Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CV, NO. LII
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
NORTH COUNTY
EDUCATION
North County Welcomes First Baby 2021 Tenet Health Central Coast helps to introduce new life in 2021 By TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
AUSD Board of Trustees Receive COVID-19 Update
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fter two New Year’s babies at Tenet Health Central Coast’s Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton is delighted to introduce its first newborn of 2021! The family has chosen to keep the first names private. Welcome First Baby of 2021 to Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton Name: The first name not provided, but they call her Baby Girl Ramos J Gender: Female Date and time of birth: Jan. 3, 2021, at 3:20 p.m. Weight: 7 lb. 11 oz. Height: 19 inches The first baby of 2021 for the county was a boy born at 12:54 a.m. on Jan. 1 at Tenet Health Central Coast’s Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, along with an additional New Year’s Day Baby born at Sierra Vista at 12:19 p.m. The parents for both babies at Sierra Vista wished to keep all the information private.
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com
RESTAURANT MONTH
GIRL SCOUT
Taste of North County By HAYLEY MATTSON hayley@atascaderonews.com
O Brownie Girl Scout Chiara E. (6 years old) from Arroyo Grande is awared her patch. Contributed photo
Local Girl Scout Troops Earn Financial Literacy Patches
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 the chefs, to the bakers and the roasters, we have a plethora of culinary and gourmet tastes right in our own backyard. January is Restaurant Month in San Luis Obispo County, and it could not have come with better timing. 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 dedicated our Taste of North County in Paso Robles Magazine and Atascadero News Magazine to all the hardworking individuals that indulge us with some of the finest foods a person can find anywhere in the world. Throughout the month of January, we will highlight some of our favorites restaurants, from breakfast to dessert; we will share a Taste of North County with you. CONTINUED ON PAGE A16
EATERY
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com S A N LU I S O B I S P O COUNTY — Local Girl Scout Troops in San Luis Obispo County teamed up with Bank of America in 2020 to bring a financial literacy patch to their members during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course was administered virtually and ran for eight to ten weeks, depending on the girls’ level and age in the troop taking the course. “Bank Of America reached out to form a partnership with us to host some virtual workshops, and CONTINUED ON PAGE A16
SPORTS
Nautical Cowboy in the Carlton Hotel serves family sized portions and individual plates. Every dish is crafted with care. Contributed photo
Taste of Italy Served Fresh in Templeton at BellaVia Food and Coffee By CAMILLE DeVAUL Italian, even for just a moment. call the Mediterranean diet. But camille@atascaderonews.com In Templeton at 420 S Main to Auriemma and other native
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here is something about Italians and their country that makes Americans swoon. Between their food, weather, and their style, we just can’t get enough. We try to copy them as often as we can, but alas, we never come close to the Italians’ tried and true ways. Luckily for us in North County, there is somewhere and someone who can help you be
FDA
Street sits a little corner of Italy named BellaVia Food and Coffee. Here, Michael Auriemma makes authentic Italian food like Sicilian cannolis, tiramisu, lasagna, Amalfi Coast cake, almond pasticciotto, and more selling at local farmers markets and his storefront in Templeton. Born and raised in Naples, Italy, Auriemma began cooking as a child. He lived and survived on what Americans
COVID-19 UPDATE
Southern Italians, it isn’t a diet; it is a lifestyle. “Mediterranean diet is a lifestyle. Food is only a part of the Mediterranean diet because if I can teach you how to cook the best food and you smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, it’s completely useless,” Auriemma shared. Auriemma not only carries a passion for cooking but also Michael Auriemma serves up CONTINUED ON PAGE A16
VOTE
authentic Italian food at BellaVia Food and Coffee in Templeton. Contributed Photo
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees came together on Tuesday night for the first meeting of the new year and were informed on all COVID-19 updates since the group has been on their break. The meeting began with each board member giving a brief report on how their holidays went before diving into the night’s only item. The update began with Superintendent Tom Butler, who passed it off to Assistant Superintendent’s EJ Rossi and Curt Eichperger, who finished the presentation. Butler opened the presentation assuring each person listening that students who choose distance learning or the hybrid in-person model are each getting the best education that the District can provide. “I can tell the community that you are getting our best,” Butler said to the Board. “If you choose distance learning, you are getting a dedicated effort from the teacher. If you choose in-person elementary or independent study, you are getting the same effort every day to do the most we can to advance your children.” Following Butler’s report, Rossi joined the zoom to briefly discuss some technological updates and schedule changes that have been made during the break. The District’s new schedule is set up so that if in-person education does return this year for secondary schools, the students will already have a schedule compatible with returning to class without making any changes. Assistant Superintendent Eichperger addressed the Board next with COVID-19 updates starting with the District’s first round of COVID surveillance testing. The District administered between 625 and 650 tests to its employees and had two come back as asymptomCONTINUED ON PAGE A16
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WEATHER
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