Spanos Park Monthly Magazine by Shawn Crary

JUNE 2013

| VOL. 7 | ISSUE 6

Vision for Life Zeiter Eye puts the Latest Technology in Experienced Hands The only local office offering Precision Laser Cataract Surgery. This bladeless cataract surgical

Board Certified Ophthalmologists

procedure provides the following benefits over

C el ebrating 50 Ye ars of Providin g Vision C are

traditional cataract surgery: • More Precise • Quicker Recovery • Better Results

Cataract Surgery • Glaucoma Care • Retinal Services • Vision Exams • Glasses & Contacts LASIK • Skincare & Laser Rejuvenation • Eyelid Surgery • Botox/Fillers

Joseph T. Zeiter, M.D.

John H. Zeiter, M.D.

John C. Canzano, M.D.

Richard M. Wong, M.D.

Harold Hand, M.D.

Kimberly P. Cockerham, M.D.

Joseph E. Zeiter, Jr., M.D.

Robert E. Pedersen, O.D.

Devinder K. Grewal, O.D.

Peter V. Hetzner, O.D.

(209) 466-5566 2 | JUNE 2013 | spanos park monthly magazine

Judith A. Prima, O.D.

Linda Hsu, O.D.

Steven A. Wood, O.D.

visit our website at www.zeitereye.com

>>speak up

Let’s Meet Child Abuse Head On Yes, We Can Make a Difference ADDRESS 94 W. Castle St., Suite #B Stockton, CA 95204 PHONE 209.932.9252 TOLL FREE 1.888.289.0521 FAX 1.866.298.0408 WEB www.SpanosParkMonthly.com PUBLISHER Shawn Crary EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Mitzi Stites Managing Editor Alan Naditz Feature Writer & Copy Editor Gene Beley Contributing Writer Bernadine Chapman-Cruz Contributing Writer Kim Horg Contributing Writer Francis Novero Contributing Writer Gayle Romasanta Contributing Writer CREATIVE DEPARTMENT Shawn Crary Art Director Louie Ambriz Junior Graphic Designer, Photographer & Web Development Maria Boyle Graphic Design Intern SUPPORTING STAFF Cameron Crary and Alec Fielding Circulation REGIONAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Noel Fielding MARKETING CONSULTANTS Rachel Castillo Memri Johnson Boo Mariano-Junqueiro Beth Lawrence Crystal Salvador Annette Soriano ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE/PAYABLE Ernie Gallardo Office Manager

By Lindy Turner-Hardin, executive director of the Child Abuse Prevention Council of San Joaquin County

n 1978, in response to the tragic murder of a three-year-old girl at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend, a group of concerned citizens agreed that responding to child abuse was not enough. They decided, as concerned citizens, to create an organization that would take action to prevent child abuse. And for over 35

years, the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) has worked to do just that – keep children safe, strengthen families and raise community awareness about this issue. But because child abuse is still one of those taboos that no one likes to talk about, building awareness and understanding of the subject is a challenge. CAPC’s development of The Lisa Project met this challenge head on. Visitors to this powerful exhibit leave with a greater understanding of child abuse, having seen, smelled, felt, and heard about this issue in an intimate and personal way. But understanding the subject is not enough. Once we know, we must act. At that point, for many of us, the questions become: Where to start? What to do? How can we really make a difference? The truth is, anything you do to support kids and parents can help reduce the stress that often leads to abuse and neglect. Here are some practical ideas: Be a friend to a parent you know. Ask how their children are doing. Draw on your own experiences to provide reassurance and support. If a parent seems to be struggling, offer to babysit or run errands, or just lend a friendly ear. Show you understand. Be a friend to a child you know. Remember their names. Smile when you talk with them. Ask them about their day at

school. Send them a card in the mail. Show you care. Talk to your neighbors about looking out for each other’s children. Encourage a supportive spirit among parents in your apartment building or on your block. Show that you are involved. Donate your used clothing, furniture and toys for use by another family. This can help relieve the stress of financial burdens that parents sometimes take out on their kids. Volunteer your time and money for programs that support children and families. If the last suggestion – volunteering – sounds like something you can do, call the CAPC at (209) 464-4524. There are several volunteer opportunities, with varying degrees of commitment required. These include providing an extra set of arms in the infant and toddler rooms at CAPC’s crisis/respite childcare centers, or advocating for foster children in Dependency Court. CAPC’s volunteer Auxiliary presents several fun, fundraising events throughout the year that need volunteer help, and a little extra help in the office is always welcome. In these ways, you can become the difference in a child’s life. Join now! Learn more about the CAPC, the services that it provides, and how you can help at www. nochildabuse.org.

