Mary Augusta Neal: Giraffes on the Loose in Atascadero

Giraf es on th Lo se • Mary Augusta Neal

By Christianna Marks

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, right after the world shut down, local resident Mary Augusta Neal found a way to bring smiles to people’s faces in Atascadero when she started creating displays on her fence with wooden cutouts of giraffes.

The display started with a single giraffe on her fence that her brother sent to her after having an artist from Oceanside make as a gift at the beginning of COVID. Little did Mary know that she would be the highlight for many people as they passed by each day.

“My brother has a dog which he takes for a walk by this guy named Dean’s home, up by where he lives in Oceanside — he does these wooden art pieces. He [Dean] has “Star Wars” creations and always decorates his house totally to the hilt. So, my brother talked to him about making me a giraffe because my nickname was Gussie growing up, and people used to give me Gus the Giraffe birthday cards each year. I think back then is when I really started my affection for giraffes. I think they are the most beautiful and calm...you know, non-predatory animal in existence,” Mary shared. “My brother sent me Gus (the first giraffe)...his name wasn’t named Gus then, but that’s when I decided to name him.”

Mary was then sent Charlie (the second giraffe) anonymously. She still doesn’t know who sent him, but fell in love with him as soon as she saw him.

From there, Mary explained that she was ready to extend the family, “I wanted a mom and a dad

Mary Augusta Neal with her wooden giraffe cutouts in 2021. Photo by Hayley Mattson [giraffe]. So, my brother had the artist Dean make the mom and the dad. I wanted a straw hat and the pink bow, and I wanted a son [giraffe], too. And that’s where Gus, Augusta, and Gussie came from.”

Mary decided that the son giraffe was going to be named JJ, after her brother John Joseph. He went by JJ growing up. John wanted the giraffe to have a rebellious streak, so he had him made wearing surfer shades and a bow tie.

“So that’s how JJ came to be, and now the family’s complete. Well, like I say, it’ll pull down my fence if I put too many more out there. But I think it’s plenty now,” Mary said of her five giraffes.

Other people have anonymously added to the giraffe display. Mary recalls when someone left four little giraffes on the ground next to her fence. She added them to her display until they became too weathered to stay outside. To protect the others from the elements, Mary painted over the large giraffes with a clear coat so they will last longer.

Along with her family of giraffes, Mary started putting up signs on her fence throughout 2020 and 2021, thanking frontline workers in the community and celebrating the big days of the year. Including holidays and things like Back to School.

“I love doing it. I love making my little signs. Somebody said to me, ‘well, maybe everybody around you thinks you’re nuts?’ I went, well, I am a little bit, so that’s okay,” Mary said with a laugh.

The giraffes on Mary’s fence made a huge impact on the Atascadero residents who have seen them and brought a little splash of light to them during a dark time for all of us — making people feel connected while we all had to stay apart.

“I’m glad it’s bringing pleasure to everybody and not just me because I love doing it,” Mary shared.

The giraffes can still be seen on the corner of Carson and Portola. 

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Memorial Day

By Christianna Marks

For 153 years, Americans have devoted the last Monday of May to honoring and remembering men and women who lost their lives in service to our country. The first Memorial Day was on May 30, 1868, so we once again find ourselves observing our soldiers’ sacrifices on the same day it began, over one century later.

However, somewhere along the way, Memorial Weekend has become the kick-off to summer. It’s the weekend we break out the barbecues, sunblock, and popsicles. I’m not sure if this is what General John A. Logan had in mind when he issued a decree that May 30 should become a nationwide day of commemoration for more than 620,000 soldiers killed in the Civil War.

The Civil War may have ended on May 5, 1868, but the division among Americans has continued to plague us throughout the years for one reason or another. Perhaps living in a melting pot of varying cultures is a blessing and a curse.

But in the end, the freedom to be a melting pot, to have our own opinions and share them, and to be our own person is what many of our soldiers were fighting for. So, in the end, we observe Memorial Day to honor those very people who paid that ultimate price, giving us the freedom to eat those popsicles and get sunburned or do whatever we want on the last weekend of May or any other day.

