2015 February PASO Magazine

Just a
Thought
By Bob Chute
Happy Valentine’s Day
Paso Robles!
Hey guys, this is your chance
to make some points on this very
special day for the ladies...I’m still
pondering what to get for Rho. I
could wax poetic about this special
time for couples but suffice to say:
Gentlemen, this is where our true
colors can shine...and we need to get
creative. Do I hear an ‘amen’?
Love this City!
Looking back over the recently
completed Quasquicentennial
Celebration, this month our own
Chuck Desmond reviews his 20+
month quest writing articles for us,
and for our City’s history books,
detailing the efforts of the Quasqui
Committee members honoring
our 125th Anniversary. Chuck
was there every step of the way...
from day one at the initial planning
stages (see page 14) to the final
glow-in-the-dark games and laser
light show in the park downtown
welcoming the New Year, 2015!
My heartfelt thanks to Chuck,
and to Chris Weygandt Alba as
well, for her fascinating segments
chronicling our heritage each
month. Fascinating stuff and a job
well done by the entire community,
but especially the hardworking
members of the Quasqui committee.
Congratulations...you did it!
And thank you again to the City
for designating the Paso Robles
Magazine as The City of Paso
Robles Official 125th Anniversary
Publication! We’re in the Time
Capsule - see Chuck’s story for details!
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Celebration
Rho and I had the pleasure of
attending “The Color of
Unity,” honoring the legacy
of Dr. King, presented by
the City of Paso Robles and
the Paso Robles Ministerial
Association on January
17 at the Flamson Middle
School auditorium. It was a
great event with heartfelt interpretive
dancing segments by the Paso
Robles Youth Arts Foundation,
God Squad Dance Crew and the
Cuesta College Performing Arts,
special music by the MLK Community
Choir, and more, including
a keynote address by Elder Charlie
Reed of Second Baptist Church.
“Unity has no color,” said Reed
building on the famous words of
Dr. King, “Anybody can be great
because anybody can serve,” said
King. “You don’t have to have a col-
lege degree to serve. You don’t have
to make your subject and verbs
agree to serve. You only need a
heart full of grace, a soul generated
by love.”
“Change begins with self,” said
Reed. “Unity enlists support, if no
one else goes, send me. For those
that have a hand to lend or a chance
to help, at their own risk, let us
develop that kind of selflessness.
The color of unity, in community,
is colorless and faceless.
“To keep the hope alive change
must start with you and I,” continued
Reed. “We are here today
for a better understanding of
unity. But what about tomorrow?
Will we go home and
close our door and return
to life as usual…and forget
about unity? I hope not.
We must look in the mirror
and ask ourselves, ‘What color is
unity if it starts with me?’”
Powerful. After the MLK event
we went to Park Cinemas to see
Selma. Wow, an incredibly powerful
film about an incredible man
and the movement he led…a powerful
commitment to a cause. In
light of racial conflicts in America
over the last several months would
I have feelings of encouragement
honoring Dr. King’s efforts in
Selma or feelings of hopelessness
if I was in the skin of an African
American today? I can’t answer
that. We all know we still have
a long way to go, and I reflect
again on Reed’s statement, “We
must look in the mirror and ask
ourselves what color is unity if it
starts with me?”
In this issue…
I do believe we have an interesting
collection of articles for your
review.
First of all a tip of the ol’ PRM
cap to John and Marjorie Hamon
for being honored as Roblans of
the Year, and to Derby Wine Estates
recognized with the Beautification
of the Year Award at the
Paso Robles Chamber’s Annual
Dinner & Awards Gala (see stories,
pages 10 and 12).
We also have stories offering
different perspectives on what we
can expect in 2015…from City
Manager Jim App and Supervisor
Frank Mecham, as well as part 2
of my interview with our new
Superintentdent of Schools Chris
Williams.
Check out these and much more
in the magazine this month, and
please support our advertisers.
Personal
Our grandchild #7,
Emily Ruth Lear, celebrates
her first birthday
on February 13!
Locally owned
since 1974
8 Paso Robles Magazine, February 2015