Paso Robles Magazine #237 • January 2021

P e o p l e • Ev e n t s • S h o p p i n g • D i n i n g

Happy New Year JANUARY 2021 Prsrt Std US Postage PAID Permit 19 13Stars Paso Robles CA ECRWSS

Local Postal Customer

PASOROBLESM A G A Z I N E . C O M

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HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

TASTE OF NORTH COUNTY

MAYOR: A VISION OF 2021

HOW TO GET YOUR HEARING AIDS WORKING AGAIN!

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January 2021

FEATURES

Issue No. 237

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Odyssey World Café

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Martin Luther King, Jr. by hayley mattson

January 18, marks America’s 36th celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a day of service that honors the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy.

Taste of North County by hayley mattson

“Foodies” from both near and far visit to enjoy the roots of our communities. From the farmers to the aspiring artisans, chefs, and bakers we have a plethora of culinary and gourmet tastes right in our own backyard.

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Vision of 2021

by steven martin, mayor of paso robles

Mayor Steven Martin reflects on the affects of the pandemic, the resilience of the Paso Robles community and the City’s vision going into 2021.

Family Farms Local Harvest by camille devaul

Living on the Central Coast, we are privileged to eat fresh and local food every day. Farmers provide produce, fruits, olive oils, meat, and honey for locals throughout the year.

On the Cover As we head into 2021, with the weight of the pandemic still on our backs, we continue a journey into the unknown, what we make of it is up to us and what we want it to be. #pasostrong Photo by Robert D. Brozek 30,000 PRINTED | 26,700 DIRECT MAILED LOCALLY!

3,300 DROPPED AT HIGH TRAFFIC LOCATIONS IN SLO COUNTY

Paso Robles 93446 • Templeton 93465 • Shandon 93461 • Bradley 93426 • San Miguel 93451 Hotels • Wineries • B&Bs • Waiting Rooms • Restaurants • High-traffic Visitor Hotspots for advertising inquiries and rates email publisher @ pasomagazine.com, or contact one of our advertising representatives.

contents publisher, editor-in-chief

Hayley Mattson

managing editor

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Brian Williams ad design

Denise Mclean Jen Rodman

publisher, editor-at-large

Nicholas Mattson layout design

Michael Michaud

community writers

Connor Allen Camille DeVaul

ad consultants

Dana McGraw Jamie Self

office administrator

Cami Martin | office@13starsmedia.com

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contributors

Barbie Butz

Mira Honeycutt

Gina Fitzpatrick

Steven Martin

James Brescia, Ed.D.

The General Store

Karyl Lammers

The Natural Alternative

OUR NEXT ISSUE:

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34

HEALTH, FITNESS, & WELLNESS ROBLAN OF THE YEAR February 2021

PUBLICATION DELIVERY DATE January 28, 2020

Something Worth Reading

Round Town

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Paso Robles Chamber: Redefining Our Normal

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13 Stars Media Report: Good News. Community News.

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The Natural Alternative: Happy New You!

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The General Store: New Year, New Goals, Old Friends

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Publisher’s Letter

It’s Happening On Main Street: ‘Happy’ New Year

ADVERTISING DEADLINE* January 10, 2020 * Ad reservation deadline is the 10th of each month preceding the publication.

For more information about advertising, upcoming issues and editorial themes, contact our advertising representatives above, or see our media kit at pasoroblesmagazine.com/advertise

PASOMAGAZINE.COM office@13starsmedia.com • (805) 466-2585 OFFICE 5860 El Camino Real Ste G, Atascadero, Ca 93422

MAIL P.O. Box 427 Paso Robles, CA 93447

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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Taste Of Paso

Sip & Savor: Tablas Creek: First Winery to Receive a ‘Regenerative Organic Certificate’

Oak Leaf

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SLO County Office of Education: What Will 2021 Hold?

Directory of Local Houses of Worship

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34 50

2021 Best of North SLO County: 2021 Reader’s Poll

Last Word

Aliens Off the Hook: The Story Behind the Monolith of Atascadero Directory to our Advertisers

Annual subscriptions are available for $29.99 Subscribe online at pasoroblesmagazine.com

EDITORIAL POLICY

Commentary reflects the views of the writers and does not necessarily reflect those of Paso Robles Magazine. Paso Robles Magazine is delivered free to 26,700 addresses in North San Luis Obispo County. Our costs are paid entirely by advertising revenue. Our Local Business section spotlights select advertisers. All other stories are determined solely by our editors.

PROUD TO BE LOCAL!

Paso Robles Magazine ©2021 is a local business owned and published by local people — Nicholas & Hayley Mattson No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means without written consent from Paso Robles Magazine.

Like and Follow us: FB/TW: @pasomag | IG: @thepasomagazine designed & printed in california

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Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

Something Worth Reading

A

s we welcome 2021, we can all agree that we deserve a do-over!

Starting now, we will only say kind words on social media, respect other views on personal space, constitutional rights, political positions, start a workout routine, and eat healthier!

Well, that may be too much to ask all at once, but if we can remember we are not individually or collectively perfect, we try to do our best, and if we respect others’ freedom and rights, we will be addressing the future squarely and together.

As we look forward, we have a big year! May 2021 marks Paso Robles Magazine 20th Anniversary! As we countdown to our 20th birthday, we will be sharing some of the historical editions from over the years, and to start us off, we are honoring the original logo that debuted in 2001.

Paso Robles Magazine has shared quite a journey. We are honored to continue it after one of the most challenging years yet recorded in American history.

As for us, we will take 2021 to begin a more acute campaign to use our community voice to continue to support our community of entrepreneurs, small business owners, artisans, and residents. We will provide clear and researched information while balancing our inalienable and constitutional rights with public health and safety.

Last year, we had little information about a novel virus. Now we have a year of adjustment, research, and information to inform healthy and independent decisions for our community. We will be there every step of the way to make sure our community continues to function safely and securely for ourselves and our posterity. One thing we know is that we are #PASOstrong and resilient. We are pioneers and have an independent spirit that guides our way in faith and family. We come together to ensure the fabric of our community is strong.

Let’s choose to make 2021 great by going the extra mile for each other. If you want people to wear masks, offer to supply places you visit with extras.

Or stay home even more often to prevent conflict with personal space in public areas. There is always more we can give so that other people can be more free, safe, and comfortable.

As a community, we are the pillars that make it a great place to live, and we will be sure that Paso Robles Magazine will continue to deliver the quality content that makes it a part of our community fabric. We want to thank you for your continued support as we venture forward into a successful 2021.We hope you enjoy this month’s issue of Paso Robles Magazine.

Be safe, share love, and be a good human.

if thou wouldest win immortality of name, either do things worth the writing, or write things worth the reading.

— Thomas Fuller, 1727 This month’s edition of Paso Robles Magazine is brought to you by all the local advertisers that fill our pages.

