GREETINGS VIEW Greetings friends, Contents

I love Rocktober.  So many things are happening, the weather is changing, maybe some rain, but the evenings get darker as we work our way to Halloween at the end of the month.

But first things first, our new granddaughter is a month old already and these are magical and the most important times and we have one proud big brother.  I treasure these moments and we count our blessings to have our family so close to us.

There is much to do in October, much to see, much to hear, much to eat, much to drink and much to experience.   Really good things are happening.  The Modesto Children’s Museum is now open and our own grandchild has already experienced the fun.  We are proud to be founding donors and things like this are really important to our future.   Now, I need you all to help us get the Graffiti USA Museum built.  There has been a lot of background construction, and now it is time to actually start the fun stuff.  We need you, we need your company to be founding donors.

Thanks to some large-scale donations, you should see some big outside construction starting in November. If you are interested in being a part of making this happen, please reach out to me and I will be happy to meet up with you or your group and show you the possibilities.  It will be magic.   Museums bring our culture and history to life and are good for our city.  Check out the poem this month from Salvatore Salerno on page 6.

Every October, we celebrate our local music scene at the Modesto Area Music Awards.  In 2000, Chris Ricci and I decided to celebrate our local music big time Grammy style, so the MAMAs were born, and now 23 years later, we are still showcasing the amazing talent we have here in down and showcase all of the different genres, venues and events that happen each year.   This year we are celebrating the people that keep the music going into the future.  We celebrate the music teachers and the music programs in the schools that bring MoBand to life and keep it running.  This year the MAMAs recognizes our rock and roll music teacher, Darin Morris of VMI Rocks, for being a champion for music education and preparing the next generation to rock so “somebody scream!  I have known Darin since our Beyer High days, and he is the real rockin’ deal.  Please take time to check out all of our local nominated bands and to vote for MAMA.   This is how we make the #1 list for Hidden Gem music and now we need to make the list for best music, period.  Vote now at www.modestoareamusic.com and stay tuned for the winners announced on October 17 from the State Theatre.

And finally, all roads lead to Halloween. There are things to do all month long, more people and businesses are getting in on the action, and more creepy stage shows like Frankenstein and haunted film fests at the State Theatre.  Take time to have some fun, get some thrill and chills and most of all enjoy being a kid again when you can.   It is good to look at the good and fun things to do and the people that create them here in Modesto USA.  This is the mission of ModestoView, to Serve Civic Pride Daily.  Thank you to all of the people that get into the spirit of teamwork, make local things happen and the businesses that advertise in ModestoView that make it possible to bring it to you in print.

Hope you have a wonderful Rocktober and a Happy Halloween.

With gratitude, chrism@modestoview.com

Chris Murphy, founder and publisher, ModestoView.

On the Cover

Our amazing Madam Leota is Marjorie Sturdy,  one of our local Progressive energizers.  By day she is a mental health therapist, helping community members stay mentally healthy and by night she is a progressive activist always trying to energize community members to get involved and to vote.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Michael J Mangano

Efren Martinez

Greetings friends, Contents