January 2014

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25 January 2014 pasoroblesmagazine.com

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Paso Robles Magazine, January 2014

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STUNNING ESTATE IN CRESTON A 3,400 sq. ft. home, 160 acres, gated privacy and 50 mile views equidistant between Atascadero and Paso Robles. The immaculate 4 bedroom/4 ½ bath home features every amenity one could want in private living. Each room’s layout plus an 1800 sq. ft. cabinet maker’s shop and the ultimate in building materials sets this luxurious property apart from all others. From the horse facilities to the gardens, every detail screams that this is for a very sophisticated new owner. Call for complete list of features.

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RANCHO SALINAS Luxury! Custom home on 2.5 acres, 2,330 sf with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Home theater/audio system and elegant amenities. 3 car garage, gated entry, 5,000 gallon water tank, storage building, equestrian facilities and perimeter fencing.

SPECTACULAR ESTATE IN PASO ROBLES 70+/- ac. under Williamson Act. Ideal for viticulturists, wine enthusiasts, equestrians. 23 ac. of cabernet savignon, 3 wells. Equestrian facilty has 6 stall barn, hay barn, corrals, lighted arena. 3 mobile homes for guests. Main home is 3,600 sf, 4 bd/2ba, hardwood floors, views. In-ground pool & spa. $2,395,000

HERITAGE RANCH RETREAT 1,440 sq. ft. of relaxing space in a 2br/2bath manufactured home. Carpet and tile flooring throughout. Wonderful kitchen, breakfast bar, large living room plus separate, spacious family room. Amenities include walkin pantry, separate laundry room w/sink, storage shed, lovely deck in the back yard w/hot tub and scenic views. Very comfortable and well maintained.

AMAZING OPPORTUNITY Two Commercial Retail condos consisting of 2500 sq. ft. in the San Jacinto Center in Atascadero. Built in 2000, this outstanding complex has Hwy. 101 exposure with unique interior improvements. Open bay high ceilings means the sky is the limit. (Low HOA fees)

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January 2014, Paso Robles Magazine

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CONTENTS

JANUARY 2014

volume 13 number 9

A Monthly Look at Life in our Remarkable Communities

Feature S tories

16 Expert Prognostications for 2014

40 Round Town

• Mayor Duane Picanco - All Signs Are Pointing Positive • Supervisor Frank Mecham - Where to Steer San Luis Obispo County? • City Manager Jim App - Encouraging Signs as We Celebrate our 125 th Anniversary • REALTOR Chuck Hill - ‘Good old-fashioned steady growth’ • Bruce Curtis - New Laws on the Books for 2014 • Randolph Kohn - 3 Favorable Trends for SLO County in 2014

48 Business

• Message from a Monument - the Derby Wine Estates transformation of an icon • Paso Robles Insurance Agency/INSURICA Celebrates 75 Years • Business Spotlight - a Column by Millie Drum • Paso Chamber’s Annual Dinner and Awards Gala • Art & Wine Festival in Cambria • Happy Homecoming: Templeton Native Tiffney Taylor, D.O. returns • Twin Cities Community Hospital Honored • January is Restaurant Month in SLO County • More At the Library

28 City of Paso Robles Library and Recreation

Cool stuff to do for the month ahead!

56 Time & Place

44 Hoofbeat

Hoofbeat Calendar and Trail Tales - by Dorothy Rogers

Chamber Welcomes Nine New Board Members

EDITORIAL DEADLINE:

7th of each month preceding publication

10 Ol’ Oaken Bucket

ADVERTISING DEADLINE:

Filled with Humor, Timely Tidbits, and Mesmorizing Memorabilia..stuff you didn’t realize you need to know

10 th of each month preceding publication

HOW TO REACH US

12 Education

Phone: (805) 239-1533 E-mail: [email protected] Mailing address: P.O. Box 3996, Paso Robles, CA 93447 In town drop off: Dutch Maytag, 1501 Riverside, Paso Robles Web: pasoroblesmagazine.com

• Mrs. Bedell is back at the helm • DreamWeaver to hold auditions soon for April production • Lace up your running shoes for Fun Run 2014

38 Paso People

Founding Co-Publisher: Karen Chute 1949-2004 Publisher/Editor: Bob Chute Editorial Consultant: Chris Weygandt Alba

Advertising: Millie Drum, Pam Osborn, Jamie Self, Melissa Chavez, and Bob Chute

WE VALUE YOUR INPUT!

• ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’ to Gather No. Co. Churches • Paso Robles to Honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy • Former Councilman Gary Nemeth is on the Mend • At the Library - Volunteer of the Year • Sharon Ross Retired December 31 • Quasquicentennial Update • Johnson Honored as Kiwanian of the Year • Donate Your American Flags to Honor Those Who Serve • This N That - A Collection of ‘Stuff’

Paso Robles Magazine (PRM) © 2014, is owned and published by Bob Chute. No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Paso Robles Magazine. PRM is published monthly and distributed FREE to every residence and business, including rural addresses, in Paso Robles, Templeton, Shandon, Bradley and San Miguel (zip codes 93426, 93446, 93451, 93461 and 93465). Postage paid at Paso Robles, CA 93446. PRM is also available for our visitors through local restaurants, Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, North County Transportation Center, and other high traffic tourist-oriented locations. Annual subscriptions to PRM, mailed to areas beyond the described distribution areas, are available for $18 per year (for orders outside U.S., add $10 postage). Mailing address: P.O. Box 3996, Paso Robles, CA 93447. Phone: (805) 239-1533, Fax (805) 239-1263, e-mail: [email protected]. Find us on the web at www.pasoroblesmagazine.com For advertising inquiries and rates, story ideas and submissions, contact Bob Chute at any of the above numbers. In town drop point for photos, letters, press releases, etc. at Dutch Maytag Home Appliance Center, 1501 Riverside. Graphics and advertising composition by Janice Pluma, Warpaint Graphics, editorial composition, Travis Ruppe, David Butz, art production.

On the cover: Expert Prognostications for 2014

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Where to find just about anything and everything to do in January

59 Last Word

Departments

• ‘Day of Thanks’ Recognizes Giving Organizations • San Miguel Reflections - A Column by Lynne Schmitz • County Perspective - A Column by Bruce Curtis


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Happy New Year Paso Robles! Just a Thought

name of Beau and Annie (daughter) VanZante, $250 in the name of Brad and Kelly (daughter) Lear and another $250 in our name. Please note the photo to the right, the Paso Robles Rotary Club donated $2000 to Loaves and Fishes during December as well. Pictured, from left are Rotarians Bob Lata, Rick Minton (also serving as L&F representative), and Club President Tom Apkarian. We must all act as advocates for Loaves & Fishes and the Food Bank in the community, not just during the holidays but throughout the year, won’t you consider becoming involved in this effort? Because of the Food Bank’s partnerships with produce growers and brokers, markets and wholesalers, and its relationship with Feeding America, the nationwide network of food banks, the

cusses his thoughts on 2014 and believes “Paso Robles has an amazing, blazingly bright future ahead, both in real estate and in general. Just look around!” Amen to that! Randolph Kohn explores three faBy Bob Chute vorable economic trends for San Luis I hope your Christmas season was Obispo County in the new year and one of fun, friends and family times Bruce Curtis reports on the new laws and, of course, lots of hugs given and on the books for 2014. received. Hope you enjoy this month’s Paso Looking ahead to 2014 Robles Magazine...please continue Now we find ourselves rolling into to support our local advertisers who 2014 with tough economic times make possible this free mailing to continuing to dog us...but there are you each month and please note encouraging signs ahead as well. Let’s the full page ad on page 50 devoted ponder the positive possibilities in to our serving as the City’s ‘Official’ this new year together with new vi- Commemorative Edition. Beginsions of hope as we prepare to cel- ning with our March issue, we’ll ebrate the City of Paso Robles 125th switch to a glossy cover to honor the Anniversary...our Quasquicentennial! City’s Birthday on March 11, 2014. We have several encouraging sto- Check out the ad to see how you can ries this month. In our 2014 Predic- participate! tions section we present articles that Friends of the Food Bank explore what we can expect in 2014, Although things have been chalfrom Paso Robles Mayor Duane lenging, to say the least, many of us Picanco, District One Supervisor are still blessed with much. During Frank Mecham, as well as one in- December Rhoda and I once again forming us of the state of Paso Robles pledged $1000 in the names of our and the variety of projects expected family (we still provided gifts for our by City Manager Jim App. grandkids, of course!) in renewing our In ‘Good old-fashioned steady pledge as Friends of the Food Bank. growth’, Paso Robles Association of We pledged $250 in the name of Ben Realtors President Chuck Hill, dis- (son) and Alissa Chute, $250 in the

APOLOGIES!

We mistakenly failed to give credit for photos we used in the December 2013 issue (to the left is just one of those photos) as atmosphere for stories. Our apologies to Sandi Compston, owner of The Cottage at 1320 B Pine Street, for the Christmas display photos we used from her store on pages 8, 14, and 59 without acknowledging her or her store. Also, we failed to include the correct website address in the Natures’ Remedy ad on page 55. Correctly, it should have read: www.naturesremedy.co.

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best contribution anyone can make is cash. One dollar equals 10 pounds of food, “With our resources for free or low-cost food, we can really make a dollar stretch,” said Food Bank Executive Director Carl Hansen. “Even if a dollar is all you can donate, the Food Bank Coalition can transform that one dollar into seven meals.” To help, contact the Food Bank’s Director of Community Relations, Wendy Lewis at (805) 238-4664 or [email protected] for details. We are so very blessed, have a safe and happy 2014!

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Cheri York

Homeowners - Time to sell your home?

