GREETINGS VIEW

Contents

GREETINGS VIEW BIKE VIEW GEEK VIEW ART VIEW PERFORMANCE VIEW FOOD VIEW BREW VIEW LOCAL FARM STANDS INTERVIEW BIG VIEW MAMA VIEW UNPLUGGE D VIEW GRAFFITI USA VIEW SONGWRITER VIEW FILM NOIR VIEW JAZZ & BLUES VIEW FIT VIEW BARGAIN VIEW ALL AGES VIEW LIVE / RADIO CALENDAR REAR VIEW

NOTE: MODESTO VIEW CALENDAR PAGES WILL RETURN AS PUBLIC EVENT RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED

Greetings friends

It seems to be a different world in the last 30 days. Everywhere, you can hear the sounds of our society unlocking from our long winter of pandemic. We have gone from tik-toking our daily rituals to getting back to the outside world and connecting with people again. Thank goodness we have smart people that are getting vaccinated so that we can begin to have a new “normal” civilization that looks out for each other, not just for themselves It is really that simple and that safe. You have a better chance of being hurt in a car crash, 12 in 100,000 than an adverse reaction to the vaccine 1 in 1,600,000. These are odds I can live with. I did it, my whole family did it and I hope you will do. If you do, we can hang out. Such a deal! Now that we are vaccinated we are traveling again, seeing the world and we even checked out the Aurora Borealis in Alaska last month. It is weird starting out this May as a 60year old. I don’t feel any different, but I do look at things different and for some reason, everything is more vivid. I am paying more attention to my surroundings, my health and the people in my life especially my grandson. My mission is to surround myself with positive people that make a positive difference. We need to connect with people that want to make things happen, send positive messages and create ways to make our neighborhoods and our city better and most of all, get things done. Better yet, with vaccinated people that want to get together and make a positive difference. May for Modesto has become so much more important to me and Modesto. For one, is it bike month, and I grew up riding my bike around Modesto and then racing all around the region and even brought racing back to downtown in 1983, the Tour de Graceada. And now, May is the home for all things Star Wars. This amazing film by Modesto native George Lucas changed everything and it is so good to see events and activities, Stormtroopers, City Proclamations and people from all over getting their Star Wars on and the whole comic world that surrounds it. Star Wars, cycling, George Lucas are just a few of the things that give Modesto a great story and history. Past, present and future generations are excited by this, and if our economic development team in Modesto is serious about growing our economy and attracting people and business, these are great things to celebrate. Let’s do this right. Let’s support our local businesses. Let’s make sure our artists and musicians are welcomed back to the stages. Let’s open safely and not go too crazy so we don’t relapse. We really do have one chance to get this right. Our local businesses really need us to work together to do this. I really hope to start seeing you out and about, chatting, laughing, singing, playing, rocking and enjoying. Get your shot, gather safely and soon we will all be in the goove and the resistance will win and defeat the evil empire of COVID.

May the 4th be with you,

Chris Murphy Founder/Publisher – ModestoView chrism@modestoview.com

On the cover

Our growing James as our newest Baby Yoda with the heroic Luke from the Mandelorian who arrives just in time to save the Baby Yoda in an epic fashion. Soon they will pick up a speeder and escape. Thanks to Ryan and James Leupp and the ever creative imagination of Michael J Mangano.