2018 September COLONY Magazine
COLONY Magazine — Your Hometown Magazine. A collection of events, activities, news, business, and culture for the Atascadero area. COLONY Magazine — Your Hometown Magazine. A collection of events, activities, news, business, and culture for the Atascadero area.
COLONY PEOPLE Welcome back, Conrad Photos by Pat Pemberton AHS grad Nate Conrad Enters 13th Year Leading His Old Band Nate Conrad was preparing to fly to Europe where he would perform for the third time since entering college when the call came to go back home. “Four or five people from Atascadero called me and said, ‘When are you going to get your teaching credential?’” said Conrad, who was studying at California State University, East Bay at the time. “Because the job just opened up.” The Job: director of the high school band. Seven years earlier, Conrad had performed with that band as a student. Suddenly, he had an opportunity to return to Atascadero as an educator. Remember that 70s sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter?” Like that, but without a laugh track. Now, 12 years after his return, Conrad is still leading that band, which will experience a significant change this year when it skips marching competitions to focus on musicianship and local events. “This is pretty awesome,” he said, sitting in a temporary instrument storage space while the band room undergoes renovation. “And I’m really happy doing what I’m doing where I’m doing it.” Conrad moved to Atascadero at the age of four with a family of musicians. “We were always singing and making music in the house growing up,” he said. His father, an Episcopal priest, enjoyed classical music and hymns, so that dominated — but didn’t necessarily dictate Conrad’s earliest music selections. “I got the first Weezer album and the first Green Day album,” he said. But during his sophomore year, his parents bought him some music for Christmas — Count Basie and J.J. Johnson — and he was hooked on jazz. “It probably took me twice as long to do my homework as any other student,” he said. “Because I had those CDs on all the time, and I would space out and listen to music.” Conrad began playing trombone one day simply because the other available instruments — a trumpet and a clarinet — were in worse condition. “In a typical musician way, I love that it’s impossibly hard to play,” he said of the trombone. “My youngest brother is a professional saxophone player, and every time I see him play, I’m like, man — that’s such a smarter way to go.” After high school, Conrad started his studies at Cuesta College, had a brief stop at Cal Poly, then headed to Hayward, where he found more opportunities to perform and compose. He would have continued to perform in the Bay Area had he not returned to that familiar place. By Pat Pemberton “It was familiar in a really good sense,” he said. “The weird part was talking to the teachers.” A few of the teachers he’d distanced himself from as a student suddenly appeared much differently once he got to know them as colleagues. “It turns out they were phenomenal people,” he said with a laugh. While competing has long been an element of the marching band, this year, Conrad and the administration decided to back off from competition. For one thing, Conrad said, the school always had to travel long distances to compete against much bigger schools. And competing on the road, he added, just isn’t as rewarding as performing at community events or home football games. “When the stands are full, it’s close to 2,000 people,” he said. “So over the course of five home games, we’re playing for close to 10,000 people.” By skipping competitions, he said, he can focus on making students better musicians, which will ultimately help those who want to pursue music further. And serious musicians will want to play serious music, which is why this year’s catalog includes several Steely Dan numbers. “A lot of them don’t know Steely Dan,” Conrad said. “But by the end of the year, they’re going to be checking out Steely Dan and other bands from that era and similar styles, so that’s a win.” 16 | colonymagazine.com COLONY Magazine, September 2018
COLONY PEOPLE Doug Filipponi By Melissa Chavez It’s Monday in the tasting room at Ancient Peaks Winery in downtown Santa Margarita. What was pin-drop quiet minutes after unlocking the front door is bustling moments later. In an adjacent room, co-owner Doug Filipponi remains attentive while juggling a smartphone and mental calendars. He’s tying loose ends and stealing time for a meeting before leaving town the next day. It’s a busy life for this grape grower, well driller and cattle rancher. Doug’s many ventures all serve to underscore his affinity for the North SLO County terrain, in which he is well-rooted. For Doug, forging good relationships with people is a foundational trait. Among those people is Ned Thompson, with whom he formed Filipponi & Thompson Drilling, Inc. in 