I HAVE BUYERS IN NEED OF HOMES...LET’S CONNECT! Read below and call me to discuss. Now is a GREAT time to act.

We are retiring this month and are headed North to Paso! We would like an updated home with room to have a BIG garden. Small acreage is perfect and we would like our home around 2200 sf . Our price range is around $500-700K In a perfect world: A couple of acres. A newer, 4 bedroom home with views. Paved road. A 3 car garage. A shop. Priced at $700,000. Is it out there??? Are we close??? Home with A Barn? I want a beautiful home with a small barn and riding arena for my children. Up to $900,000.00 If you have a beautiful home without a barn, I will look at that as well as long as the acreage is nice enough. Please call Cheri at 805.610.7010. I am looking for usable acreage with a home plus granny unit or second building envelope on the property. 1.3M My wife retired in December so we are ready to buy. If you have a single story home around 1800 sf that is between Atascadero

and Paso Robles, priced up to $450,000, lets deal! Please call our Agent Cheri York asap. Mom, Dad, and two girls looking for a home under 300K in town or on acreage. If you know of someone who is getting ready to sell, we would like to be called first please! Custom, private retreat of 3000+ square feet. Chiefs kitchen, spa, possible pool, wooded acreage with views, caretakers residence, small vineyard is fine. Up to 2.5M. Contractor husband and wife looking for their retirement home in Paso Robles to fix up. Any condition as we have the skills to remodel. Small home would be ideal for the two of us. Sellers, I have lots of retirees heading this way this month and into next Summer. I am always looking for homes within that $250-450K price range as I can sell them very quickly for you. I am just a phone call away for a complimentary market analysis of your home. As always, I appreciate your help and would love to help YOU move forward in your journey as well.

Inventory is Low...Call Cheri for a FREE Property Evaluation...805.610.7010

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Home & Ranch - Sotheby’s International Realty If you know of anyone wanting to buy or sell their home, tell them about my free MLS search on my website. www.searchpasorobleshomes.com


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Win a $50 Gift Card for your Family! Attention young cowpokes and aspiring artists! You can win a $50 gift card to the Paso Robles Inn Steakhouse for your family by entering their Cowboy Coloring Contest! The special Cowboy Coloring Contest is open to all kids 10 and under and a winner will be selected at random and notified via email on or around February 3, 2014. Here’s how it works, check out the Paso Robles Inn Steakhouse ad on page 2 of this issue and grab your finest crayons, go to work on the page and either bring your masterpiece to the restaurant, 1103 Spring Street in Downtown Paso Robles, or email it to Specials@MartinResorts. com. That’s all there is to it! Plus...beginning January 5 in the New Year check out Kids Eat Free Sundays...receive one free Kid’s Meal (10 and under) with every adult dinner entree from 4 p.m. to closing!

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Question? “If law school is so hard to get through...how come there are so many lawyers?” - Calvin Trillin *** Riddles for the Kids I have a little house in which I live all alone. My house has no door or windows, and if I want to go out I must break through the wall. What am I? A chicken in an egg. What happens when you throw a white rock into the Red Sea? It sinks. *** Baseball-I didn’t know that! The reason presidential elections are held in November instead of October is so that they won’t conflict with the World Series. This became a popular bit of baseball lore during the 1948 presidential election year, during which the Cleveland Indians and Harry Truman emerged as victors. - The Unwritten Rules of Baseball by Paul Dickson

Special Guest

BOBBY UNSER The Estrella Warbirds/Woodland Auto Display are proud to announce that world famous race car driver Bobby Unser will be part of WARBIRDS, WINGS AND WHEELS 6 on May 10, 2014. Bobby, part of an amazing racing family, including brothers Al, Jerry and Louie Unser, father of Robby Unser and uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser. Bobby won

the Indy 500 in 1968, 1975 and 1981... he was the first to attain a 200 mph qualifying speed in Indy car competition, won 35 Indy car races in his career, 49 Indy car pole positions, had 4 International Race of Champions (IROC) wins, and a record 13 Pikes Peak Hill Climb victories. He will be on hand for autographs, photos and reminiscing!

Scary and hell heaven. The greater the lie, “By means of shrewd lies, unremit- the more readily it will be believed.” tingly repeated, it is possible to make - Adolph Hitler people believe that heaven is hell - Cactus Jelly CACTUS JELLY is again available at the historic Rios-Caledonia Adobe in San Miguel until they run out! An annual fundraiser for the Friends of the Adobes...$6 per 8 oz. jar of prickly pear jelly made from the nepale cactus, grown locally. Call 440-7173 to order, or visit the Adobe, Friday, Saturday or Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Happy New Year!! Welcome 2014

If you are in the market to buy or sell property this year, you are in store for great prices and low interest rates as the housing market continues to recover. Investors are seeing great deals too! Home buyers and sellers stand to be better informed about the process, than ever before due to social media and the

internet access. Choosing the right sites and gaining access to the most current information is useful. Using a REALTOR® serving the central coast with decades of experience and a company with over a half a century of business presence can help you close your deal.

