GOOD NEWS. REAL NEWS. HOMETOWN NEWS.
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXI, NO. XLII
THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
EVENT
ANNIVERSARY
Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Celebrates Successful ‘Vintage Paso’
Templeton Hills Community Farm Prepares for First Anniversary Celebration By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com TEMPLETON — Templeton Hills Community Farm will be celebrating its First Anniversary on Sunday, Apr. 18. Members of the farm invite everyone to join them for a farm tour, refreshments, and fresh produce as they celebrate one year of impacting their community. Open to all members of the community, the farm is located between the Templeton Hills Seventh-Day Adventist Church and school. The farm opened in March 2020, right at the start of the pandemic. But despite lockdowns, the farm managed to more than double their crop production within one year. Pastor Zac Page of the Templeton Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church said, “During these difficult times when people have been feeling socially isolated, the farm has become a place for people of CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
Another successful Zinfest weekend in the bag! Shared Castoro Wine with a big thanks to all who came out and safely celebrated with us! “Mr. Rock and Roll himself, Greg Phifer,” (pictured right) started 18 years ago on Mar. 20 at Castoro. Photo courtesy of Castoro Cellars
Over 100 wineries participated in the COVID-friendly event, welcoming visitors back safely By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
P
aso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA) celebrated their Vintage Paso: Zinfandel weekend on Mar. 19 through the 21. More than 100 wineries participated in the newly designed and COVID-friendly event.
In previous years, PRWCA hosted a single marquee event featuring Paso Robles Zinfandel wines with indoor wine tasting, food, and music. Due to COVID restrictions on large indoor gatherings, PRWCA had to change things up a bit. Vintage Paso: Zinfandel has been taking place since 2014 and was previously known as the Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival. However, the PRWCA has been hosting a Zinfandel-themed festival on the third weekend of March since 1992. Instead of hosting one single event, Vintage Paso was spread across three days, with wineries hosting their own outdoor
events while still adhering to county and state health guidelines. “By hosting individual, smaller scale and more intimate events, they were able to welcome visitors safely back into wine country. The weekend weather was spectacular and allowed for visitors to be outdoors and socially separated. Wineries provided some entertainment and food options through the weekend to visitors who were mostly welcomed by reservation only,” said Chris Taranto, the Communications Director at PRWCA. Wineries like Sarzotti Family Vineyards and Winery provided a tri-tip lunch and
PASO PEOPLE
musical entertainment with their tasting. Ranchita Canyon poured three different Zinfandel wines paired with small specialty bites. Many wineries throughout the county had music and specialty food for their weekend tasters. All the participating wineries were by reservation only, and many of them were completely booked up for the weekend, meaning a successful three days for the wineries overall. Each year, the PRWCA hosts three large events, which come with themed weekends CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
HOLIDAY
Robert (Bobby) Oeck ‘Son of Paso Robles’ By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
S
ome have called him the “Son of Paso Robles,” being his birthday, October 9, 1944, often lands on Pioneer Day. Some also call him brother, a friend, and a square dance partner. His name is Robert (Bobby) Oeck. He is a Paso Robles High School Alumni and Paso Robles native with deep family ties to the town. And when Bobby was only 12 years old, he was in a car accident that changed his life forever. In June of 1956, while on a road trip near Denver, Colorado, with his grandfather, Max Oeck Sr. suffered an apparent heart attack, and their vehicle missed a curve, going over a 10-foot embankment. Unfortunately, Max Oeck Sr. did not survive, and Bobby’s recovery was often described as a miracle. When Bobby was found in the aftermath of the accident, he was believed to be dead. But after finding a faint heartbeat was rushed to the Children’s Hospital in Denver. Bobby and his grandfather Max Oeck were the only two in the vehicle at the time. After two operations, Bobby was in a coma for six weeks. Miraculously on the road to recovery from a compound skull fracture,
SPORTS
Virtual Egg Hunt Brings Community Together for the Second Year By CAMILLE DeVAUL a total of 193 entries in 17 states camille@pasoroblespress.com and four countries and counting. Paso Robles native Robert “Bobby” Oeck was in a terrible accident at the age of 12 while visiting his grandparents in Colorado. Now 64 years later he shares his memories of his life well lived. Photos courtesy of Kim Oeck
extensive brain damage, loss of sight in his left eye, and even the loss of his sense of smell. In an article published on the Denver Post’s front page, printed Wednesday, May 10, 1961, and sold for 5 cents, it says Bobby returned to school after a year of home tutoring. His mother, Patricia Heaton-Oeck, said his recovery was “like a miracle.” Kim Oeck, Bobby’s younger brother, said, “They didn’t think he had a chance of surviving the accident.” After Bobby’s recovery from his near-death
COMMUNITY
experience, he had to make several adjustments. See, Bobby is left-handed, and he shot using his left eye, which he lost his sight in from the accident. Learning to shoot right-handed ended up not being a problem for Bobby, “I had no depth perception at all and had to go for about six months or so before I got my depth perception back in my single eye--I had to switch to be a right-handed shooter, and I found that I CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
COVID-19 UPDATE
AGRICULTURE
TEMPLETON — Last Easter, in lieu of COVID lockdowns, some Templeton residents started a virtual egg hunt, resulting in an international phenomenon. With the help of friends in the community, Shauna Soltero brought the idea of a virtual egg hunt to life. Originally, Soltero thought the hunt would only reach North County. To her surprise, eggs were found in 2,096 locations, including 43 states and 16 countries. This year, as of Mar. 30, there are
“It’s so beautiful to see the smiles on people’s faces and everybody getting involved. I love that about our community in general,” said Soltero. Soltero originally came up with the egg hunt idea to cheer up children who were missing out on their traditional Easter egg hunts, which were canceled along with all other social activities. Unintentionally, the egg decorating and virtual hunt became more than just for the children. CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
pasoroblespress.com
WEATHER
twitter.com/ @PasoRoblesPress facebook.com/ @PasoRoblesPress
ROTARY CLUBS COLLABORATE to support the homeless and provide networking for local business | A4
13 CALIFORNIA COUNTIES Move to Less Restrictive Tier, SLO Remains in Red | A5
AG WEEK HIGHLIGHTS Farmers’ Resilience, but the Hard Work is Only the Beginning | A13
High 86° | Low 42°
5
67808 24135
SUPPORT LOCAL
LOCAL NEWS. LOCAL PUBLISHING. LOCAL BUSINESS.
pasoroblespress.com
(805) 237-6060 | office@13starsmedia.com
e Scan her arted! t s t e g o t
o be t
7
the Paso Roble s s Pres
Not only do you have the power to choose the subscription that fits your life, but when you advertise, you will broaden your reach into target markets throughout the Central Coast, from Ventura County to Monterey County!
Subs cri
BEARCAT FOOTBALL Find Their Identity Friday Night with a come-back win over SLO | A2