Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. XVIII
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020
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COMMUNITY HISTORY
EDUCATION
AUSD Board Praises Staff for their Dedication Atascadero School trustees grateful to the District as a whole for their response to COVID-19 By HAYLEY MATTSON hayley@atascaderonews.com
granted for one business per industry within the Colony, eliminating competition. This cooperative vision even led to a community decision on February 18, 1919, to grant a branch of the Pacific Co-operative League tenancy within La Plaza overseeing all food departments as the Atascadero Rochdale Store. Within La Plaza, businesses leased small stall spaces situated underneath the windows of the basement and first floors.
ATASCADERO — The AUSD Board of Trustees met virtually once again on May 5. Coming together, they shared spirits of gratitude and praised the teachers, along with all the staff of the Atascadero School District. Superintendent Tom Butler shared that he is thoroughly impressed with all the efforts from the teachers “we did not ask for this, it came upon us rather suddenly, and the teachers have handled this beyond expectations, they really have in a professional style — style where you take something super difficult, and you make it look easy and graceful — and our teachers have stepped into this.” Butler continued, “It hasn’t been without obstacles, it hasn’t been without issues on a daily basis sometimes connecting with families and overcoming technology pieces, but I just want to say just a heartfelt thank you, and I am so fond of the work that is being done by our teachers. We’re grateful to all of you right now, and you are helping our students succeed at a demanding time.” As the Board of Directors began to share their thoughts and updates, each of them concurred with Butler’s sentiment towards the teachers and
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The interior of the original Atascadero La Plaza. Contributed photo
Atascadero’s Forgotten Building As former hub of commerce, ‘La Plaza’ rises from the ashes of history By MEGAN OLSHEFSKI For The Atascadero News
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hile walking eastbound towards the intersection of Traffic Way and Olmeda Avenue, one may obliviously pass a series of steps. At the top of the steps, a plaque takes center stage, while below, a stone wall surrounds the remains of a fountain. Upon the plaque rests an image of a multi-story colonnade building, suggesting the whispers of a forgotten memory. A
memory named “La Plaza.” Set among the fields of a young Atascadero, La Plaza was not only the center of all economic commerce, but also a community gathering place, a hotel, and California’s first enclosed shopping center. Completed in 1917, the Mercantile, or “La Plaza” (as dubbed by a community-wide naming contest after the interchangeable street names of Traffic Way and La Plaza Boulevard), formed the Lewis Civic Center alongside the Printery and Administra-
tion Building- the heart of E.G. Lewis’ utopian society. In 1915, two years before the official opening of La Plaza, publications announced the forthcoming addition to the Atascadero Colony. As a publisher himself, Atascadero founder E.G. Lewis knew the power of the written word and cut no corners when it came to a young Atascadero’s advertisement. He sought experienced management for his Colony, locating the first manager for La Plaza, Mr. A.S. Thompson, in Los Ange-
les. In one journal (vol. 49 of Notions and Fancy Goods), E.G. Lewis instructed Mr. Thompson “…to make the Atascadero Department Store the finest and most up-to-date department store in the West, and that means anywhere.” E.G. Lewis’ vision for Atascadero was that of a cooperative community, discouraging the establishment of businesses anywhere but within La Plaza. With operations falling under the Colony Holding Company (also led by E.G. Lewis), insurance was
AHS GRADUATION
Atascadero High School Announces Graduation Parade The Class of 2020 will ride autos through Downtown Atascadero By NICHOLAS MATTSON nic@atascaderonews.com
A
s the regularly scheduled school year comes to an end, questions surround the culmination of a high school career that is celebrated with the annual graduation. Packing the high school stadium full of attendees and hundreds of students into rows on the field was not viable, so an alternative was brought to life. The Atascadero Unified School District released a plan on Thursday outlining the first-of-its-kind graduation automobile parade through downtown Atascadero. “While current state and county restrictions make our traditional ceremonies impossible, we believe we have created a positive, meaningful experience that will appropriately and safely honor our graduates and allow families and friends to celebrate,” stated a letter from AUSD.
LOCAL NEWS
One of the “Congratulations!” banners donated by the AUSD School Board. Photo By Hayley Mattson
The 2020 graduation is intended as a “special opportunity that we want the whole family to experience,” according to the district. The ceremonial parade will follow a route along Traffic Way, down Palma Avenue, transporting the AUSD high school seniors — Atascadero High School, Paloma Creek High School, and ACE Academy — across the front
PERSPECTIVE
of the Atascadero City Hall. On the sidewalk of City Hall, graduates will receive their diploma. The logistics of the diploma handoff are not yet finalized, as the district continues to manage expectations and proper health procedures during the pandemic. “We don’t know what that will look like at that time, but the goal is to maintain as much tradition as possible,”
RECORD
AHS Principle Bill Neely said. AUSD encouraged graduates and families to decorate an automobile, don their cap, gown and tassel, and ride with family in the parade. COVID-19 took the spring season of high school sports, the spring semester of school, and now has taken the empowering and affirming graduation walk among classmates and friends. What was lost to the pandemic to society is widespread and impacted all forms of life as it was, and AUSD’s graduation response is a restoration of a small part of the honor bestowed on high school seniors as they finish a chapter in their book. The audience is also a special part of the graduation tradition, and friends and families of graduates were not forgotten by AUSD. “First and foremost, anybody who chooses to be on the parade route should be practicing physical distancing guidelines in place on June 3,” Neely said.
FUR BABIES
Family members will be allowed to view the celebration in person, with observation of COVID-19 health guidelines urged. “If your family members feel so compelled to view this celebration in person, they can line the parade route with signs and cheers, following appropriate social distancing guides,” AUSD related in the letter. The one-of-a-kind ceremony is planned by the district to provide a memorable experience for families of graduates. “We are truly looking forward to a fabulous celebration that captures the spirit and tradition of graduation,” AUSD wrote. The event is scheduled for June 3, 2020 at 10 a.m., and will be broadcast live on KJUG radio and streamed live; additional details will be forthcoming for the parade route, decoration rules, and instructions.
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RESTAURATEURS PPPower though with innovative business practices | A3
BARBIE BUTZ Reminds us READING TO KIDS And there are things to do both the family as a whole bring in and out of the house | A6 everyone closer | A8
WINE 4 PAWS Fundraiser dontes over $5k to Woods Humane Society | A12
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Thank you,
to our teachers, nurses and frontline workers.
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