Thanks to them, we are able to bring you your local Hometown Magazine.

Nic & Hayley

Round Town

Karyl Lammers

•

It’s Happening on Main Street

“HAPPY” NEW YEAR! Find “ Peace of Mind ” and You Will Be “ Happy ”

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OW! It’s 2021. The year of the Ox who symbolizes CALMNESS. He brings this message: “Feelings of violence will be extinguished, and wisdom will govern the world.”

January is named after Janus, the Greek God who represents “New Beginnings.” It is said that new beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.

2020 was a painful year! ....I say, Bring it on!! Paso will survive!!

Paso Robles is filled with happy, optimistic, and wise people. We are 132 years old with so much history behind us. We’ve grown into one of the most popular “Destination Cities” in the world. Our community is proud, strong, and resilient. During the hard economic challenge of 2020, Paso Businesses, owned by locals, have created ways to stay open; they have supported each other while maintaining our small-town charm.

A friendly, relaxed, and safe atmosphere brings people

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here and back over and over. Our countryside, wineries, B&B’s, vacation rentals, hotels, restaurants, and downtown businesses are among some of the best in the world. We love our city, right here, it’s our place. It’s a sense of belonging, an emotional bond based on mutual history, responsibility, and affection. There are some businesses closing, followed by new enthusiastic proprietors coming in. There are people moving out of state while more people are moving into Paso Robles with an unparalleled excitement over their new hometown!!

There is a natural feeling when the new year arrives that everything will be better. We have another chance to get it right. Thomas Jefferson said, “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done. On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

I wish you Joy, Laughter, and Peace of Mind in this new year.........HAPPY 2021. See you downtown! 

Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

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January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

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Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce

EVERY MOMENT IS A FRESH BEGINNING: Redefining Our Normal GINA FITZPATRICK

President/CEO Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce

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recently read a quote by T.S. Eliot that embodies my feelings of hope as we watch 2021 roll into our lives. “Every moment is a fresh beginning.”

While we all acknowledge that 2020 was not what we expected, with the coming new year, we have a chance to start fresh and redefine our own personal or business normal, not just stand by and watch things unfold.

During the last several months, the Chamber staff has reevaluated many of our programs to further achieve our primary priority, which has always been the prosperity of Paso Roblans, their businesses, and livelihoods. We are excited to share some of the things we have been working on behind the scenes and from the safety of our homes.

As many of our members may have already noticed, we recently launched our redesigned website at pasorobleschamber.com. We have taken several individually established sites and combined them into one easy-to-use location, including VisitPaso.com, PasoStrong.com, and PasoBusiness. com. This will enable visitors and locals alike to benefit from the available content.

We are excited to be partnering with Dr. Doug Major to present #PasoGives. Previously known as A Day of Thanks for Those Who Give, this digital campaign was designed to honor and promote our SLO County charities, non-profits, and various giving organizations. Traditionally this

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program ran throughout the month of December. We want to be able to give back to our local charities throughout the year, so it will now be a permanent fixture on the #PasoStrong portion of our website.

The community has continued to look to the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce to advocate on behalf of business interests. To that end, we are pleased to welcome Danna Stroud to the Chamber team as Government Affairs and Public Policy Coordinator. Danna is a fourth-generation Californian local with over 30 years of experience in the tourism and outdoor recreation industries. Throughout her impressive career, Danna has advocated for change and helped frame policy and legislative issues at the local and state levels. We know her unique perspective will serve our community well.

Many people start off the new year with a list of resolutions. Personally, I should probably give up my nightly snack of Oreos, but that’s not likely to last!

Instead, I’d like to resolve to remember the words of T.S. Eliot, to look for new ways to rebound and reinvent, and to make sure that our Chamber of Commerce continues to provide the resources, advocacy, and leadership that we have provided for the past 100 years. Consider this our fresh beginning while we continue to stay Paso Strong. 

Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

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January / February 2021

REPORT

HOW TO GUIDE March 2021

CC TRVLR + VINO Spring 2021

CC RANCH LIFE + EQUINE ENTHUSIAST April 2021

Our Bi-Annual How to Guide is back; need assistance on how and when to buy a home or pick your next heater or home appliance?

We have you covered. The How to Guide is designed to give you informative information straight from the experts in North County.

Central Coast TRVLR + Vino takes you on a unique adventure along the Central Coast from Monterey to Malibu. Introducing travelers to new restaurants, tasting rooms, museums, parks, beaches, and so much more. We are planning on 2021 to be the year of stay-cations and playing in our own backyard.

We are excited to announce the re-brand and launch of Central Coast Ranch Life + Equine Enthusiast. Advertising and Editorial will include Ranch and Farm life, Equine, Agricultural, Rodeo, and Farming along California’s Central Coast.

PASO ROBLES MAGAZINE, COUNTDOWN TO 20 YEARS May 2021 marks the 20th Anniversary of Paso Robles Magazine. As we countdown the months, we will be honoring the original logo and some of the stories that we all know and love that have been featured over the years.

BEST OF NORTH SLO COUNTY 20

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Our 8th Annual Best Of North SLO County!

After 2020, we hope to believe it will be better than any in recent memory! So many businesses dug in and made the best of a very challenging year, and now is your chance to give them some much-needed love. Be sure to cast your vote today! Voting ends January 10.

Support Local Journalism by subscribing to our weekly newspapers, and for a limited time when you sign up online, use code 2021 to get 10% off your annual subscription today! LIMITED TIME ONLY

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ATASCADERO NEWS MAGAZINE, FORMALLY KNOWN AS COLONY MAGAZINE After purchasing the Atascadero News in 2019 and we further enriched ourselves in being a part of Atascadero’s history, we wanted to re-brand Colony Magazine into something that embraced the future of our company and reflect an inclusive approach to our continued mission of Making Our Communities Better Through Print.™ That conclusion was reached with our decision to re-brand as the Atascadero News Magazine and adopt the American flag as our logo for the magazine.

Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

THE NATURAL ALTERNATIVE NUTRITION CENTER

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Happy New You!!

s the year 2020 has been challenging, to say the least, I resolve to maintain gratitude for all that I am blessed with, even during difficult times. I am so grateful for my wonderful team, loyal and supportive customers, family and friends, my health, and waking up to another beautiful day!

If you are fighting pandemic weight gain, dealing with anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness, we’re here to help!

Starting with the obvious - healthier food choices, exercise, and managing stress will lead to better sleep. Sleep deprivation leads to increased hunger during the day, especially for sugar and refined carbohydrates, which leads to weight gain.

Stop by and let my team show you the selection of quality B vitamins (important for nervous system support), as well as adaptogens for supporting those important stress glands, the adrenals. When under chronic stress, the adrenals may inappropriately secrete high levels of cortisol, which will definitely put you in weight gain mode. Not good. Customers rave about Ortho Molecular AdrenAll, which will not only boost your daytime energy but also support a

proper cortisol release allowing you to have energy during the day and better sleep at night. Win-win!!

