GOOD NEWS. REAL NEWS. HOMETOWN NEWS.
SINCE 1889 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ VOL. CXXXII, NO. I
THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021
EDUCATION
Item J.3. description says:
The attached Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 6144 – “Academic Freedom/Controversial Issues” describe the Board’s role and duty in addressing the discussion of controversial issues in the district’s classrooms. Staff believes the subject of Critical Race Theory (CRT) should be debated or discussed in a class solely as a controversial issue not presented in any way as fact. Care, in particular, must be taken in ANY discussion about CRT to conform with AR 6144, which stipulates in particular, “6. The discussion does not reflect adversely upon persons because of their race, sex, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, handicap, or occupation.” CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
SPORT
NORTH COUNTY — On Saturday, Jun. 19, at the El Camino Homeless Shelter in Atascadero, located at 6370 Atascadero Ave, a few key individuals joined together to witness a special award being presented to the organization. El Camino Homeless Organization’s (ECHO) Executive Director Wendy Lewis, alongside Kandy Noel, ECHO’s Board Chair, and Amy Freeman, board member, was awarded the 2021 California Nonprofit of the Year by Senator John Laird. “We are deeply humbled to be recognized by Senator John Laird as a 2021 Nonprofit of the Year,” Lewis shared as she accepted the award. Laird represents District 17 of the California State Senate, which includes Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo Counties, as well as parts of Monterey and Santa Clara Counties. “Out of all the nonprofits, ECHO was an easy choice, and it is wonderful to be here in San
Luis Obispo County,” Senator Laird explained. Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno and Councilmember Susan Funk were also present. “To pick ECHO as the nonprofit of the year from the entire district which encompasses multiple counties says a lot about ECHO,” Mayor Moreno stated. “There are so many good nonprofits from which to choose, and we here, I think, I can be biased, certainly, and think they do such a wonderful job, but I think we have really seen the growth in ECHO in the last several years, the investment from Must! Charities, how they have expended not just here in Atascadero but to Paso also here with the warming center...not at all surprised that they won nonprofit of the year.” Traditionally, honorees and legislators are invited to a celebratory luncheon on California Nonprofits Day. This year, like 2020, the luncheon was canceled in response to pandemic restrictions. Lewis shared, “It is pretty amazing to be on Pictured from left to right: ECHO Board Member Amy Freeman, ECHO Board, Kandy CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
IN MEMORIAM
Noel, ECHO Board Chair, Wendy Lewis, ECHO President/CEO; Senator John Laird, Atascadero Mayor Heather Moreno, Atascadero City Council Member Susan Funk. Photo by Hayley Mattson
CALSS OF 2021
PRHS Class of 2021 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
A celebration of life for Logan Castillo will be held on Thursday Jun. 24 at 3 p.m. Contributed Photo
Logan Castillo, A Brilliant, Super Smart, and Kind Boy
Local ten-year-old boy dies after being diagnosed with Stage 3 Burkitt’s Lymphoma By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
PASO ROBLES — On Saturday, Jun. 19, Logan Castillo passed away at 1:30 a.m. with his parents Leo and Katie by his side. Logan was ten years old. A celebration of life for Logan will be held on Thurs. Jun. 24 at 3 p.m. at the Riverstar Vineyards in San Miguel. The celebration will be casual and cozy, just like Logan. Logan’s father, Leo Castillo, said, “He was a stubborn boy, but he was brilliant. Super smart and super kind.” On Sunday, Jun. 13, Logan was taken to the emergency room at Twin Cities Hospital in Templeton after having flu-like symptoms for a week. According to Leo, his son looked drastically different within that one week of being sick and lost 10 pounds in seven days. A tumor was found while at Twin Cities, and because Logan’s stomach was swelling, he and his father Leo were driven by ambulance to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. There, doctors identified Logan had Stage 3 Burkitt’s
HOLIDAY
Lymphoma in his abdomen. Quickly, Logan began chemotherapy, but his body was not responding to the treatment. Logan was then flown to a hospital in Los Angeles for dialysis treatment. Unfortunately, that night Logan did not make it. “I want to reiterate to people how sacred human life is, and it’s so nice to see kindness in a world that we’re living in. [We are] complete strangers to the Santa Barbara area but yet Santa Barbara went completely above and beyond,” said Leo. A GoFundMe page was set up on Jun. 17 to help the Castillo family with medical expenses. In five days, the fund has raised over $43,000. Leo said, “I want people to know how important these last few weeks have been because of the community themselves. I am baffled and floored by the amount of support in Santa Barbara, the amount of support that we’re getting here in town.” CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
SMART CASE UPDATE
With a 4.74 and 4.68 GPA both seniors are ready for their next phase in life to begin By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
Valedictorian Kristal Roman Kristal Roman Romero graduated from Paso Robles High School (PRHS) with a 4.74 GPA. Kristal will be furthering her academic career at the University of California, Berkeley, where she plans on double majoring in political science and ethnic studies. She intends to use these degrees to prepare her for a career as a civil rights lawyer. “I like Berkley’s history in social and political activism because that is something I hope to be involved with when I get to college. Another thing that was important to me was how diverse their campus is,”
