Paso’s first film festival begins Nov. 21
Modified: Wednesday, Nov 19th, 2008
The world of movies and music will come to the North County during the first Paso Robles Digital Film Festival.
The festival, which begins on Friday, Nov. 21, will feature a bevy of screenings, panels with industry professionals and world-class concerts at locations throughout the city of Paso Robles. The festival is slated to run from Friday, Nov. 21 through ...more

Paso Robles personnel battling the Tea Fire
Posted: Monday, Nov 17th, 2008
Several Paso Robles firefighters were dispatched out-of-county to join the more than 2,200 firefighters battling the “Tea Fire” still burning in the Montecito area of Santa Barbara.
According to Paso Robles Department of Emergency Services, one local crew was dispatched, which consisted of four fighters including a battalion chief, captain and three firefighters. The crew left as part of ...more

Public can weigh in on sludge ordinance
Posted: Monday, Nov 17th, 2008
The public has until Monday, Dec. 1 to comment on a draft ordinance permitting sewage sludge land application that will be considered by the San Luis Obispo County Health Commission, an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors.
The draft ordinance aims to restrict sewage sludge land application exclusively to agriculturally-zoned land and replace a currently effective interim moratorium ordinance ...more

Paso celebrates Paderewski
Posted: Monday, Nov 17th, 2008
It was a defining moment for the Paderewski Festival and Paso Robles itself as the city entered into a Cooperation Intent Agreement with Tarnów District in Poland at the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom on Friday.
Though separated by thousands of miles and located on two separate continents, the city of Paso Robles and the district of Tarnów are inexorably linked ...more

SLO Kennel Club hosts dog show at Event Center
Posted: Monday, Nov 17th, 2008
The Paso Robles Event Center went to the dogs over the weekend as the San Luis Obispo Kennel Club hosted its 2008 All-Breed Confirmation Show on Saturday and Sunday.
With roughly 760 registered canine entrants to the show — each with its own impeccable pedigree and constant conditioning — the competition for the title of 2008 Best in Show was ...more

Templeton celebrates Founder’s Day
Posted: Monday, Nov 17th, 2008
On Nov. 18, 1886, the first train along the Southern Pacific Railroad line trundled into Templeton, forever altering the course of the tiny community.
One hundred and twenty-two years later, residents of Templeton gathered on Main Street for their annual Founder’s Day celebration on Sunday, an event in recognition of that momentous occasion in the community’s long history.
“Templeton was ...more

Packed City Council agenda tonight
Posted: Monday, Nov 17th, 2008
The Paso Robles City Council has a packed agenda tonight with three public hearing items and eight items up for discussion.
Here’s what’s on the agenda:
* Applications were filed by North Coast Engineering on behalf of Jon Basila for the City Council to consider the Golden Hill Senior Housing Project, a 125-bed facility located at 1450 Golden Hill Road, ...more

Two clerks receive citations in North County ABC sting
Posted: Monday, Nov 17th, 2008
The San Luis Obispo County Special Problems Unit cited two North County employees last week for selling alcohol to minors.
Accompanied by Alcohol Beverage Control agents, deputies visited 13 North County establishments licensed to sell alcohol in the decoy operation.
Those cited were Sang Chun An, 60, an employee at Shandon Market, 240 E. Centre St., and Gamal Mohammed El ...more

Paso Robles honors its veterans
Posted: Thursday, Nov 13th, 2008
At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, Americans all over the United States and abroad paused to remember the service and sacrifice of countless men and women as part of the Veterans Day observance.
With dozens of American flags lining the walkways and hundreds more marking the graves of fallen veterans, North County residents came ...more

Hidden Creek Village sent to City Council
Posted: Thursday, Nov 13th, 2008
How many apartments will allowed in a proposed 84-unit multi-family affordable housing project called the Hidden Creek Village near the corner of Niblick and South River Roads and the Albertson’s Shopping Center will ultimately be up to the City Council to consider.
On Tuesday, the Paso Robles Planning Commission voted 5-1 with commissioner Tom Flynn dissenting and commissioner Margaret Holstine ...more

Picanco appears to secure mayoral race
Posted: Thursday, Nov 13th, 2008
City Councilman Duane Picanco appears to be Paso Robles’ elected mayor, according to the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s latest ballot count.
The clerk-recorder’s office reported that as of the latest vote count performed this week, Picanco remained ahead of Mayor Pro Tem Gary Nemeth with a 40-vote lead. There are still 31 ballots remaining to be counted in Paso ...more

