn’t simply about removing litter,” said ECOSLO Executive Director Kendra Paulding. “It’s a hands-on opportunity for individuals and families to directly support the health of our watersheds,

Case no. 253357

13:30 — David Alvarez, of Atascadero was on view arrest on Black Oak Drive for POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION [11550(A)HS], Case no. 253368

20:48 — Adrian Sanchezmarin, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of Creston Road and Beechwood Drive for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 253369

22:54 — Matthew Willis, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 2800 block of Black Oak Drive for POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], WILLFULLY RESISTS,DELAYS,OBSTRUCTS…[148(A)(1)PC], Case no. 253370

AUGUST 21, 2025

04:50 — Julia Savage, of Atascadero was on view arrest on the 1900 block of Golden Hill Road for VANDALISM OVER $400 [594(B) (1)PC], POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS [466PC], Case no. 253371 11:26 — Pierre Suggs, of Atascadero was taken into custody on 12th and Pine Street for OUTSIDE WARRANT/M, Case no. 253375 12:15 — Michael Tidd, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 2600 block of N River Road for POSS CNTL SUB W/2 OR MORE PRIORS [HS 11395(B)(1)], POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], Case no. 253377

20:43 — Michael Duitsman, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on Creston Road for POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED

SUBSTANCE [11377(A)H&S], Case no. 253383

10:00 — Carlos Cotamarin, of Paso Robles was on view arrest at the Police Department for RELEASE FROM CUSTODY – DETENTION ONLY [849(B) PC], Case no. 253376

AUGUST 22, 2025

02:52 — Rigoberto Nunez, of Shandon was arrested for POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A)H&S], Case no. 253385

21:59 — Bonnie Foster, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of Creston Road

Cheeto and Tuesday. Waiting for their fur daddy at the Rainbow Bridge are Jingles, Charlie, Sunny, Sneakers, Pickles, Cissy, Riley and Layla.

A deep appreciation goes to Angelita, Kevin, Loretta, and Julie at Irene’s Board and Care in Paso Robles where Doug resided for the last 21 months.

Debbie is also grateful for the Wilshire Hospice staff, especially Nurse Rochelle W., for her kindness and guidance. Thank you to Dignity Hospice for the care provided for the last month and a half.

A world of thanks goes to Bob Drue, Doug’s golf buddy and friend. Doug truly loved

protect wildlife, and strengthen our communities — all while working toward a greener, more sustainable SLO County.”

Volunteers are encouraged to register in advance to select a preferred cleanup location and ensure adequate supplies are available. Cleanup sites are listed geographically from North County to South County, making it easy for individuals and groups to find a convenient location.

Join ECOSLO and our partners as we work together to protect the waterways that connect our communities, from the creeks to the coast. Every piece of trash collected makes a difference.

Learn more about this event at ecoslo.org/creeks-to-coast

Only 100 days until Cambria Christmas Market

The countdown is on for the 14th annual Cambria Christmas Market,

and Scott Road for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 253399

23:35 — Adair Reyes, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of 34th St and Spring St for THEFT USING FORCE/ROBBERY [211 PC], WILLFULLY RESISTS,DELAYS,OBSTRUCTS…[148(A)(1)PC], Case no. 253400

21:19 — Hector Torres, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 2800 block of Riverside Ave for DISORDERLY CONDUCT/DRUNK IN PUBLIC [647(F)PC], Case no. 253397

AUGUST 23, 2025

01:20 — Kyler Crouse, of S Lake Tahoe was on view arrest on 12th and Park Street for DISORDERLY CONDUCT/DRUNK IN PUBLIC [647(F) PC], Case no. 253402

01:12 — Enrique Vazquezchavez, of Caruthers was on view arrest on the 2300 block of Spring Street for DISORDERLY CONDUCT/ DRUNK IN PUBLIC [647(F)PC], FALSE IDENTIFICATION TO POLICE [148.9(A)PC], Case no. 253401

01:12 — Siris Poncelopez, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 2300 block of Spring Street for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 253401

14:37 — Stephany Summers, of Empire was on view arrest on the 1200 block of 24th

Street for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS [23152(F)VC], CHILD ENDANGERMENT [273A(A)PC], Case no. 253407

