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Hometown News Since 1889
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Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXI, NO. XXXIII
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
COMMUNITY
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North County Farmers Markets Provide Local Fresh Produce Eating locally means supporting local families and your local economy
By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
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here was a time when everyone grew their own food. Everyone had a garden, a flock of chickens, dairy cows and goats, and maybe a few hogs. You only ate what you grew or raised yourself. Then came the grocery store. People became used to the convenience of running to the store to grab what they needed for dinner that night. Soon, many of us lost the art of garden and husbandry. But there are those out there who keep the tradition of growing their food alive. They grow for themselves, and they grow for you, the consumer. Throughout North County and the Central Coast, we are privileged to eat fresh and local food every day. Locally grown means the product was grown and harvested within 100 miles of your city. Local farmers provide various produce, fruits, olive oils, meat, honey, and almost anything you can think of. Bobbi Connor, owner of The Natural Alternative Nutrition Center in Paso Robles and Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbalist, always suggests
local honey for those struggling with allergies. Connor also suggests eating locally grown food because you know where it is coming from, and you know it is fresh because it hasn’t been shipped from all over. One of the best places to purchase from local farmers is by shopping at farmers’ markets. There are four farmers’ markets each week in North County. The North County Farmers’ Market Association (NCFMA) brings the community four local markets every week, year-round, even throughout the pandemic since 1985. “I believe that one of the best places to support locals is your little farmers’ markets in each little town,” says Robyn Gable, manager of the North County Farmers Market Association, “You can get fresh produce, it lasts longer, and it’s fresher. The people, a lot of times, pick it fresh that morning to sell.” Most importantly, eating locally means supporting local families and your local economy. “You’re also going to be supporting so many families. Not only the farmer’s families but sometimes they hire people to sell for them, so at this market today, you’re
County ordinance currently in place for Paso Robles Groundwater Basin set to expire in January 2022 By MELISSA MATTSON melissa@pasoroblespress.com
supporting maybe 13 families, maybe more. All you have to do is buy eggs over here and get some bread over there and some fresh produce here and there,” Gable said. Shopping at farmers’ markets ensures you will be eating seasonally. Seasonal produce has been harvested at prime ripeness, creating nutrient-dense produce. When shopping at farmers’ markets, consumers can build a
By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) School Board met on Tuesday night for their regularly scheduled meeting. During general public comment for items not on the agenda, caller Jesus Cendejas addressed a statement made by Board President Chris Arend during the Jan. 12 meeting in response to public callers calling in to speak in Spanish. See our previous article for the comment made by Arend and the context of the meeting: pasoroblespress.com/news/
BUSINESS
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COMMUNITY
such as wipes, gloves, and disposable masks. They ask that after you protect yourself and others, don’t forget to protect the planet as well and throw away your trash. Atascadero City Manager Rachelle Rickard reported in her City Manager report at Tuesday nights City Council Meeting that there has been a lot of discussions on social media regarding the Atascadero Creek. Residents have reported that the creek under the El Camino bridge behind Century 21 was an “ecological disaster in the heart of the city.”The creek runs behind Malibu Brew, the Historical Society, City Hall, and the middle school and reported to be full of trash, according to one community member, with items such as bags of trash, tents, shopping carts, and various other items. Rickard shared that the Earth Shine organizaCONTINUED ON PAGE A15
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relationship with the farmer. Meet them face to face and ask about their practices, their history, why they love farming their crop. “Throughout the pandemic and before we continue to have loyal farmers and shoppers — we follow state guidelines as outlined by the San Luis County Health Officer,” Gable said, “we will adjust and mold to whatever comes next to keep the markets going.” Many restaurants take advan-
