Greetings friends, Contents

June also brings us Father’s Day. The most rewarding thing in my life is being a father. I love it and our family means so much. We have learned a lot, worked really hard and we’ve had a great time through it all. I was recently asked by a friend how we raised strong and engaged women. One sure thing is being there, and being present. Moving to Modesto made that possible. One of the things I intentionally did was to make Modesto a place that my kids would love and enjoy. We got involved, made a difference and I decided to be a positive messenger for our community. Community service is so very important to learn about our town and work with people that also care. I am so beyond grateful that both of my girls watched and learned and wanted live here in Modesto. They have great jobs, and their partners are also engaged and making a difference and they are starting their own families. They see what can be accomplished and how we can all make change. I would encourage anyone to really take a look around and see what you can do to make Modesto better. There are

It is good to know the owners of local restaurants as it makes dining so much familiar, know the local store owners that make our local economy work and support each other. It is important to be familiar with our local officials that are taking our community ideas and crafting policies that can move us forward and break down barriers. It’s really important to think and live local, even while building a community that is interesting and exiting to the rest of the world. Our Graffiti culture is a good metaphor, of a simple place where we all know each other and make a difference. There is really nothing more authentic. June is Pride Month. This is really simple. It is all about basic equality. Celebrate people as they are, let them love who they want and embrace our diversity. It’s not much more complicated than that. No one should get to take anyone’s rights away. Yeah, I love Graffiti Summer and it really makes what we all do make sense. Let’s keep the Graffiti spirit alive and share it as far and wide as we can.

With Gratitude, Chris Murphy Founder & Publisher, ModestoView chrism@modestoview.com

On the Cover

We love our local Modesto sweethearts Sam Pierstorff and Ruhi Sheikh. These amazing people help present the Ill List, Porchfest, American Laughiti and so many other great local Modesto happenings. Sam, aka Ninja Poet is an MJC English Professor and the President of the State Theatre and Ruhi is part of the Porchfest and ModShop team as well as Stanislaus County Partners in education. They have three amazing and award winning kids, Hakeem, Ameena and Dean. They are part of the “let’s make sure our kids want to live in Modesto” club, of which we all are a member.

Ruhi is wearing an actual 1962 Downey High Song dress that was provided by Linda Pedigo, Downey 62 and classmate of George Lucas. Sam is wearing Steve Pedigo’s official REGS jacket from 1961. There is some real vintage history here in Modesto.

Thanks to MJ Mangano for bringing Burge’s Drive In to life with special messages to Cindy Williams and Olivia Newton John. Did you see it?