Chaplain honored by PRPD
Posted: Thursday, Nov 13th, 2008
The Paso Robles Police Department recently honored Ed Bedrosian for 20 years of dedicated service to the community with an encased Chaplain’s badge signifying “No. 1.”
Bedrosian retired from the post last September and will continue as pastor at two local community churches — Heritage Village Church at Heritage Ranch and Oak Shores Christian Fellowship. From teaching biblical studies at ...more

Family injured, man arrested following crash
Posted: Thursday, Nov 13th, 2008
A Templeton man reportedly driving the wrong direction on Highway 101 on Monday collided with an oncoming car occupied by a San Ardo family, leaving a mother with major injuries.
Driver Michael R. Mazor, 57, was arrested and transported to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center after driving his 1991 Ford Bronco into a pickup truck driven by a San Ardo ...more

School board approves Kermit King bid
Modified: Tuesday, Nov 11th, 2008
During a special meeting on Thursday, members of the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District’s Board of Trustees approved a contract with Santa Margarita Construction Corp. to build five additional classrooms on the campus of Kermit King Elementary School.
District staff first presented bids for the project at the regular meeting on Oct. 28, but at the request of president ...more

Red Kettle campaign begins
Posted: Monday, Nov 10th, 2008
Just like candy canes, turkey and mistletoe, the Salvation Army’s Red Kettles and tiny silver bells are a symbol of the upcoming holidays, every ring heralding in a season marked by its generosity.
But with a national economic crisis cascading outwards from Wall Street to Main Street, Salvation Army volunteers are hoping that the generosity of the local community will ...more

Planning Commission to meet Nov. 12
Posted: Monday, Nov 10th, 2008
The Paso Robles Planning Commission will convene Wednesday, Nov. 12 for its regular meeting.
There are three main items on the agenda — two planned developments and one conditional use permit. The commission pushed back its regular meeting from tonight due to the Veteran’s Day holiday.
On Wednesday’s agenda:
* A request by applicants Jake and Stephanie Dayton to ...more

Oak workshop to be held in Paso Nov. 13
Posted: Monday, Nov 10th, 2008
Members of the pubic interested in learning more about oaks in urban landscapes are invited to an upcoming workshop.
Entitled, “Go Native! Appreciating Oaks in the Urban Landscape,” the workshop is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Paso Robles Library/City Hall Conference Center. It’s being offered through the University of California Cooperative Extension and Native Tree Committee and SLO ...more

Votes still to be counted in Paso’s mayoral race
Posted: Monday, Nov 10th, 2008
Results of the election to see who will become Paso Robles’ next elected mayor may be determined this week, when the Office of the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder expects to have completed a final tally of the 500-plus votes remaining in Paso Robles.
As of press deadline Monday, Duane Picanco had doubled his initial vote lead separating him from ...more

Greenhouse gas emissions inventory under way in Paso
Posted: Monday, Nov 10th, 2008
The city of Paso Robles is on track to be equipped with full inventory of its greenhouse gas emissions courtesy of a study being undertaken by a Cal Poly graduate through the efforts of the Sierra Club and Air Pollution Control District and Local Governments for Sustainability.
Karin Johnson, a recent graduate in the university’s College of Architecture and Environmental ...more

Chamber members explore China
Posted: Monday, Nov 10th, 2008
Business leaders from the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce recently disembarked from an eight-day, nine night business journey to China.
For the first time in Chamber history, an estimated 80 members embarked from the Central Coast, thousands of miles away to China for a glimpse of its business interworking, the chance to possibly network for future business opportunities and some ...more

Organizers seek volunteers for annual Thanksgiving dinner
Posted: Friday, Nov 7th, 2008
Linda Stermer and Rhonda Evans plodded through a towering stack of boxes and containers on Sunday in Stermer’s Paso Robles home, taking inventory of the items stored up for Thanksgiving for Paso Robles’ annual free Thanksgiving Dinner.
It’s just a portion of the supplies that they will need to accomplish the huge task.
“This is not including the food,” Stermer ...more

Three incumbents, a retired teacher elected to PRJUSD board
Posted: Friday, Nov 7th, 2008
Tuesday night, three incumbents and a recently retired teacher were selected by Paso Robles residents to serve as members of the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District’s Board of Trustees.
Four seats were open on the seven-member board, and incumbents Debi Saunders, who serves as the board president, Dr. Robert Simola and Pastor Ruben Tate were joined by challenger Tim ...more