20:24 — Salvador Ramonvazquez, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of Ivy and and Creston Road for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS [23152(F)VC], Case no. 253409

22:48 — Angel Ramirezsalazar, of Atascadero

was on view arrest on the corner of 8th and Vine Street for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI

ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 253412

20:46 — Bernardo Cambray, of Los Osos

was on view arrest on the 3200 block of Oak

Street for DISORDERLY CONDUCT/DRUNK IN PUBLIC [647(F)PC], Case no. 253411

you, Bob. Thanks for keeping him entertained on the golf course where the scorekeeping was certainly unique. You provided him so much laughter.

And, last but not least, praise goes to Doug’s Caltrans friends through the years who added memories to his life. Thank you Gary Saunders, John Cottier, Jon Wood, Rick Green, Jim Erickson, Ed Anderson, John Hashiguchi, Bill Harms (D), Walt McDaniel (D), and Benny Herrera (D) for your friendship.

Rest in peace, my beloved Cabana Boy. What a privilege it was to have been your wife for almost 34 years.

returning Nov. 28 to Dec. 31 with more nights, new displays, and over 3 million dazzling lights. Guests can enjoy a European-style holiday market featuring 48 artisan vendors, traditional German treats, live music, Santa visits, train rides, and the beloved Krampus display.

Overnight packages at partner hotels — Cambria Pines Lodge, Sea Otter Inn, and The J. Patrick House & Inn — include admission, accommodations, and breakfast, though weekend stays are already filling fast. Special Lights Only nights are available exclusively for Cambria Pines Lodge guests on select December dates. General admission tickets (ages 6+) range from $27–$45, with children 5 and under free. VIP parking passes are also available. Tickets often sell out in advance and will not be available at the door once full.

For tickets and hotel packages, visit CambriaChristmasMarket.com

AUGUST 24, 2025

00:18 — Cesar Perezzepedo, of San Miguel was on view arrest on the 1400 block of Riverside Ave for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 253413

03:34 — Jose Murillo, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 1100 block of N River Road for POSS CNTL SUB W/2 OR MORE PRIORS [HS 11395(B)(1)], PROBATION VIOLATION:REARREST/REVOKE [1203.2(A)], Case no. 253415

08:36 — Brandon Monroyvergara, of San Miguel was taken into custody on the 900 block of Rolling Hills Road for OUTSIDE WARRANT/M, Case no. 253416

13:27 — Michael Deleone, of Oregon was on view arrest on the 100 block of Niblick Road for POSSESSION OF UNLAWFUL PARAPHERNALIA [11364(A)H&S], POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A) H&S], Case no. 253418

13:32 — Dylan Lach, of Oregon was on view arrest on the 100 block of Niblick Road for POSSESSION OF BRASS KNUCKLES [21810 PC], Case no. 253418

14:09 — Linet Valleresendiz, of Paso Robles was arrested for BATTERY [242 PC], Case no. 253419

16:09 — Andrew Brown, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 700 block of Experimental Station for INFLICTING CORPORAL INJURY ON SPOUSE/COHABITANT [273.5(A)PC], Case no. 253424

15:11 — Elizabeth Wiesner, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 1200 block of Stoney Creek Road for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 253423

20:24 — Kody Santos, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the 100 block of Riverbank Lane for BATTERY ON PEACE OFFICER/ EMERGENCY PERSONNEL/ETC [243(B)], Case no. 253427

22:38 — Christopher Burns, of Paso Robles was on view arrest on the corner of 21st Street and Oak Street for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 253429

EMERY WONG, 83, of Arroyo Grande passed away on August 13th 2025.

Services are in the care of Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel of Grover Beach.

PAUL KELLER WINEBERG, 70, of Arroyo Grande passed away on August 19th 2025.

Services are in the care of Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel of Grover Beach.