CONTACT US To submit advertisements & artwork artwork@bigmonkeygroup.com To submit press releases editor@bigmonkeygroup.com

>>about the cover

Advertising inquiries advertise@bigmonkeygroup.com

Thank you to Deven for being our cover model and illustrating such an important subject matter.

Big Monkey Group Publications Spanos Park Monthly Brookside Monthly | Lodi Monthly Manteca Monthly | On the Mile Magazine Bonnie Magazine

ONLINE

Accounts payable/receivable billing@bigmonkeygroup.com

www.SpanosParkMonthly.com facebook.com/bigmonkeygroup twitter.com/bigmonkeygroup www.BigMonkeyGroup.com

The Spanos Park Monthly magazine is published once a month and direct-mailed to homes in and around the Stockton communities of Spanos Park East and West. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of copy or comments submitted to Big Monkey Group LLC., and/or Spanos Park Monthly magazine. Comments may be edited for clarity and length. ©2013 BIG MONKEY GROUP LLC spanos park monthly magazine | JUNE 2013 | 3

Thank You Community for Your Support!

Pacific Urgent Care - Parkwoods (Patient Service Center) 1782 W. Hammer Lane Stockton, CA 95209 (209) 478-2428 Brookside (Patient Service Center) 3132 W. March Lane, Suite 1 Stockton, CA 95219 (209) 954-3160 March Lane (Patient Service Center) 75 W. March Lane, Suite L Stockton, CA 95207 (209) 957-1046 Weber Ranch (Patient Service Center) 1801 E. March Lane, Suite C-305 Stockton, CA 95210 (209) 478-1804 Lodi (Patient Service Center) 801 S. Ham Lane STE I and STE B Lodi, CA 95242 (209) 368-8820

4 | JUNE 2013 | spanos park monthly magazine

Linacia (by Dameron Hosp.) (Patient Service Center) 420 W. Acacia, Suite 4 Stockton, CA 95203 (209) 938-0609 Calmont (Patient Service Center) 2800 N. California St., Suite 12 Stockton, CA 95204 (209) 461-0366 California Medical Center (Patient Service Center) 1617 N. California Street, Suite 2G Stockton, CA 95204 (209) 467-6429 HealthCare Clinical Laboratory (Laboratory) 2102 N. California Street Stockton, CA 95204 (209) 467-6430

>>feature story

Th eL isa Pro jec t

The Where and When: The Lisa Project

shi nes a

don’t know her.

And yet you do. She’s on the phone calling the police – imagine, a six-year-old making a 911 call – because “daddy” is hitting mommy again. There’s all kinds of chaos in the background; everything from screaming people to crying kids to loud thumping noises. And still this scared little girl is courageously trying to get the police out to her house, because this time, daddy just might do it. He’s had one too many drinks and gone a bit too far off the deep end, and this time he just might kill her mommy. Or her four-year-old sister. Or her newborn baby brother. And the 911 operator is asking this child what her name is, and where in the house her parents are, and if she can go unlock the front door so the police can get in the house when they arrive. And the girl dutifully says, “Okay, just a minute,” and walks away from the phone. By this time, the 911 operator has to be quietly having a nervous breakdown. She’s been trained for some tough situations, but this definitely wasn’t in the class notes. At least, not on Nov. 21, 1990, when Lisa made this call to the San Diego Emergency Hotline. Shortly after the girl comes back on, there’s more screaming, and now the girl’s really panicked because daddy just knocked her sister down, and he’s got her baby brother in his arms, and something really bad’s happened to mommy and please get the police here right away, and I need to go see what happened… And she walks away from the phone again, and the operator can only do what any of us could do

okay. And when there’s no answer, the operator can only utter two words. “Oh, shit.” For the record, Lisa, her mom and her siblings all survived that night. According to the mostrecent published reports – circa 2010 – the terrified little girl now has two kids and recently left an abusive relationship of her own. Her drunken stepfather died in prison in the 1990s. But Lisa’s story will never truly end. There are lots of Lisas out there, and Gene Hardin wants to make sure you know about them. In 2010, Hardin and his wife, Lindy Turner-Hardin – the executive director of the Child Abuse Prevention Council of San Joaquin County – were visiting a King Tut exhibit at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, and they were marveling at the handheld audio devices that allowed them to go from scene to scene at the exhibit, and listen to audio reenactments of a specific part of the historical dig. “We walked out of there, and I looked at my wife and said, ‘Why can’t we do this for child abuse?’” Hardin recalls.