Some of the most severe insomniacs have found relief with our selection of sleep formulas that include Charlotte’s Web CBD Sleep gummies, Life Extension Time Release Melatonin, CALM magnesium sleep gummies, powder & capsules, Pure Encapsulations Best-Rest Formula, Integrative Therapeutics Cortisol Manager, and many more! Brewing a cup of Sleep & Relax tea is a great way to promote a sense of calm to prepare you for a great night’s sleep!

Detox/Weight Loss Programs If you’d like to jump-start effective weight loss, you can sign up for a 10 day or 21-day weight loss program.

We are here to help you through these programs, which are balanced, safe, and effective for not only effective detoxification but also support healthy weight loss! Say goodbye to 2020 AND Covid weight gain. Call or stop by for more information and kick-off 2021 in a healthy way!

Wishing you a blessed new year, Bobbi & Team

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DIAGNOSIS, PRESCRIPTION OR TREATMENT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL COUNSELING WITH A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

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New Year, New Goals,

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Old Friends

o...we did an okay job hitting our goals last year at General Store Paso Robles (the year that shall not be named). We wanted to promote sustainability, and we did launch our spices in pouches. We wanted to give back to the community, and we were able to continue supporting Must! Charities as well as monthly dates to feed our neighbors in need through Paso Cares.

Our last goal for the year was to read more, which we did because we were closed for two and a half months. (May we recommend Hamnet? Oh, and Circe. And Untamed. So good!)

Those goals seem quaint now. How could we have known that our community would have a bigger fight on their hands, that we would wonder if we could keep our doors open and pay our staff if we were safe if it would ever end? That there would be days when almost every parking spot on the park was empty?

We couldn’t have known. Just like we couldn’t have known how our community would rally.

We were OVERWHELMED with the generosity, stamina, and patience of our customers over the course of the year, especially through the holidays. Masked, sometimes waiting in line to get in, they made us feel deeply appreciated. It was powerful to experience.

And so we approach this new year with open hearts, with calendars a little less filled in, with hope for a fresh start.

From all of us at General Store, and from the deepest part of our hearts, we thank you. We would not be here without the support of this loving, grounded community.

To Jillian and Erin: you are the best partners in the world. Love you, old friends.

Joeli and the General Store Team

OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Curbside service available.

Morro Bay 510 Quintana Road 805-772-1265

Paso Robles 1171 Creston Rd. # 109 805-369-2811 San Luis Obispo 1336 Madonna Road 805-544-5400

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Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

Honoring

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Hayley Mattson

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

5955 entrada ave. atascadero open monday - sunday farronelizabeth.com

January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

M

onday, January 18, marks America’s 36th celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. Honoring King with the sacred status of a federal holiday, of which there are only ten, none other named for a 20th-century figure, is a testament to the unifying power of his legacy.

King’s most important work applied America’s Founding ideals to the cause of civil rights. The last best hope for true racial progress, King realized, was solidarity: For people to see and treat one another as equals, they had to feel the tugs of a bond far stronger than either race or politics.

For King, that bond was America.

After all, there are two words in the phrase “civil rights,” and King grasped that both are crucial.

Civil rights are about the fair and equal participation of all citizens in the American community.

For those rights to have any power, the bonds of that community must be close-knit and resilient.

“King’s greatest legacy is helping secure those rights while strengthening our national idea, not undermining it. He understood that so much of

our country’s racial history, from the Civil War to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, was not a rejection of American values. To the contrary, these episodes were parts of a long struggle to live up to our Founding ideals of equality, liberty, and democracy.” President Donald J. Trump stated in a proclamation of the 35th celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. “I criticize America because I love her,” King said in a speech about the Vietnam War, “and because I want to see her to stand as the moral example of the world.”

All American’s alike can learn from King’s example. “In the United States of America, every citizen should have the opportunity to build a better and brighter future. United as one American family, we will not rest, and we will never be satisfied until the promise of this great Nation is accessible to each American in each new generation.”

The premise and promise of King’s dream is that we don’t need to replace or transform our Nation’s shared ideals to make our country a better place.

We simply need to live up to them. 

men’s retail downtown atascadero 5908 entrada avenue blokeoutfitters.com pasoroblesmagazine.com | 17

Mayor of Paso Robles

2021 Vision for

STEVE MARTIN MAYOR OF PASO ROBLES

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ever in most of our personal histories have we ever been so glad to say goodbye to one year and hello to the next. All the world’s challenges, increased and expanded by the coronavirus, have conspired to make 2020 a time to forget. Now, as we approach the year’s end, it is tempting to do that and wax eloquently about the prospects for 2021. The effects of the pandemic will extend into next year, however, and that means our rosy prognostications about the future must be tempered with the realities of the present.

We, as a city, had burdens enough before the arrival of the virus. Issues including affordable housing, street repairs, homeless services, and public safety were challenges enough without a pandemic. Then, the complications of face-masking, hand-washing, and, most significant for local businesses, social distancing restrained us physically and challenged us politically and philosophically. In the absence of consensus, multiple attitudes and actions often conflicted, sometimes creating an even more difficult atmosphere.

Our city government has delayed collection of taxes and fees, shepherded the distribution of hundreds of thousands of dollars in business assistance funds, and provided help with the establishment of outdoor dining for our restaurants. We have remained compliant with state health mandates within our capacity. We have offered empathy and education before enforcement, working with the Chamber of Commerce and others to counsel those who need help with compliance and issuing administrative citations

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in only the most egregious cases. To protect the public, we closed city facilities and perfected the art of public meetings via telephone and internet, preserving and enhancing the ability of citizens to be involved with government. We will continue all of these efforts and more to the greatest extent of our capability.

Now, as we anticipate a long-awaited vaccine, we can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel, although that tunnel still stretches out a ways. We are blessed in this county to have experienced a relatively light viral load. Health care services are intact and, while we have experienced infections and even deaths, those numbers are low compared to some of our neighbors. Our first responders have been faithful to the call to protect and serve, and most of us have acted out of personal responsibility to slow the spread of the disease.

The physical and fiscal stresses have been almost unbearable, and we are left to face the arrival of a new year, wondering if we have the stamina to make it to the end of the tunnel.

We do.

Great things are on the horizon, the vaccine first and foremost. After that, thanks to the confidence our citizens expressed in passing the J-20 measure, we will have substantial resources to bolster public safety and accelerate road repairs.

We will work with our Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Association, and other business partners to devise and implement an economic recovery strategy allowing us to recover from the devastating effects of the coronavirus. We have

established new kinds of affordable housing models and have major Specific Plans to provide additional homes as the years unfold. We have significant new efforts to address homelessness as well as plans for economic development to increase and diversify our job base.