Wishing you success on your journey in 2014, let us know how we can help.... SEE THIS GORGEOUS VINEYARD ESTATE LOCATED IN THE RANCHO LA LOMA LINDA ESTATES. Two legal 10 acre parcels (042-181014 & 042-191-047) 20 acres with 14 acres in owner farmed vines in 4 varietals (Grenache Noir, Petite Verdot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc) that are Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified since 2010. Planted in 2001 on VSP Trellis System with 10' x 6' spacing and irrigated with 2 wells. The estate home is a beautiful single level home with tremendous ridge top views in every direction. Granite, tile, new carpet & paint compliment this large 3 bedroom home with an open living and dining room floor plan with bonus room. Wrap around views are captured at every opportunity with patios and sitting areas strategically placed to rest and relax. Call for a private viewing today! www.4925Bluebell.com

WELL MAINTAINED AND READY TO MOVE INTO. 2 Bedroom 1 bath manufactured home. Large deck area for outside entertaining. Lots of parking for the lake toys. Heritage Ranch Community includes lake access, pools, clubhouse and much…much more. Furniture negotiable. Priced at $143,900.

ENTERTAINERS DELIGHT! Large home on 1.4 Acres with open floor plan. Separate Game Room and Family Room. Indoor Laundry/Mud/Craft Room with lots of storage area. 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Private Office at front entry. 1,125 sq.ft. detached garage with shop. Easy access to HWY 101. Property is shaded with oak trees to keep you cool during the warm months. Visit www.4905DelRio.com $649,950.

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P.O. Box 839, Templeton 11

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mrs. Bedell is back at the helm

By Chuck Desmond Doesn’t it seem like half of the “Paso People Of A Certain Age” had JUDY BEDELL as their teacher someplace along the way? The others seemed to have had Harold Franklin! Now don’t go gettin’ up in arms folks. We have had (and do have today) a cadre of fabulous educators in the area but this article is about just one in particular...Mrs. Bedell of San Miguel. Judy was recently appointed the Principal at Lillian Larsen School in San Miguel. It’s the home of the Hornets on a beautiful campus that shares labs, library, field trips, athletic fields and cafeteria support with Almond Acres, the Charter School. There is an average of 350-370 students from Transitional K, and then K through 8th grades. The staff of 22 teachers and 30 support personnel keep the place humming with those beautiful smiles of missing front teeth right up to “next year I’ll be in High School!” Lillian Larsen is a lucky place and I think Mrs. Bedell is just as lucky. This is a match made in the educational heavens. After Judy received her BA in English from Cal Poly, she began her career teaching at Flamson in 1981 and remained until 1986. From there, she moved to the Bay Area but, you know the lure of Our Slice of Paradise – how can you stay away? She couldn’t, and in 1988 Judy moved back here to be the 5th and 6th grade educator at Pleasant Valley School. In that very small and close-knit environment, Judy got the rare opportunity to be up-close and personal in the lives of the kids and develop a truly deep appreciation of how young minds work and absorb knowledge experience. She herself was a sponge that soaked up the rewards and challenges of that experience. As Judy herself was pulling it all in, she honed her skills in figuring out how to best teach children whose ability to retain and grow, develop at different rates from one another and even within each individual child.

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Judy began to stand out as a leader. She was invited to return to Flamson as Assistant Principal in 1989. That turned out to be a wonderful experience for her to teach, lead and learn. So much so that as Pifer school was opening, Judy was chosen to be the principal in 1993 and held that position until 1997. This dedicated lady will work for the kids until there are no more hours left in the day. However, Judy and her husband had their own family and she decided it was time to have the opportunity to spend more time with them and not be tied to the rigors of “corporate life 24-7-365.” Judy backed away from the top spot and retrenched into teaching 3rd and 4th grades at Virginia Peterson from 1997 until 2011 when she became the Principal and Director of Special Education for Shandon and Parkfield. Then the home-town system came calling again! The Bedells’ own children are maturing each year; the youngest a senior at Bearcat High. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to ‘do it again.’ To no one’s surprise, the opportunity to become the newest principal at Lillian Larsen popped up and guess what! Mrs. Bedell now has the task of implementing Common Core Standards along with being the Coordinator of Curriculum and Instruction for both of San Miguel’s district schools. What does all this mean? Well, in a nutshell, the San Miguel Joint Union School District is grabbing all those years of understanding how children learn and asking Mrs. Bedell to get its youth ready for High School. This is a big deal as there are many spokes in the wheel. The implementation of tracking each child’s development lets the kids move as fast as they can, in areas where they excel, and strengthen the other necessary life-skills at a pace they can handle. Open doors, delve into new territories, expand the ability to express oneself, explore the unknown and write, write, write. Guiding the teachers to perform to that criteria and allow them to improve their skills too, is just as critical. And the responsibility is not just at Lillian Larsen but has the interface at the Cappy Culver school as well. And then there is that “I really care” side. The Bedells live only a few minutes away from the school. They are a living-breathing part of the community that often requires going the extra mile. Some of the children are from homes where there is no computer, yet the expectation is that reports be submitted in a computer generated typed and formatted presentation style rather than via paper