“We could have a child take you by the hand and let them tell you their story.” The result became The Lisa Project, a free, 25-minute exhibit

ct: bje t su ilen as

pai nfu By Alan Naditz | Feature Writer ls right po then: tlig Her name is Lisa, Beg for her to get back on ht and she’s six the phone and on tell us what hapyears old, and you pened, tell us if she’s

West Valley Mall 3200 N. Naglee Road, Tracy Thursday, June 7, to Sunday, June 30 Thursdays and Fridays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (209) 644-5308 www.thelisaproject.org

Child abuse featuring the stories of five San Joaquin County child abuse victims: “Evan,” “Michael,” “Maria,” “Kenny,” and “Ashley.” The program’s namesake, “Lisa,” is also there, offering to tell her story – with the help of audio reenactments featuring actors, not the real victims. Visitors are handed iPods and ear buds to hear what the children have experienced. Realistic sights and smells are added in some cases to make the scenes even harder-hitting. And what stories they are. There’s no point sugar-coating it: This multi-room exhibit is not for the squeamish, and you have to be at least 13 to listen to the audio tracks. Hardin said the stories – culled from CAPC case files – run the gamut in terms of abuse. Some are what you’d expect to hear about: physical abuse, sexual abuse. But others are lesser known, such as simply being exposed every day to the sound of domestic violence – a form of psychological abuse; verbal abuse, which leaves no outward scars; or neglect, such as when a young child must spend most of his time living near an in-home meth lab. “We try to encompass all of those things in the stories you hear, and the pictures of kids you see,” Hardin said. “All you see is a face, and a name – they’re not the actual kids, and they’re not the actual names. We cross every socioeconomic level, every culture. Because that’s child abuse: It happens everywhere to everyone.” The project took a mere three months and about 600 volunteer hours to put together. It opened on April 1, 2010 in a city-donated building space in downtown Stockton. “My oldest son, who was 18 or 19 at the time, wondered why anyone would want to go through that thing,” Hardin recalled. “It got us thinking – what if nobody showed up?” Not to worry. Nearly 5,000 people visited The Lisa Project during its one-month run. Some of them were from CAPC offices in other counties. “They came to us and said, ‘You need to bring this to us,’” Hardin said. Continued on page 6 spanos park monthly magazine | JUNE 2013 | 5

>>feature story Continued from page 5 “At that point, we put some numbers together and figured out how we were going to make this exhibit portable. And then the Board of Directors of the council said, ‘We need to adopt this as a program, and we need you to run it.’ I said, ‘Okay, off we go.’” So the exhibit was transformed into a double-wide modular home, and that home in just under three years has made its way through much of California, including parts of the Bay Area, as far south as Riverside, and at numerous stops in the Central Valley. Three have been in San Joaquin County: Stockton in 2010, Manteca in 2011, and Lodi in 2012. Next stop: Tracy, at West Valley Mall, where the exhibit will run Thursdays to Sundays, from June 7 to June 30. “As of Tracy, we’re at 15 cities in California that we’ve been to,” Hardin said. “At this point, more than 45,000 people have been through the exhibit, in just over three years. It’s just indescribable: All we set out to do was increase awareness of child abuse in San Joaquin County. We never envisioned this.” Beyond the rooms with victims’ stories, the Lisa Project includes two other areas. One is a room with a pair of CAPC counselors, who are available in case anyone needs to talk, wants to learn more about CAPC, or would like to volunteer to help. The other is “The Reflection Room,” which at exhibit’s opening has four blank walls and a table with sticky notes. This is where people can express their thoughts anonymously. By the end of the exhibit’s multiweek run, “it looks like wallpaper with all the multi-colored notes,” Hardin said. Like the children’s stories, the attendees’ thoughts run the gamut: “God help them.” “Hang in there.” “I never knew.” “I was one of these kids.” “I’m going to change.” Helping people change is one of the things that the Child Abuse Prevention Council of San Joaquin specializes in. A nonprofit 501(c) (3) agency, CAPCSJC offers subsidized preschool childcare, foster care, safe child exchanges, parent coaching, and a variety of therapeutic services and support 6 | JUNE 2013 | spanos park monthly magazine

“Our

focus with this exhibit has been awareness through education. And despite the intense subject matter, people have come to see it, which means we must be doing it right.” — Gene Hardin, director, The Lisa Project

1. The Lisa Project exhibit regularly attracts thousands of visitors wherever it appears. 2. A typical wall in The Reflection Room, where people place their thoughts about the exhibit on sticky notes. 3. Abuse takes many forms, such as in this recreated meth lab, where one Lisa Project child spent most of his time. 4. Visitors also receive a by-the-numbers education: statistics on child abuse hang on walls throughout the exhibit.