And so, we prepare to say farewell (and good riddance) to 2020. The New Year will have its own challenges, some borrowed from the past, others approaching from the future. We do have the stamina to finish this year and the vision and energy to begin the next. We will not throw up our hands in defeat. We will clench them with determination. We will join them if only virtually, to support each other. We will use them in mutual respect, with love for our community and each other, to remain a “can-do” city.

As Mayor of our great city, I will never feel I have done enough to make our people happier, more secure, and more confident. That feeling of insufficiency has been exacerbated by the challenges of 2020. However, I do not plan to give up and know you will join me in this persistence.

Indeed, it is that belief that sustains me in my efforts. I am reminded of the words of a previous Mayor of Paso Robles and his weekly radio greeting. It was Barney Schwartz who always said, “be good to yourself, be good to your community and always say something nice about somebody.”

Good advice then and now.

To you and yours, a very happy, secure, and most prosperous New Year.

See you at the end of the tunnel. 

Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

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Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

Taste of

North County vol. 2

Discover delicious cuisine, right in your own backyard

Cider Creek Bakery Joe’s Place Kitchenette Templeton Red Scooter Deli Street Side Ale House McPhee’s Canteen Thomas Hill Organics Jeffrey’s Wine County BBQ Odyssey World Café

January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

pasoroblesmagazine.com | 21

Bone marrow crusted ,12-ounce Niman Ranch rib-eye, served with baked potato puree, mustard and green peppercorn jus, roasted seasonal vegetables, and garnished with herb leaves. Photo courtesy of Thomas Hill Organics

Taste of

North County

By Hayley Mattson

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ver the last decade or so, North County has grown to be a Mecca for award-winning wines, organic produce, and delectable dining.

“Foodies” from both near and far visit to enjoy the roots of our communities. From the winemakers to farmers to the aspiring artisans and chefs, to the bakers and the roasters, we have a plethora of culinary and gourmet tastes right in our own backyard.

This industry, throughout the pandemic, has been significantly impacted.

We have seen the true love and passion for their craft shine bright through the darkness. This year we dedicate our Taste of North County to all the hardworking individuals that indulge us with some of the finest foods a person can find anywhere in the world. From breakfast to dessert, we highlight some of our favorites.

BREAKFAST

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hen choosing a breakfast location in Paso Robles or Templeton, you have an array of options that are sure to satisfy every taste bud. Cider Creek Bakery in Paso Robles bakes delicious fresh pastries and muffins. They also serve up one of the best Quiches in San Luis County, filled with feta, ham, bacon, veggie, or chorizo, and you cannot leave without a slice of grilled Apple Cinnamon Bread with powdered sugar. Another option for breakfast is an old-time favorite, Joe’s Place, which has two locations in Paso Robles and a third in Templeton. Enjoy Joe’s World-Famous Biscuits and Gravy, Huevos Rancheros, or something on the sweeter side Pancakes and French Toast or freshly baked Cinnamon Rolls. Now, if you are a fan of avocado toast, you are in luck; the Kitchenette Templeton has loaded Avocado Toast that includes applewood smoked bacon, tomato, arugula, and a sunny egg, and those of you with a sweet tooth try the almond French Toast covered in strawberry jam, cream cheese spread, and honey whipped cream. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free menu options are available.

Cider Creek Bakery, cidercreekbakery.com Joe’s Place, joesplace805.com Kitchenette Templeton, kitchenettetempleton.com

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Cider Creek Bakery Freshly baked pastries and muffins are expertly prepared daily, as well as some of the best quiches in SLO County.

Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

LUNCH

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ome days call for a quick bite, while other days allow you to sit and enjoy the California breeze.

Red Scooter Deli in downtown Paso offers a variety of options that can fit into any schedule. Try one of their hand-crafted sandwiches like their Tuna-Licious or Chicken Cordon Bleu that can be paired with any of their fresh-made soups or salads. If you like lox and bagels, be sure to order the Fauxy Loxy, served on an everything bagel, with vegan dill cream cheese, marinated carrots (lox), onions, cucumbers, and capers, indeed a choice that will make your taste buds happy!

Another stop for lunch downtown is Street Side Ale House. A family favorite is their tasty Street Fries, covered with pepperoncini’s, bacon, pepper jack cheese, rosemary, and parmesan, and for the vegetarians out there, you can order without bacon! Another good one is the Grilled Salmon Sandwich, among various other options like Street Tacos, Loaded Pastrami served on marble rye and the Taco Salad. As you head south out of Paso, be sure to stop by McPhee’s Canteen in Tin City.

Their vegan black bean burger that is topped with green chilis, avocado, pickled onions, chipotle mayo all on a brioche bun and paired with a side of thick-cut onion rings is a hit for any palate. For all, us pizza lovers, their signature wood-burning oven pizzas with toppings that include Margherita, RU Nuts, Artichoke, and good old fashion pepperoni will keep you coming back for more.

Red Scooter Deli, redscooterdeli.com Street Side Ale House, streetsidealehouse.com McPhee’s Canteen, mcpheescanteen.com

DINNER

F

ine dining in Paso Robles is a real treat for any food connoisseur. With restaurants like Thomas Hill Organics, farm-to-table dining that focuses on feeding the community organic produce, natural, grass-fed meats, and freshly baked bread from local bakeries. Jeffrey’s Wine County BBQ features their own dry-rubbed housesmoked premium meats, Tri-Tip, Pulled Pork, Pork Loin, Beef Brisket, Chicken and House Made Bacon, served up on fresh-baked bread and a variety of home-made sauces. And Odyssey World Café, where you feel like family from the moment you walk in. The smell of the home-made soups and the delicious cuisine will keep you coming back time and time again. While visiting, you will want to try the Creamy Cajun Shrimp with fresh parmesan and cream, mushrooms, red onions, bell peppers, and linguini, as well as the Ahi Tuna Stir Fry, served with fresh vegetables, rice, and home-made creamy wasabi. To finish off the evening, you cannot leave without trying one of their mouthwatering desserts. A personal favorite their famous cheesecake.

Red Scooter Deli African Peanut with coconut milk, cilantro, sweet potatoes and spinach

Odyssey World Café Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta, made with linguini, mushrooms, red onions, bell peppers, cream and Parmesan cheese.

Thomas Hill Organics, thomashillorganics.com Jeffrey’s Wine County BBQ, jeffryswinecountrybbq.com Odyssey World Café, odysseyworldcafe.com

Other Local Favorites Black Cat Bistro Too, blackcatbistro.com, TASTE!, taste2900.com, Yanagi Sushi & Grill, yanagisushipaso.com, la cosecha, lacosechabr.com, Naked Fish, thenakedfish.com, and Senor Sanchos.

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, please be sure to call ahead for hours of operation.

January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

pasoroblesmagazine.com | 23

T

Local Harve st

FAMILY FARMS

By Camille DeVaul

North County Farmers Markets & Hours:

Paso Robles | Tuesday & Saturday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Templeton | Saturday 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Atascadero | Wednesday 3 - 5 p.m.