Paso man hosts reunion for crew of his WWII ship
Posted: Friday, Nov 7th, 2008
James Lockshaw was just 16-years-old when he enlisted in the Navy and joined the crew of PT230.
Sixty-three years after the end of World War II, the remaining members of that crew met together in Paso Robles for what is likely to be their last reunion. Lockshaw, now a Paso Robles resident of roughly 30 years, characterized that 16-year-old so ...more

Mayoral race still tight, too close to call
Posted: Friday, Nov 7th, 2008
The race for mayor in Paso Robles was too close to call this week with only 36 votes separating Paso Robles’ mayoral candidates Duane Picanco and Gary Nemeth.
Today, the office of the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder intends to perform an initial count of vote-by-mail ballots, according to a press release issued Wednesday. In the release, the clerk-recorder said ...more

Man perishes in industrial accident
Posted: Friday, Nov 7th, 2008
It was an emotional scene Tuesday at Paso Robles business Advanced Powder Coating, the site of an accidental explosion that claimed the life of an employee.
The explosion was apparently caused by an employee performing service-related work on a metal, 55-gallon barrel.
The contents of the tank reportedly ignited and exploded. The employee was critically injured during the explosion and ...more

Obama wins, battle over Prop. 8 continues
Posted: Friday, Nov 7th, 2008
On Tuesday a record number of voters went to the polls nationwide and selected Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama as the next President of the United States.
Obama captured both the popular vote and the Electoral College vote, with the race called in his favor shortly before 8 p.m. local time. He ended up with 349 electoral votes — candidates ...more

Gilman, Strong take City Council race
Posted: Friday, Nov 7th, 2008
Incumbent City Councilman Fred Strong and local architect Nick Gilman appeared to hold a safe margin of approval for the two currently available seats on the Paso Robles City Council as of Thursday.
The final result has the potential to shift as the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder expects to have an initial tally of final votes today. The clerk-recorder ...more

PRHS holds mock election
Posted: Monday, Nov 3rd, 2008
If the students and staff at Paso Robles High School had their way, Sen. Barack Obama would be the next President of the United States.
Obama defeated Sen. John McCain 893 to 509 during a mock election held on campus on Wednesday and Thursday. The closest third-party candidate was Ralph Nader, who drew 12 votes. The election, sponsored by the ...more

Paso man arrested following pursuit
Posted: Monday, Nov 3rd, 2008
A Paso Robles man was recently arrested and booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of evading a peace officer, wreckless driving and probation violations after leading police on a high-speed pursuit along Highway 46 West.
Police initially spotted Robert Manuel Cordoza, 25, near the corner of 21st Street and Riverside Avenue in Paso Robles on suspicion outstanding ...more

Local brewmaster showcasing talents, recipes in international beer contest
Posted: Monday, Nov 3rd, 2008
Firestone Walker Brewing Company brewmaster Matt Brynildson was recently selected among brewers from Japan, Australia and Denmark in a special invitation to brew for the United Kingdom for the 2008 JD Wetherspoon International Beer Festival.
The festival, which runs through mid-November at 650 JD Wetherspoon pubs across the U.K., will feature Brynildson’s talents and recipes in a “California style” pale ...more

Chamber holds 2009 Destination Guide Art Contest
Posted: Monday, Nov 3rd, 2008
The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the 2009 Destination Guide Art Contest and announced the winners, one of which will be featured in a color spread for the estimated 50,000-circulation guide.
The contest showcased the work of 11 participating artists and 14 original artworks with a panel of eight judges from the local business community to select the ...more

City Council makes appointments to CAAC
Modified: Monday, Nov 3rd, 2008
Developing a strategic plan to boost business at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport was a common theme for the goals stated by three applicants who were recently appointed to sit on Paso Robles’ five-member Citizen’s Airport Committee.
Residents Mark Kenyon, Eric Cook and Jason Diefenderfer were chosen by the City Council from a total pool of six applicants. The council ...more

Paso students explore medical field
Posted: Monday, Nov 3rd, 2008
About 30 students from Paso Robles and Liberty high schools got a behind-the-scenes look at the local emergency and medical industry on Oct. 28 as part of any chance to explore different type of careers within the North County community.
The interactive and explorative career opportunity was part of an ongoing partnership between the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Education ...more

SMRC hosts Smart Growth forum Tuesday
Posted: Thursday, Oct 30th, 2008
An estimated 80 residents from the San Miguel community convened at Lillian Larsen School gymnasium on Tuesday for an informational forum on smart growth and inclusionary housing.
Among those in attendance were members of the San Miguel Resource Connection and San Miguel Community Services District, landowners, local residents and others interested in hearing more about how the two concepts could ...more