and pen. Judy says that while uncommon, she does occasionally get the evening phone call to meet a student at the computer lab so the assignment can be properly completed. She goes. She sees families in the market. They recognize her and have come to understand that she is as much a part of San Miguel as they are. The atmosphere in Lillian Larsen School is changing for the better. How can you tell? Because the parents are becoming more involved! That spirit in turn, is spilling over into the community. Individuals do make a difference! By now, you may be thinking that somehow you recognize her name but it isn’t from the schoolroom. Here’s the answer. Way back when Paso Robles Magazine was starting, Judy had her byline on a story in the very first issue. 153 issues later and she has been the loud and proud voice of education advocacy. Nary a month has gone by when there wasn’t one of her articles in that current issue. Educator, leader, forward-thinker, role model, counselor, care giver, family matron – they are here in this woman. She’s home and she loves it! The broad smile says it all! To all of our teachers, bless you for what you do. To Mrs. Bedell of San Miguel, thank you for a life of giving and sharing. May you have a long and continuing fulfilled career yet to unfold!

Judy is always interacting with students and parents.


Pat & Nick

“The Jewel of Downtown”

Supporting Paso Since 1976

Tanya & June

1224 Pine Street • Downtown Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 238-2231 www.panjewelers.com

Pan Jewelers Estate Jewelry Event Jan. 8th - 11th from 9:30 am to 5 pm.


13

EDUCATION & YOUTH

By Melissa Chavez Grab a pencil and a calendar, for three important events are set for this upcoming season! Central Coast Dance Foundation (CCDF) is seeking local talent to audition for DreamWeaver 2014 – A Step Into Oz. The auditions will be held at Artistry in Motion Performing Arts Studio, located at 2013 Wisteria Lane in Paso Robles on Sunday, January 12, beginning at 11 a.m. This year’s show will highlight the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz in a mélange of dance, music and theatre. The production will also feature many fairytale favorites in a journey through the world of Oz. A one-minute performance for the judges is all it takes to be considered for the cast. Unusual talent

is welcomed for this family-friendly show. One-of-a-kind abilities are then interwoven into the production to make it even more unique. Dancers, singers, actors, acrobats and specialty acts will be welcomed. Audience members are encouraged to attend, too, to experience the wealth of creativity that their area neighbors have to offer. Three evening shows and two matinees of DreamWeaver will be staged at Templeton Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. (Student Night), Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and on Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m.

photos by Tim Wagner

In a style similar to Cirque Du Soliel, DreamWeaver fuses local and professional talent of all ages. Ballet dancers whirl across the floor, acrobats suspend from rings and trapezes, and silk performers dangle and whirl from the ceiling. In February, tickets will be available for purchase. Along with single-ticket admission, Early Bird and Family Fun Packs

will be offered online at www. dancepaso.com. To help underwrite DreamWeaver, Central Coast Dance Foundation will host its annual fundraiser, which supports the annual show and provides much needed scholarships for students. The “Mardi Gras Festival” will take place at Castoro Cellars Winery on January 11 from 6-9 p.m. Guests can enjoy plenty of entertainment, wine and tapas by award-winning Chef Jeffry. Tickets to the Mardi Gras Festival are $35 per person Please see DREAMWEAVER page 15

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EDUCATION & YOUTH

Lace up your running shoes for Super Fun Run 2014 Start training for the Super Fun Run scheduled for Super Saturday, Feb. 1, the Saturday before Super Bowl. The Run will feature a 10K and 5K Run and a Kids’ Run with a football theme morning of fun. The Run will start and finish at War Memorial Stadium located at Flamson Middle School in Paso Robles. The 10K & 5K course is out and back, running north up Vine Street and taking on the challenging hill at Villa Lots. It’s a scenic run on the westside of Paso. The Kids’ Run is around the football field. Net proceeds from the race event benefit the Boys & Girls Club of North San Luis Obispo County. Volunteers and sponsors are always needed. Boys & Girls Club of North San Luis Obispo County is a private, independent local organization that offers after school programs for children in grades K-8. Their programs focus on Education, Recreation and Character Development. Kids who attend the Boys and Girls Club of North San Luis Obispo County enjoy a

safe, fun and educational space where they are encouraged to thrive and grow into productive, happy and contributing members of our community. Club dues are only $20 per school year for each child to attend the club. However, the cost to provide every day care for children after-school DREAMWEAVER from page 14

and are for sale now. Contact CCDF or Castoro Cellars (www. castorocellars.com) DreamWeaver is presented by Central Coast Dance Foundation and KSBY-TV. Castoro Cellars is located at 1315 North Bethel Road in Templeton. Call (805) 239-5678. Visit www.dancepaso.com.

costs $2500 per child. For more information about the Boys & Girls Club, please visit their website at www.bgcpaso.org. Race Director, Liz Lopez Byrnes welcomes your questions at (805) 610-4611. Race website is www. superfunrun.org or register with Active.com.