ATASCADERO POLICE DEPARTMENT

AUGUST 19, 2025

16:07 — Ivan Sandovalfarias, was arrested on Green Valley Road and Vineyard Drive for INFLICTING CORPORAL INJURY ON SPOUSE/ COHABITANT [273.5(A)PC], Case no. 251349

AUGUST 20, 2025

00:31 — Samuel Godoy, was arrested on the 9800 block of El Camino Real for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A) VC], Case no. 251403

11:04 — Donna Macias, was arrested on the 5900 block of East Mall for POSS CNTL SUB W/2 OR MORE PRIORS [HS 11395(B)(1)], Case no. 251407

11:10 — Angela Clifford, was arrested on the 5900 block of East Mall for POSS CNTL SUB W/2 OR MORE PRIORS [HS 11395(B)(1)], Case no. 251407

AUGUST 21, 2025

02:54 — Matthew Ledesma, was arrested on the 10000 block of El Camino Real for POSS CNTL SUB W/2 OR MORE PRIORS [HS 11395(B)(1)], Case no. 250798

20:48 — Courtney Cooper, was arrested on the 5900 block of El Camino Real for POSS CNTL

SUB W/2 OR MORE PRIORS [HS 11395(B)(1)], Case no. 251422

AUGUST 22, 2025

01:02 — Julie Crawford, was arrested on the 8200 block of El Camino Real for DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 251423

AUGUST 23, 2025

03:40 — Melissa Watson, was arrested on the CA-41 and Capistrano Ave for POSSESSION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE [11377(A) H&S], Case no. 251424

00:49 — Adolph Cendro III, was arrested on the 6300 block of Morro Road for DUI ALCOHOL/0.08 PERCENT [23152(B)VC], Case no. 251431

AUGUST 24, 2025

02:06 — Rose Robles, was arrested on Estrada Ave and El Camino Real for DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL [23152(A)VC], Case no. 251437

Share your annoucement story with the community to celebrate your

Share your loved one’s story with the community they cherished so that they may be remembered by all. Submit your obituaries to: Email: office@13starsmedia.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

AUGUST EVENTS

AUGUST 2, 9, 30

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Atascadero Lake Park Bandstand, Atascadero

6:30–8:30pm

Bring a blanket or chair to sit on and enjoy the summer at “Saturdays in the Park” concert series.

AUGUST 14, 21, 28

CONCERTS IN THE PARK City Park, Spring and 12th Streets, Paso Robles

6–8pm Paso Robles Concerts in the Park is a family friendly, free community event in which proceeds from concession sales and donations collected at the concerts benefit the REC Foundation (Recreation Enhances Community), a local nonprofit organization that helps provide youth recreation scholarships to members of our community.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 6

12TH ANNUAL BREW AT THE ZOO Central Coast Zoo

5-8pm Enjoy craft beer, spirits, live music, and fun contests at Brew at the Zoo! Dress as a “Party Animal” for a chance to win prizes and take home a glass.

SEPTEMBER 11

WOMAN OF INFLUENCE NORTH COUNTY LUNCHEON Springhill Suites by

CONTACT INFO P.O. Box 3120, Atascadero, CA 93423 (805)712-6356 atascaderogreyhound foundation.org

CONTACT INFO 1000 Spring Street Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 237-3870 prcity.com

CONTACT INFO 6875 Union Road Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 237-3751 redwingshorse sanctuary.org

LIGHTHOUSE Atascadero

AWARENESS - PREVENTION - INTERVENTION - EDUCATION

About: The Atascadero Greyhound Foundation has been serving the Atascadero community for more than 20 years, gradually adding more events that serve its mission. We have grown, and continue to give because of the generous donors, sponsors and participants of our events. Our events are a benefit to the community in healthy activity — either athletically, musically, educationally, or in the fight against

lighthouseatascadero.org

Friends of the Paso Robles Library

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Support the Library through a Friends of the Library membership, starting as low as $10/year. The Friends of the Library appreciates donations, which are either added to the Library’s collection or used to generate considerable funds toward the purchase of new books, library materials, programs, services, etc. Support the Library in a 100% volunteer-run retail environment. We are seeking volunteers to assist with Gift Shop sales, book donation sorting, and to provide book sale support. Due to limited storage space and staff, we are only able to accept two boxes or two bags of materials per household per day. Cash donations always welcome!

