Hometown News Since 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CIV, NO. XXXV
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020
GOVERNMENT
atascaderonews.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
WE REMEMBER
Remembering September 11, 19 Years Later
Council Adopts Fee Structure For ADUs By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — It will soon become much cheaper to build a small accessory unit in Atascadero. Tuesday night, the Atascadero City Council came together for what could have been their shortest meeting of the year with the only substantial topic covering accessory dwelling units (ADU), or secondary dwelling units, and the rate of developmental impact fees to be paid due to the changes from Senate Bill 13. SB13 was designed and implemented to increase ADU production as a form of “affordable by design” housing. The bill went into effect in January and exempts ADUs less than 750 square feet from impact fees. Units larger than 750 square feet up to 1,200 square feet (the most the City allows) must be charged a “proportional” rate related to the primary structure. ADUs can be attached or detached or, in some instances, a CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
New York’s 9/11 Memorial at World Trade Center Ground Zero seen on September 12, 2013. The memorial was dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Photo by Getty Images
By HAYLEY MATTSON hayley@atascaderonews.com
W
here were you on September 11, 2001? Nineteen years ago, I was getting ready for work at my house on Scott Street in Paso Robles. I was 22 years old. I had no idea what I was looking at or how it would impact all of our lives going forward. As we watched the terror and horror of
the aftermath of the first plane crashing into the North Tower of the World Trade Center and trying to make sense of it all, a second plane appeared and turned sharply into the South Tower. I remember watching the news reporter’s face trying to get a sense of what was happening, and I could tell she was just as fearful and confused as I was. At that moment, it felt like the world stopped. Nineteen years ago, we did not have social
media or cell phones that shared videos or even took quality photos. We relied solely on news sources to tell us what was happening. Reports came in that a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C. The news station switched between news anchors trying to explain what we were watching and experiencing. I remember hearing the fear in their voice, not knowing what to say. No more than 22 minutes later, the South Tower collapsed, 56 minutes after the impact
of Flight 175. A fourth plane was then reported to have crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. At this point, I remember hearing the words “we are under attack, this was no accident, we are under a terrorist attack.” We all watched in horror as people trapped in the North Tower began to jump from the iconic towers that we visited, took photos of, CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
BUSINESS
FUNDRAISER
Steady Opening for Paso Market Walk
CAPS Online Auction Raises $64K Amid Pandemic
Mixed-use marketplace brings businesses to center of town By BRIAN WILLIAMS brian@atascaderonews.com PASO ROBLES — A steady stream of people have been exploring all of the offerings at Paso Market Walk. People go in for one thing — a glass wine or fresh-baked cookie — and leave with much more — vegan cheese, olive oil, and a cup of coffee. It’s just what owner Debby Mann had in mind when she broke ground on the development in 2018. The 16,000-square-foot mixed-use marketplace is located outside of Paso’s Downtown corridor on the old Hometown Nursery site at 1803 Spring St. “This is the next natural progression of wine country because it provides people the opportunity to see artisan purveyors that they wouldn’t see ordinarily,” Mann said. “People are very excited. We opened Aug. 1, and it has been busy ever since.” The Market Walk has brought much-needed development, business and foot traffic to
EDUCATION
Paso Market Walk opened on Aug. 1 in Paso Robles. Photo by Brian Williams
the center of town. The property was home to a community nursery from 1980 to 2008. In recent years it sat empty and was decaying. Mann, a former co-owner of the iconic Justin Winery and Vineyard, said the project’s inspiration came from visits to similar venues such as Oxbow Public Market in Napa. “The City of Paso Robles was excited to have money put into the middle of town which needed development and what happens with that in almost any market that I looked at is once you move in, mostly the markets
COVID UPDATE
were away from the main square, and then other businesses start coming around,” Mann said. The Market Walk is a blend of old and mostly new urban country architecture, bookended on the south end by an 1890 Victorian home that showcases the “Carpenter Gothic” architectural style. The house has been renovated and will open as FINCA. FINCA is the latest project from the owners of La Taquiza — a Napa-based Mexican restaurant that has been in the Michelin Guide since 2009. FINCA will be a Mexican restaurant focused on bring-
COMMUNITY
ing traditional and regionally inspired cuisine to California’s Central Coast. The restaurant in bloom — a small-plate designer cocktail bar — will occupy the Market Place’s northern end. FINCA and in bloom are slated to open the spring of 2021. Paying homage to the original Hometown Nursery is GATHER | Urban Agriculture, an “experiential nursery bringing nature, wonder, playfulness and beauty to Paso Market Walk.” Inside the Paso Market Walk is currently home to the following purveyors. • Montello Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar • Just Baked Cake Studio and Bakery • The Vreamery Plant-Based and Dairy-Free Fare • Momotaro Ramen Japanese Soul Food • Leo Leo Gelato Master Gelatiers • Paso Robles Wine Merchant Wine Bar and Kitchen CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
WEEKLY FEATURE
By CONNOR ALLEN connor@atascaderonews.com ATASCADERO — The Committee for Atascadero Public Schools (CAPS) finished their virtual fundraising auction on August’s last weekend. It brought in a surprising $64,000 — well above their goal of around $20,000. This year, for the first time in the fundraiser’s 15 year history, CAPS moved online due to the COVID19 pandemic and hosted an eBaystyle auction that was open for a week, and the community responded in a big way. The theme of this year’s auction was aptly “Mission Impossible,” as the event committee did not know what they would be able to raise while the local community struggles to keep businesses open while dealing with the COVID-19 restrictions. “We just got together and tried to find 10, or maybe 15 items,” Event co-chair Lori Bickel said to The Atascadero News. “And maybe if we are lucky, we can raise $20,000, and we can still show the teachers how much CAPS appreciates them.” The money raised from the CAPS auction is awarded to each school
based on a grant process that every teacher is encouraged to participate in. Since 2007, CAPS grants funded various field trips, musical instruments, science equipment, and dance costumes, which generally fall outside of a school’s budget. In the past 15 years, CAPS has raised over $900,000 for local classrooms in the Atascadero Unified School District and paid out $58,000 to grants in 2019 alone. Faced with an uphill battle, CAPS turned to those who supported them in the past and were overwhelmed with the backing they received this year. “We really didn’t know if anyone would sponsor us so early on we reached out to some of our past sponsors that have always supported CAPS in the past,” Bickel explained. “And Wysong Construction was one of them, and in 24 hours they responded back and said they would be our title sponsor.” After Wysong Construction CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
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WEATHER
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ATASCADERO BIBLE CHURCH DR. PENNY BORENSYEIN provides a safe distance discusses and clarifies new learning environment | A3 CDC data on COVID-19 | A4
SLO COUNTY AIR QUALITY heavily impacted by smoke and ash from state fires | A5
IVY ALVARADO makes a difference, one burger at a time | A13
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