>>around spanos

Pepsi Tour Comes to Spanos This tour will be held at The Reserve at Spanos Park Golf Club on Sunday, June 23 and Monday, June 24. This is a 36-hole competition for Open Division players and separate, daily 18-hole competitions for Indexed Division players. Professional/Open entry fee is $460 for members and $500 for non-members. Internet pricing reflects registration and payment in full by the entry deadline. Late entries and walk-ons are welcome if space is available, but the entry fee is $20 higher. Guaranteed first place prize is $1,500 to $2,500, with payouts to one-third of the field. Last payout is $500. The amount of the first place prize is based on a minimum of eight players, and depends on the size of the field or group. Amateur Flight entry fee is $260 for members and $300 for nonmembers. Starting tee times from 10 a.m. each day. Entry deadline is Wednesday, June 19. You can also enter by telephone (800/614GOLF), mail (14272 Wicks Blvd., San Leandro, CA 94577), email (pepsitour@earthlink.net), or facsimile (510/352-6658). If you have questions about the tournament, call the Pepsi Tour office at (800) 614-GOLF. The Pepsi Tour is owned and operated by All Golfers Tour Association, a California corporation founded in 1994 to organize, promote and conduct golf tournaments at the finest country clubs, resorts and public courses on the West Coast. Last year the Tour and its affiliated Pepsi Twilight Tour hosted 157 tournaments in California, Arizona and Nevada, and awarded more than $1 million in prize money and amateur winnings.

Working Together for a Cure Relay for Life will take place at Bear Creek High School on Friday, June 8 through Saturday, June 9. The Opening Ceremony begins Saturday, June 9, at 9 a.m. This is a high-energy event kickoff to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, to inspire hope by sharing recent accomplishments and progress, and to remind everyone that while we are winning this battle, fighting cancer is a year-round priority. During the Survivors Lap at 9:30 a.m., all cancer survivors at the event take the first lap around the track, cheered on by the other participants who line the track in celebration of the survivors’ victory over cancer. The Luminaria Ceremony at 9 p.m. is a time to remember people we have lost to cancer, to support people who currently have cancer, and to honor people who have fought cancer in the past. The power of this ceremony lies in providing an opportunity for people to work

through grief and find hope. The Fight Back Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 9 symbolizes the emotional commitment we each make to the fight against cancer. The action we take represents what we are willing to do for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for our community to fight cancer year-round and to commit to saving lives. The Closing Ceremony is a time to remember the lives of those lost and to celebrate what each of us has committed, through our participation in a relay event, to fight back against this disease over the next year. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m., Sunday, June 9. No matter who you are, there’s a place for you at a Relay for Life event. Each dollar you raise will help save lives. How far will you go to make a difference in the fight against cancer? For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org/stocktonca.

8 | JUNE 2013 | spanos park monthly magazine

Check Out What’s Happening at Margaret Troke Library The Great Book Challenge. Calling all kids in the fifth through eighth grade: Do you love to read? The Troke Library will have a yearlong book challenge. Each month we will choose a different type of book to read. One month we might read a mystery, the next month perhaps a Coretta Scott King Award winner. We will discuss our books on GoodReads. Every few months we will meet to work on book activities. Books and a schedule will be available for pick up at the Troke information desk starting Sept. 1. Everyone who reads 10 books by August will receive a special prize and be invited to the Great Book Challenge Celebration. Toddler and Preschool Storytime. Tuesday, June 4, June 11 and June 18, come join the fun as they read stories, sing songs and enjoy fingerplays. Name tags are handed out at 10 a.m. and we start at 10:15 a.m. sharp. Storytime is followed by a brief craft or playtime. Stitch, Knit, and Quilt Club. Join the “Stitch, Knit, and Quilt Club” at Troke Branch Library. Come do your knitting, crocheting, and other needlework in the company of others. Share tips and techniques, finish a project, or learn a new skill while relaxing and chatting with new friends. The group will meet on Wednesday, June 12 and June 26 at 2 p.m. Free Computer Class: “Using a Mouse and Learning Computers.” Students will work on a mouse tutorial and learn the basic parts of the computer and laptop. Those with little or no computer experience wel-

come. No reservations needed. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops and/or e-reader devices. This class is offered every Friday throughout June from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Paws for Reading. Reading a book or have a book read to you, along with a friendly dog. This special reading is Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m. Free Online Job Searching and Internet Resources Class. The Troke Branch Library will provide a free computer class designed to help adults and teens apply for jobs and find helpful information using the Library’s online catalog, databases, and other electronic resources. This class will help you: • Find work and create a resume using the library’s JobScout online resource. • Use the library’s new website effectively. • Find journal articles for your term papers and report. • Get useful health information with a click of a mouse. • Much, much, more! This class on Saturday, June 29, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., is a drop-in – no reservations are required. Participants are welcome to bring their own laptops. The Margaret Troke Library is at 502 W. Ben Holt Drive and is open Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursdays, noon to 8 p.m.; and Friday and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library is closed Sundays and Mondays. For more information, call (209) 937-8221.

