Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. XXII
THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020
GOVERNMENT
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DEMAND FOR CHANGE
AUSD
Board to Vote on $522K Architectural Pool Design Contract
Council Agrees to $400K Loan To PSHH for Project on Del Rio
The Atascadero Unified School Board members. Contributed photo
A peaceful protest took place on Sunday in Atascadero as people marched from Sunken Gardens to the Atascadero Police Department and back. Photo by Nicholas Mattson
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com
Locals Rally for Justice
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero City Council agreed to move forward with a soft loan of $400,000 to Peoples’ Self-Help Housing for the Del Rio Ridge project. The Council met via a wireless webinar as they have since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The site on Del Rio Ridge adjacent to the Walmart-owned property was evaluated by the City last year. The PSHH design concept was approved and is ready to move forward. “This project is considered to be a 100% affordable multi-family project,” the PSHH presenter explained to the Council. “Forty-two apartments, five separate buildings on the site. It has a whole variety of bedroom counts. There are one-bedroom, three-bedroom units
Protest led by young local residents marches for justice and peace
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com
member Susan Funk, and council member Charles Bourbeau — as well as executives of the City of Atascadero — city manager Rachelle Rickard and police chief Jerel Haley — were in attendance to hear out the crowd. Haley approached Mr. Martin and invited him for a one-on-one discussion about ideas for changes to the APD that would improve the service of local police to all residents of the community. During the stop at the Atascadero Police Department, the crowd kneeled in a moment of silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in honor of George Floyd who was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in broad daylight on March 25. The quiet crowd rose to its feet with a tangible unified strength before moving back to the Sunken Gardens.
too,” McPhee said through a smile. “We see drive-bys for everything else as far as barbecues and all that so the parents and I got together, and I said I was willing if they were willing and they were, and here we are.” The kids were served up a savory bacon and spinach baked bread pudding along with some strawberries, a blueberry muffin,
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District board meeting on June 2 covered a variety of topics, including an agreement with PJHM architecture firm to begin the design and planning for the replacement pool process. The cost for PJHM was estimated at $522,000 and would be paid by developer fees. Trustees were scheduled to vote on using PJHM, but after three members, Ray Buban, Terri Switzer and Corinne Kuhnle claimed they were “left in the dark” in regards to the Atascadero Swimming Pool committee’s wants and recommendations. District Executive Director of Bonds and Facilities Brandt Lloyd addressed the board with a short introduction stating, “As we know the pool is in failing disrepair and it no longer serves the PE programs and the athletic programs we offer adequately. The District issued a request for qualifications and proposals from design firms qualified and experienced in aquatics.” Lloyd continued stating that the design committee went through nine different applicants and met with four before landing on PJHM, who had the best fit for the Districts wants. Lloyd finished by stating the proposed price at $522,000 that covers a schedule of services starting with schematic design and ending with construction administration. Trustee Buban began the push back objecting to the lack of information provided and the high price tag and was echoed by trustee Kuhnle who said, “We are looking at spending half a million dollars to this company and, I, too, felt that there should have been more information brought to us as a board as to what the committee has been discussing.” After the board raised their concerns, District Superintendent Tom Butler addressed them, saying, “I would like to respectfully share
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By NICHOLAS MATTSON nic@atascaderonews.com
O
n Sunday, members of the San Luis Obispo County chapter of the NAACP attended a protest in Atascadero with hundreds of people marching from Sunken Gardens to the Atascadero Police Department and back. The protest was organized by Hannah Gonzales, M’Lynn Martin, and Marc Martin. Very quickly, the protest gained traction on social media and hundreds turned out on Sunday for the event. Before heading on a march from the park to the police department, the NAACP presented a short speech with a the list of demands for change they had. Members of the Atascadero City Council — mayor Heather Moreno, council
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At Sunken Gardens, SLO County NAACP president Stephen Vines spoke to the crowd passionately about making a difference and making change in the community. He spoke on the subject of violence, policy, social justice and making change. “Violence is the enemy of all of us,” Vines said. “It will kill, and steal, and destroy. Violence only begets violence.” Formed in 1909 by a diverse group of activists, the NAACP, or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is the oldest and largest civil rights organization. The SLO County branch is one of more than 2,200 nationwide. Among other things, the NAACP charter promises to champion equal rights CONTINUED ON PAGE A13
TEMPLETON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
McPhee’s Grill Feeds Templeton Graduates Drive-by breakfast service on graduation morning
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com TEMPLETON — McPhee’s Grill opened its doors at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 4, for the first time since March 17. However, the doors weren’t open to the public but to serve breakfast to each of the Templeton seniors on the morning of their graduation via a drive-by handoff. Usually, McPhee’s serves a sit-down breakfast to the graduating THS seniors but did the drive-by in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think we have been doing it for about eight years now,” Ian McPhee said. “We have been doing it for about eight years, and it is just something that, you know, there are a lot of things that I do because I want kids to remember this town because I worry that some of them are thinking that they live in some little podunk town and they are going to move on to bigger and better things, and they forget their roots.” The meals were served from 10–11 a.m. and available to any high school senior free of charge. McPhee’s, along with some help
LOCAL NEWS
In other matters, board approves placing $40M bond on ballot
McPhee’s Grill carries on its annual tradition of providing breakfast for all graduating Templeton High School seniors, only this time it is drive-by style due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos by Connor Allen
from the community, set up two different stations, one out front of the building and one in their parking lot, for kids to pull up and get their meals. “We have this Templeton community that is so great, and they have supported us for 26 years,” McPhee said. “They have just done so many things for us, so we are happy to do these things.” While the meals were already paid for, that didn’t stop a couple of friendly and
RECORD
generous people from offering to pay for a couple of meals themselves. McPhee’s Grill has been making breakfast for Templeton seniors for nearly a decade but has also been serving the Eagles football team lunch before home games for 20 years. “I know that these seniors look forward to this because whenever the kids come through, they are always saying ‘Oh we’re so glad we are seniors now,’ so that is it
PERSPECTIVE
FUR BABIES
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WEATHER
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TEMPLETON HIGH SCHOOL celebrates graduation, drive-in style | A3
GRAND OAKS PASEO hosts a virtual groundbreaking ceremony | A3
BARBIE BUTZ shares
recipes that junior chefs can make for Father’s Day | A10
PROTECTS YOUR PETS by
keeping them away from household supplies | A11
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Congratulations
to the 2020 graduating class!
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