Baywood | Monday 2 - 4:30 p.m.

Local Farms: Atascadero • Mt. Olive Organic Farm • Rocky Canyon Farms • Fair Hills Apple Farm • Farmer Frank’s • Beewench Farms Mushrooms • The Groves on 41 • Foss Farm • Loo Loo Farms Templeton • J&R Meats • Magnolia Produce and • Twisselman Ranch Beef Flowers South County • Homestead Olive Ranch • Bear Creek Ranch • Templeton Valley Farms • Los Osos Organic Farm • Outlaw Valley Ranch • De La Cruz Farm • Templeton Hills Beef • Mauro Perez Paso Robles (and surrounding) • California Bee Company • Matthew’s Honey • Farmermaid Flowers • Hernandez Larsen • Cirone Farms Family Farm • Dragon Spring Farm Farmers Market Food Vendors and Restaurants using Local Ingredients: Paso Robles Atascadero: • Ben’s Custom Meat Cutting • A-Town Humble Pies • Negranti Creamery • Garcia’s Tamales • Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ • LaDonna’s • TASTE! • Colony Market & Deli • Alchemist Garden • Nautical Cowboy • Thomas Hill Organics • Nogi Sushi Restaurant • McPhee’s Canteen • Street Side Ale House • Red Scooter Deli • Guest House Grill • Odyssey World Cafe South County & other: • Firestone Walker • Vintage Cheese Company Templeton: • Breaking Bread Bakery • BellaVia • Good Tides Organic Bistro • Pier 46 Seafood Market • Old Port Fish • Charter Oak Style Meats • Stepladder Creamery • JC’s Kitchen • Farmers Market • Jacks Bar and Grill Inspired Soup • Kitchenette Just to name a few!

24 | pasoroblesmagazine.com

here once was a time when everyone grew their food. Everyone had a garden, a flock of chickens, dairy cows and goats, and maybe a few hogs.

You only ate what you grew or raised yourself.

Then came the grocery store. People became used to the convenience of running to the store to grab what they needed for dinner that night. Soon, many of us lost the art of garden and husbandry.

But there are those out there who keep the tradition of growing their food alive. They grow for themselves, and they grow for you, the consumer.

And in North County, we have a lot of those gifted people.

Living on the Central Coast, we are privileged to eat fresh and local food every day.

Locally grown means the product was grown and harvested within 100 miles of your city.

We are lucky enough to have an abundance of local farmers who provide various produce, fruits, olive oils, meat, honey, and almost anything you can think of.

Please take advantage of it!

Did you know there are several health benefits to eating locally grown food?

Bobbi Connor, owner of The Natural Alternative Nutrition Center and Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbalist, always suggests local honey for those struggling with allergies.

Bobbi also suggests eating locally grown food because you know where it is coming from, and you know it is fresh because it hasn’t been shipped from all over!

One of the best places to purchase from local farmers is by shopping at farmers’ markets.

There are four farmers’ markets each week in North County alone.

“I believe that one of the best places to support locals is your little farmers’ markets in each little town,” says Robyn Gable, manager of the North County Farmers Market Association, “You can get fresh produce, it lasts longer, and it’s fresher. The people, a lot of times, pick it fresh that morning to sell.”

Most importantly, eating locally means supporting local families and your local economy.

“You’re also going to be supporting so many families. Not only the farmer’s families but sometimes they hire people to sell for them, so at this market today, you’re supporting maybe 13 families, maybe more. All you have to do is buy eggs over here and get some bread over there and some fresh produce here and there,” Robyn shared.

Shopping at farmers’ markets ensures you will be eating seasonally. Seasonal produce has been harvested at prime ripeness, creating nutrient-dense produce.

When shopping at farmers’ markets, consumers can build a relationship with the farmer. Meet them face to face and ask about their practices, their history, why they love farming their crop.

Several restaurants take advantage and use local ingredients for specials on their menu, and the majority of the food vendors at farmers’ markets use produce from the market.

Alicia Denchasy, an owner of A-Town Humble Pies, says, “90 percent of all our products are all through what we can get through the farmers market.”

When asked why Alicia chooses to source her ingredients locally, the answer was simple, “It just seems like the right thing to do. I mean, that’s what they are here for. For us, it was great just because we want to support each other. This is our community—we’ve met all these people and learned about what they have, learned how we can use it in our product, and then we’re also educating our other consumers about the different kinds of fruits and vegetables that are out there.”

Eating locally in North County is easy to do. And doing it benefits your health and community in more ways than one.

Visit northcountyfarmersmarkets.com for more information on North County Farmers Markets. See below for market locations and hours. 

Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

pasoroblesmagazine.com | 25

Taste of Paso

•

Sip & Savor

First Winery in the World to receive Regenerative Organic Certificate

T

ablas Creek Vineyard understandably prides itself on the number of “firsts” achieved by the winery.

It is certainly the first — and only — winery to import all grape varieties that grow in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region of France. Consequently, Tablas Creek is the first to establish a style of wine that hasn’t existed before in North America —namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape-style blends and single varietal wines.

Jason Haas, Tablas Creek’s partner and general manager is also pretty certain the winery on Paso Robles’ westside was the first to farm organically in Paso “other than hobby vineyards” and the first American-French collaboration in the Paso region.

But the winery’s latest “first” is truly a first among firsts. Tablas Creek Vineyard is the first winery in the world to receive the Regenerative Organic Certificate (ROC), a certification dedicated to organic and biodynamic farming, with an emphasis on climate change and reforming agriculture.

The certification came from the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), based in Santa Rosa, California, an organization focused on three pillars of farming, namely soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.

Launched in 2017, ROA was created by a group of farmers and businesses, spearheaded

by Patagonia clothing company, the Rodale Institute, and Dr. Bronner’s, a producer of hair and body products.

“The idea was to create a gold standard for farming that was not industry specific but would have modules specific to row crops, to orchards, to chocolate, to cotton — and we were the wine representative,” said Haas, when I met him on brisk fall afternoon at the winery.

The pilot program had 19 participants, of which 14 received certification, explained ROA’s executive director Elizabeth Whitlow in a phone conversation from Sebastopol, California. These certifications were given to farm-

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ers in six countries.

Biodynamic farming was introduced at Tablas Creek in 2010, with the entire 175-acre property farmed to biodynamic by 2016. Thus the winery’s all-encompassing farming practices were on the radar of ROA when they asked the winery to participate in the pilot program in 2019 after Fetzer Winery dropped out.

ROC requires high standards to get even to the baseline, Haas noted. “Nobody got a Gold the first time around. We got a Silver award in August.” So starting with the 2020 vintage, Tablas Creek’s 22,000 cases of estate wine will bear the ROC certification stamp.

So what exactly is regenerative organic farming, I ask?

