2013 July PASO Magazine

BUSINESS
What’s happening on Main Street?
By Chris
Weygandt Alba
For her long labor to
bring vitality to downtown
Paso Robles,
Norma Moye of the
nationally acclaimed Paso Robles Main
Street Association was honored recently
by the History Center of San
Luis Obispo County. You might say
that Norma, for more than 20 years, has
served as the founding mother of this
city’s downtown.
Citing Norma’s “significant role in
revitalizing and restoring downtown
Paso Robles, as well as her role as Executive
Director of Paso Robles Main
Street Association,” the History Center
recognized Norma’s achievements
at the helm of Paso’s downtown nonprofit
in an awards ceremony at the
historic Dallidet Adobe and Gardens
in San Luis Obispo.
In 1990, downtown Paso Robles was
like many cities across America, losing
the battle of “suburbanization” as suburbs
and their shopping centers turned
historic downtowns into ghost towns.
Ours was 30-percent vacant. Norma
is fond of saying that before Main
Street got started in Paso, “You could
shoot a cannon down the street and
not hit anybody.”
The city adopted the Main Street
concept developed by the National
Trust for Historic Preservation: Create
a mostly volunteer community effort to
1) preserve the downtown’s historic architecture;
2) promote it as a gathering
place for everyone; 3) help businesses
thrive there; and 4) maintain its interesting
and vital mix of uses.
Norma took on the mission in 1992
and she has been tireless, recruiting the
world’s best volunteer crew and dedicated
community partners to turn downtown
around.
With two full-time employees and
a partnership of residents, property
owners, city officials, and small businesses,
the Paso Robles Main Street
Association earned top honors from
the National Trust in 2004. Downtown
has seen hundreds of privatesector
building improvement projects
with millions of dollars invested. Property
values and demand for downtown
space have kept pace.
“Everybody working together is
what makes big things happen,” Norma
told the History Center gathering. “It’s
all the people who step up to help who
deserve the accolades. We’d be nowhere
without each other. So get involved –
the world is run by those who show up.”
Roblans have a long history of cooperation
and adaption. Through changing
times since the 1880s one constant
has been the park at the heart of downtown.
It is a community gathering place
for traditions and innovations alike.
One of Main Street’s successful innovations,
the fifth annual Central
Coast Lavender Festival, celebrates
one of the world’s most versatile herbs
in the park on Saturday, July 13, from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. You’ll find the park alive
with aroma and flavor, more than 100
festival booths showcasing the many
pleasures of lavender alongside artists
and artisans, live music, an area devoted
to children, and a plentitude of savory
food and drink. Admission is free.
Lavender grows easily here, and it’s
hailed as a treatment for a host of ills,
from anxiety and exhaustion to muscle
strains and wounds. Enjoy it in lotions,
oils, and salts, or savor it as an edible, in
cooking spices and dipping oil. Lavender-inspired
delectables will be on hand
for sampling and specialists will demonstrate
how to produce your own.
For more information, call Main
Street at 238-4103, or visit the website
at CentralCoastLavenderFestival.com.
“Get involved – the world is run by those
who show up,” quipped Norma Moye,
executive director of the P.R. Main Street
Association, when honored recently by
the History Center of SLO County.
One of our beloved traditions, the
Free Pancake Breakfast on Thursday,
July 25, 7:30-10:30 a.m., offers
fabulous flapjacks and more to commemorate
Community Pride Day at
the Mid-State Fair. Downtown shops
team up with the Mid-State Fair and
local Granges to provide free chow, but
you must have a ticket to savor. Get free
tickets in advance at all the businesses
displaying the “Free Pancake Breakfast”
sign in their windows.
So hie thee downtown! It’ll be a hot
time in the old town in July!
We are pleased to announce the
Grand Opening of our Paso Robles Office
(805) 835-4233
www.sousa-and-company.com
519 13th Street,
Paso Robles, CA 93446
P.O. Box 3980, Paso Robles,
CA 93447
David M. Sousa, C.P.A.
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Office: 237-8811 Fax: 237-8211
102 South Vine St., Ste B Paso Robles, CA 93446
56 Paso Robles Magazine, July 2013