The Housing Market Temperature in Spanos Park is Hot! In April, 34 homes were for sale, 39 were pending, 26 sold and 9 expired, withdrew or cancelled. For properties sold, the average days on the market were 37, median square footage price was $110.30, median sold price was $192,400 and median size was 2,032 square feet. Properties currently available are $166,000 to $475,000. For more important market information, call RE/MAX Gold Broker Sheree Cox at (209) 4512600. Current market data taken from Metrolist.

>>community briefs

Get Ready for a Grand Time at the Fair The San Joaquin County Fair, one of Northern California’s premier county fairs, is Wednesday, June 12 through Sunday, June 16 at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, 1658 South Airport Way, Stockton. It features fun for everyone, with big-name concerts, horse racing, a carnival, agriculture, livestock, food, live entertainment and exhibits. For more information, visit www.sanjoaquinfair.com.

The Satellite Activity Table is just one exciting activity that children can enjoy at the special exhibit, “A View from Space.”

An Out-of-this-World Experience “A View from Space” is designed to introduce visitors to the latest and greatest of the Earth-observing satellites and give them an appreciation for the value of studying Earth from space. According to Haggin Museum Curator of Education Lisa Cooperman, visitors will be challenged to become the scientist, study satellite images and try to answer important questions about the workings of our dynamic planet. The exhibition, which runs Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, Sept. 8, includes numerous hands-on activity sections such as the Satellite Activity Area, which encourages families to learn about space and satellites together through creative, open-ended play and exploration. The area features a drawing station with satellite stencils, a free-play activity table with space-themed toys, and a reading area. A posting board lets visitors display their artwork and allows educators to share the latest news from NASA’s Earth-observing satellites. Other hands-on areas include Satellite Orbit, where visitors turn a crank to send a satellite spinning around a rotating model Earth, while an ultraviolet light from the satellite leaves a phosphorescent trail, painting a clear picture of the satellite’s path. This offers a dramatic demonstration of how satellites orbit the Earth and capture images of the entire planet. And, the Haggin Museum is honored to partner with former NASA astronaut José M. Hernández and the Reaching for the Stars Foundation. Hernández has donated extraordinary items to the museum, which will be on display with the exhibition. These include a flight suit he trained in, a mission badge and samples of space food. Hernández will be the special guest at the museum’s 2nd Saturdays for Families event at 1:30 p.m. on June 8. The Haggin Museum is a nonprofit art and history museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located at 1201 N. Pershing Ave., Stockton. The museum is open to the public Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays to Fridays, from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and first and third Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (ages 65 and older), $5 for students and youth (ages 10-17), and free for children under 10, museum members, and on the first Saturday of each month. For more information, call (209) 940-6300 or visit www.hagginmuseum.org.

Small Business Micro Loan Program

Commercial Facade Improvement

Commercial Emergency Grant Program

$3,000-$30,000

Forgivable Loan

Up to $7,500

The Facade Improvement Program assists property owners in making exterior, cosmetic improvements to commercial property. Funds are granted in the form of a loan, with a lien placed on the building, which is forgiven after five years if the property is kept free of graffiti and blight.

The Commercial Emergency Grant Program assists property owners in financial need with alleviating code violations where the health and safety of employees and/or the public is endangered (e.g., range hoods, grease interceptors, electrical, and plumbing). Funds are provided in the form of a grant with no repayment expected.

Eligibility Requirements: • Business located within Stockton city limits • For-profit enterprise • Able to repay debt • History of meeting financial obligations • Business consulting is required • Business must create or retain at least one job

Downtown Financial Incentive Program The Downtown Financial Incentive Program reduces or eliminates the cost of building permits and associated public facilities fees for buildings in Downtown which have been vacant for six months or longer.

To apply for any of the programs or for additional information, contact: Economic Development Department 425 N. El Dorado Street, 3rd Floor Stockton, CA 95202 Phone: (209) 937-8539 economic.development@stocktongov.com

www.stocktongov.com spanos park monthly magazine | JUNE 2013 | 9

>>community briefs

Students get ready to join in on the fun and learn some life lessons, as they take part in the First Tee of San Joaquin.

Getting Into the ‘Swing’ of Things

Located at the Estate of Steve & Lillian Diede.

