GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXVI, NO. XLII
THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2026
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Big donations make waves for PRHS Aquatics School board accepts wide-ranging contributions and reviews plans to modernize Marie Bauer kitchen By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees accepted a series of generous donations during its meeting on Tuesday, March 24, benefiting a range of student programs at Paso Robles High School. A significant contribution came from the Swim Paso Association (SPA), which donated $10,000 to support the PRHS men’s and women’s swim and dive teams, as well as the water polo program. Additionally, in a combined effort, the 4A Foundation and SPA also contributed $168,545.81 to further bolster aquatics programs at PRHS, marking one of the largest donations of the evening. Gwen Severson, representing the organization alongside other SPA board members, formally presented the donations to the board. “The mission statement of SPA is to elevate aquatics in the Paso Robles community and surrounding region by making water safety, sport, and fitness accessible to all,” Severson shared. “We are incredibly grateful the Aquatics Complex was completed and as stewards of the donations raised in the community, we are thrilled to present this check for the total of $178,545.81 to the aquatics students and coaches of Paso Robles High School through their ASB accounts.” Additional contributions included a $200 donation from Michelle Gilsdorf to support the PRHS Choir program, and $3,324.80 from the SLO County Foundation for Agricultural Awareness Inc., designated for the school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) program. The district also accepted a $266.97 donation from Ludus Technologies Inc. in support of the PRHS Drama Club. In other business, staff presented initial plans to modernize the kitchen at the Marie Bauer Early Education Center (MBEEC). Director of Food Services Jessie Wesch highlighted the need for upgrades: “Our current kitchen at Marie Bauer lacks the infrastructure to keep up with our universal meal program and the hungry preschool needs who are eager to learn about what’s for breakfast and lunch.” According to the presentation, the current space is not CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Eileen Rogers (left), a longtime educator who founded the Buzz Marathon in 2001, and Leo Castillo, Post Commander of the Paso Robles VFW, are shown at the latest Buzz Marathon at Camp Roberts on March 21. The Paso Robles VFW is now running the event. Photo by Camille DeVaul/PRP
Buzz Marathon draws runners, raises funds for veterans 24th annual race at Camp Roberts brings in over 200 participants and more than $10,000 for local veteran services By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — Runners buzzed into Camp Roberts last weekend to run in the 26th Annual Buzz Marathon held on Saturday, March 21. Now under the helm of the Paso Robles Veterans Foreign Wars Post (VFW ), the fundraising event drew over 200 runners to support veterans. Held at the Camp Roberts Army National Guard Reservation, the Buzz Marathon offered a rare opportunity for runners to travel a course not
typically open to the public. The race features a variety of distances, including a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and a Kid’s Mile for children under 12. The course itself is a blend of paved roads, dirt trails, and packed gravel, winding through oak-dotted hillsides and alongside the Salinas and Nacimiento rivers. The Buzz Marathon was founded in 2001 by longtime educator Eileen Rogers, who spent 34 of her 40 years of teaching at Lillian Larsen School in San Miguel. Frustrated by the need to personally fund her school’s athletic
programs, Rogers set out to create a sustainable fundraiser that would benefit her students. “I got tired of funding my athletic program out of pocket,” Rogers recalled. “So I decided to create a fundraiser.” Working alongside supporters at Camp Roberts, including a fellow parent and Gary McMaster, Rogers helped design and launch the inaugural race. By its second year, the course had been officially certified as a Boston Marathon qualifier, a designation it continues to hold today.
Today, the marathon is organized by the Paso Robles VFW Post, which took over operations as part of an effort to sustain the event while also supporting veterans and their families. Proceeds from the race now benefit soldiers, veterans, and Camp Roberts families, continuing the spirit of giving that defined its founding. Post Commander Leo Castillo volunteered the VFW to take over the marathon after the Camp Roberts Base Commander said they could no longer organize the event. The Buzz CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
Mother-daughter partners Laurel (right photo, left) and Emily Miller have announced they will be closing their Downtown Paso Robles business Firefly Boutique. Contributed photo
Firefly Boutique closes after 20 years in Downtown Paso Robles
Beloved mother-daughter shop steps into a new chapter, leaving behind a legacy of creativity By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — After nearly two decades of bringing creativity, color, and a touch of whimsy to downtown Paso Robles, Firefly is preparing to close its doors — marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for its owners. For mother-daughter team Laurel and Emily Miller, the decision to close Firefly after 20 years is not a bitter goodbye, but the start of a new era. “We fully lived this one,” Emily shared. “We fully realized it, and it’s just time for a new chapter.” Firefly first opened at the end of 2006, at a time
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when downtown Paso Robles looked very different from what it does today. What is now a bustling destination for wine tourism, dining, and shopping was then relatively quiet, with limited retail options. Recognizing a gap and inspired by their shared love of creativity and discovery, Laurel and Emily decided to bring their long-imagined boutique to life. “My mom, Laurel, and I had always daydreamed about opening our own store. I grew up going on shopping trips with her and my grandma, and we always loved finding creative places with interesting and unique items,” Emily said. “We used to talk about what our store would be like. When I moved back to the Central Coast in 2006, we decided that it was
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the right time to finally start something together.” The original Firefly was located at 13th and Park Street and operated as a hybrid fine art and craft gallery, complete with rotating art shows and lively openings. Over time, the business evolved, shifting toward a more traditional retail model while maintaining its artistic roots through imaginative displays and carefully curated merchandise. About a decade ago, the shop moved to its current location on 12th Street across from City Park — a transition Emily describes as a turning point. “It was a good decision for us to move to the park,” she said. “Foot traffic increased so much when we CONTINUED ON PAGE A2
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