DreamWeaver Audition Schedule Sunday afternoon, January 12th, 2014

11-12:30 p.m. Dancers ages 13 & up: Audition dance taught on day of audition. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Dancers ages 10-12: Audition dance taught on day of audition. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Open Audition for “The Dreamer,” (all dancers ages 12 & up). 3:30-4:00 p.m. Singer Audition: Please have a song prepared. Background music on iPod or instruments accepted.

4:00-4:30 p.m. Actor Auditions: Please have a one-minute monologue prepared. 4:30-5:00 p.m. Specialty Acts: Please have a routine prepared of your act. 5:00-5:30 p.m. Adult Dancers: Any age. Audition dance will be taught on day of audition. For more information, visit www.dancepaso.com or call (805) 239-5678.

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Paso Robles Mayor Duane Picanco

By Millie Drum Mayor Duane Picanco predicts a promising 2014 for our city with his usual common sense approach; acknowledging that the 125th Quasquicentennial of Paso Robles is setting the tone for our residents to celebrate the history of Paso Robles. “I’ve been positive throughout the gradual improvement of the local economy and increased revenue, but that doesn’t mean we can replace the services that we had prior to 2008,” said Picanco. “With that come more expectations, so now our challenge is making the choices about where we spend the money. We’re seeing a slight improvement in the economy; approximately the same as last year at around 2%. Specifically, city and facility maintenance is a big issue with the condition of our streets a huge priority. However, we need to replace the roof on the library and the heating/air conditioning at Centennial Park offices. The most noticeable improvements will be the completion of the 13th Street Bridge, the 17th and 18th Street on/off ramps, and the ramp on 24th Street going south on Hwy. 101 by September. We have Derby Wine Estates coming along very nicely now. That in itself is a huge improvement along the Highway 101 corridor.” The council recently approved the expenditures to begin repairing potholes long-term. Picanco adds, “Instead of dumping cold mix in a hole as a temporary fix, we allocated $146,000 for thorough repair to include cutting the area, adding more base, asphalt and then hot mix. Hopefully we’ll collect enough sales tax money to repair one of the major streets in 2014.” Picanco detailed the 21st Street project by saying, ”It’s a way to a means. The city was awarded an ecology grant because the water flows from near Mountain Springs Road almost continuously; surfacing and destroying the asphalt over a period of time. The grant money funded the project to improve the condition of the streets. Unfortunately, some people are misinterpreting the project as landscaping.” To validate his perspective on the state of the city, Standard and Poor’s Rating Service gave Paso Robles the highest rating possible for its general obligation bonds; upgrading from AA to AAA, a first for the city based on the stable outlook that re-

16

flects the cities strong finances and stable economy, combined with the projected improvement in economically sensitive revenues. “For the last two years, we’ve been working on the intangibles, particularly the sewer. The new part of the sewer system will be online by the end of 2014 with the entire project completed by 2015. We’ll also see the beginning of the construction of the new water treatment plant. These are basic improvements that needed to be done years ago.” As the economy continues at this slow, yet gradually improving pace, Picanco predicts that it will be take 4 to 5 years before the city can move forward on other major projects. “What once was considered just a stop between Los Angeles and San Francisco has become a destination; rivaling Napa and Sonoma with our scenic wine country, historic charm and all of the first-class amenities.” While water continues to be a hot topic, Mayor Picanco remains confident. He adds, “I continually remind the community that we’ve reduced our ground water pumping by 20% through conservation. We’ve started using more water from the Salinas River aquifer and during the peak usage months, traditionally June through September, we are using water from Lake Nacimiento; capturing about 80% of it in our reservoirs. This water is keeping water pressure up for fire suppression and home use.” As far as the Emergency Services Department, Picanco adds, “It’s going great. Our new Police Chief Burton is doing an excellent job especially with reaching out and listening to the community concerns. The citizens are not only meeting him, they’re getting to know him. Even though the number of police officers is down from 2008, we’re doing a great job. The community has been and will continue to be especially vigilant in reporting crime. There is vandalism throughout the city, particularly the River Walk area that we need to continually address.”