Officials celebrate first anniversary of the Nacimiento Water Project
Posted: Thursday, Oct 30th, 2008
Officials with the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District recognized the one-year anniversary of Nacimiento Water Project groundbreaking and mourned the tragic loss of two construction workers killed in the process.
The project, which includes 45 miles of pipe, three pump stations and three water storage tanks to deliver 15,750 acre-feet of water to local jurisdictions ...more

Mecham announces his appointees for First District
Posted: Thursday, Oct 30th, 2008
Paso Robles Mayor and First District Supervisor-elect Frank Mecham has selected recommendations that will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for appointments to various county advisory bodies.
Mecham had only positive things to say regarding incumbent First District Supervisor Harry Ovitt’s appointments and said that his decision to initiate the changes was not in any way based on any ...more

Pedestrian hit on Creston Road Tuesday
Posted: Thursday, Oct 30th, 2008
A juvenile was transported to Twin Cities Community Hospital for further examination on Tuesday following a collision with a motorist at the intersection of Creston Road and Laura Way near Daniel E. Lewis Middle School.
The accident occurred shortly before 8 a.m. and involved a motorist attempting an eastbound turn from Laura Way onto Creston Road and a student, who ...more

San Francisco 49ers honor Bradley resident
Posted: Thursday, Oct 30th, 2008
Bradley-native Anthony Cruz is a testament to the fact that a person is never too young to make a difference in this world.
At just 13-years-old, Cruz was the youngest of five community volunteers to be singled out as a finalist for the San Francisco 49ers annual Community Quarterback award recognizing volunteers who demonstrate leadership, dedication and commitment to bettering ...more

City Council candidates talk about the issues
Posted: Thursday, Oct 30th, 2008
The Paso Robles Press recently compiled a series of questions for the candidates running for two seats on the Paso Robles City Council.
Candidates running for council include incumbent City Councilman Fred Strong, Planning Commission Chairman and realtor Ed Steinbeck, architect Nick Gilman, locksmith Daniel Franklin and local business owner Donald S. Fransen, Jr.
No response was received from Franklin.
...more

School board delays approval of project bid
Posted: Thursday, Oct 30th, 2008
The Board of Trustees for the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District voted to delay awarding the bid for a new pod of classrooms at Kermit King Elementary School until the bidder’s references could be checked.
When Kermit King was originally built in 2001, only four of the five proposed classroom pods were built initially, with district officials planning on ...more

The Ranch opens its doors in San Miguel
Posted: Monday, Oct 27th, 2008
The Ranch Restaurant & Honky Tonk, a new bar and grill in the heart of downtown San Miguel, opened its doors Friday.
The $1 million renovation project, located at 1285 Mission St., has taken an old building and infused a honky-tonk theme complete with live onstage music, a beer and wine bar, special VIP lounge and wine bar, outdoor patio ...more

District officials review Paso school’s test scores
Posted: Monday, Oct 27th, 2008
For years to come historians and political analysts will try to determine the lasting legacy of President George W. Bush and his administration. But when it comes to schools, the Bush Administration’s mark can be summed up in four words — No Child Left Behind.
NCLB legislation was first passed in 2001, and since that time schools that receive federal ...more

Candidates for school board discuss goals for Paso schools
Posted: Monday, Oct 27th, 2008
There are seven candidates running for four open seats on the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District’s Board of Trustees.
The board, which is composed of seven members, oversees six elementary schools, two middle schools, a comprehensive high school, a culinary academy and three alternative education sites in Paso Robles. The candidates include four incumbents — current board president Debi ...more

Property rights forum to be held in San Miguel
Posted: Monday, Oct 27th, 2008
San Miguel area residents interested in hearing more about issues affecting their property rights are being invited to a special informational forum tonight.
Hosted by the San Miguel Resource Connection, the free educational forum is titled “The Future of San Miguel–Property Rights and Planning Forum” and will give residents the chance to stay informed regarding property rights and planning issues ...more

A look at some of the races on the ballot
Posted: Monday, Oct 27th, 2008
In addition to the Presidential race, 12 propositions and a host of local government races, voters will be asked to weigh in on the race for the 33rd State Assembly District and the 15th State Senate District.