BOARD MEETINGS: Call (805) 237-3870 for information

For information about making donations, adoptions, etc, visit redwingshorsesanctuary.com. For upcoming events, visit facebook.com/pg/redwingshorses/events

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Redwings is always looking for volunteers to help us provide the highest standard of care for our horses and burros. You do not need to have any prior horse experience to volunteer at Redwings. If you would like to work with our horses, the first step is to take a Volunteer Training Class. This class covers sanctuary rules, basic safe horsemanship skills, and an introduction to some of the horses that you will be working with. After completion of the class you are welcome to come volunteer and help with the horses any time during our volunteer hours. Volunteer hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 8am to 3:30pm, and we are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Note: We do not allow volunteers to ride the horses at Redwings. There are other ways to get involved and volunteer at Redwings too. We have opportunities to help in our rose and memorial garden, volunteering in the office, helping with events and fundraising, and more. Please submit the form below to schedule a volunteer training or contact our office: info@redwingshorsesanctuary.org or (805) 237-3751.

Marriott

900 El Camino Real, Atascadero

11:30am-1:30pm

Celebrate three extraordinary women nominated from our North County community for the Women Of Influence North County (wINC) program.

SEPTEMBER 20

26TH ANNUAL TASTE OF DOWNTOWN Downtown Paso Robles 11am-4pm Experience and Savor of what downtown Paso Robles has to offer and relish in this annual event that invites merchants to open their doors for one-on-one sampling. Come early and be sure not to miss Arte de Tiza — the sidewalk chalk art event on Pine Street where you’ll find some of the best local artists at work.

ECHO’S LONG WALK HOME

6370 Atascadero Ave, Atascadero 10am-2pm

Join us for a day of community, fun, BBQ music and more as we walk together to raise awareness for ECHO and thosewe serve throughout our community.

SIDEWAYS (2004) – AN EVENING OF WINE, FILM & CONVERSATION

Bianchi Winery, Paso

Robles

Doors at 5:30pm | Q&A at 6:30pm | Movie to Follow Step into the vineyards of California’s wine country for a very special

screening of Sideways (2004), the Academy Award–winning film that forever changed the way the world viewed Pinot Noir (and Merlot). With its witty, bittersweet story, unforgettable dialogue, and star-studded cast (Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, and Sandra Oh)

Sideways is both a love letter to friendship and a cinematic toast to the Central Coast. At 6:30 PM, we’rethrilled to welcome film critic Kirk Honeycutt and journalist Mira Advani Honeycutt, authors of Sideways Uncorked: The Perfect Pairing of Film & Wine, for a special Q&A session.

SEPTEMBER 22–28

CENTRAL COAST TENNIS CLASSIC

Templeton Tennis Ranch 345 Championship Ln, Templeton

The Central Coast Tennis Classic hosts top women’s tennis with 68 matches, plus community events including clinics, school days, and exhibits. More information can be found at centralcoasttennisclassic.com

SEPTEMBER 26

FALL SIP & SHOP

WALK DOWNTOWN

Downtown Atascadero

5:30-8pm

Sip & Shop in Downtown Atascadero features 20+ stops with wine, cider, beer, and treats — perfect for sipping, shopping, and strolling! Tickets at atascaderochamber.org

SEPTEMBER 27-28

9TH ANNUAL SHOWDOWN CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT

Sunken Gardens, Atascadero

All ages and skill levels are welcome to play at the annual cornhole tournament.

SEPTEMBER 28

PRE-PIONEER DAY

KICK OFF PARTY

Estrella Warbirds Campus 4251 Dry Creek Rd, Paso Robles

4:30-10pm

Proceeds from the kick-off help to pay for Pioneer Day and all of the Pioneer Day events, plus to maintain and restore the fine tractors, wagons and other equipment that belong to your Community.

OCTOBER EVENTS

OCTOBER 11

95TH ANNUAL PASO ROBLES PIONEER DAY

Downtown Paso Robles

10 a.m.

Bring the entire family and enjoy viewing running antique tractors, horse-drawn wagons, marching bands, mounted equestrian groups, dancers, floats, fire engines, vintage cars, and more. And the best part? It’s free!

WAYNE COOPER MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Chalk Mountain Golf Course, Atascadero

7am

Support LIGHTHOUSE Atascadero while enjoying a fantastic day on the greens. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a beginner, this event promises friendly competition, great prizes, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in our community.

