GOOD NEWS REAL NEWS HOMETOWN NEWS
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXIII, NO. XLVII
CITY
THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2023
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
ECHO Hosts First Empty Bowls in Paso Robles
Council Passes New Airport Lease Agreement, But Plans Further Review May 7-13 is proclaimed as Public Service Recognition Week and National Travel and Tourism Week
County Approves Funding Plan to Repair Storm Damages Atascadero City Manager Rachelle Rickard recognized for 26 years of service By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com ECHO Board Member Kelly Rubio (left) and SLO County District Supervisor John Peschong welcome guests to Empty Bowls held at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles. Contributed Photo
Over $100,000 was raised to support local unhoused trying PASO ROBLES — The City Council had difficul- to find permanent ties coming to an agreement housing By CAMILLE DEVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
fundraiser in Paso Robles on Thursday, April 27. The event followed their 8th annual Empty Bowls in Atascadero on Thursday, April 20. ECHO CEO and Executive Director Wendy Lewis said, “It was a beautiful day. The event was beautiful, and Austin [Solheim] was in charge of both [events] and did a great job organizing.” Held at the nonprofit Studios on the Park on Pine Street, 150 people were in
attendance. After hosting a meal team for ECHO, Studios on the Park offered to work with ECHO to bring an Empty Bowls fundraiser to Paso Robles. The day was full of handmade bowls with their artists, soup, wine, and live music by Dawn Lambeth. “Paso sold out, so we were excited for our first fundraising event in Paso to sell out and just have the community back us like they did was pretty heartwarming,” added Lewis.
With both events, ECHO was able to raise over $100,000 — the most in its history. Thanks to sponsors and other donations, the nonprofit is able to direct most of its raised funds to its services and operations. This is ECHO’s second year operating their campus in Paso Robles. Between both campuses, ECHO has permanently housed 56 individuals and families this year.
for a new airport lease policy By CAMILLE DEVAUL and strategy during the Tuescamille@pasoroblespress.com day night meeting on May 2. Staff brought forward a new PASO ROBLES — The policy and lease agreement for community came out in full the Paso Robles Municipal force last weekend to support Airport after recent California the El Camino HomeState Law and Federal Aviation less Organization (ECHO) Administration (FAA) policy in their first Empty Bowls CONTINUED ON PAGE A7 changes. Councilmembers disagreed BUSINESS on the increased lease rates and its effects on long-term lease agreements at the airport. Councilman John Hamon recused himself from the agenda item due to a conflict of interest, leaving only four council members to vote. This led to several motions failing due to a tied vote. The essential elements of the revisions are as follows: In the case that existing lease agreements cannot be extended because their combined length would then exceed the 35-40 year limit per FAA guidance: At expiration, with no development proposed, existing lessees may enter into a new short-term agreement (5 years); At expiration, with commensurate capital investment, existing lessees may enter into a new Former Three Speckled Hens owner Kathy Marquart (left), who started the antiques show with her friend Susi Fuller 15 years ago, sits with the show’s new owner long-term agreement. Clarifications were made to Kimber Black. Photo by Camille DeVaul/PRP the City’s obligatory reversion- Antique and Old Stuff Center for three days full of Speckled Hens show in we said why not ... let’s do it.” ary rights. The basic premise Show brought plenty of camaraderie and shopping last Templeton after purchas- Four years later, the show of reversion being that at the weekend. This April 28-30 ing a little too many goods landed at the Paso Robles conclusion of the lease term goods April 28-30 show marked the first year from another antique show in Event Center to accommodate all improvements revert to the of the Three Speckled Hens Washington state. In an effort its now bi-annual status. Now, By CAMILLE DEVAUL Airport and allow its further Antiques and Old Stuff Show to convince their husbands not Marquart and Fuller are ready camille@pasoroblespress.com occupancy as an Airport-owned under its new owner. to be upset with their abundant to retire and pass the show on facility. Rental rates for any new PASO ROBLES — Antique Fifteen years ago, friends purchases, Marquart thought to Kimber Black, the new lease agreement will consider vendors and pickers came out Susi Fuller and Kathy Templeton was a cute town owner, and founder of another CONTINUED ON PAGE A7 to the Paso Robles Event Marquart started the Three with no antique show yet, “So CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
Three Speckled Hens Welcomes New Owner
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SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Atascadero City Manager Rachelle Rickard was recognized for her service to the city during the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, May 2. Rickard was recognized upon her retirement for 26 years of service to Atascadero. She will be officially retiring in July and the Atascadero City Council will be considering a hiring contract with new City Manager James Lewis, who previously served as city manager for Pismo Beach. The Atascadero Loaves and Fishes (also known as ALF Food Pantry) will be receiving county funds for the restoration of their food pantry building. The nonprofit addresses food insecurity by providing groceries to low and very low-income residents of Atascadero, Templeton, Creston, Santa Margarita, and the California Valley. In 2022, they served 3,700 individuals with food covering 3-4 days of meals for each resident. The food pantry building suffered some damage from the Jan. 9 storm and is in need of repair and restoration. The $3,250 in county funds will be used to offset the expenses of repairing and restoring the building, including but not limited to wet/dry vacuum, building materials, drying equipment, excavation equipment, mastic sealer, and gravel. Staff gave a presentation recapping damages caused by this year’s winter storms through the end of March. Comparing to the 2017 storms, which resulted in Federal Disaster Declaration with clean-up efforts and CONTINUED ON PAGE A7
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