GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXV, NO. XII
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2024
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
San Miguel Lions Club hosts old timers at annual barbecue Paul and Joy King were honored as the two oldest people at the fundraiser for Pioneer Day By MAYLIA BAIRD Maylia@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The Pioneer Day activities continued at noon this past Sunday, Aug. 25, with the annual Old Timer BBQ in the San Miguel Community Park. Lions Club volunteers were working hard in the hot weather selling tickets for the barbecue and making sure everything ran smoothly. Many also generously donated their time to prepare and serve the delicious meal. In addition to Lions Club members, there were the Pioneer Day royalty. The Marshal, Queen, and Belle, with her attendants, all had their own tables for family and friends to accompany and eat with them as they enjoyed the event. Miki Saunders, who coordinated the event and was MC for the announcements this year, said, “People who are 80 and over get to have a meal here for free, so that’s why it’s called the Old Timers BBQ, but it’s also an opportunity to identify and give some respect to the people who are considered the royals for the parade.
Top: (from left) Pioneer Day Belle Attendant Ava Friedling, Belle Reese Jaureguy, and Attendant Adelaida Coelho. Bottom left: Dana Thiel and Pioneer Day Queen Bonnie Thorndyke. Bottom right: Claudia Woodland and Pioneer Day Marshal Dick Woodland. Photos by Derek Luff
We have the Marshal and the Queen here, and we also celebrate the two oldest people here: male and female.” This year, Paul King (97) and his wife Joy (92) of Paso Robles
were honored as the two oldest people at the barbecue. Saunders added, “It’s quite a tradition and has been going on for years, and I’m just really proud to be a member of the
San Miguel Lions Club.” While there are many reasons for this event, one of them is to highlight the Pioneer Day Parade happening in October. Many of the
events leading up to the big parade day begin in August, including the announcement of Pioneer Day Royalty, The Old Timers BBQ, The Queen’s Luncheon — which includes a list of certain people invited by the Queen herself — the Pioneer Day Kick-Off Party, which is open to the public, and the Ladies Tea. There will be another Old Timer’s Dinner at the Paso Robles Event Center the week of the parade, which is by invitation only. Following that, the parade will take place where it always has through downtown Paso Robles on the second Saturday of October. The Belle and four of her attendants were able to make this event and sat intently at their own table. “It’s nice to connect with the attendants and Belle, and it’s also cool to see all different generations of people just coming together, having fun, having a good ol’ barbecue,” says Ava Friedling, one of the Belle attendants. Many of the girls expressed how they enjoyed talking with the attendants at the event and learning lots of history and new things. “I think it’s been really fun because we’ve been able to connect with the older generaCONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Trustees weigh new cellphone policy following governor’s urge to regulate State asks schools to restrict the use of phones during school day due to harm on students’ mental health By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — Following a letter released on Aug. 13 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom regarding cellphone use in classrooms, the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) discussed possible changes to the district’s cellphone policy. Back in June, Newsom released the following statement: “As the Surgeon General affirmed, social media is harming the mental health of our youth. I look forward to working with the CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Paso Robles mourns the loss of beloved community leader, hotel owner Matt Masia Lifelong resident and champion of Paso Robles, Masia’s legacy of generosity and community service lives on By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
This map shows the location of the easement sought to complete the Bob Jones Pathway. The SLO County Board of Supervisors fell one vote short of the required four votes at its Aug. 20 meeting. Contributed Graphic
SLO County supervisor votes down use of eminent domain in Bob Jones Pathway Project Supervisor Debbie Arnold reaffirms stance against use of eminent domain to protect property owner rights By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The use of eminent domain was denied by a 1-3 vote during the Tuesday, Aug. 20, San Luis Obispo
AGRICULTURE
County (SLO) Board of Supervisors meeting. The “resolution of necessity” to acquire a rightof-way easement from a private landowner to complete the Bob Jones Pathway from Avila Beach to San Luis Obispo was denied when Supervisor Debbie Arnold voted no in a decision that required four votes to pass. The project, known as the Bob Jones Pathway City to Sea, CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
COMMUNITY
PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles lost a true pillar in the community this past July. Matt Masia died on Sunday, July 28, in his home with family by his side. There are many ways that one could have crossed paths with Masia, but the main would be at one of his cherished hotels — the Adelaide Inn or Black Oak Motel (now Best Western Black Oak). “Don’t take yourself so seriously,” that is what Mitchell Masia hopes people take away from his brother’s life. “I think he was a pretty simple guy when it came down to most aspects of his life.” A lifelong Paso Roblan, Matt was born in Paso Robles on Oct. 5, 1956, to Mario and Shirley Masia. A proud Bearcat, he graduated from Paso Robles
NORTH COUNTY NEWS
Matt Masia is shown in front of his Adelaide Inn motel after being named Roblan of the Year in 2018. Masia, a respected community leader, died at the age of 67 on Sunday, July 28. Photo by Nicholas Mattson
High School in 1974 where he was active in FFA and served as ASB president. And we cannot forget that he was a member of the 1972 Bearcat CIF Championship football team. Matt continued supporting
FFA well after high school, following in his grandfather’s footsteps. His grandfather began buying animals at the California Mid-State Fair in 1949, and Matt continued the tradition ever since. In 2017, he was
SPORTS
WEATHER
inducted into the California Mid-State Fair Hall of Fame for his contributions and dedication to the fair. “Matt loved that part of his life. The connection that he had growing up and his involvement in both FFA and 4-H were a real foundation for him,” said Mitchell of his brother’s livestock showing days. “He got a lot of joy out of participating and being a leader in those different organizations.” After attending Fresno State University, Matt came back home to get back into the family business. “We literally grew up attached to the property,” explained Mitchell. “It’s kind of a classic story ... you’re kind of exposed to everything.” Matt’s maternal grandfather, Hugh Black, opened the original Black Oak Motor Lodge in 1961, and owned the property where the motel was originally situated, extended all the way down Riverside Avenue, and was home to the Black Poultry Hatchery. Later, his maternal aunt, Linda, operated the famiCONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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