2015 February PASO Magazine

QUASQUI from page 14
many dating back 100 years. Al Garcia
began a crusade to the Service Clubs
for donations. Shonna Howenstine and
Caryn Jackson pledged to do the yearlong
event marketing complete with a new
website filled with the latest information
as it became available.
Suzanne Robitaille became the Queen
of Souvenirs guiding the creation and sales
of pins, hats, tote bags, tee shirts and Frisbees.
Norma Moye, our Main Street Matriarch,
guided the downtown businesses into
lending their support which many did with
contributions and advertising. City Council
members and Mayor Duane attended
meeting after meeting and eagerly gave
their support at every turn.
In order to have a focal point,
we needed a logo and after two
months of leaving it open to all area
citizens to submit their concepts, in
the April 2013 issue we announced
Jan Wolfinger is our winner. Jan
wins the cash prize of $1500 for
the design that voters and judges
felt best captured the history and
spirit of Paso to represent and present
our last 125 years.
Julie was almost breathing normal-like
again. Then came a few
big WOWs!
Dee Lacey, a local Paso legend, joined the
movement to raise the necessary funding.
She asked Supervisor (and just plain ol’ allaround
Paso-Good-Guy) Frank Mecham,
to help her and the Dynamic Duo made it
happen. In a still-recovering economy, the
heart of Robalans showed itself again to
meet the budget of $100,000. Folks, that’s
a WOW for sure.
Recall that through the entire year, the
Quasqui goals were: Remember our past;
Celebrate our present; Teach our children
the importance of history and leave a lasting
legacy with them. When Kathy McNamara
jumped in and rallied the schools to weave
all-things-Paso into the curriculum, the
Quasqui became a real doable goal-oriented
commitment. Personally, Kathy paid
for a 125th flag for each campus. Each
principal stressed the importance of
Paso to the students and the results were
super. Plays, essays and local history were
woven into the fabric of the academic year.
The next big WOW was Freda Berman.
Who knew she’d be the Master of
Logistics? Organizing both New
Year’s bashes and the fabulous
March Birthday party in the packed
park was simply wonderful. Glow-
In-The-Park games, fireworks -
twice - the laser light show and
street-pole banners. In March, the
parade featured Harris Stage
Lines delivering mail from San
Miguel (like it used to be delivered)
right to the steps of the Carnegie.
The HS chorus and band
performed, 1000 cupcakes, made
by the Culinary Academy were given out
and past Paso dignitaries we re-enacted and
stood alongside the current city officials.
Hope Family Wines created special red
and white blends using the 125th logo
as their label. Pithy Little Soda Works
crafted a specialty Ginger Ale and
Firestone Walker took advantage of their
“805” offering. These were served at both
New Years parties.
With virtually no city funding, it was up
to Paso’s residents to put together other
events they desired to have. Many came
to the forefront. Pioneer Museum transformed
its annual Women’s Day celebration
held in March and spearheaded
by Melody Mullis, to focus on local
historical women. It was a full house
that day. April is the traditional Arbor
Day celebration. Donations from Greg
Ellis-Valencia of One Cool Earth
in co-operation with Liberty School
students provided 125 Oak trees that
were given away in City Park. A more
mature oak was donated and planted in
the Park by Martinelli Landscaping to
honor the 125th.
July 4th was huge! The Children’s Parade,
Estrella Warbirds’ flyover, Veterans
Flag Salute and the largest-ever-attended
Concert in the Park and then a dazzling
fireworks display! Also in July was the unveiling
of “The Grand Mural” created by
the HS’s ceramics class under the leadership
of Joshua Gwiazda. Located outside
the entrance to City Hall, the mural is
“all 125th” and was solely a student project.
Throughout the year, Heather Stephenson,
Children’s Librarian extraordinaire,
found so many ways to keep children reading
by folding in contests and craft projects
that brought Quasqui history alive.
Both Police and Fire/ Safety wore custom
uniform-badges to remind themselves
and the citizens whom they protect and
serve. For all officers who served during
the year, those badges will be retired when
the officers retire. The Bearcats’ homecoming
game featured 125th re-enactments
during half-time. Splendid display. Youth
Please see QUASQUI page 18
16 Paso Robles Magazine, February 2015