The Paso Robles Press • March 18, 2021

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GOOD NEWS. REAL NEWS. HOMETOWN NEWS.

SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXI, NO. XL

THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021

pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY

COUNTY

ART & FILM

GOVERNMENT

Supervisors Vote on Groundwater Management Staffing Needs

Brittany App Debuts Her First Film:

‘Where There Once Was Water’ Paso Robles City Council Appoints Interim City Manager

Board of Supervisors addresses housing needs and water issues facing the county

Downtown Parking Advisory Commission Recommends Extending Senior Permits

By MELISSA MATTSON melissa@pasoroblespress.com SAN LUIS OBISPO — The County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, Mar. 16, for a regularly scheduled meeting. The consent agenda was passed unanimously, 5-0, before the Board went on to the other items, starting with the COVID19 update from County Health Advisor Penny Borenstein. Borenstein mentioned the one-year mark for the county from our first case a year ago on Mar. 14. Currently, there are nine people in the hospital, which is the first time the county has been in single digits since November 2020. Vaccinations have nearly reached 12,000 individuals and have been opened up to more employment sectors, including anyone in childcare, emergency services, food and agriculture, public transit, and residents of congregate care settings. Additionally, any private individuals ages 16-65 who have underlying health conditions can now also sign up for the vaccination. Borenstein recapped the update on the allowances in the red tier, including live music and youth sports, at 20 percent capacity. Wineries and breweries may now serve outdoor, without serving a meal, but must schedule by reservations and be limited to 90 minutes. Following Borenstein was a presentation by Guy Savage on the America Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which is what the federal government is doing in response to COVID, introducing the 1.9 trillion dollar package. This plan also includes the payments to individuals in the form of a stimulus, as well as extended unemployment, set to continue through September. Lastly, there is funding for states, localities, and schools. California in total will receive a little over 42 billion, with 26 of that being allocated to the state and the rest going to cities and counties. CONTINUED ON PAGE A15

SPORTS

By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com

“We didn’t feel as though we lost out by going virtual in terms of participation this year. We were very fortunate,” Shari Frace explained. “We were able to carry on the race that we set out to do in the very beginning,

PASO ROBLES — The process of hiring a replacement City Manager is taking much longer than anticipated by the City. Starting on Apr. 19, Greg Carpenter will step in as interim City Manager. In November 2020, current City Manager Tom Frutchey announced his planned departure from the City in February 2021. Council unanimously approved Carpenter to act as a temporary City Manager until the City has found a permanent replacement. Carpenter was previously City Manager for the City of Long Beach from 2002-2008. From 2008-2012 Carpenter was Director of Planning and Building Safety for the City of El Segundo and then was their City Manager from 2012-2019. During the meeting, Carpenter introduced himself. For the past 13 years, Carpenter has owned a home just outside of Paso and is looking forward to getting to know the town more. Council was given suggestions for adjustments to the downtown parking program from the Downtown Parking Advisory Commission. From the agenda report: “On Sep. 9, 2020, the Downtown Parking Advisory Commis-

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Local photographer Brittany App debuted her first film, “Where There Once Was Water,” at this years San Luis Obispo Virtual Film Festival on Mar. 14. App directed and produced the film, which took five years to complete. READ FULL STORY ON PAGE A13

FUNDRAISER

3rd Annual Virtual Chicken Run a Success Amid the Pandemic Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation offers scholarships for high school track and cross country athletes By CONNOR ALLEN connor@pasoroblespress.com

T

he Annual Brynn and Brittni Frace Memorial Running Chicken Fun Run Fundraiser was a success in its third year even though it was forced to operate virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual race has historically been held through the hills of Santa Margarita Lake, where the participants celebrate the spirit and love of running that Brynn and “Bitti” shared during their lives. This year from Jan. 3 through the 31st, runners could share that same spirit from the location of their choosing. Brynn and Brittni were more than running enthusiasts — they were life enthusiasts. The light they carried with them wherever they

Participants of The Chicken Run 2021 smile for the camera while on their own course they created. Contributed photo

went continues to shine through the Chicken Run event that carries their namesake, and although the participants were not allowed to gather all together for a day full of miles and smiles, this year, the public still showed their support as 320 people registered for the annual event.

HISTORY

Paso Robles Pioneer Museum Reopens Thursday, March 18 By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com

Paso Robles Pioneer Museum reopens with new exhibits. Contributed Photo

IN MEMORIAM

PASO ROBLES — After a year of being closed, the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum is reopening its doors on Thursday, Mar. 18. Located on Riverside Ave. next to the Mid-State Fairgrounds, the Pioneer Museum was created in 1971. The Pioneer Museum closed its doors in

COVID-19 UPDATE

early 2020 due to COVID lockdowns. In late October of last year, the museum opened only to be shut down again less than a month later when San Luis Obispo County was moved back into the Purple Tier and then lockeddown once again along with Los Angeles County. Docents of the museum will be touring the exhibits for a grand reopening on Wednesday, Mar. 17. The museum will be open to

WEEKLY FEATURE

the public on Thursday, Mar. 18. According to Paulette Pahler, despite having to be closed for so long, it gave them time to put together some new exhibits. One of the newest displays shows the history of Paso Robles schools, dating all the way back to 1877. The new branding iron display, which CONTINUED ON PAGE A15

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WEATHER

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SPORTS BACK IN FULL SWING with more to come as football, baseball and softball make their return | A3

MEMORIAL CRUISE DEDICATED SLO COUNTY VACCINE to Trevon Perry on the first anniversary of Task Force expands eligibility as CDPH his murder | A4 grants graduation planning | A5

BRITTANY APP DEBUTS her first film at the San Luis Obispo Film Festival | A13

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