OCTOBER 18

THE ANNUAL COLONY DAYS

Downtown Atascadero

10am-3pm

Enjoy the parade and activities throughout downtown and Sunken Gardens with tours of City Hall and the

Colony House in celebration of the early days of Atascadero. For information, visit colonydays. org

ANNUAL GOLDEN OAK HONEY AND PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AND KIDS’ FLEA MARKET

Downtown City Park, Paso Robles

10am-5 pm

Bask in a fun day of honey, demonstrations, antiques, arts, crafts, pie-eating contest and a variety of merchandise to purchase, including at the Kids’ Flea Market.

OCTOBER 24-25

ZOO BOO

Central Coast Zoo, Atascadero

4:30-7:30pm

The event promises Halloween-themed adornments all around the Zoo, along with a medley of carnival games, a costume competition, Halloween-themed undertakings, a haunted house, and a collection of tricks and treats to relish.With over 200 residents the Central Coast Zoo is the backdrop for this engaging and unforgettable Halloween celebration.

OCTOBER 25

PASO ROBLES DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL

10am-4pm

Downtown City Park, Paso Robles

Join in the cultural celebration that will include educational and children’s activities, food, dance, music, vendors of cultural wares, and more.

BEETLEJUICE AT (1988) Bianchi Winery, Paso Robles

Doors at 5:30pm | Trivia & Prizes at 6:30pm | Movie to Follow

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY FARMERS MARKETS

SAN LUIS OBISPO

Every Thursday

Five blocks of Higuera Street between Osos Street and Nipomo Street in Downtown San Luis Obispo from 6 to 9 pm.

ARROYO GRANDE

Every Saturday and Wednesday

Saturday; Olohan Alley in the Arroyo Grande Village 12 to 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday; Smart & Final parking lot at 1464 East Grand Avenue from 8:30 to 11 am.

MORRO BAY

Every Saturday

Main St. & Morro Bay Blvd from 2:30 to 5:30 pm.

MORRO BAY

Every Thursday

2650 Main St. Spencer’s Parking Lot from 2 to 4:30 pm.

CAMBRIA

Every Friday

1000 Main St., Veterans Hall Parking Lot from 2:30 to 5 pm.

BAYWOOD / LOS OSOS

Every Monday

668 Santa Maria Ave, San Luis Obispo from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

AVILA BEACH

Every Friday

Avila Beach Promenade from 4 to 8 p.m.

PASO ROBLES

Every Tuesday 11th and Spring, from 9:30 am to noon.

PASO ROBLES

Country Farm & Craft Market

1st Saturday of the month 11th and Spring, from 9 am to 1 pm.

TEMPLETON

Every Saturday

Crocker St. and 6th St from 9 am to 12:30 pm.

ATASCADERO

Every Wednesday

6505 El Camino Real from 3 to 6 p.m.

PERSPECTIVE

Good News • Real News • Your Hometown News

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

St. William’s Catholic Church 6410 Santa Lucia Road, Atascadero, CA (805) 466-0849 www.stwilliams. org Weekday Masses : 10:30 AM Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:30 PM Sunday Masses: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM Spanish

FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH

9925 Morro Road, Atascadero; "The Church on the Hill"; An independent church committed to the teaching of God's Word.; Praise and Prayer–10 a.m.; Morning Worship–11 a.m.; Evening Worship–6 p.m.; Wednesday Prayer–6:30 p.m.; Nursery care and children's classes provided.; Pastor Jorge Guerrero; (805) 461-9197.

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH ELCA

A place of hope! Join us for in-person worship on Sundays at 9 A.M. Services are also streamed on YouTube @Hope Lutheran Church Atascadero. Sunday School for all ages follows worship. Learn more at ourhopelutheran.net. 8005 San Gabriel Rd. Atascadero. 805-461-0430. office@ourhopelutheran. net. Pastor Aaron Smith.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER-LCMS

4500 El Camino Real, Atascadero; 466-9350; Morning Bible class at 9 a.m. Sunday; Coffee and Sunday Worship with Holy Communion at 10 a.m. Sunday; Thursday morning Bible class 10 a.m. followed by refreshments and fellowship; Developmentally disabled Bible class 1st and 3rd Saturday mornings; redeemeratascadero.org; redeemeratascadero@gmail.com; Pastor Wayne Riddering.