The First Tee of San Joaquin’s Summer Tour for boys and girls, age 7 to 17, begins June 15. The First Tee provides young people with character-building and life skills lessons, using golf as the platform. Through The First Tee, young people discover how skills essential to success on a golf course can also help them flourish in life. The nine-week course is at Swenson Park Golf Course and The Reserve at Spanos Park. Cost is $60 and includes a logo golf cap. Visit www.thefirstteesanjoaquin.org or call (209) 915-8300 for more information. Delta College Passport to College This is a program for students who are currently juniors and completed the Delta College Passport application when they were in fifth grade. To ensure continued eligibility, students must apply for admission to Delta College no later than Monday, June 17. They must also take Reading, English and Math Assessment Compass Evaluation (ACE) test prior to July 1. And, they must attend a mandatory student/parent/guardian meeting during fall 2013. For information about this vital meeting, visit the Passport to College website at www.deltacollege. edu/dept/passport/index.html. If you have questions about Passport to College, contact Diana Slawson, director of special programs/Passport to College, (209) 954-5020 or dslawson@ deltacollege.edu. Green Gardening Many people are “going green” to reduce their carbon footprint, but green gardening can also reduce the impact to the Delta and your stormwater system. Runoff from your yard flows untreated through the storm drains and directly into the waterways surrounding Stockton. By reducing

10 | JUNE 2013 | spanos park monthly magazine

fertilizer used and using less-toxic pesticides, you can reduce the negative effect on the health of our waterways. Avoid using leaf blowers and instead rake or sweep leaves, yard debris, and dirt from the driveway, walkways, and gutters. We can all play a part in keeping the San Joaquin Delta healthy. For more tips on protecting the environment, the Delta, and your stormwater system, visit the City website at www. stocktongov.com/mud, or call (209) 937-5143.

Make a Connection from the Other Side Theresa Caputo, psychic medium and star of the hit TLC show, “Long Island Medium,” will appear live at the Bob Hope Theatre on Saturday, June 8. Caputo will give interactive readings to audience members throughout the show, and will share personal stories about her life and her unique gifts. Purchasing a ticket does not guarantee a reading. There are two shows on Saturday, June 8: at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $36.25 to $86.25; additional fees may apply. Purchase tickets at the box office or online. For more information, visit www.stocktonlive.com/events/ detail/theresa-caputo-liveexperience.

>>his retail therapy The Perfect Gift for Gearhead Dads—Drive the Stockton 99 Speedway!

Give Dad an adrenalin rush riding around the Stockton 99 Speedway at 150 mph with a professional race driver! This is an unforgettable white-knuckle experience in a previously used NASCAR race car. Only $99—order online with any major credit card at www.greatamericandays.com/experience/driving/stock_car_racing/ride_ along_stockton_99_speedway or call (866) 987-9876.

New Rod and Reel Will Provide Calming Effect for Many Years There are all kinds of rods and reels. Maybe it’s time to upgrade Dad’s. If you don’t know the difference between a bait caster and a spinning reel, maybe it’s best to give him a gift certificate for the Outdoor Sportsman, 4969 West Lane, Stockton, or call (209) 957-4867.

Help Pop to Peddle His Way to Good Health

George Ingerson stocks many brands of bicycles including Virtue and Felt Six Series. If it isn’t in the shop, he can order it. Ask him about his bike rides four days a week, plus Sunday mountain bike rides. George’s Bike Shop, 201 S. Stockton Ave., Ripon, (209) 599-6900.

Give Father an Action-Packed GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition Video Camera

This small video camcorder has been featured on “60 Minutes.” Skydivers, skiers, and other action-oriented sports people love it! You can mount the camera on a head strap, helmet, bike, kayak, or vehicle for hands-free video capture options. Price is $299, batteries and cards extra. Bass Pro Shop, 1356 Bass Pro Drive, Manteca, (209) 825-8400.

Station Dad at Roger’s Railroad Junction and Hobbies!

If your father likes trains, you’ll find a gift at a 3,000-square-foot model train store in Lodi. This shop has a HUGE inventory! You can purchase brands like Blackstone and Atlas trains here and attend classes. Roger’s Railroad Junction and Hobbies, 105 S. Sacramento St., Lodi, (209) 334-5623. spanos park monthly magazine | JUNE 2013 | 11

>>tips from the pro

It’s a Ball and a Stick, Not Rocket Science In Golf, the Trick is to Focus on the Swing, Not the Ball By Jeff Palmer

When asked what the most important thing is to focus on when playing golf, many are surprised when I don’t mention grip, stance, posture or alignment. And it’s definitely not that little round thing: The greatest fault I have found in 25 years of teaching is that most people get locked in on the ball. When asked for any help on the range, the first thing I will respond with is, “What was your target, and did you stay focused on it the entire swing?” Think of the best shot you ever hit. Chances are, you were thinking not of the swing, but of where you wanted to send the ball. If this is the case, then why would you try to recreate that effortless, easy feel by thinking in a completely different manner? You cannot think mechanics of a motion and perform it well, whether it is using a clutch, a typewriter, throwing a pitch, and especially, swinging a golf club. The next time you are on the range, or on the course give it a try. Focus on the target the entire swing, and let your brain react to it. Then, there are our kids. The ability to let them play sports has been clouded with the idea of correction, correction, correction, after what someone’s idea of a proper motion is. Besides the fact that I believe we should not teach kids like we teach our pets, research is showing that this type of adult-centered training restricts brain development and increases burnout rates. Variety in activity is a very good thing; taking a break from an activity is a very good thing. Let the kids be kids. I welcome discussions on these and other questions you may have. There is very little that surprises me. My favorite comment I hear from students is, “That is easy.” It’s just a ball and a stick that has been complicated by science and the Golf Channel.

