Partner Charlie Bradley to make ‘dancing’ debut

ATASCADERO — Melinda Reed is a can-do sort of woman, the woman you want on your team when you want to get something done. This elegant, friendly woman is dancing for the Templeton Community Library Association as the Association works to achieve its goal of building a public library in Templeton. Melinda has been involved with TCLA for ten years, on the board for three years, and has helped create the organization’s signature events and fundraisers, including fashion shows, the Site Reveal, donor receptions and the Book Give/Away Sales. She steps up when a volunteer is needed, gets to work, and did not hesitate to accept the assignment of dancing in DWOS. As costume possibilities were outlined at the first meeting of DWOS 2020 participants, Melinda put on her clever, book-themed costume, already constructed and ready to go.

Melinda is a retired florist and wedding event planner, and floral arranging continues to be one of her interests. She has won first prizes and Special Judges’ Awards at the Mid-State Fair for her table settings and décor. As a very young woman, she held the position of Chief Equipment Manager for the Telephone Company, overseeing the male switchmen who were trouble-shooting the long-distance networks. After shuttling back and forth between their home in Los Altos and the home they bought in Templeton, she and her husband Doug made the move to Templeton 10 years ago to be near one of their daughters. They are the owners of KelNik Vineyards in Templeton, named for their daughters, Kelly and Nicole. Melinda and Doug recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. In addition to their daughters and sons-in-law, they have four grandchildren.

A few more bits of information about Melinda: She is a long-time member of the Crystal Bridges Art Museum in Bentonville, Ark. and recently returned from an enchanted visit to the museum with her daughters and two of her grandchildren. She has also been a cheerleading coach , once winning 4th place in Nationals Crowdleading. She can talk pro football and winemaking with equal fluency.

Melinda comes from a family that loves dancing and theater and she began dance lessons at age 5. She has studied tap and ballet, including tap lessons with DWOS 2019 star Nancy Beckett, but has never studied ballroom so her DWOS dance is a new experience for her. She said that it is a double pleasure for her to dance and to fundraise for the Templeton Library. Active in the Templeton community as a member of Templeton Heritage Trees and the Templeton Historic Society, she is committed to the establishment of a Templeton library. And since stepping forward as a Community Star for TCLA, she has been elected president of the organization! To donate to Melinda’s campaign, go to templetoncommunitylibrary.org and click on “Event Photos.”

Melinda will be dancing with Charlie Bradley, to choreography by Charlie and long-time DWOS mainstay Judie Magonacelaya. 

After a successful 30-year career as an executive with some of the nation’s leading banks, S&Ls and credit unions, Bradley retired to put on his dancing shoes, his motorcycle gloves, his writer’s cap and his researcher’s glasses. He has continued his successful path through life, with an emphasis on the dancing part. As Reed’s partner and co-choreographer, he will continue his role as partner to a Community Star, which began last year with Kiwanis’ Jan Lynch.  

Charlie loves to dance and said that dancing takes up much of his leisure time. 

“If there’s music, you’ll find me dancing,” he said. “And, it’s not unusual to find me dancing in the aisles of local supermarkets.” 

Several years ago, he was part of the on-stage scenery for Bruce Bonifas’ turn as a DWOS Community Star, raising money for ALPS. He did not have a dancing role then, and he is eager to be able to dance instead of being scenery. He has taken hundreds of hours of dance lessons and said that he is honored to be part of DWOS 2020. Charlie is an avid motorcyclist, the proud recipient of the BMW Motorcycle 100,000 Mile Award. The story of his motorcycle trip to Alaska was published in the July 2018 edition of Wing World Magazine. Charlie also participates in the US Forest Service Passport in Time program, which involved research and hands-on maintenance and restoration work in U.S. public lands.  

Judie Magonacelaya is Melinda’s co-choreographer and who better than Judie to create a dance? We suspect that Judie was learning to dance at the same time she was learning to walk. She was a member of the committee that organized DWOS in 2010, and she has choreographed and danced in past performances. She has studied dance in many forms, including hula and belly dancing but her heart belongs to tap dance. She has taught tap — she started and directed an after-school tap program in Paso Robles — and she takes tap classes to this day. 

Judie and Joe, her husband, have lived in Atascadero for over 50 years. They raised their two daughters here, and their family all live in North County, except for a grandson who lives in Barcelona. Judie and Joe’s travel adventures include a hot air balloon ride in Australia, a helicopter ride over Uluru and a camel ride. In addition to assisting Melinda in supporting the TCLA, Judie has been on the board of Escuela Del Rio and has been very active in Atascadero AAUW.

Atascadero’s Dancing with our Stars will take place March 26, 27 and 28 at the Pavilion on the Lake. The theme will be “Prime Time Atascadero: Season 11,” and will be directed by Molly Comin. Opolo Vineyards is the exclusive wine sponsor. Pacific Harvest Catering will provide a catered buffet dinner. Tickets went on sale Jan. 20 and are available at FriendsoftheAtascaderoLibrary.org. There will be no ticket sales at the door. Are you interested in donating a silent auction item? Contact Cynthia Moyer by e-mail at cdmsierra@gmail.com. Tickets will sell out! Don’t delay securing your seats for this popular community event supporting seven local nonprofit organizations. 

2020 Sponsors as of January 31, 2020

($1,000 and Above)

Diamond Sponsors $10,000 

Opolo Vineyards

Mary Bianco- The Moca Foundation

Platinum Sponsors $5,000

Vicky Morse

Mechanics Bank

Colony Magazine

Julie C. Fallon, M.D. 

John & Yvonne Webster

The Zappas Family- La Plaza

Mike and Lori Bickel- B Loved

El Camino Veterinary Hospital

Emerald Sponsors $3,500

Jean & Joe Kuntze

Malik Real Estate Group

Don & Janey Giessinger-Atascadero 76

Gold + Sponsors $2,500

Solarponics

BHE Renewables

Westar Associates

Grigger & Alice Jones

Gold Sponsors $2,000

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP

SLO County Supervisors–

Debbie Arnold & John Peschong

Silver Sponsors $1,000

Sue Hayes

Twist + Co

Lube N Go

777 Auction

Dr. Sciortino

IDLERS HOME

DJ Joy Bonner  

Wallace Group

Castoro Cellars

Bloom N’ Grow    

Highlight Media

Poole & Shaffery

Bank of America

Got You Covered

Bill Gaines Audio

Atascadero News

Charles Bourbeau

Bill & Grenda Ernst 

Eric & Carol Gobler

Ron & Judy Simons

Kim Croft-Compass 

STL Orthopedics Ltd. 

All Tech Services, Inc

The Real Estate Book 

Pear Valley Vineyards 

Brecon Estate Winery

Central Coast Brewing  

Coast Hills Credit Union

K.Jons Diamonds & Gems

Glenn’s Repair and Rental

Music Editor Brian Reeves 

Rotary Club of Atascadero

Cheryl Strahl Photography  

Gary Spinelli-Hunter Ranch

Kiwanis Club of Atascadero

Native Landscape Creations

Rob Garcia Wealth Management

Southern California Gas Company

On the Wall Galaxy Theatre Advertising