“The baseline for it was to create a truly rigorous certification program that wasn’t limited to just the soil but incorporated business practices, climate mitigation so you can show you’re capturing carbon into your soil and resource use reduction, so you’re using less water and energy,” Haas replied.

“And then there’s a social welfare piece that shows you’re treating farmworkers well, not just that they just have a living wage and safe working conditions but also that you’re working collaboratively so [the workers] are involved in the discussion and decision-making.”

As for the auditing process, Haas said that on-site inspection is conducted by ROA auditors. For carbon capture, soil samples are sent to laboratories that certify the results.

While Tablas Creek is the first winery to receive the ROC’s certification, Haas hopes that won’t be for long.

“This is still essentially a pilot program,” he noted. “We’re talking thousands of acres [worldwide] that have been certified. That’s a drop in the bucket.

“It’s great we’re doing this on 175 acres here, but their goal is to get millions of acres farmed this way, at which point the amount of carbon pulled out of the atmosphere is meaningful.” 

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26 | pasoroblesmagazine.com

805-434-4848

Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

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pasoroblesmagazine.com | 27

2021 Reader’s Poll Pizza Delivery: Pizza Dining: Seafood Restaurant: Steakhouse: Sushi Restaurant: Vegetarian or Vegan:

Best of Specialty Items Appetizer: Cup of Coffee: French Fries: French Toast: Kombucha: Mocktail: Pastry: Salad: Taco: Tea:

Best of Local Artisans Best Bread: Best Cake: Best Farm-Fresh Fruit: Best Farm-Fresh Ingredients: Best Farm-Fresh Nuts: Best Gelato, Ice Cream, Frozen Dessert: Best Local Beef, Poultry, Dairy, or Pork: Best Local Seasonings: Best Olive Oil:

Best of Travel, Entertainment, Leisure & Events Art Gallery: Event or Wedding Venue: Girl’s Night Out: Golf Course: Guy’s Night Out : Hotel: Park:

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28 | pasoroblesmagazine.com

Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

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Email the above survey to office @13starsmedia.com, or call us at 805.466.2585 for assistance.

This is only part of our full survey. Additional parts will be found in our upcoming editions of The Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press on Jan. 14, 21, & 28.

Go online and complete the full survey at atascaderonews.com and pasoroblespress.com

January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

pasoroblesmagazine.com | 29

San Luis Obispo County Office of Education Dr. James J. Brescia, Ed.D.

COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF SCHOOLS

What Will

2021

Hold?

Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.’

Alfred Lord Tennyson

W

here will education go in the new year is a question presented every time the conversation turns to schools. 2020 and the effects of COVID-19 have taught us that nothing we believe as certain was a guarantee. The pandemic has changed how instruction is provided, buildings are staffed, meetings take place, parent-teacher conferences are held, school board meetings are conducted, and professional workshops occur. Many who previously considered distance interactions inferior now predict the leveraging of technology and distance services post-pandemic to improve educational engagement while saving limited funds.

Consider regular school board meetings that might have 15-20 people in attendance are now averaging hundreds of participants. As part of my regular community engagement, I attended every school board and city council meeting in the county annually. In 2019 I struggled to attend every agency meeting because many are scheduled on the same evenings. During the first five months of the transition to online platforms, I was able to attend every school board and many of the city council meetings multiple times. The on-demand ability to replay meetings has enabled additional review of materials and promotes subsequent factual engagement of the issues.

Costs have been reduced by holding meetings online.

Transportation, hospitality, utilities, maintenance, and overtime traditionally associated with evening meetings have been significantly reduced because of the online format.

My total travel, conference, and mileage reimbursements for 2020 were reduced by 84% compared to 2019 because of the forced transition to distance platforms. Because the equipment and connections required for distance services have been established, it will be very easy for organizations to leverage these technologies engaging larger portions of the community and saving the tax dollars.

Remote and online instruction, meetings, conferences, and professional learning opportunities are newbies to education compared to the brick-and-mortar buildings, convention centers, and meeting rooms. The potential for taking the lessons learned about technology, online learning, virtual meetings, and rapid real-time feedback during COVID-19 conditions can improve our organizations. We can evolve as a service to our students, families, and the community. Some argue that remote services are inferior, and only in-person services should occur. Most educators,

administrators, and researchers agree that the traditional approaches applied for hundreds of years must continue and are necessary for fields of study where hands-on work is essential.

Many fields of study, materials, and activities do not always require onsite or in-person activities, and the potential for remote content delivery should be explored post-COVID-19 conditions. Technologies such as virtual field trips, electronic textbooks, online labs, and artificial intelligence tutorials can be considered alongside in-person instruction as additional educational tools. Students, educators, and families can enrich the academic environment with digital resources and study apps. The rapid feedback, ability to repeatedly review materials, and on-demand access have tremendous power if leveraged successfully.

Consider a student home because of illness having the ability to watch a classroom activity instead of simply relying on someone else taking notes or a summary sheet from the teacher.

The graduate-level university courses I teach at Cal Poly include activities that explore Artificial Intelligence apps for writing and research. Many in-person classrooms were implementing the use of mobile devices for research, reporting, and experimentation. What lessons have we learned during distance learning that we can implement when in-person becomes the norm again? Perhaps our schools will explore moving to a year-round or extended day schedule with the assistance of technology? What about the students that have excelled in virtual classroom settings? Many students find high levels of success with in-person instruction, but some do not function well in a traditional classroom setting.

My final thoughts for where education will go in 2021 include the expansion of higher education’s online learning programs, additional technology partnerships with schools, expansion of mobile and microlearning, Artificial Intelligence providing personalized learning pathways, video-based recording of classroom activities, virtual field trips, gamification as an expanded career pathway, and technology-powered tools more fully integrated into student academic assessment. Whatever 2021 brings, I sincerely thank the entire community for their continued support of our students, families, employees, and schools.

It is an honor to serve as your County Superintendent of Schools. 

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30 | pasoroblesmagazine.com

Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021

Friday, January 8, 2021

January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

pasoroblesmagazine.com | 31

DIRECTORY of LOCAL HOUSES of WORSHIP The following listing of area houses of worship is provided by the partnership between Adelaide Inn and PASO Magazine. We hope to include all houses of worship in the Paso Robles, Templeton, San Miguel, Shandon, and Bradley areas. Your congregation is welcomed to send us updates and information to make our list complete and accurate. If you have information, please send an email to publisher@pasomagazine.com or call 805-239-1533. Please include your name, address, phone, service times, and name of spiritual leader of your congregation. Thank you, and stay blessed.

ATASCADERO Awakening Ways Spiritual Community 9315 Pismo Ave. 10 a.m. at the Pavilion Rev’s Frank & Terry Zum Mallen Congregation Ohr Tzafon 2605 Traffic Way Service: Fridays, 7:30 p.m.

Rabbi Janice Mehring (805) 466-0329

CRESTON Creston Community Church 5170 O’Donovan Road Service: 9:00 a.m.

