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SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CV, NO. XXXI
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021
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A FAMILY AFFAIR
CITY
Dusi Family’s Paper Street Vineyard
Atascadero City Council Holds First Hybrid Meeting Measure D-20 First Annual Report presented to Council Paso Robles multi-generational family set out on a new adventure to produce grapes on a rural vineyard with no known address, trusting the vision of Mike Dusi (not pictured) and the grit of the Dusi family and two principal customers. Janell and Matt Dusi (left photo) and McPrice Myers (right photo) the vineyard’s principal customer. Photos by Mira Honeycutt
Paso’s multi-generational farming clan navigate the many hurdles to turn the rough into a diamond By MIRA HONEYCUTT A Special to The Atascadero News
A
long Kiler Canyon Road on Paso Robles’ west side lies an unmarked and seemingly abandoned narrow dirt road. If you turn onto this road by accident, you might find your car so hemmed in by the menacing forest. You might have to
EDUCATION
back up in reverse for half a mile. I know. It happened to me once. The second time I traveled down that road, though, I was expertly guided in a fourwheel-drive truck by winemaker Janell Dusi, owner of J. Dusi Wines, for this is the road that leads to Paper Street Vineyard. Few locals know of this vineyard. Winemakers do, or at least those who source fruit from this spectacular hillside vineyard that straddles the appellations of Willow Creek and Adelaide District. “We call it driving to Middle Earth,” quips Janell as we drive along the treacherous bumpy terrain. She is referring to the
brooding landscape in “The Lords of the Rings” films. As her rugged truck snakes through the hardscrabble terrain, brittle calcareous rocks crumble off the hillsides as she dodges fallen tree logs, rocks, and piles of dirt. Although you feel like you’re miles from civilization, this woodsy pocket is no more than three miles from J. Dusi winery on Highway 46 West as the crow flies. Leave it to Mike Dusi, Janell’s father, and third-generation Paso vintner, to venture into this unapproachable parcel where others would not dare. But for him, unreachable as it was, it was perfect.
The veteran farmer saw a diamond in the rough. He recognized its potential. A perfect mix of steep hillsides and the limestone deposits, this is where great quality fruit comes from, Janell declared, echoing her father’s belief in the abandoned ranch, then devoid of water or power. Although back in 2013, when Mike acquired this 360-acre parcel, his family thought he had gone bonkers, Janell recalled with a laugh. For the Dusis, Paso’s multi-generational farming clan, it was a true family effort to navigate the many hurdles it took to turn the CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
CALIFORNIA MID-STATE FAIR
Junior Livestock Auction Far Surpasses Expectations
Atascadero Unified School Board Finalize Back to School Plan Reopening plan approved, mask mandates will be enforced By PATRICK PATTON patrick@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — The Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 10 a.m. after having to reschedule from last Tuesday due to not meeting the minimum 72-hour notice on posting the agenda for the Board Meeting on the Districts web site. Open session began with a public comment in which statements were delivered via email as well as in-person. One of the emails addressed the bus schedule, but the other 36 statements were either adamantly for or against freedom of choice regarding face coverings in a school setting. Proponents from each side CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
EVENT
The California Mid-State Fair Annual Heifer and Junior Livestock auction together broke the expected sales for the year’s auction brining in over $2 million. Photos by Brittany App
Over $2 million in sales made with half the usual amount of animals sold By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@atascaderonews.com
PASO ROBLES — The California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) held their heifer sale on Friday, Jul. 30, and junior livestock sale on Saturday, Jul. 31 for all 4H and FFA animals. Together, the sales made over $2 million—a great feat for having half the normal amount of animals up for sale. JoAnn Switzer, the lady in purple and Livestock Supervisor for CMSF, said, “The community came out in big force, and the kids had so much fun at the fair. It was unbe-
FUNDRAISER
lievable to see how they were all laughing and playing games and all having a great time.” To put things in perspective, in 2019, the sales saw a total of 869 animals sold for a combined $2.1 million before add-ons. “It was over the top amazing—Colleen and the team did an amazing job,” said Switzer. After the Sale of Champions, auctioneers announced they broke past the expected sales for this year’s auction. Molly Lacey sat with her grandmother Dee Lacey at the auction. After the announcement, Molly saw Dee tear up, saying, “Can’t believe it, so happy for the kids, and this is a great day for the community.” Official numbers for the auction won’t be ready until Thursday, Aug. 12, but Colleen Bojorquez, the CMSF Interim Chief Executive Officer, knows the auctions went extraor-
GOVERNMENT
dinarily well. Bojorquez said, “We had a ton of community support. It truly was phenomenal. It brought tears to my eyes just knowing that these kids were getting to experience a real fair and were still being supported by their community.” One thing from 2020 was implemented again this year—virtual add-ons. Typically after the auction, anyone can make an additional monetary contribution to livestock animals after it is sold. This can be adding $1 to each pound for any animal(s). Add-ons are a great way to support the 4H and FFA show kids. “I think that was one of the good things that came out of COVID was that we
SUPERIOR COURT
By PATRICK PATTON patrick@atascaderonews.com
ATASCADERO — Atascadero City Council met on Tuesday, Aug. 10, for their regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m., following a closed session with nothing to report. Mayor Heather Moreno attended via Zoom while all other Councilmembers were in Chambers for the first time since last year. The meeting began with a unanimous vote to approve the meeting agenda. Item A-3, which is the designation of the voting delegate representing Atascadero at the League of City’s Annual Conference, was pulled from the consent calendar to be voted on separately. The consent calendar minus item A-3 was approved by a unanimous vote. Item A-3 was discussed, and the decision to change the voting delegate from Councilmember Susan Funk to Councilmember Mark Dariz was made based on potential scheduling conflicts. The item was then approved by unanimous vote. The Council received updates from the City Manager, Rachelle Rickard: • This City Council meeting marks the Council’s return to Council Chambers, with both in-person and virtual attendees. • Rickard highlighted several new murals downtown, as well as several new businesses, including the “Block Shops” downtown, consisting of Negranti Creamery, Stellar + Sun Hat Co., and Ancient Owl Beer Gardens and Bottle Shoppe; Supremo Meat Market, Specs by Kyla Boutique Eyewear, and BB’s Fashion Boutique. • The Summer Concert Series continues Saturday, Aug. 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., with the JD Project performing at Atascadero Lake Park Bandstand. • Movies in the Garden continues Saturday, Aug. 14, from 8 to 11 p.m. with Raya and the Last Dragon (PG) at Sunken Gardens. • Cruisin’ Weekend kicks off with the 28 Annual Hot El
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WEATHER
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DISTILLERS OF SLO COUNTY host Second Annual ’Trail Weekend’ promoting craft distillers | A3
19TH ANNUAL WOMEN’S Legacy Fund Luncheon re-imagined for 2021 | A4
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS discuss homeless issue facing the County | A5
DEFENSE CONTINUED TO question about other suspects as Kristin Smart case continues | A13
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