GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXVI, NO. XXXVII
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Paso Robles Main Street enters year of transition following Norma Moye’s passing
Interim leaders Jeffry Wiesinger and Margaret HeelyHolstine pledge steady guidance, continued events, and a renewed commitment to downtown community and legacy By HAYLEY MATTSON Publisher, Editor in Chief
Libby Ryan, center, owner of Just Baked brought flowers and treats for her business neighbors including Milo Gomez and co-owner Joeli Yaguda (right) of the General Store Paso Robles on Feb. 14. Contributed photo
North County celebrates Valentine’s Day with fun and sweets
Community welcomed back ‘Leo the Lion’ water fountain at the Central Coast Zoo By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
NORTH COUNTY — Love was in the air across North County this Valentine’s weekend, as communities came together for celebrations ranging from sweet treats and family fun to downtown shopping and local traditions. Festivities kicked off Friday, Feb. 13, with the Sweetheart Stroll in downtown Atascadero, hosted by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, and continued through Valentine’s Day itself. Popular Paso Robles bakery Just Baked joined the holiday fun
with a wide array of festive treats, drawing both longtime patrons and new visitors. Owner Libby Ryan said Valentine’s Day is one of the shop’s favorite times of year. “Valentine’s Day is always such a treat at the shop. We love seeing our past couples come back celebrating their anniversaries in Paso, reminiscing on their wedding days,” Ryan said. The bakery decorated for the holiday with pink, hearts, and festive displays, making each visit feel special. Tiramisu and chocolate-covered strawberries proved CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Main Street Association is entering what leaders call a year of transition following the death of longtime Executive Director Norma Moye, whose decades of service helped shape downtown into a thriving destination for residents and visitors alike. Stepping into interim leadership roles are Jeffry Wiesinger as executive director and Margaret Heely-Holstine as board president. Both say they are committed to honoring Moye’s legacy while guiding the organization forward with steady, community-focused leadership. Wiesinger, who has served as board president for the past five years and owns Jeffry’s Wine County BBQ, a restaurant adjacent to the Main Street office, downtown district, said accepting the interim executive director role was about service and continuity. “Having been board president and owning a restaurant right next door, I understand how important this organization is to
New Paso Robles Main Street Association Board Interim President Margaret Heely-Holstine (left) and Jeffry Wiesinger, who is stepping in as interim executive director. Photo by Hayley Mattson/PRP
the downtown business district and the community,” Wiesinger said. “My respect and admiration for Norma, and my desire to see this organization continue to grow and go to a higher level, made it an honor to step in.” He emphasized that no single person can replace Moye. “I don’t think any one person will ever be able to fill Norma’s shoes,” Wiesinger said. “What she meant to this community is immeasurable. Her impact on Paso Robles is inspiring.” Moye’s leadership helped elevate signature events such as Taste of Downtown, the Olive and Lavender Festival, Down-
Storm hits North County, bringing thunder and lightning
operations continued smoothly. As board chair at the time, Wiesinger began handling executive duties immediately. “Since the day Norma passed away, Margaret and I have been in almost daily communication,” he said. “Her help and advice have been invaluable.” Recognizing the expanded scope of responsibilities, the board voted to appoint Wiesinger as interim executive director and selected Heely-Holstine — a veteran leader with decades of involvement — to serve as interim board president. “There was an obvious choice,” CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
City revives Visual Art in rain, bringing its seasonal total Public Places Program after to 14.45 inches. In Atascadero, 16-year hiatus 1.71 inches fell during the same
Gusts near 50 mph, falling debris, and localized flooding trigger outages for hundreds By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
NORTH COUNTY — A late-winter storm system is sweeping across the Central Coast this week, bringing gusty winds, periods of heavy rain, and the potential for flooding. The National Weather Service has issued both a Wind Advisory and a Flood Watch for the region, warning of strong winds, possible flash flooding, and hazardous travel. Thunder and lightning hit North County starting in the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 17. The National Weather Service issued both a Wind Advisory and a Flood Watch for portions of southwest California through early Wednesday morning. Southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, were expected from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m., which proved to be pretty accurate. The storm’s impacts were seen early on Tuesday in San Luis Obispo. A portion of Monterey Street in downtown San Luis Obispo was temporarily closed Tuesday morning after a basketball-sized piece of decorative molding fell from above the historic Fremont Theater sign around 7:15 a.m., according to the San Luis Obispo City