Pastor JD Megason

LOCKWOOD True Life Christian Fellowship Lockwood/Jolon Road, across from the school in Lockwood Service: 9:30 a.m.

Pastor Erick Reinstedt (805) 472-9325

NACIMIENTO Heritage Village Church At The Don Everingham Center Heritage Ranch Service: 10 a.m.

Pastor Brad Brown (805) 712-7265 Hill Top Christian Fellowship 2085 Gateway Drive Heritage Ranch Service: 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Jack Little (805) 239-1716 Oak Shores Christian Fellowship 2727 Turkey Cove Rd., at the Oak Shores Community Clubhouse Service: 8:30 a.m.

Pastor Jack Little (760) 304-2435

PASO ROBLES Apostolic Assembly of the Faith of Christ Jesus 2343 Park St Bilingual Services: Services: Thursday 7 p.m.

Sunday 2 p.m.

Pastor Miguel Alvarado (805) 610-2930 Bridge Christian Church Centennial Park Banquet Room 600 Nickerson Dr. Service: 9:30 a.m.

Pastor Tim Mensing (805) 975-7178 Calvary Chapel Paso Robles 1615 Commerce Way Service: 9:30 a.m.

Pastor Aaron Newman (805) 239-4295

Christian Life Center Assembly of God 1744 Oak St. Service Times: 10:30 a.m.

Youth Ministries: Monday 7:00 Home Groups during the week Preschool: Christian Life Early Learning Ctr. Pastor Guy Drummond (805) 238-3366 Christian Science Services 17th & Chestnut Streets Service: 10 a.m. Sunday & 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 7 p.m.

(805) 238-3833 Church of Christ 3545 Spring St. (Corner 36th & Spring) Service: Sunday, 11 a.m.

Evangelist Bob Champion (805) 286-5875 Sam Hogan (310) 602-9516 Delbert Arthurs (805) 238-4412 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1020 Creston Rd. Service: 9 a.m.

(805) 238-4216 Missionaries: (805) 366.2363

Life Worth Living Church of God 620 17th St. Service: 11 a.m.

Pastor Jim Wilde (805) 238-0978

Second Baptist Church 1937 Riverside Ave. Service: 11 a.m.

Pastors: Gary Jordon (805) 238-2011

Templeton Presbyterian Church 610 S. Main St. Service: 10 a.m.

Reverend Charlie Little (805) 434-1921

Live Oak 1521 Oak St. Service: 10 a.m.

Pastor John Kaiser (805) 238-0575

St. James Episcopal Church 1335 Oak St. Services: 8 a.m. (Rite I) 10 a.m. (Rite II) Reverend Barbara Miller (805) 238-0819

Higher Dimension Church 601 Main St. 1st Sunday: 1:30 p.m.

2nd - 5th Sundays 12:30 p.m.

Pastor Charlie Reed, Jr. (805) 440-0996

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church 820 Creston Rd. Weekday Mass: M-S, 7 a.m.

Weekend Masses: Saturday - 5 p.m. (Vigil) Sunday - 8 a.m., 10 a.m. (Family Mass) 12:30 p.m. (Spanish) 5 p.m. (Teen) & 7 p.m. (Spanish) Father Rudolfo Contreras (805) 238-2218

Life Community Church 3770 Ruth Way Service: 9:30 a.m.

Pastor Keith Newsome (805) 434-5040

The Revival Center 3850 Ramada Dr., Ste. A-3 Service: 10 a.m.

Pastor Gabe Abdelaziz (805) 434-5170

Seventh-day Adventist Church Templeton Hills 930 Templeton Hills Rd. Services: Saturday 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Zac Page (805) 434-1710

Mid State Baptist Church 3770 Ruth Way Services Sunday: 1:30 & 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 6:30 p.m.

Pastor Bruce Fore (805) 238-2281 New Day 1228 11th St (east off Paso Robles St) Services: Sunday 10 a.m., Wednesday 7 p.m.

Pastor Brad Alford (805) 239-9998 New Life Tabernacle 3850 So. Ramada Dr. Ste. D Service: 10 a.m.

Pastor Efrain Cordero

Covenant Presbyterian Church 1450 Golden Hill Rd. Service: 9:30 a.m.

Pastor Dan Katches (805) 238-6927

North County Christian Fellowship 421 9th St. Services: 9:30 a.m.

Pastor Steve Calagna (805) 239-3325

Belong Central Coast 905 Vine St. meets @ NCCF Service: Sunday 3 p.m.

Senior Leaders: Pep & Angie Robey (661) 205-7853

Paso Robles Bible Church 2206 Golden Hill Rd. Service: Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Mark Wheeler Pastor Dave Rusco (805) 226-9670

Family Worship Center 616 Creston Rd. Service: 10 a.m.

Pastor Patrick Sheean (805) 239-4809 First Baptist Church 1645 Park St. Pastor Michael R. Garman Services: 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Discipleship 10 a.m.

(805) 238-4419 First Mennonite Church 2343 Park St. Service: 11 a.m.

Pastor Romero (805) 238-2445 First United Methodist 915 Creston Rd. Service: 11 a.m.

Pastor Josh Zulueta (805) 238-2006 Grace Baptist Church 535 Creston Rd. Service: 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Gary Barker (805) 238-3549 Highlands Church Corner S. River and Niblick 215 Oak Hill Services: 8:30, 9:45 & 11 a.m.

Pastor James Baird (805) 226-5800

Paso Robles Church of the Nazarene 530 12th St. Service: 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Charles Reece (805) 238-4300 www.pasonaz.com Paso Robles Community Church 2706 Spring St. Service: 9:00 a.m.

Pastor Shawn Penn (805) 239-4771 www.pasochurch.com Plymouth Congregational Church, UCC Thirteenth and Oak Streets Service: 10 a.m.

Pastor Steven Mabry (805) 238-3321 Poder de Dios Centro Familiar 500 Linne Road, Suite D Services Sunday 4:30p.m. & Wed. 7p.m.

Pastors: Frank and Isabel Diaz (805) 264-9322 / (805) 621-4199 Redeemer Baptist Church Kermit King Elementary School 700 Schoolhouse Circle Service: 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Christopher Cole (805) 238-4614

Adelaide Inn 1215 Ysabel Ave (Just off 24th near Hwy 101 and 46 East intersection) Paso Robles, 805-238-2770

The Light of the World Church 2055 Riverside Ave. Services: Everyday, 6 p.m.

Sundays 10 a.m. & 5 p.m.

Pastor Bonifacio Robles (612) 990-4701 Trinity Lutheran Church 940 Creston Rd. Worship Service: 9:30 a.m.

Pastor Steve Willweber (805) 238-3702 Victory Outreach Paso Robles 3201 Spring Street, Paso Robles Ca Services: Sunday,10:30 a.m.

Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Pastor Pete Torres (805) 536-0035

TEMPLETON Bethel Lutheran Church 295 Old County Rd. Service: 9:30 a.m.

Pastor Amy Beveridge (805) 434-1329 Celebration Worship Center Pentecostal Church of God 988 Vineyard Drive Pastor Roy Spinks Services: 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.

(805) 610-9819 Central Coast Center for Spiritual Living 689 Crocker St. Service: 10 a.m.

Rev. Elizabeth Rowley (805) 242-3180 Cowboy Church Family Praise & Worship 206 5th st.

Service: 10 am Pastor Vern H. Haynes Jr. 805-975-8594

Solid Rock Christian Fellowship Assembly of God 925 Bennett Way Service: 10 a.m.

Pastor Jeff Saylor (805) 434-2616

Vineyard Church of Christ 601 So. Main St. Service: 10 a.m.

Evangelist: Steve Orduno (805) 610-4272 Vintage Community Church 692 Peterson Ranch Road Services: 9 & 11 a.m.

Coaches: Aaron Porter, Dayn Mansfield (805) 296-1120

SAN MIGUEL Iglesia Fuente De Agua Viva 301 13th St. Services: 10 a.m. & 7 p.m.

Pastor Mike Duran (805) 467-5500 Mission San Miguel Parish 775 Mission Street Weekday Mass: 8 a.m.

Weekend Mass: Saturday: 5 p.m. English (Vigil) & 6:30 p.m. Spanish (Vigil) Sunday: 7 a.m., Noon & 6 p.m.

(Spanish) Father Eleazar Diaz, OFM (805) 467-2131

SHANDON Shandon Assembly of God 420 Los Altos Ave. Pastor Jim Mei (805)226-9737 Spanish Service: Sunday 5 p.m. & Thurs 7 p.m.

Pastor Mauro Jimenez

Paso Magazine P.O. Box 427 Paso Robles, CA 93447 Phone: 805-239-1533 or publisher@pasomagazine.com

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Kitchen-Table Talk over the Grill of Cancel Culture.™

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January 2021 | Paso Robles Magazine

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pasoroblesmagazine.com | 33

Last Word

•

The ‘Monolith’ of Atascadero

Aliens Off The Hook Story Behi n d The Monolith on Pi n e Mountai n

By Con nor Allen

O

n December 2, Atascadero officially entered the national lexicon thanks to the installation of a giant steel monolith at the summit of Pine Mountain. With its origin, a mystery, the internet, and its 7 billion detectives went to work guessing who, what and why this monolith appeared and turned the town forever into a Final Jeopardy answer.

Many speculated that the mystery object with a mesmerizing metal shimmer had to be the work of some major production company or movie studio preparing for a worldwide release. While those that thought it was a marketing stunt bickered over what movie was coming out next, others pondered if it might have been planted here but our very own space invaders.

For 12 hours, though, Atascadero was the place to be in America. The next morning, tourists from Fresno, Visalia, Ventura, and many areas in the county ventured to the top of the Pine Mountain to see the San Lucia Mountain’s reflection in the shine of the steel. Instead, they found some exposed rebar and a hole in the ground where the monument once stood.

However, unlike its appearance, a video of a group of teens tearing it down removed all doubt as to if the aliens had returned for their mystery item. For a day, the City sat still, almost unsure how to react to a group of guys coming into their town and removing something that many had claimed as theirs.

Saturday morning, the 10-foot tall, 18-inch wide steel object was resurrected in its place, this time cemented into the ground with its architects ready to come forward.

It was not aliens, Steven Spielberg or Banksy. Instead, the work of two local North County men and the help of one of their cousins from Pleasanton.

Travis Kenney, who graduated from Atascadero High School in 1990, and Wade McKenzie, who graduated from Paso Robles in 1989, are the master architects behind the monolith, first reported by Yourtango.com.

“We all saw the first one in Utah, and Wade is really into art,” Travis said.

“We’re fabricators, both of us, and he [Wade] has a steel construction business. We are avid hikers, avid mountain bikers, we love our community, we were raised here, and it was really cool to see people out and about in Utah during these hard times that we have going on.”

The structure was erected as a guerilla-style piece of art and has stood, stoic and symbolic, shining bright representing the hope that it has brought to a small town struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic together.

Inspired by the 1968 Stanley Kubrick film “2001: A Space Odyssey,” the two men, with the help of Kenney’s father, Randall, and cousin, Jared, put 13 Stars Digital........................................33 A Heavenly Home...................................27 AM Sun Solar...........................................11 Athlon Fitness & Performance................20 Avila Traffic Safety....................................20 Blake’s True Value....................................19 bloke........................................................17 Bridge Sportsman’s Center.....................19 CalSun Electric & Solar............................33 City of Paso Robles Rec & Library..............7 Coast Electronics......................................16

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the first monolith up Tuesday in the middle of the night, intending to take it down in a few days later if it didn’t first end up in a frat house.

“Then we saw that absolutely crazy way that it was brought down,” Travis said.

The City seemingly mourned along with Travis and Wade at the bizarre disappearance of the beacon on the hill and the newfound fame it brought as a hotspot in the intersection between pop culture and alien fever.

“We are upset that these young men felt the need to drive 5 hours to come into our community and vandalize the monolith. The monolith was something unique and fun in an otherwise stressful time,” Mayor Heather Moreno said in a press release on December 3.

Inspired by the response from the first one, Travis and Wade went back into the shop and made a second monolith that a group of overzealous teens could not topple this time.

The night of December 4, the two men enlisted the help of 12 or so of their friends and headed to the top of Pine Mountain, this time bringing with them 700 pounds of concrete to pour a foundation that would hold.

“Visually, nothing is different; it is just all Atascadero “Monolith” creators the inner structure,” Travis said. “Wade has a Wade McKenzie and Travis steel construction company, so we designed Kenney and a group of their it more structurally so that if it does stay, it friends resurrect a second “Monolith” with hopes to instill is safe.” hope in a time of struggle.

Will the monolith stay is a different story with some hurdles in front of it. Currently, the monolith is on part of the 75 acres of land in Stadium Park-Pine Mountain that is City-owned.

As of now, the City is in the process of evaluating the placement of the structure but has deemed it safe and secure until a more detailed evaluation can be performed.

“We are delighted that the monolith has returned to Atascadero and the way it came back to our City. It brought back the joyful spirit that was abruptly taken away,” Moreno shared.

While it appears that the monolith is now set in stone, at least for a little while, the architects have begun thinking of ways for their piece of art to earn its keep. Kenney and McKenzie have purchased Atascaderomonolith. com and want to use it to generate revenue that could be given to the City to maintain its hiking trails and parks.

“We are going to try and do some fun things and see if we can’t generate some revenue and give the proceeds back to Atascadero,” Wade shared. “At the end of the day, that is what it is about.” 

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Paso Robles Magazine | January 2021