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SINCE 1916 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CV, NO. XXVII
THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021
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BUSINESS
CITY
Kids enjoying ice cream at the Ice Cream Zoofari in years past. Contributed photo
Atascadero City Upcoming Events News from the City! It’s Time To Start Having Some Fun Again!! Manuel Barba of Traffic Records and Jason Perez of Soul Dust Productions entertain the crowd on a lively Friday night at Ancient Owl Beer Garden and Bottle Shoppe. Photo by Patrick Patton
What’s Happening Downtown Atascadero Businesses are thriving, post-lockdown
much has changed in Atascadero over the recent months. Here is a rundown of a few things that have been happening in Atascadero that you may have missed. Spoiler alert: A-Town is thriving as Atascaderoans reclaim their lives in a post-lockdown summer that looks to be a long-awaited rebound for local businesses. Judging by the crowds alone, the Atascadero business that seems to be
By PATRICK PATTON patrick@atascaderonews.com
W
hether you stayed indoors or ventured out during the recent government-mandated lockdowns in response to COVID-19, there is no doubt that
making the biggest splash downtown is Ancient Owl Beer Garden and Bottle Shoppe. It’s hard to miss on the weekends due to the large crowds and loud music courtesy of Traffic Records, who will be spinning at Ancient Owl every Friday night. They boast a wide variety of beer, hard seltzer, hard kombucha, and more. The beer garden is located on El Camino Real, between Traffic Way and Entrada Ave.
Bramble Pie Co. opened its doors in the middle of the lockdowns, and since then, they’ve been slinging pies, quiches, empanadas, and more every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bramble Pie Co. is located on Entrada Ave in between Farron Elizabeth and Baby’s Babble. There’s a new Thai restaurant in CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
NOVEL
Sally Dallas: Death is Personal
North County, meet your hometown cozy mystery author By PATRICK PATTON patrick@atascaderonews.com
PASO ROBLES — The first chapter of any novel is vital. It usually depicts the main character as feeling perfectly content in her comfort zone, though it’s all a set-up for the inciting incident—that moment when circumstances beyond the character’s control launch her into a brand new adventure she never saw coming. It’s a call to adventure that initially shakes her world but ultimately challenges her perspective on life and pushes her to live out her true potential.
Enter Sally Dallas circa 2007—Vice President at a large, international bank, happily married, proud mother of three grown sons. That’s when the stage 3 cancer diagnosis came from out of nowhere and shook her whole world. “Thanks to aggressive treatment, I’m in longterm remission,” Dallas said. “As anyone who has experienced a life-threatening event will tell you, it changes your perspective on everything. You appreciate the simple things in life and realize your time is limited.” Two years post-diagnosis, in 2009, just when Dallas was beginning to feel healthy again, the banking industry was in upheaval, and the bank laid her off. For the first time in thirty years, CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
By RACHELLE RICKARD, CITY MANAGER For The Atascadero News
ATASCADERO — Welcome back! Doesn’t it feel great to get out of the house and be able to appreciate all that our community has to offer again? It seems like we’ve been gradually emerging after a very long hibernation, and I think we’re all ready to have a little sense of normalcy and pleasure back in our lives. Atascadero is the perfect place to start enjoying the summer of 2021, with lots of fun and exciting activities! Come out and enjoy the AZA-accredited Charles Paddock Zoo, located at Atascadero Lake Park and home to hundreds of small animal species from around the world, including red pandas, monkeys, meerkats, parrots, a Malayan tiger, a variety of reptiles, and so much more. Many of the zoo residents are part of globally managed programs to preserve animals and their habitats. What’s new at the Zoo? There are several adorable baby flamingos and turtles, and you don’t want to miss seeing Wally, the Zoo’s alligator, in his new exhibit! Ice Cream Zoofari is on Saturday, Jul. 17, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., with music, activities, and a tasty variety of all-you-can-eat sweet treats! Then on Aug. 7, during regular Zoo hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wild About Art will be a fun-filled day of arts and crafts fun at the Zoo, with animal artists, face painting, workshops, local art for purchase, and more! There are plenty of other events to enjoy at Atascadero Lake Park throughout the summer, including the 2021 Saturday Summer Concert Series, being held most Saturday evenings beginning Jul. 24 through the summer, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lake Park bandstand. These concerts feature great local bands and a wonderful variety of music styles. All of the summer concerts are free and open to the public. For even more fun at the Lake for the whole family, Mr. Putter’s Paddleboats is open every day
Deceptions of Chenille is the debut novel by Paso Robles Cozy Mystery Author Sally Dallas. Contributed photo
CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
GOVERNMENT
City Council Begins General Plan Update
Proclamation by the council, whereas July 2021 declared as Parks Make Life Better month By PATRICK PATTON patrick@atascaderonews.com
Pictured from left to right, Atascadero City Council Member Susan Funk, Mayor Heather Moreno, Public Works Operations Manager, Matt Pigeon, Recreation Supervisor, Jennifer Fanning, Mayor Pro Tem Heather Newsom, and Council Member Charles Bourbeau. Contributed photo
EVENT
EDUCATION
ATASCADERO — Atascadero City Council met on Tuesday, Jul. 13, for their regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m., following a closed session with nothing to report. The meeting began with a presentation by Mayor Pro Tem Heather Newsom in which she read a proclamation by the council, whereas July 2021 was declared Parks Make Life Better month.
COUNTY
The council’s declaration was followed by the approval of the consent calendar by a 5-0 vote, followed by a series of updates from the City Manager, Rachelle Rickard. Beginning Aug. 10, city council meetings will adopt a hybrid model by which citizens will have the option of attending council meetings either online or in person. City Manager Rickard highlighted the imminent opening of GoGo Thai, which is currently in its soft-opening stage. A slew of events are planned throughout the summer, including the Farmer’s Market Summer Sizzle Series, the Ice Cream Zoofari, the Summer Concert Series, Cruisin’ Weekend, Dancing in the Streets, Movies
AGRICULTURE
in the Gardens, and the Annual Cornhole Showdown. Public comment opened up for any items which were not on the night’s agenda, and the public offered no comment. The meeting then moved on to the public hearings regarding the proposed annexation of Community Facilities District No. 2005-1. Draft Resolution A authorizing the levy of a special tax and submitting the levy of a special tax to qualified electors was approved 5-0. A special election was conducted in which landowner ballots were collected and counted by the City Clerk. The landowners voted CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
WEATHER
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