TEMPLETON HILLS SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

God is love. We exist to know and share that love in practical ways. Join us for worship Saturdays at 11am. 930 Templeton Hills Rd, Templeton. For more info: https://templetonhills.adventistfaith.org/

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

940 Creston Road, Paso Robles; has Sunday worship services at 9:30 a.m; For more information, call the church at (805) 238-3702. Ext. 206.

ATASCADERO FOURSQUARE CHURCH–FATHER’S HOUSE

2100 Ramona Road. Sunday service at 10am. Will & Lori Barrow, Pastors; (805) 466-3191; fathershouseafc.com

ABIDE CALVARY ATASCADERO

4500 El Camino Ave (Downstairs, Rear Parking Lot) // info@abideatascadero. org. Sunday Service at 9am, Children’s Ministry provided for ages 2yrs–6th grade. Pastors Chris Vanoli & Ben Eisenman // Love God, Love Others // Abiding closely with Jesus and teaching others to do the same.

THE REVIVAL CENTER

A division of Alpha Beth Ministries; 3850 Ramada Drive (corner of Ramada and Cow Meadow), Paso Robles; 805-434-5170; Pastor Gabe Abdelaziz; a charismatic non-denominational fellowship; Reaching People, Building Homes; Sundays 10am, Wednesday 7pm; alphabeth@tcsn.net, www. alphabeth.org; Instagram @the_revival_center

COMMUNITY CHURCH OF ATASCADERO, UCC 5850 Rosario Ave. Service 10 a.m. (in person and on Zoom) Pastor Heather Branton (805) 466-9108 atascaderoucc.org

ST. ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH

820 Creston Road., Paso Robles; (805) 238-2218- Parish Office open Mon-Fri 1 p.m.-5 p.m.; website: www.saintrosechurch.org; Mass times; Daily Mass- 8:30 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.; Tues. 7 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass 5 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. & 10 a.m.; Spanish Mass at 1 p.m. & 6 p.m. Father Rodolfo Contreras.

SANTA MARGARITA DE CORTONA CATHOLIC CHURCH

22515 “H” St, Santa Margarita (805)438-5383 Parish Office hours:WedThur 9am-12pm Mass Times: Saturday Vigil Mass:5pm Sunday:10am Wed-Fri 10am Adoration Wed following Mass Confessions: Saturday 4pm and Sunday 9am

RESURRECTION ECUMENICAL MINISTRY

offers an interdenominational communion service each Wednesday evening at 7:00, beginning January 22. Please join us at 9005 Santa Lucia in Atascadero. For more information call or text Rev. Dr. Cynthia Gaw at (828) 406-7253 .

CONGREGATION OHR TZAFON"THE NORTHERN LIGHT"

Located at 2605 Traffic Way, Atascadero, CA 93422. Friday Night Service 6:30 pm 805-466-0329 congregationohrtzafon.org

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH – ELCA

Welcoming all of God’s beloved. We gather for worship Sunday mornings, 9:30 at 295 Old County Rd. Templeton. Sermon podcast is at The Little Brick Church. Sunday School during the sermon. Bible study, Wednesdays at 11 in the community hall. Pastor: Diana Edis. Find out more at blctempleton. org

HIGHLANDS CHURCH

Sunday service at 9am & 10:30am. Monday Young Adults Group at 7pm. Wednesday Youth Group at 6:30pm. We build community so more people know the hope and joy of Jesus. 215 Oak Hill Rd, Paso Robles (805) 226-5800 highlandsadventure.org

Be included in the Atascadero News & Paso Robles Press Worship Directory for an entire year at $175

It looks like next on the calendar is the very popular Annual Brew at the Central Coast Zoo here in Atascadero. It is always a fun evening from 5 to 8 p.m. sampling a large variety of craft beers, distilled spirits, ciders, seltzers, and wine, while enjoying live music right there with the animals. Visit VisitAtascadero.com/Brewat-the-Zoo for more event details and ticket information. Remember we’re approaching the last Concerts in the Park in Paso Robles and Atascadero. Paso’s is this Thursday evening at the downtown City Park from 6 to 8 pm. Atascadero’s is this Saturday at the Lake Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Always take a low back chair and a sweater or jacket for the coolness of our evenings. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