tage and use local ingredients for specials on their menu. The majority of the food vendors at farmers’ markets use produce from the market as well. Alicia Denchasy, an owner of A-Town Humble Pies, says, “90 percent of all our products are all through what we can get through the farmers market.” When asked why Denchasy CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
NON-PROFIT
Paso Robles School Board Addresses Key Items on 7-11 Committee Report
Trustee Arend receives criticism from Cuesta College Board Student Trustee during public comment
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The SLO County Board of Supervisors met today, Jan. 26, starting at 9 a.m. and continued throughout the day discussing the many items facing the county. The board approved Maryanne Zarycka as the District 1 representative to the Commission on Aging, John DeCou as District 5 representative to the First and Games Fines Committee, Ann Cochrane as the District 1 representative to the Parks and Recreation Commission, Paavo Ogren to the Water Resource Advisory Committee as the District 3 representative, Tom Ikeda as the District 3 representative to the Agricultural Liaison Advisory Committee, Craig Pritchard to the Agricultural Liaison Advisory Committee as the District 1 representative, Erica Baltodano to the Civil Service Commission as the District 3 representative. The board heard from Karen Lange and Paul Yoder of the Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer and Lange regarding the state legislative platform and the potential changes regarding renters and small landlords. The moratorium on evictions that was due to end Jan. 31 is looking to be extended to June. With the additional funds, the state received this year, specifically because of AirBNB and Door Dash going public, there is available funding to be allocated for renters and landlords. In effect, landlords who are willing to extend rent forgiveness looking backward will be eligible to receive aid from the federal government for up to 70 percent of the rent owed, in exchange for an agreement to continue to forgive 30 percent of the rent going forward. The two most significant topics on the agenda were the potential lawsuit against Governor Gavin Newsom to remove San Luis Obispo County from the Southern California Region and the direction on land use policy development for the Paso Robles groundwater basin.
The North County Farmers’ Market Association (NCFMA) brings the community four local markets every week, year-round, even throughout the pandemic since 1985. Photos by Camille DeVaul
EDUCATION
prjusd-addresses-certified-translator-georgia-brown-and-updatesto-covid-19/ Cendejas said, “Hello respected members of the board, this is Student trustee, Jesus Cendejas, from the San Luis Obispo County Community College District or in shorter the Cuesta Board, and I’m calling on to speak on an addendum, not on the agenda item. When it came to trustee Chris Arend’s inappropriate comments saying that California was in English only state. Which stock is inaccurate. Yes, Proposition 22 was deemed a racist law, and I’ll be the first to say it, Chris, you need to go. I order you and humbly ask that you resign effective immediately due to your inflammatory and discriminatory comments and while violating Brown Act procedures and interrupting public comment. This should be a clear indication of institutionalized racism in this District. I do not believe that as public institutions that were given money by the government, we should abide by non-discrimination statute, and I don’t see that to be the case here, which troubles me.
County Board of Supervisors Discuss Possible Lawsuit Against Governor Newsom
Earth Shine is a volunteer group that helps keep their local communities clean and beautiful by picking up litter on streets, beaches, trails, and riverbeds. Photos by Earth Shine Volunteers
Earth Shine’s Team of Volunteers on a Mission to Keep the Central Coast Clean By HAYLEY MATTSON hayley@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — Earth Shine is a non-profit organization that meets every second Saturday of each month in a community on the Central Coast and every third Saturday at the River Walk in Paso Robles. Their events generally happen between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Earth Shine is a volunteer group that hopes to inspire others to help keep their local community clean and looking beautiful by picking up litter on streets, beaches, trails, and riverbeds. On Saturday, Jan. 9, the Earth Shine volunteer team was in San Miguel and cleaned up several truckloads of trash that even included furniture, and then headed out to do it all again on Jan. 16, where they cleaned up Salinas River Walk. During the pandemic, the volunteers started noticing new items along with their trash pick up,
COVID-19 UPDATE
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PASO ROBLES INCENTIVE Program “Keep It Local”underway to support local businesses | A2
BAY THEATRE FOR SALE End of an Era for Morro Bay Theater Owner After 25 Years | A3
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS Lift Regional Stay at Home Order for All Regions | A5
AGE WITH STYLE & GRACE Learn ways to slow, or even reverse, the hands of time | A13
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