Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival Committee gives back to the Charles Paddock Zoo
Members of the zoo’s board of directors, Mayor Heather Moreno, city council member Roberta Fonzi, Barbi Butz of the Wine Festival, and Wine Festival volunteers including Chamber President CEO Emily Reneau. Also Zoo Director Alan Baker.
– The Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival Committee gave the Charles Paddock Zoo $10,000 from the 2019 Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival. Every year the committee donates to the Charles Paddock Zoo and other community organizations using proceeds from the Festival, known in 2019 as The Central Coast RESERVE Experience.
“The 2019 Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival Committee is pleased to donate $10,000 to the Atascadero Charles Paddock Zoo to continue their great work on the animal habitats according to the zoo master plan. It is important to the committee to give back not only to the zoo, but to other great community projects that benefit the residents of our community,” said Barbie Butz, chairwoman of the Festival Committee. The committee plans to continue to give back to the Charles Paddock Zoo and community from some of the proceeds made by the Festival. Every ticket purchased from the festival goes toward helping our community. This donation is given every year in April. Due to COVID-19 this donation was delayed until June.
The flamingos at the front of the zoo have a new young flamingo.
“A heartfelt thank you from all of us here at the City and the Charles Paddock Zoo goes to the amazing volunteers of the Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival Committee for the annual donations benefiting the Zoo that their hard work and dedication have made possible over the past 24 years,” said Mayor Heather Moreno. The festival was canceled this year also due to COVID-19, but the zoo looks forward to celebrating its 25th Anniversary with an event next year on June 26, 2021. Plans for the 25th anniversary of the Festival are to continue to hold this event in the beautiful Atascadero Lake Park and the Charles Paddock Zoo.
Zoo Director Alan Baker says, “It’s always great to receive a check which we can use to enhance the zoo.”
The zoo is open, but only 40 people are allowed at any time. Mayor Heather Moreno says, “The zoo is open, but you must wear a mask to visit the zoo.”
The flamingos at the front of the zoo have a new young flamingo. “It hatched about a week ago, and it’s very active,” says Zoo Director Alan Baker. “Usually, we look for the hatchlings in their nest, but this one is up and around the flamingo area early in the morning, so we have to go looking for it. It’s quite active.”
The Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero is open from 10-5 seven days a week.
