Atascadero News

Around About North County

March 29, 2021

Barbie Butz 805-461-1234

Often, when people pass, they leave us wonderful memories of them that we cherish the rest of our lives. I want to tell you about a special woman, Virginia Allen, who not only left wonderful memories, but left samples of her creative talent for us to enjoy for years to come. She was a quilter and those of you who quilt know how much of you goes into each quilt you produce.

Virginia made dozens of quilts and many of them she donated to nonprofits for fundraisers. They were works of art and are still enjoyed and appreciated by their owners.

I first met Virginia when she joined Quota of Atascadero in 2003. She had moved to Atascadero in 1974 to live near her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Janet Stecher. She was also and active member of Chapter VF of the Philanthropic Educational Organization, (PEO), and attended the First Methodist Church of Atascadero.

Virginia was always most comfortable in front of a sewing machine, By the time she was 12, she made much of her own clothing and in her twenties, worked for a tailor creating wedding dresses. Her interest in quilting began after she moved to Atascadero. She eventually purchased an embroidery machine and her quilts became even more elaborate. She shared her love of sewing with her “Stitch and Bitch” sewing group and attended meetings faithfully.

She continued to quilt into her early 90’s, with patient and loving help from Lynn, the owner of the Sew Fun Sewing shop in Atascadero. She would spend 1 or 2 days every week working on quilts at the shop.

Virginia Allen loved to give back to her community and donating her quilts for fundraisers was a way of achieving that. Although Virginia passed in 2019 at the age of 95, her legacy lives on through her beautiful quilts.

Jim and Janet Stecher have donated one of Virginia’s quilts to the Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee (APACC) for a fundraiser. Proceeds will be used toward APACC’s goal of providing a performing arts theater in Atascadero.

The quilt is approximately 68” by 90” and is on display at Karen McNamara’s shop, Hope Chest Emporium, located at 5800 El Camino Real. The fundraiser is auction-style with the opening bid at $250 and increments of $25. Bidding opened March 26 and will close Mother’s Day, May 9 at 4:30 p.m.

This is a “must see” work of art. If you are a quilter you will love seeing the detail Virginia put into it. If you are related to a quilter, you will be “in awe” of her work!

January 2, 2008 Atascadero News

Report addresses feasibility of PAC for Atascadero

by Ellen Holland

Atascadero’s current struggle to find a sense of community and unite behind a cohesive vision could be a positive vehicle for promoting an Atascadero performing arts center,

Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee chairman Kathy Hannemann said of the results revealed in an a feasibility report.

The report, which assesses the need for a PAC, was funded through the $1,000 donations of 100 APACC “founders” and presented to the Atascadero Redevelopment

Agency in November 2007. Conducted by consultant Carrie Blake of New York City-based Webb Management Services, Inc., the report reveals both a political and social

will for such a facility, Hannemann said.

“[The report] focused our group on the community need for a facility,” she said of the study, which presents several options for different types of performing arts centers.

“Whatever it is, we know it’s a community effort and we’re looking forward to working with the community to see what it should be.”

APACC was founded in 2003 by a group of community members who saw the need for a local performing arts venue and gained its nonprofit status in September of that year.

Its 11-member board meets monthly and continues to encourage public input through meetings open to all interested in attending. While Hannemann said the group initially

thought the feasibility report would assess the fundraising possibilities for an Atascadero PAC, it actually set out to discover if there is a political and social will for

such a facility.

“That really has nothing to do with money; that has to do with desire,” Hannemann said. “We were asking for one thing but, in fact, what we wanted was another.”The report, completed in November 2007 after a series of extensive community interviews, reveals “empty-nesters,” a significant and growing population in Atascadero, have the best propensity to participate in arts programs.

The report also states Atascadero would have the potential to draw in tourists visiting neighboring wine regions in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo with an Atascadero PAC.