With regard to industry and manufacturing, there is more confidence in the commercial/industrial segment with expansion in facilities and increasing the number of employees. Picanco adds, “We’ve been very fortunate in that respect and there is huge potential for new business coming to our area. Downtown will continue to be vibrant as we transition from the former to new businesses. Main Street is doing fine with Norma Moye in the lead hustling and bustling! The Chamber is in good hands with Zoe Taylor as the interim CEO. Finding someone to hold the position permanently is really important to Paso Robles.” So, how do you characterize “the charm of Paso Robles?” “Our charm is so abstract that I can’t even describe it,” says Picanco. “We are truly living life on a grand scale with small town appeal. In fact, the Huffington Post published an article from Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2014 naming Paso Robles and the Central Coast as one of the 10 U.S. Destinations to Visit in 2014. What once was considered just a stop between Los Angeles and San Francisco has become a destination; rivaling Napa and Sonoma with our scenic wine country, historic charm and all of the first-class amenities. Picanco states, “While there are folks that don’t particularly care for the wine industry, I will be the first to say that if we didn’t have the wine industry and related tourism, we’d be upside down and backwards, pure and simple. Overall, we are all benefitting from the tourism industry.” From the perspective of owning a downtown business and serving in city government through the prosperous and difficult times, Picanco brings a broad view of hope and confident optimism to the New Year. From the resiliency of our citizens, the dedication of countless volunteers, the collaboration between all segments of the public and private sectors, to the 125th Anniversary, 2014 will be an auspicious year in our history. Mayor Picanco invites everyone to share the feeling of pride in our hometown by participating in the citywide, yearlong events commemorating the 125th Anniversary of Paso Robles.


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District 1 Supervisor Frank Mecham

By Bruce M. Curtis What will be at the top of the list for county supervisors in 2014? As revenue issues become, shall we say, less stressed, the focus for county board members is clearly going to be water. With good reason. District 1 Supervisor Frank Mecham recently came from a fact-finding session in Tulare, addressing the increasing need, and resultant angst over water supplies across an increasingly arid West: Paso Robles groundwater is in critically short supply, following six years of drought and heightened demand. “I think we need to take a very close look at a lot of questions relative to the basin regarding how one area affects another,” says Mecham explaining the nature of water basins: inflow, outflow. “There is so much to the hydrology I need to know more about, so I attended the American Groundwater Trust Seminar recently in Tulare.” The seminar was well attended with over 500 people, including stakeholders like farmers, water district managers, supervisors from other areas, even attorneys specializing in water issues, giving advice and prognostications. “This water issue has been coming for some time in terms of steady decline; it has been a perfect storm of increased population, drought, agriculture...facing all three isn’t helping at all, in terms of our water supply.” Mecham voted for the recently passed emergency ordinance that will likely lead to a Paso Robles groundwater management district with the power to restrict use and control demand growth. “The interim ordinance gives us an opportunity to look at what is going on here.” Mecham says the county simply cannot keep going the direction it has been going, consuming more groundwater as levels decline, hoping somehow for a different result. “That’s the definition of insanity,” Mecham quips.

Another reason the water situation has become elevated to the point where action is needed, are hints the state is going to act, if local government doesn’t. “Sacramento is coming. They’re telling us: ‘Unless you take care of your problem, the state is going to take care of it for you’, and that is the last thing I want.” “It is still premature to see where the water district might go, where the boundaries would be, what it might be able to accomplish. I worked for both ag and property owner equity; they were so far apart, but are now close together.”

Mecham suspects that any help from the state will be of the one-size-fits-all variety; something that won’t work well on the local level. Water policy attorneys with which he spoke urged dialogue with state officials, warning it would not be wise to ignore Sacramento in hopes they would just go away, He leaves the fact that state bureaucrats won’t go away, unspoken. The obvious answer, a water district, will likely require legislative involvement, even though both sides: ag and residents, appear to be closing in on a working agreement. “It is still premature to see where the water district might go, where the boundaries would be, what it might be able to accomplish. I worked for both ag and property owner equity; they were so far apart, but are now close together.” Mecham suggests continued incremental steps from a governance standpoint, will get everyone to a working relationship. On the subject of money, Mecham is cautiously optimistic. “As we finalize this year’s budget, it looks

pretty good in terms of actually being close to balanced at the end of this fiscal year.” He credits the economic turnaround still gaining steam. Mecham also gives kudos to the city of Paso Robles, now enjoying a AAA bond rating. 2014 will also be a year of capital improvements: the Women’s jail, an expansion to the county juvenile services center, the Los Osos sewer, all multimillion dollar construction projects, are breaking ground, Mecham hinting his board will play a role of active oversight. Infrastructure, which usually means highways, gets attention with the board planning to work closely with cities and agencies in SLOCOG, the county council of governments, to get funding for road improvements. “There has been a lot of discussion about highways; funding isn’t where it used to be, still, there is a lot of focus on Highway 46.” Little funding and many requests dog road projects, but Mecham still hopes to work with SLOCOG to eventually bring four lanes all the way east to the Hwy 41/Hwy 46 split east of Cholame. Finally, one big unknown, both in terms of budget and demand, will be the impact of Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act, (ACA) expected to add 1.4 million Californians to the state’s Medi-Cal program. Will it affect county health workload or costs? “Probably both,” Mecham admits, “I don’t know what all of this will mean at this point, there are so many questions regarding ACA and how it will affect people, we are briefing as we get updates.” Mecham says to check back later to get a better idea what the ACA will do in San Luis Obispo County. Community area plan updates, state water for Shandon, a new clinic in Heritage Ranch, are all ahead for the board in 2014, as well.