1974. The company provides water well drilling services throughout the Central Coast, from Monterey to Ventura. Nearly 20 years ago, Doug recalled that the idea of a winery first evolved when he and his friends bought vineyards from winemaking great Robert Mondavi. He joked, “You know, I told my wife to whack me with a frying pan if I ever got into making wine, and yet, here I am!” Indeed, he remains intact, as is his formidable influence in the SLO County community through involvement with the California Mid-State Fair’s Heritage Foundation, Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, and Atascadero Greyhound Foundation's Lighthouse Committee, to name a few. Together with business partners Rob Rossi and Karl Wittstrom, four generations of winemaking infuse every vintage of Ancient Peaks award-winning wine. “All of the grapes are grown right here,” Doug said. He heavily credits Jaime Muniz (Vineyard Manager), Mike Sinor (Director of Winemaking) and Stewart Cameron (Winemaker) for Ancient Peaks Winery’s continued success. Savors the Good Life in Santa Margarita “I’ve been involved somehow or other with this ranch since I was a kid and now to be a part of it and share it is pretty special" Doug Filipponi Photo by Melissa Chavez “Food and wine should be shared together, which is why we serve food in the tasting room,” Doug said. Charcuterie, cheeseboards, soups, sandwiches and hamburgers made with locally-grown produce pair deliciously with Ancient Peaks wine for a true sense of terroir (“a sense of place”) in every bite. The wine label draws inspiration from the neighboring Santa Lucia Range, which encompasses Doug’s Santa Margarita Ranch property, a 14,000-acre, picturesque landscape nestled between Atascadero and San Luis Obispo. The historic parcel, part of Father Junipero Serra’s Mission Trail in the 1700s, contains remnants of the 1878 stone walls of the Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia, (a former partner structure to Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa). Those remnants are now protected by a barn, a generations-old ranch house and mission vineyard land — all dating to the days of the Franciscans. “I’ve been involved somehow or other with this ranch since I was a kid and now to be a part of it and share it is pretty special," said Doug of the beloved Santa Margarita Ranch he owns with Rossi and Wittstrom. “I want people to see how beautiful and special this place is. I want them to taste the wine, take it home, and let it bring back to them what they saw.” Today, the preserved ranch sustains a natural beef program, a sustainably-grown Margarita Vineyard and a steam-powered Pacific Coast Railroad with 5/8-scale passenger coaches that date back to the 1950s for the public to enjoy. The ranch hosts gatherings large and small, from hometown weddings to Savor the Central Coast events by Sunset Magazine. Santa Margarita Adventures offers six zipline tours that glide more than 7,500 feet across the property and provide an eagle’s view and draws locals and visitors alike. Born in Paso Robles and raised in Atascadero, Doug credits good mentors who helped develop his approach to business. “It’s not about money,” said Doug. “Do what you love doing. If you don’t, you won’t be happy.” Doug momentarily ignores a text message on his phone and the people waiting outside to share a final thought about the work ethic that fuels him and his crew: “I’m personally proud of these folks. We have 40-year team members in our drilling business alone. It’s all about commitment and we’re committed to people who work for us. Anyone who has shown us that they’re willing to work hard? They’re just like family to us.” September 2018, COLONY Magazine colonymagazine.com | 17
- Page 1 and 2: COLONYMAGAZINE.COM
- Page 4 and 5: FEATURES contents September 2018, I
- Page 6 and 7: Something Worth Reading ATASCADERO
- Page 8 and 9: Plop a Spot for Cow Pie Bingo The A
- Page 10 and 11: ROUND TOWN Santa Margarita SMALL TO
- Page 12 and 13: ROUND TOWN Taking the backroads WIT
- Page 14 and 15: COLONY PEOPLE KAREN MCNAMARA Realto
- Page 18 and 19: COLONY DAYS Brings the Mudhole Foll
- Page 20 and 21: Greyhound For Life Photo by Rick Ev
- Page 22 and 23: LOCAL BUSINESS JOHN’S VIDEO PALAC
- Page 24 and 25: TENT CITY TENT CITY Recreates Atasc
- Page 26 and 27: TENT CITY Veterans Memorial Foundat
- Page 28 and 29: COLONY TASTE Americana TASTE OF THE
- Page 30 and 31: EVENTS Special Events Sept. 1-3 —
- Page 32 and 33: EVENTS At the Library Atascadero Li
- Page 34 and 35: LAST WORD Boys & Girls Club of Nort
<strong>COLONY</strong> PEOPLE<br />
Doug Filipponi<br />
By Melissa Chavez<br />
It’s Monday in the tasting room at Ancient<br />
Peaks Winery in downtown Santa<br />
Margarita. What was pin-drop quiet minutes<br />
after unlocking the front door is bustling<br />
moments later.<br />
In an adjacent room, co-owner Doug Filipponi<br />
remains attentive while juggling a smartphone<br />