Atascadero Memorial Day Ceremonies

This year, Atascadero is honoring the area’s fallen soldiers with a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Face of Freedom Veterans Memorial. The ceremony, which is expected to last about an hour, will start at 11 a.m. with the national anthem, a flyover by the Estrella Warbirds, guest speakers, taps played by Darin Gong, and a wreath-laying.

Like in previous years, this year’s Memorial Day Ceremony will be put on by the Atascadero Veterans Memorial Foundation (AVMF), which also organizes Atascadero’s Veterans Day Ceremony every year.

The wreath-laying will honor the memory of Seymour “Si” Tenenberg.

“Seymour ‘Si’ Tenenberg passed away at 87 years old on February 7,” said Cheryl Hertan, AVMF board President and ceremony coordinator. “[He was the] Director of Helping Soldiers in the Desert, and sent more than 23,000 care packages to military members deployed overseas over the past 15 years. Si Teneberg was a U.S. Marine Korean Veteran.”

The community of Atascadero has been showing up since both the Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies returned after a county-wide virtual Memorial Day Ceremony in May 2020 and abbreviated ceremonies through May 2021.

“This truly is a community event, and the participants from the Elks Antlers/Boy Scouts are helping set up and tear down to the tradition of the Gongs (this year, we are fortunate to have Darin [Gong], perhaps for the last time) playing taps” stated Cheryl. “We have found we don’t really need to advertise these ceremonies anymore; the community expects them and comes out in droves to honor our military.” 

The Golden State Classics Car Club returns to Paso Robles for their 14th Annual Car Show on Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28.

After a two-year break, car enthusiasts are ready to come back to the show. Dave Silva is getting his 1934 Ford coupe ready for Paso’s big car show.

“Our car club is ready to go after two years of putting off the show,” Silva said. “I think there is a lot of pent-up enthusiasm. I know I’m excited.”

New this year is a Pre-Show Party on Friday night in lieu of a cruise on Spring Street. The Pre-Show Party is May 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with a complimentary buffet, no-host bar, raffle, 50/50, and live music by The Wavebreakers Band. The event will be held at Estrella Warbirds Museum, Hangar 1, 4251 Dry Creek Rd, Paso Robles.

The Golden State Car Club started in 1987.

By CamilleDeVaul

President Scotty Smith joined the club four years after retiring. Like many others in the club, Scotty has had a lifelong enthusiasm for rebuilding cars.

The car show registration includes the Pre-Show Party.

“Show cars will be able to park by the hangar and the planes. We think everyone will enjoy the experience,” Smith said. “However, there is a cap at 200 people on Friday night, so I suggest buying tickets soon.”

The club was unable to present the downtown show in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We appreciate that our sponsors stayed with us, including our title sponsor Kings Oil Tools,” added Scotty. “I would like to thank them all for hanging with us. A lot of these sponsors joined up two years ago. They’ve allowed us to keep that money and move forward.” The show will start Saturday, May 28, going from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Downtown City Park, 12th and Spring streets, Paso Robles. There will be a raffle, 50/50 drawing, food vendors, trophies, and live music featuring Unfinished Business. Another new feature is Manufacturer Row, highlighting local classic car-related businesses. The club is also raffling off Craftsman top and bottom toolboxes valued at $1,200, a prize donated by Lowe’s. The club members made this year’s show more inclusive.

“Many car enthusiasts felt left out by our judging classes because the cars had to be old,” said Bob Tanaka, the club’s first vice president. “I have a ‘70 Ford Mustang Boss 302, but lots of people have cool cars that are newer. We made room for them.”

The judging classes include early and modern muscle cars, customs, hot rods, special interests, and the traditional classic categories for cars and trucks. Over 150 cars had already been registered by the first week of April. There is sure to be a car there for everyone to enjoy.

The show in the park is free for the public. Until May 9, registration is $45 and includes a T-shirt and a ticket to the Friday Pre-Show Party. After May 9, registration is $55 and does not include a T-shirt.

“I think it will be a big summer, and we’re happy about that too,” Smith said. “We want to see the vendors do well and the local businesses.”