Jeff Palmer has been a PGA professional for 24 years, is TPI certified, a program director for the San Joaquin First Tee, and a level III coach, a father, a husband, a teacher and a coach. He is the owner of Palmer Golf School and can be a reached at (209) 712-7548. 12 | JUNE 2013 | spanos park monthly magazine

>>beyond 209

Experiencing Life ‘On the Fly’ Catch a Dream and a Fish

By Bernadine Chapman-Cruz

The Klamath River may be near the Salmon River, but it’s Steelhead Trout that’s an everyday scene at Marble Mountain Ranch.

xperience the thrill of fly fishing on the middle Klamath River, the way Mother Nature intended. Marble Mountain Ranch, a privately owned and operated dude ranch, offers private catchand-release fly fishing excursions in the magnificent Northern California backcountry.

Doug and Heidi Cole opened the business in 1994, when they bought a mobile home park in the majestic grandeur of the rugged wilderness of Somes Bar, an unincorporated community in Siskiyou County. The fisherman’s paradise is 60 miles inland from the coast, nestled where rivers are ever-present in this mountainous terrain. The Klamath River is the thirdlargest American West Coast

drainage (after the Sacramento and Columbia river systems) and is a key salmon and steelhead fishery. Seasoned outfitters and guides, the Coles had an existing whitewater rafting company in the area. “We didn’t want to operate a mobile home park, but saw the area as an unfettered realm of opportunities,” Doug said. The ranch property is in a

whitewater mecca, surrounded by the Klamath River, and proximal to the Salmon, Shasta, Scott, and Trinity rivers. The extreme solitude of the region enables guests to access waters with low fishing pressure. Fly fishing excursions go from sunup to sundown. After a night’s lodging at the ranch and a hearty breakfast, guests board drift boats carrying no more than two people, and an experienced licensed and bonded guide. All fishing excursion packages include private cabin lodging and meals. “We encourage our guests to bring their own rods, but we have equipment if necessary,” Doug said. All guests are required to wear

fishing lifejackets. Friendly, knowledgeable guides instruct clients where to fish, either casting from the boat or bank of the river. Steelhead trout are the primary target, because they are more willing to move to a fly, he noted. “We use a technique called ‘the tight line swung fly,’ where the steelhead grab the fly on a taught line, and run – then the adventure is on,” Doug said. “We use the mantra ‘the tug is the drug.’” After a day on the river, when the sun begins to set, guests return to the lodge for a hot shower, and a five-star meal. Continued on page 14

spanos park monthly magazine | JUNE 2013 | 13

>>beyond 209 “This is a very special experience. Most people that want to fish steelhead locally will find crowds of people around them. If you visit us in the middle Klamath, and see one other boat on the river, it will be a crowded day.” Doug Cole | Owner

CROSS TRAINING FOR KIDS & TEENS

for the Summer, a great way for your child to stay active! Check us out online for pricing Crossfit Level 1 trainers & Kids Coaches

Continued from page 13 Exquisite dining consists of prime meat cuts, fresh produce from the garden and high-end baked goods. Marble Mountain Ranch offers several complete outdoor adventure packages; all include lodging and meals. A single-day guided fly fishing package includes two nights lodging and a day on the river for $455 per person. Two days on the river and three nights lodging is $800 per person and

All in a day’s work: A patient fisher gets his prize.

a three-day package, with four nights lodging and three days on the river is $1,145 per person. The ranch also offers other broad-based, multi-faceted, family friendly activities including rafting, horse rides, arena lessons, and a shooting range. Visit Marble Mountain Ranch for a very special experience. You will not be disappointed.

Marble Mountain Ranch Open year-round 92520 State Highway 96 | Somes Bar, CA 95568 800.552.6284 guestranch@marblemountainranch.com www.marblemountainranch.com