town Lighting Ceremony, Vintage Sidecar Rendezvous, and other community gatherings that draw thousands each year. Wiesinger said he was inspired not only by her organizational leadership but by her example of volunteerism and civic pride. “She inspired multiple generations about what it means to take care of your community — coming together, and working together to do great things,” he said. “That’s the legacy we want to carry forward.” In the weeks following Moye’s passing, Wiesinger said he and Heely-Holstine were in neardaily communication to ensure
Water flows down to Moss Lane in Templeton after the storms hit North County this week. Photo by Camille DeVaul/PRP
Fire Department. No injuries were reported, and the sidewalk below was taped off as a precaution while city building inspectors assess the façade and structural safety of the sign. As a result of the incident, Tuesday night’s concert has been relocated to SLO Brew Rock, and it remains unclear whether additional shows will be moved. Monterey Street between Osos and Santa Rosa streets is closed to vehicle traffic, though businesses remain accessible to pedestrians. As of the publishing of this article, a reopening timeline has not yet been announced. According to PG&E on
NEWS
Wednesday morning, an unplanned power outage is currently affecting 371 customers across San Luis Obispo County. The majority of impacted customers are in San Luis Obispo (236), followed by unincorporated areas of the county (90) and Atascadero (40). Smaller outages have also been reported in Grover Beach (4) and Oceano (1). During the heaviest part of the storm, over 1,200 residents were without power, with a goodmajority of those being along North and South River Road in Paso Robles. Over the past 24 hours, Paso Robles recorded 1.26 inches of
NONPROFIT
period, according to RainDrop. com, as the county’s website was down. Templeton measured 1.39 inches in the last 24 hours, also reported by RainDrop.com due to the county site outage, while Santa Margarita received the highest total, with 1.85 inches of rainfall. Traffic storm damage on Tuesday night included a limb blocking the lanes at State Route 41 and San Gabriel Road in Atascadero. In Paso Robles, several problems were being reported: mud and shrubs were blocking the eastbound lane at Peachy Canyon Road and Pacific Avenue; CRG 14 and Chimney Rock Road had mud, dirt, and rocks on the roadway; and South River Road at Santa Ysabel Avenue experienced roadway flooding. Beginning Thursday, both Atascadero and Paso Robles will experience a cool and unsettled pattern, with periods of rain, breezy conditions, and daytime highs in the low to mid-50s through Friday. Overnight lows will be chilly, dipping into the 30s in Atascadero and the upper 20s to 30s in Paso Robles. Conditions will begin to improve on Friday, butremain cool and mostly cloudy. A gradual warming trend develCONTINUED ON PAGE A2
BUSINESS
Unanimous vote revives funding initiative dormant since 2009, citing tourism impact and strong community backing By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The City of Paso Robles is welcoming back its Visual Art in Public Places program, funding local art installations throughout the city. Council unanimously approved the decision during the Tuesday, Feb. 17, City Council meeting. The city’s public art program has been inactive since 2009 as a result of the Great Recession, according to staff. Since then, the community has given its support for expanding public art. Recreation Program Coordinator Wyatt Lund said, “Public art enhances community identity, supports local artists, and increases tourism, reduces blight like graffiti, vandalism, and litter, and it helps activate public spaces.” Public art was identified as a city priority in the 2003 General Plan as a key element of placemaking, leading to the creation of the Public Art Fund in 2005, which required eligible capital projects to dedicate 1% toward public art and placed oversight with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. The last Art in Public Places expenditure
occurred in 2009, with a 2018 amendment formally placing the ordinance on hold and leaving the program inactive.Since 2012, only limited projects have moved forward, and as of fiscal year 2025 the fund balance remained at $700, with recent installations such as the Norma’s Way archway in 2019 and two temporary sculptures in 2024 requiringspecial processing due to the lack of a formal program. According to staff ’s report, the Economic Impact of the Arts & Culture Sector in San Luis Obispo County 2025 report says the arts sector in Paso Robles draws approximately 630,000 visitors annually and generates $70.2 million in visitor spending. Recreation Services conducted a public art survey during the 2025 Summer Concert Series and through the City’s social media channels, receiving feedback from 121 respondents. Results showed unanimous support for expanding public art in Paso Robles, with 92% saying existing installations enhance the city’s character. Murals ranked as the most preferred art type at 86%, followed by sculptures at CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
WEATHER
pasoroblespress.com X.com/ @PasoRoblesPress facebook.com/ @PasoRoblesPress
FUNDRAISER Wine 4 Paws | A3
REDWINGS Horse Sanctuary | A7
5 STAR Rain Gutters | A8
High 50° | Low 34°
5
67808 24135
7