Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. IV
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020
CA MID-STATE FAIR
Fair Board Announces 2019 Award Winners
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
ATASCADERO’S DANCING WITH OUR STARS
HARMS & KENNEDY: DANCING IN SYLE
By MARK DIAZ mark@atascaderonews.com
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com
Sean Kennedy, left, and Michelle Harms will be raising money for the Atascadero Friends of the Library with their performance at Atascadero’s Dancing With Our Stars March 26-28.
Belly dancing meets salsa By GRENDA ERNST FOR THE ATASCADERO NEWS
M
ichelle Harms, a Dancing With Our Stars Community Star, is representing the Friends of the Atascadero Library in 2020. Michelle, her husband Jon and their children, moved to Atascadero from Las Vegas two years ago to find a better life for the children and a smaller town in which to grow up. Community-minded Michelle quickly found a home with DWOS and with the Friends of the Atascadero Lake, combining two of her primary interests. Michelle’s credentials as a dancer make her a natural choice to represent the library in 2020. In her hometown of Las Vegas, Michelle was a professional Middle Eastern dancer, or belly dancer, and a member of a belly dance troupe that performed for parties,
weddings, casino shows and community events. After learning the dance form at classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the College of Southern Nevada, she taught as well as performed. She is known for her specialty, dancing with props such as fan veils, Isis wings and swords. In addition to dancing, the multi-faceted Michelle has a life-long interest in animals, ecosystems, and in education. She has a Master’s Degree in biology, and her field is limnology, the study of inland aquatic ecosystems. She has worked as an educator at The Mirage Dolphin Habitat, in Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden Animal Facility. She has managed the staff and program at the 50,000-gallon aquarium exhibit and pyrotechnic animatronic show at the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace. She is currently working as CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero News toured the newly constructed Atascadero High School facilities with Superintendent Tom Butler, Principal Bill Neely and Director of Support Services Brant Lloyd. The three men gave a guided tour like proud fathers showing off their children. Funded by the Bond Measure I, the school did not take any shortcuts in the development of the campus. The most prominent feature being the new shops and science rooms added to the school’s skyline. However, the roofs are not just for looks. The design allows for more natural light to filter into the rooms, saving on electrical lighting cost. Of course, any artificial light provided is in the form of LEDs, which dramatically cuts down on electric bills. Ceilings also have light sensors that automatically turn off the lights when enough natural light fills the room. Butler said that the slanted roofs are a nod to the classrooms built in the 1950s, though that seems to be their only similarity. For one, everything is on wheels. Gone are the days of students rigidly sitting at desks of wood, steel and Formica bolted to the floor. In the Ag and Science buildings, desks are mobile, allowing kids to group together with lab partners and discussion groups or form a circle to listen to a lecture. CONTINUED ON PAGE A10
CITY
City Recognizes Three Long-Time Employees By LUKE PHILLIPS luke@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero honored three longtime employees for their years of service during a City Council meeting last Tuesday, Jan. 28. City Manager Rochelle Rickard recognized City Public Works Director Nick Debar, Wastewater Operator Ryan Smith and Atascadero Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom Peterson for their dedicated service to the City. Nick Debar joined the City’s Executive Management team five years ago as the City Engineer and Director of Public Works, beating out a slew of other highly-qualified candidates. “He was able to impress the panel with his really quick, off-thecuff answer to one of the interview questions specifically designed to learn more about someone than the standard types of questions
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atascaderonews.com
AHS Shows Off New Facilities School adds science buildings, shops
Dinner, auction raise money for Ag foundation
PASO ROBLES — Friday night the California Mid-State Fair’s board of directors hosted their annual dinner and auction event which included, among many things, announcements of the upcoming concerts that have been scheduled, various awards including Employee of the Year and Volunteer of the Year, and a lot of money raised for the San Luis Obispo County Foundation for Agriculture Awareness. The night kicked off with a cocktail party and silent auction where friends and family gathered together in their best “Paso formal” attire and began speculation as to who they thought might be coming to the fair while also placing bids a little higher than they told their spouse due to the convenient veil of secrecy. Following the cocktail hour, everyone was herded into the event center where the live auction commenced and dinner was served. The live auction included five different packages all valued at more than $1,000 dollars that showcased our local area and businesses such as a tour through Hearst Castle and Firestone Brewery. But the most popular of all might have been the Mid-State Fair VIP package, which came with a front row parking spot for all 12 days in July. The dinner was accompanied by a handful of awards and recognitions and followed by the concert announcements. The proceedings started with recognitions given to the Junior Livestock Auction’s top buyer in the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation, the Replacement Heifer top buyer in Sky Rose Ranch and the Industrial Arts top buyer in Brian Pritt. The 2018 recipient of the Employee of the Year, Chico Cerda, took the stage next to give the award to the 2019 recipient, Lourdes Pinon. “This is the woman that you want on your staff,” Bradley said. “You look around the facilities and all you see is cleanliness. She is in charge of the bathroom crews, overseeing the building’s being cleaned and actually does the work herself. She excels at everything she does.” Chief Executive officer Michael Bradley introduced the Board of Directors’ Volunteers of the Year award to Valerie Cockran and Dr. Dan Eller. “Her volunteer efforts always start long before the fair when she participates in important work days and planning sessions,” Bradley said of Cockran. “She is a key member of the team that helps puts out official judging days but also helps as a runner and assisting wherever necessary.” Dr. Eller is known as the marketing voice of the Friends of the Fair and has been key in
EDUCATION
SPORTS
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LOCAL NEWS
From left, Atascadero Heather Moreno, City Council member Heather Newsom, Atascadero Fire Captain Tom Peterson, City Public Works Director Nick Debar, City Wasterwater Operator Ryan Smith and City Council members Roberta Fonzi, Susan Funk and Charles Bourbeau pose for a photo after honoring Peterson, Debar and Smith for their many years of service as City employees. Photo by Luke Phillips
RECORD
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