Templeton Life AUGUST 2014
TCC stars shine bright
2nd annual Gala event a great success By Allyson Oken Of Templeton Life
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EMPLETON — July 12 marked the culmination of the Templeton Chamber of Commerce celebration of the Night of 1,000 Stars. A gala event hosted by the Chamber for two years running that continues to grow. With nearly six months at the reins, a great community of supporters and volunteers, the Templeton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sarah Maggelet continues to exceed expectations. The night at The Groves on 41 kicked off with appetizers, schmoozing and drinks, followed by a catered dinner, awards ceremony and live and silent auctions. This year, awards were presented to the Ambassador of the Year, Citizens of the Year and the Business of the Year. The night also served as an installation dinner for the board. Dick Mason was the emcee for the night. Supervisors Frank Mecham and Debbie Arnold as well as Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian helped present the awards. Ambassador of the Year went to Kristen Handley. Becky Paulos, who presented the award, said, “This person here she does everything. I don’t know how she does it. She is always there to help. Thanks you so much for all you do.”
Bruno Martinelli and The Martinelli Vineyard Story Bruno Martinelli at his home on 10 acres on Creston Road, where he grows pomegranates and has a small grape vineyard. Photo by Connie Pillsbury
By Connie Pillsbury For Templeton Life
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madeo Martinelli was born in Italy in the 1890’s and immigrated to Templeton around 1920, at first making charcoal from oaks in the hills. In 1926, Martinelli purchased 25 acres on Ridge Road, planted grapes and cherries and built a home and winery. After his first wife died, he married Sunny, daughter
of good friend Joe Venturini. Later, he and Sunny divorced and the property was split, leaving him 10.8 acres, the home and winery. Amadeo had no children with his first two wives. It would be later, in 1958 on a trip to Posina, Italy, that Amadeo Martinelli would acquire a family. It was there that he met and fell in love with Rina Fossati, born in 1918. Rina had endured the hard times of World War II when extreme poverty necessitated
that she put her three younger children in orphanages. Her two daughters went to a home run by nuns, and her son, Bruno, age three, to a boy’s orphanage in Bologna. Due to neglect, Bruno ended up in the hospital with severe frostbite to his hands and feet and failing health at age 9. Somehow, the orphanage contacted his mother and said if she didn’t come get him, he would not survive. Up until this point, Bruno did not know that he had a family. He was shocked when he got off the bus in Posina to find he had two much older half-siblings and two half-sisters also brought home by their mother. It was soon after this reunion that his mother met and married Martinelli at the local courthouse. Amadeo Martinelli returned to Templeton by himself, sold a restaurant he had won at cards, (he was quite the gambler) and sent for his new wife, Rina and her younger daughter, then later for the older daughter and Bruno. When Bruno got on the plane for Los Angeles, he had just his shirt, shorts and sandals. He didn’t own a suitcase and wouldn’t have had anything to put in it if he did. Amadeo immediately adopted the three children, and Italian-speaking Bruno started Templeton School in both fifth grade and kindergarten to learn English. One funny story is that when he was eating his typical Italian sack lunch of salami, cheese, French bread and a jar of wine at school, the principal, aghast, tried to ask him what he was doing, but he didn’t understand. He was just eating the lunch that Mama had packed him. Tragically, in April of 1960, Amadeo Martinelli passed away. Two of his devoted friends, Joe Dusi and Roy Giandinni, stepped in to help Rina learn the vineyard business and assist with the children. Rina didn’t speak much English, but she talked with her hands and spoke through her big spaghetti feeds with homemade pasta. Bruno worked alongside Mama in the early mornings before school, hoeing and picking grapes. “If I didn’t wake up, mama would throw cold water on my face,” he laughs. At Templeton High, Coach Simmons was the key to his survival, mentoring him in sports and American life and encouraging him to go out for basketball. In 1965, Bruno stood in a courtroom and became an American citizen. After graduating from High School, he joined the Navy twoyear program due to his low draft number and was sent to Europe, allowing him to visit his brother in Posina. In 1972, he married Please turn to Page 4
Please turn to Page 4
Templeton teen earns Miss Mid-State title By Paula McCambridge Of Templeton Life
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DDG Approved? 2 THS FFA wins big 2 This ‘n’ That 4 TCSD talks Nacimiento 5 Nov. ballot 5 Community Calendar 6 TES Second-Graders 8
Monthly publication dedicated to covering Everything Templeton, CA
Taylor Mae Lindquist of Templeton won the title of queen at the California MidState Fair pageant this year. Photo by Paula McCambridge
PASO ROBLES — Taylor Mae Lindquist, 18, of Templeton, won the title of Miss California Mid-State Fair on July 15 in a stiff competition of 12 talented North County women. Along with Lindquist’s queen title, two princesses were named — First Runner-Up Lauren Rodrigues, 20, of Paso Robles, and Second Runner-Up Devin Corea, 17, of Paso Robles, and Rebecca Sligh, 18, of Templeton was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants. Lindquist strolled through the competition with confidence throughout, from her talent on flute playing Disney’s Cruella de Vil to her march down the catwalk in her swimsuit to the evening gown competition in which she wore red.
This year marked the 45th year of the fair pageant and the 16th year it’s been directed by Patti Lucas who told the crowd, “I just really enjoy doing this part of the fair and giving back.” Contestants competed in five areas: Interview, platform, talent, swimsuit, and evening wear. All contestants established a platform of service for the fair. The platform will be completed during the 2015 fair. Lindquist’s platform is “FFA? Get Agucated!” She will educate the public about the role of FFA in the community through local farmers’ markets and had educational booth at the fair. The other eight contestants were Summer Botts, 17, of Paso Robles; Denise Carigo, 20, of Atascadero; Dianna Dawson, 18, of Templeton;
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