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Good News Real News Making Communities Better Through Print. VOL. CIII, NO. XLX
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2019
City Councils Divvy Up CDBG Money
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HOLIDAY SPIRIT IS ALIVE IN CRESTON
$163K going to Atascadero, $236K to Paso Robles By MARK DIAZ mark@atascaderonews.com
NORTH COUNTY — The City Councils for Atascadero and Paso Robles made preliminary decisions on where to portion out incoming federal funds from the Community Development Block Grant. CDBG funding comes from Federal Housing and Urban Development. Federal regulations limit what the funding can be used for — 70 percent of the total must be spent on low- and moderate-income people with no more than 30 percent of the total aiding in the prevention or elimination of urban decay; 15 percent can be used for public service activities and 20 percent can be used for administrative costs. Entities or groups applying for CDBG funds from either city had to do so by late October. Cities must present their plans for the requests to the County, which disseminates the funds. Atascadero Public Works Department estimates the City will receive $163,833 in 2020. The amount is a sum of reallocation funds, project CDBG amounts and a repayment of funds lent to the City of Morro Bay. However, grant applications received by Atascadero exceeded $600,000. Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno said that difficult decisions will have to be made to in view of the amount the City has to offer and the amount requested by the applicants. “Typically, what we do in a situation is we average everything, but to average everything doesn’t really help much of anyone,” said Moreno. Organizations requesting funding included Atascadero Loaves and Fishes, Peoples’ Self-Help Housing and the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County. The City also requires funding for the Santa Rosa barrier removal and administrative costs on both the County and City levels. The Council unanimously passed a motion to fund $124,759 to the Santa Rosa barrier removal project, $8,511 to the El Camino Homeless OrgaCONTINUED ON PAGE A10
An antique fire truck cruises down the main strip in Creston during the little town’s annual Christmas light parade this past Saturday. The parade drew a crowd of several hundred people. See page B4 for more photos. Photo by Mark Diaz
Atascadero Resident Lights Up the Night By MARK DIAZ mark@atascaderonews.com
I
t’s that time of year when people stroll through the town looking at all of the decorated houses. Undoubtedly, their paths will lead them past a house on Palomar Avenue, one of the most lavishly decorated houses in Atascadero. Suzy Atkinson, owner of Kalifornia Tanz and Day Spa, started laying out strings and organizing lights at the end of October. Generally, the first day after Thanksgiving is when she switches on the lights. The lights stay up until New Year’s day, so there is still time to see them before they are stowed away until the next holiday season. CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
A home on Palomar Avenue in Atascadero, owned by Suzy Atkinson, is decked out in Christmas lights and other holiday decorations. Photo by Mark Diaz
The Holiday Project Ensures a Merry Christmas for the Less Fortunate By MARK DIAZ mark@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Each year the community pulls together to help their neighbors struggling during the holiday season. The Atascadero Loaves and Fishes Holiday Project event has provided coats, food and toys to those less fortunate for three decades. On Dec. 18, community members waited under rainy skies for some holiday relief. Held at the National Guard Armory in Atascadero on Dec. 18, the charitable event brings together the Atascadero Kiwanis Club, Toys for Tots and Coats for Kids.
Holiday Project coordinators Carl and Jeanne Robbins stand in front of food collected and organized by the Loaves and Fishes food bank. Photo by Mark Diaz
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“I think that it’s a great outreach to the community,” said a woman who received support this year. “Sometimes you just need a little help and a little extra something to put under the tree. I appreciate everybody that’s here, every person for doing what they do.” Now in their ninth year of volunteering with ALF, the husband and wife team of Carl and Jeanne Robbins have led the Project for the past seven years. They help coordinate the collection of food and registration for the event. “We have 250 families this year that we are helping,” said Jeanne Robbins. “Loave and Fish-
ENTERTAINMENT
LOCAL
SPORTS
HOLIDAY
SENSORIO FIELD OF LIGHT Installment Will Stay Open Until June | A4
PEOPLE’S SELF-HELP HOUSING Breaks Ground on New Office | A8
YEAR IN REVIEW Look back at the Biggest Sports Moments of 2019 | B1
HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Christmas in Creston and more | B4
CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
WEATHER
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