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500 12th Street, Paso Robles 19

By Paso Robles City Manager Jim App The City will be celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year! It is a milestone that testifies to the vision, determination, opportunism, self-discipline and vigor of our past community leaders – qualities that continue to carry us forward. For 2014, Paso Robles’ improving economy is projected to restore City revenues to 90+% of 2007/08 levels and post reserves at pre-recession levels. The good financial news does not end there. Noting positive financial results and continuing fiscal discipline, Standard & Poor’s upgraded the City’s bond rating from “AA-” to AAA! This top rating is a reflection of the City’s prudent financial management and the Paso Robles economy. To achieve solid financial performance, selfdiscipline was and is still required. And as good as it is to be in the black, with enough money in the bank to weather unexpected contingencies, it comes at a price. And that price has been, and remains, reduced public services. With fewer services, work, especially maintenance, goes undone. The longer maintenance is deferred, the higher the costs to address the problems. This is a frustrating and seemingly counterproductive cycle. But, these necessary sacrifices have kept Paso Robles financially sound and must be tolerated a while longer... until the economy becomes sufficiently robust to restore what was lost. Nevertheless, critical long-term public improvements are underway. Rehabilitation and upgrade of the 60-year old wastewater treatment plant will continue through 2015. The plant will serve Paso Robles for decades and prepares us for recycling wastewater. In addition, a new water treatment plant will begin construction in 2014. The plant will treat and deliver Nacimiento water to homes and businesses in 2015. And the voter-approved supplemental sales tax means roads will be repaired at a pace of approximately $3+ million each year. These are priority infrastructure investments that provide residents, workers and businesses with essential services. They are also strategic

Paso Robles City Manager Jim App

assets that can be leveraged to support economic growth. The City’s economic growth in 2014 will include: • construction of an Oxford Hotel • completion of the Ayres Hotel Resort • completion of Mid-Valley Pipe & Steel • construction of 142-unit apartment complex • further expansion of Firestone Walker Brewery • completion of 80 new housing units in Oak Park • opening of the Mullahey Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealership • groundbreaking for a new equestrian (hunter/jumper) center • ribbon cutting at the new Uptown Family Park at 36th & Spring Streets • opening of Derby Wine Estates in the restored historic Farmer’s Alliance Building • development of a neighborhood market and housing at 34th & Spring Streets “2014 promises to be a busy, productive and challenging year! It will mark a shift from retrenchment to investment and economic growth.”

Concurrently, a few adjacent property owners want to join the party. Paso Robles Gateway seeks to annex 270 acres at the northwest corner of South Vine and Highway 46 West, and proposes three hotels, related commercial space, and a small number of residences. Robert Hall and Vina Robles request annexation of parcels on the south side of Mill Road for possible future hotels. The City, consistent with its long history of encouraging economic growth and the community’s adopted Economic Strategy, is considering both requests. The proposals promise new investment that would bring commerce, tourism, jobs and revenue. Additionally, they offer important road connections that would improve transportation,

relieve congestion, and provide alternate offhighway routes to area shopping and attractions. The Gateway project would include a reconfiguration of South Vine to the newly aligned Theatre Drive bypassing the Highway 46W/101 intersection, and Robert Hall/Vina Robles would tender a significant portion of a future road that could connect Mill Road to Union Road (avoiding Highway 46E altogether). For these reasons, the requested annexations are intriguing. But, as it is with many opportunities, they also come with questions that require study. Perhaps the most important question is water – and this question is amplified by concerns about the long-term reliability of the groundwater basin. Each annexation proposal will undergo an expert analysis of water demand and how that demand would be met. Any proposed use of wells will require an examination of the impacts on the groundwater basin. The City’s long-term water plan is to use Salinas River underflow and Nacimiento water, along with groundwater (within historic levels). Accordingly, the City will very carefully examine water demands, associated with any annexation proposals, for consistency with the City’s water plan. Our neighbors in the unincorporated areas, which include thousands of property owners, residents, businesses and farms, will likely continue to voice their concerns about groundwater until a viable basin management solution is implemented. Their concerns will be part of the City’s consideration of the annexation applications too. And, apart from the annexation decisions, the City will participate in the larger basin discussions, and continue to be responsible stewards of water resources. So, 2014 promises to be a busy, productive and challenging year! It will mark a shift from retrenchment to investment and economic growth. The City’s focus will be on infrastructure that supports the vitality of all local enterprise and preserving the quality of life in Paso Robles. It is a time for rebuilding. It is time to celebrate our 125th birthday!!

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