I’ve presided over a riot only once in my life. It was years ago at our annual branding, which would eventually turn into an all-out war. I always went out of my way to not only invite all the neighboring ranchers, but to also invite some town folks, who always enjoyed the proceedings, not to mention the free steak dinner. One year, some friends called to ask if they could bring along an extra couple who had unexpectedly encamped at their house for an extended stay. I said, “Sure, the more the merrier.”

More untruthful words have never been uttered.

The female of the couple was really sweet and did yeoman’s work in the kitchen, whereas the male was easily the most obnoxious human I’ve ever met. First, let me explain that I wear long-sleeve shirts practically all the time now because I’ve had several skin cancers carved out of my body, including half my nose and

In our fast-paced world, where division often overshadows unity, consider that the essence of authentic relationships lies in compassion, a profound connection with the Divine, and the transformative “touch of the Divine hand.”

Drawing from Ernest Holmes’ teachings in The Science of Mind, compassion isn’t merely a fleeting emotion, but a healing force rooted in love. Holmes, founder of Religious Science, emphasized love as an active power: “I permit love to reach out from me to every person I meet. I believe that love is returned to me from every person I meet.” Though he rarely used the word “compassion” explicitly—likely due to its synonymy with sympathy in his era— his philosophy fosters a kinder

Brew, bands, bites

Recipes this week use chicken and will come together in a hurry, each making a simple and luscious dish, and they only require one pan!

Sautéed Chicken Breasts with Sherry-Vinegar Sauce

Ingredients:

4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon butter

• 1 teaspoon olive oil

• 1/2 cup minced shallots 3/4 cup fat-free, lesssodium chicken broth 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar

• 2 tablespoons whipping cream 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat butter and oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat.

Add chicken; cook 4 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from pan; keep warm. Add shallots to pan; sauté 1 minute. Stir in chicken broth and vinegar, and cook 4 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Add whipping cream; cook 1 minute. Serve sauce with chicken. Sprinkle with parsley. Serves 4

This recipe is a quick take on the classic French dish. It’s composed of chicken, mushrooms, bacon, and herbs — all cooked in dry red wine.

Quick Coq au Vin

Ingredients:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon salt

• 6 (6-0unce) skinless, boneless chicken thighs

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 6 cups quartered cremini mushrooms

2 cups (1/4-inch-thick) slices carrot

1/3 cup (1/4-inch-thick) slices Canadian bacon

• 1 cup dry red wine 1 cup ft-free, less sodium chicken broth 1 tablespoon tomato paste

Directions:

Combine flour, thyme, and salt in zip-top plastic bag; add chicken. Seal and shake to coat. Remove chicken from bag, shaking off excess flour mixture.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 8 minutes or until browned, turning frequently. Remove chicken from pan. Add cremini mushrooms, carrot, and bacon to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in wine, chicken broth, and tomato paste, and cook 9 minutes. Return chicken to pan; cook 8 minutes or until chicken is done. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs, if desired. Serves 6 Barbie Butz is an independent columnist for The Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press; you can email her at bbutz1@ outlook.com

A real body of work

one nasty melanoma on my back. But this branding day was particularly hot, so I was stripped down to my T-shirt, thus exposing my untanned arms. I can honestly say that at one time I had good looking guns. In fact, my arms were one of the few things my wife first liked about me. In college, I could snatch and jerk 100 pounds over my head with one arm fully extended. I’d be lucky to do 10 pounds these days.

The ex-dairyman took one look at my white skinny extensions and said, “You call those arms? What are you, some kind of sissy? These are arms,” he said as he rolled up his shirt sleeves exposing two giant forearms and biceps and triceps the size of bowling balls that he could make dance like Mexican jumping beans.

When I introduced the ex-dairyman to the big burly rancher I trusted to do the castrating that day, the highest honor that can be bestowed in the branding pen, the ex-dairyman shook his hand and immediately started cracking down like a pair of Vice Grips®. He squeezed until he saw tears coming out

of my friend’s eyes, and keep in mind that my friend is over six feet tall and weighs 285 pounds, nearly all of it muscle.