State Senate Race
In the race for the 15th District seat in the State Senate, incumbent Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, is ...more

NCI Affiliates opens new home
Posted: Monday, Oct 27th, 2008
NCI Affiliates, Inc. recently moved into its new, 15,000-square-foot home at 496 Linne Road in Paso Robles.
The multi-use facility is housing the nonprofit’s administrative offices, day support and work services along with being the city’s newest U.S. Post Office Contract Postal Unit.
The move will consolidate NCI’s services under one roof, said Mike Metcalf, NCI’s public relations and ...more

Mayoral candidates discuss their vision for Paso Robles
Posted: Monday, Oct 27th, 2008
The Paso Robles Press recently compiled a series of questions for the candidates running the city’s second-ever elected mayoral seat.
Candidates running for mayor include City Councilmen Duane Picanco and Gary Nemeth, Concerned Citizens for Paso Robles leader and lecturer John Borst and Norman Vineyards national marketing director Jim Norman. Responses from Borst and Norman were not received as of ...more

Paso woman uses sewing skills to make statement
Posted: Monday, Oct 27th, 2008
Paso Robles business owner Joni Springer’s longtime means of creative expression has now given way to a unique form of political expression for San Luis Obispo County residents.
Springer, who owns and operates a contract sewing and product design business called Rhythm Design out of her home in downtown Paso Robles, has long considered sewing to be a passion. But ...more

City moves forward with new water rates
Posted: Thursday, Oct 23rd, 2008
The Paso Robles City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to select a revised water rate methodology and authorized city staff to proceed with property owner and water customer notification.
The council will consider final adoption of the rates on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, the deadline for the public to file protest ballots with the city. The city will mail water ...more

Fred Strong picks up endorsement from city employee unions
Posted: Thursday, Oct 23rd, 2008
City Councilman Fred Strong, who is running for re-election, recently received several organizational endorsements.
Strong’s endorsements include all three city employee union organizations — Service Employees International Union Local No. 620, Paso Robles Police Officers’ Association and International Association of Fire Fighters,
Paso Robles Chapter No. 4148 — the Home Builders Association of the Central Coast, Lincoln Club of San Luis ...more

A look at the propositions on the November ballot
Posted: Thursday, Oct 23rd, 2008
In addition to a number of national, state and local offices on the ballot for the General Election, slated for Tuesday, Nov. 4, California voters will be asked to decide 12 propositions.
Below is a look at the proposed propositions on the ballot and a few of the notable officials and groups supporting and opposing each measure. For more information, ...more

Local law enforcement officials speak out against Prop. 5
Posted: Thursday, Oct 23rd, 2008
Local law enforcement officials including Paso Robles Police Department Chief Lisa Solomon and Deputy District Attorney Gerald T. Shea have come out in opposition to Proposition 5, a ballot measure which, among other things, calls for an annual allocation of roughly half a billion dollars from the state’s general fund to expand treatment programs for nonviolent drug offenders.
The measure, ...more

City extends contract with 2 Point Media
Posted: Thursday, Oct 23rd, 2008
Brand communications firm 2 Point Media will be retained beyond its $57,400 contract to help assist the city in public relations on a new, pay-as-you-go water rates proposal approved by the Paso Robles City Council Tuesday.
The firm, originally contracted to help assist the city in educating the pubic regarding the Nacimiento Water Project and other water-related issues, exhausted its ...more

Ice cream truck permit prompts change of municipal code
Posted: Thursday, Oct 23rd, 2008
Prompted by a request from a local ice cream truck to conduct business within city limits, the Paso Robles City Council moved on Tuesday to begin an amendment and update to its municipal code that would require such requests to be funneled directly to a city department rather than the City Council.
In a threefold decision, the Paso Robles City ...more

Home Builders Association announces candidate endorsements
Posted: Thursday, Oct 23rd, 2008
The Homebuilders Association of the Central Coast recently announced its candidate and ballot measure endorsements for the Nov. 4 election.
In Paso Robles, the association endorsed Planning Commission Chairman and realtor Ed Steinbeck, incumbent City Councilman and planner Fred Strong for City Council and Mayor Pro Tem Gary Nemeth, a retired police officer, for mayor.
Steinbeck, Strong, local business owner ...more

Cary’s work on display at library
Posted: Thursday, Oct 23rd, 2008
Local artist Carla Cary has an impeccable eye for color, a passion for painting and an impressive body of work — just a fraction of which is currently on display at the Paso Robles City Library.
But what is truly remarkable about this up-and-coming Paso Robles artist is that Cary is only 12-years-old.
A seventh-grader at Atascadero Fine Arts Academy, ...more

California Valley man arrested for alleged arson
Posted: Thursday, Oct 23rd, 2008
One man’s alleged attempt to “destroy” a computer by lighting a trashcan on fire Sunday in California Valley turned into an hour-long standoff and the eventual arrest of a suspect without injury.
California Valley resident Lance Timothy Stach, 22, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of setting a fire inside his parent’s mobile home and later resisting deputies and fire officials.
...more