and mental calendars. He’s tying loose<br />
ends and stealing time for a meeting before<br />
leaving town the next day. It’s a busy life for<br />
this grape grower, well driller and cattle rancher.<br />
Doug’s many ventures all serve to underscore his<br />
affinity for the North SLO County terrain, in<br />
which he is well-rooted.<br />
For Doug, forging good relationships with<br />
people is a foundational trait. Among those<br />
people is Ned Thompson, with whom he formed<br />
Filipponi & Thompson Drilling, Inc. in 1974.<br />
The company provides water well drilling services<br />
throughout the Central Coast, from Monterey<br />
to Ventura.<br />
Nearly 20 years ago, Doug recalled that the<br />
idea of a winery first evolved when he and his<br />
friends bought vineyards from winemaking great<br />
Robert Mondavi. He joked, “You know, I told my<br />
wife to whack me with a frying pan if I ever got<br />
into making wine, and yet, here I am!” Indeed, he<br />
remains intact, as is his formidable influence in<br />
the SLO County community through involvement<br />
with the California Mid-State Fair’s Heritage<br />
Foundation, Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, and<br />
Atascadero Greyhound Foundation's Lighthouse<br />
Committee, to name a few.<br />
Together with business partners Rob Rossi<br />
and Karl Wittstrom, four generations of winemaking<br />
infuse every vintage of Ancient Peaks<br />
award-winning wine.<br />
“All of the grapes are grown right here,” Doug<br />
said. He heavily credits Jaime Muniz (Vineyard<br />
Manager), Mike Sinor (Director of Winemaking)<br />
and Stewart Cameron (Winemaker) for<br />
Ancient Peaks Winery’s continued success.<br />
Savors the Good Life in Santa Margarita<br />
“I’ve been involved somehow or other<br />
with this ranch since I was a kid<br />
and now to be a part of it<br />
and share it is pretty special"<br />
Doug Filipponi<br />
Photo by Melissa Chavez<br />
“Food and wine should be shared together,<br />
which is why we serve food in the tasting room,”<br />
Doug said. Charcuterie, cheeseboards, soups,<br />
sandwiches and hamburgers made with locally-grown<br />
produce pair deliciously with Ancient<br />
Peaks wine for a true sense of terroir (“a sense of<br />
place”) in every bite.<br />
The wine label draws inspiration from the<br />
neighboring Santa Lucia Range, which encompasses<br />
Doug’s Santa Margarita Ranch property,<br />
a 14,000-acre, picturesque landscape nestled between<br />
Atascadero and San Luis Obispo.<br />
The historic parcel, part of Father Junipero<br />
Serra’s Mission Trail in the 1700s, contains<br />
remnants of the 1878 stone walls of the Santa<br />
Margarita de Cortona Asistencia, (a former<br />
partner structure to Mission San Luis Obispo de<br />
Tolosa). Those remnants are now protected by a<br />
barn, a generations-old ranch house and mission<br />
vineyard land — all dating to the days of the<br />
Franciscans.<br />
“I’ve been involved somehow or other with<br />
this ranch since I was a kid and now to be a part<br />
of it and share it is pretty special," said Doug<br />
of the beloved Santa Margarita Ranch he owns<br />
with Rossi and Wittstrom. “I want people to see<br />
how beautiful and special this place is. I want<br />
them to taste the wine, take it home, and let it<br />
bring back to them what they saw.”<br />
Today, the preserved ranch sustains a natural<br />
beef program, a sustainably-grown Margarita<br />
Vineyard and a steam-powered Pacific Coast<br />
Railroad with 5/8-scale passenger coaches that<br />
date back to the 1950s for the public to enjoy.<br />
The ranch hosts gatherings large and small, from<br />
hometown weddings to Savor the Central Coast<br />
events by Sunset <strong>Magazine</strong>. Santa Margarita Adventures<br />
offers six zipline tours that glide more<br />
than 7,500 feet across the property and provide<br />
an eagle’s view and draws locals and visitors alike.<br />
Born in Paso Robles and raised in Atascadero,<br />
Doug credits good mentors who helped develop<br />
his approach to business.<br />
“It’s not about money,” said Doug. “Do what<br />
you love doing. If you don’t, you won’t be happy.”<br />
Doug momentarily ignores a text message<br />
on his phone and the people waiting outside to<br />
share a final thought about the work ethic that<br />
fuels him and his crew:<br />
“I’m personally proud of these folks. We have<br />
40-year team members in our drilling business<br />
alone. It’s all about commitment and we’re committed<br />
to people who work for us. Anyone who<br />
has shown us that they’re willing to work hard?<br />
They’re just like family to us.”<br />
<strong>September</strong> <strong>2018</strong>, <strong>COLONY</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> colonymagazine.com | 17
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