Meet our FOUNDERS

​

NeilAmirante American Riviera Bank

David Argo in honor of Mary Pat Argo

Dave & Georgie Arnold

Geoff & Kate Auslen of Glenn's Repair & Rental

Josh Backlin All Tech Services

Ann Berry Gallegos & Orlando Gallegos

JoeAnn & Lorenzo Bruzzo

Barbie & John Butz

Anet & Charley Carlin

Mary Alice & Dug Chisholm

Leonard Colamarino

Claudia Collier

Diane Cooper (Cooper Family)

Marlene & Reynaldo Cordero

Rex, Kendall, Jaden Cordero

Megan Cordero

Reynalane Cordero

Kristian Emrich (Solar Ponics)

Vicki & Jim Ewart

Sally & Mike Ferree

Margaret Kinney & Mark Gibbs

Don & Janey Giessinger (76 Union)

Brenda Gray

Robin & Larry Guittard

Kathy & Will Hannemann

Dr James & Zelda Harrison

Rex & Judy Hutton

Sandy & Betty Lou Jack

Lester & Martha Jeffries

Margaret Klevins (Bank of America)

Dr. Randolph & Patricia Lawrence

Bob & Judy Lilley

Marge Mackey

David & Carolyn Mason

Dan & Eileen O'Grady

Tom & Peggy O'Malley

Jim Patterson

Katrin Peck

Eric & Terri Petersen

John & Teri Rogers

Kathleen Schmidt

Dyann & Rick Shepard

Joe Simonin (Lube N Go)

Wendy Smith

Jim & Janet Stecher

Kelley & Craig Stolz

Richard & Sandra Summers

Jerry Tanimoto

Yvonne & John Webster

Cherie & Jerry Williams

Rosh Wright & Ed Veek

Lee Ybaben

Mike & Peggy Zappas

Atascadero Optimist Club

Coast Hills

Atascadero News

Around About North County

March 29, 2021

Barbie Butz 805-461-1234

Often, when people pass, they leave us wonderful memories of them that we cherish the rest of our lives. I want to tell you about a special woman, Virginia Allen, who not only left wonderful memories, but left samples of her creative talent for us to enjoy for years to come. She was a quilter and those of you who quilt know how much of you goes into each quilt you produce.

Virginia made dozens of quilts and many of them she donated to nonprofits for fundraisers. They were works of art and are still enjoyed and appreciated by their owners.

I first met Virginia when she joined Quota of Atascadero in 2003. She had moved to Atascadero in 1974 to live near her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Janet Stecher. She was also and active member of Chapter VF of the Philanthropic Educational Organization, (PEO), and attended the First Methodist Church of Atascadero.

Virginia was always most comfortable in front of a sewing machine, By the time she was 12, she made much of her own clothing and in her twenties, worked for a tailor creating wedding dresses. Her interest in quilting began after she moved to Atascadero. She eventually purchased an embroidery machine and her quilts became even more elaborate. She shared her love of sewing with her “Stitch and Bitch” sewing group and attended meetings faithfully.

She continued to quilt into her early 90’s, with patient and loving help from Lynn, the owner of the Sew Fun Sewing shop in Atascadero. She would spend 1 or 2 days every week working on quilts at the shop.

Virginia Allen loved to give back to her community and donating her quilts for fundraisers was a way of achieving that. Although Virginia passed in 2019 at the age of 95, her legacy lives on through her beautiful quilts.

Jim and Janet Stecher have donated one of Virginia’s quilts to the Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee (APACC) for a fundraiser. Proceeds will be used toward APACC’s goal of providing a performing arts theater in Atascadero.

The quilt is approximately 68” by 90” and is on display at Karen McNamara’s shop, Hope Chest Emporium, located at 5800 El Camino Real. The fundraiser is auction-style with the opening bid at $250 and increments of $25. Bidding opened March 26 and will close Mother’s Day, May 9 at 4:30 p.m.

This is a “must see” work of art. If you are a quilter you will love seeing the detail Virginia put into it. If you are related to a quilter, you will be “in awe” of her work!