“You call that a handshake, you milquetoast pansy,” said the old dairyman who stood about 5’ 5’’, wore a snap-brim hat and had hands the size of a catcher’s mitt. They looked more like an old gnarled tree root dug out of the ground by a D9, with protruding veins and short nails that were corrugated and cracked. I was worried that my friend’s hand was so permanently destroyed, he wouldn’t be able to hold the castrating knife.

In just one morning, the ex-dairyman had insulted every male in attendance over the age of 12. I assigned the 70-year-old freak of nature to the ground crew that day, hoping that the big calves would eat his lunch. But it was not to be. He grabbed the biggest calf, a 350-lb. mini-monster and flipped it like it was a 50-pound sack of feed!

I had to admit that the ex-dairyman was a real body of work.

Unbeknownst to me, of course, my friends developed a

plot to give the guy his comeuppance. They waited until the last calf, probably because they didn’t want to do without his hard labor, before going into action. My friend, who’d been doing the castrating all day, handed me the knife and mounted up, limbered up his throwing arm to see if the nerve damage in his hand would impede his throw, and proceeded to rope the ex-dairyman around the waist. When he yelled, “Stretch him,” every male over the age of 12 charged and put the old guy face down in the dirt. It looked like a rugby scrum in manure. After exposing one cheek (not on the face), my friend called for a hot iron. They were going to teach this obnoxious little brute a lesson.

Looking back now, I don’t know why I stepped in and put an end to their retribution. I had no doubt they’d have gone through with it, and I would have enjoyed watching, but I didn’t want this obnoxious SOB carrying my brand.

Lee Pitts is an independent columnist for The Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press; you can email them at leepitts@ leepittsbooks.com.

Compassionate connection

world through recognizing the Divine in all.

Genuine compassion transcends sympathy and empathy. Sympathy arises from separation, offering kindness but maintaining distance. Empathy draws closer, allowing us to feel another’s pain, yet our own resentments or judgments can taint it. As Eric Hoffer noted, “Compassion is the antitoxin of the soul: where there is compassion, even the most poisonous impulses remain relatively harmless.” Ken Wilber distinguishes “real compassion” from what he calls “idiot compassion,” urging us to challenge our egos with wisdom, rather than indulging them. Genuine compassion demands spiritual authenticity, cultivated through practices like Tara Brach’s RAIN technique: Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture—a gentle mindfulness tool for self-compassion amid suffering.

At the heart of this is our personal relationship with God,

the “Indwelling Presence” Holmes described. God is intimate, an energy of Love that wraps us in safety during fear, tenderness in grief, and wisdom in anger. It’s the warmth of the sun on our face, the breath in our lungs—the Divine One who adores us unconditionally. As spiritual beings amid human messiness, we are called to remember that we are made of peace, love, and joy, even as we grapple with doubt and regret. Beneath it all, Divine perfection guides us.

This redemption is echoed in Myra Brooks Welch’s poem, “The Touch of the Master’s Hand.” A battered violin, deemed worthless at auction, reveals its beauty when a master violinist plays it sweetly. So too, our lives—scarred and undervalued—find worth through God’s touch. Every soul holds intrinsic value; cultivating this Divine relationship unveils hidden purpose and beauty. In our relationships, can we

let compassion flow from selflove, outward kindness, and a Sense of Divine recognition a little more? This week, reflect: What is your relationship with the God of your understanding? Does it feel like love, peace, or strength? Where do you sense its presence the most? In nature, music, a friend’s smile, or elsewhere? Identify your spiritual needs—do you need to know your self-worth, self-love, or have the assurance of a higher power?

Embrace the magic: Through compassion and Divine connection, we transform, creating a gentler world. In doing so, we not only heal ourselves but also uplift those around us, fostering unity within the rich tapestry of diversity. The Divine hand awaits—let it play your melody. And so it is.

Rev. Elizabeth Rowley Hogue is an independent columnist for the Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press; you can email her at revelizabeth@awakeningways.org.

San Miguel Old Timer’s BBQ