Salutatorian
PASO ROBLES — The Paso Robles, Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) Board of Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Jun. 22. In what was a heated meeting from start to finish, during general public, residents raised concerns that ranged from issues with the Spanish to English translation, teachers asking for students’ pronouns, critical race theory, and potential closure of the Georgia Brown Elementary School campus. Superintendent Curt Dubost has clarified that no decision has been made to close Georgia Brown in previous meetings. Jesus Cendejas, a former trustee at Cuesta College, called in to address diversity, equity, and inclusion. “I want to start off with a history lesson. In the 1930s in Frankfurt, Germany, there came a group of Jewish intellectuals that came up with the school of critical thought in response to the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany. They were then banned and exiled from that country because they were Jewish and they held leftist views. Critical Race Theory is something we need. But I don’t want to focus on that because the white supremacy that has been allowed to boil in this district is unacceptable, hearing the translator. This is a clear violation of the civil rights, non-discrimination statute that has been passed down decades ago. If this is your warning that this Board is failing in its commitment to its students and parents, Chris, Dorian, I know you hear me. We are watching you. And there will be measures taken against this Board and its continued civil rights procedural violation.” Cendejas continued with statements criticizing the Board and then was stopped because his three minutes for public comment was over. President Arend then reminded the public that comments regarding discussion item J.3. Discussion of Board Policy 6144 and Critical Race Theory (CRT) will need to call and comment when the Board gets to that item.
By HAYLEY MATTSON hayley@pasoroblespress.com
Mya Castelli
By CAMILLE DeVAUL camille@pasoroblespress.com
El Camino Homeless Organization Awarded 2021 Non-Profit of the Year
Valedictorian
Third public hearing held to discuss By-Trustee Area Election System
NON-PROFIT
Kristal Roman
Board of Trustees Discuss Critical Race Theory
pasoroblespress.com • $1.00 • WEEKLY
Kristal explained. Berkley was one of Romero’s top choices of universities. While Kristal almost always knew she wanted to be a lawyer, it wasn’t until her junior year she was inspired to add ethnic studies to her list. During the civil rights unit in her AP history class, Kristal was inspired by the stories of hardships people of color have faced and wanted to pursue further education in ethnic studies. Kristal has spent the last four years tirelessly developing all facets of herself-- in the classroom, on the tennis courts, and in her community. Having taken a total of 11 advanced placement classes, including every AP social science class offered and seven honors classes, Kristal has proven to be a more than capable student. In her three years playing varsity tennis, Kristal was named co-captain for two of them, and has also CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
GOVERNMENT
Supervisors Will Hold A Special Meeting on Cannabis Tax Rate
County of SLO recognizes June 19 as Juneteenth By MELISSA MATTSON melissa@pasoroblespress.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors held a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Jun. 22 at 9 a.m. This was the first in-person meeting since COVID-19 restrictions began, and remote participation will no longer be conducted. Cheryl Vines of the NAACP received the resolution recognizing Saturday, Jun. 19 as Juneteenth
SENIOR LIVING
in the County of San Luis Obispo in person from Supervisor Bruce Gibson. Items 10 and 22 were pulled from the consent agenda for a separate vote. Item 10 was Salinan Tribe of San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties. Supervisor Dawn OrtizLegg moved approval of item 10 with the amendment to the verbiage to include the Salinan Tribe of San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties. The motion passed 4-0, with Supervisor Arnold abstaining from the vote. Item 22; Request to approve a contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $244,668 to prepare an Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Paso Basin Land Use Planting Ordinance, contingent on adoption of the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Recommended Budget. Supervisor
Gibson pulled this item to state that he is of the opinion that the item is a mistake. Supervisor Debbie Arnold made a motion to approve the item. She referenced the emergency ordinance from 2014, which stopped certain agricultural businesses, which she feels is unfair, and that this item will create a more fair distribution for Paso Robles. The item passed 4-1, with Supervisor Gibson in opposition. The remaining consent agenda passed 5-0. Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Public Health Officer, spoke on the 68 new cases over the last few weeks and that COVID is not gone but that no deaths have occurred in over a month. She highlighted the changes that have occurred since CONTINUED ON PAGE A15
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WEATHER
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PRHS SCHOLAR ATHLETES recognized for their scholastic and athletic prowess | A2
TEMPLETON 4TH OF JULY “Hometown Hospitality” Parade will happen | A4
SMART CASE PRELIMINARY hearing will not be live-streamed | A5
THE THINKING WORKOUT – activity can help slow age-related mental decline | A13
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