Golden State Classics is a nonprofit organization that promotes classic vehicles and supports local charities. To register or learn more, visit goldenstateclassics.org. 

Best of the West Antique Equipment Show Returns

By Camille DeVaul

Celebrate American history and honor the country’s fallen heroes this memorial weekend at the Best of the West Antique Equipment

Show as it makes its comeback after two years.

Starting Friday, May 27, and going through Sunday, May 29, guests are welcome to explore and enjoy the equipment that helped build America into the country it is today. More importantly, the weekend is dedicated to remembering and honoring veterans who have given their lives for our country. The Best of the West Antique Equipment Show is a Paso Robles Pioneer Day Committee and Rossi Foundation event. Santa Margarita Ranch poses as the perfect location to enjoy a family gathering outside and teach the younger generations about the heritage of our area.

For two years, the show had to cancel its celebrations to comply with COVID19 restrictions. This year the show will be back to normal and getting back into the swing of things as they plan for a bigger and better show in 2023. But they look forward to bringing back the much anticipated weekend of fun.

Tara Tedeschi, a Best of the West coordinator, says, “There are going to be some changes, but everything is positive.”

Many fan-favorite activities will be back at the ranch, including the Farm Bureau’s tri-tip dinners and other food vendors, parades, the Kid’s Corral, and tours hosted by the Santa Margarita Historical Society.

In the Kid’s Corral, youngsters can look forward to some unique activities, including gold panning with the Central Coast Gold Prospectors, vintage water pumps, butter making, model trains and tracks, grain buckets, and roping dummies, giant sand pile, and tire climbing gym.

Each morning the gates open at 8 a.m. and close that evening at 5 p.m. At noon each day, all operations will pause for a military salute and flyover.

“The main focus of the show is to make sure that we are honoring our veterans and having Memorial Day as the main purpose,” said Tara. Throughout the day, guests can enjoy a tractor parade, earthmoving demo, plowing demo, blacksmithing, and so much more. A favorite crowd activity is taking a ride on the train. The steam engine holds plenty of history itself. It was featured in the TV show

“Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman” and was one of the passenger coaches from Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad from the 1950s.

Best of the West Antique Equipment Show Returns

Of course, the crown jewel of the show is the wide variety of working antique equipment. Locals from around the county and even folks from across the nation bring equipment and tractors from various decades. It ends up creating a timeline of the mechanized progress of 20th century America. This year the show has booked more exhibitors ready to showcase their piece of American history.

“A lot of this equipment is unique, and there are only one of two operating versions of that model of tractor equipment that’s out there,” added Tara, “They like to showcase it, which is cool that we are on that map for that.”

The first show made its debut in 2010. Since it was so well received, it came back in 2015 as an annual event.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to some normalcy and getting everyone in the community together,” said Tara, “It’s a place where people can come see machines and equipment from the past and present.”

Best of the West annually happens at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch. Before being settled by Franciscan missionaries in the 1770s, the ranch was home to Native Americans for thousands of years. The land’s fertile soil, mountain forests, and abundant water and wildlife made it the perfect home for Salinan and Chumash tribes.

Joaquin Estrada was granted the ranch in 1841. Known for being a colorful ranchero, Joaquin frequently hosted grand fiestas and rodeos — setting the tone for generations to come at the ranch. Since Joaquin, the ranch has been home to many longtime local ranching and winegrowing families, including the Filipponis, Rossis, and Wittstroms.

The ranch is home to many landmarks serving as proof of its rich history. Here, people can find the original El Camino Real, the Asistencia building, the Wells Fargo building dating back to the stagecoach days, and mission vineyards.

Over the years, it has become a community effort to put on the show. Entirely run by volunteers, the show is becoming a tradition that many look forward to every year. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed to help at the show.

This year, the camping area has been extended to allow for more weekend campers. Weekend campers will receive two adult weekend passes to the show.

Tickets are now available online or can be purchased at the gate. Weekend passes are $25, and day passes are $10, with children ages ten and under free. Guests can also opt to camp at the grounds for an additional fee.

For more information on tickets, trailer camping, volunteering and all the show has to offer, visit bestofthewestshow.com 