14 | JUNE 2013 | spanos park monthly magazine

FARMER’S MARKET - SUNDAYS 9AM-1PM in the Lowe’s Parking Lot

Kohl’s

(209) 954-1820

Lowe’s

(209)513-9843

Target

(209) 235-0251

Ross

(209) 474-9518

Shopping

AAA ................................... (209) 952-4100 AT&T ................................... (209) 323-8185 Bank of America .............. (209) 951-2029 Chevron ........................... (209) 952-2213 Dress Barn.......................... (209) 473-1497 Edible Arrangements ....... (209) 951-7788 Famous Footwear ............ (209) 473-8619 Fresh Cleaners .................. (209) 476-8988 Gamestop......................... (209) 473-1941 Hallmark ............................ (209) 473-9800 Happiness Nails................. (209) 244-8654 Justice For Girls ................. (209) 951-2419 Lane Bryant....................... (209) 957-7614 Lee Photography ............. (209) 952-1970 Office Depot..................... (209) 472-0883 Pacific Dental ................... (209) 474-8000 Payless Shoe Source ........ (209) 473-4364 Refresh Medspa ............... (209) 477-5050 Sleep Train ......................... (209) 477-9728 Sprint .................................. (209) 323-2181 SportClips .......................... (209) 956-1717 Styles For Less .................... (209) 476-1800 Supercuts .......................... (209) 472-9665 The UPS Store .................... (209) 477-4113 Navy Career Center........ (209) 473-1191 Verizon ............................... (209) 473-9192 Vitamin World ................... (209) 472-9652 Wells Fargo ........................ (209) 956-2380

Sports Authority

(209) 951-3650

Jo-Ann’s

(209) 472-1382

Babies R Us

(209) 473-9858

Dining

Baskin Robbins .................. (209) 472-0222 Jack in the Box ................. (209) 956-0596 Jalapeno’s ........................ (209) 472-0757 Jamba Juice..................... (209) 475-9770 Moo-Moos Burger Barn.... (209) 957-9450 Ono's Hawaiian BBQ........ (209) 474-9888 Panda Express .................. (209) 477-3917 Panera Bread ................... (209) 956-5130 Raw Sushi........................... (209) 954-9729 Round Table Pizza ............ (209) 951-6863 Sonic Drive In .................... (209) 474-0735 Starbucks........................... (209) 955-0318 Strings Italian Cafe ........... (209) 478-4456 Subway.............................. (209) 476-9932 Wendy’s............................. (209) 477-4520 Wingstop ........................... (209) 474-3238

Bed, Bath, & Beyond

(209) 473-8683

Petsmart

(209) 474-9748

World Market (209) 956-0700

Office Depot (209) 472-0883

This project managed by Excel Trust LP 209.474.9900

www.parkwestplace.com | Interstate 5 at Eight Mile Road

YOU’RE PAYING HOW MUCH TO SELL YOUR HOME? The commission that your real estate company is charging to sell your house

is probably a hefty percentage of what your house is worth. At Help-U-Sell®, we have a different approach: a fee-for-services structure that allows you to choose the services you need - and pay for only the services you use. With the Help-U-Sell concept, you could save thousands of dollars when you buy or sell your next home. Want to know more? Stop in or call our office.

Help-U-Sell Alpha Realty

1308 W. Robinhood Dr. Suite 4b Stockton, CA 95207

Office: 209-888-8800 | http://alpharealty.helpusell.com

Eric Quillinan—Broker DRE #01425143

spanos park monthly magazine | JUNE 2013 | 15

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE HIRING! Big Monkey Group is seeking one ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE to prospect, build relationships and sell advertising programs to help local businesses grow in all 6 of our magazines.

Candidates with advertising sales experience can step to the front of the line! We offer 50% commission for the first 60 days, then a generous commission structure and quarterly bonuses and the ability to sell advertising in all 6 of BMGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magazines. Resumes can be sent to Advertising Director Noel Fielding at

info@bigmonkeygroup.com

SPANOS PARK MONTHLY MAGAZINE Big Monkey Group LLC 94 W. Castle St. #B Stockton CA 95204

>>feature story

Gene and Lindy Hardin. PHOTO BY LOUIE AMBRIZ

groups. The council also works with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to help abused, neglected or abandoned children find a safe and permanent home. CAPCSJC receives no funding from the county, and must therefore rely on grants and contributions from public and private sources – the county’s Health Services Agency and First 5 of San Joaquin are two of the big supporters each year. When it comes to The Lisa Project, some of the aid received is of non-monetary sort. “[For example], we get a lot of volunteers for the Lisa Project,” Hardin said. “We’ve also had a time where someone offered to underwrite our printing costs. You don’t see that kind of thing happen very often, but people really see the value in this.” Hardin expects the project to return to Stockton in the next year or so. “This is an important message we’re spreading,” he said. “We want to go where there will be people who can go see it.” For more information on The Lisa Project or on the San Joaquin Child Abuse Prevention Council, call (209) 644-5308 or email Hardin at gene@thelisaproject.org.

The Lisa Project’s website at www.lisaproject.org gives some other stats to help drive the point home: 9,000 abuse reports in 2012, 1,300 of which were confirmed. That’s an average of four children abused each day in San Joaquin County. spanos park monthly magazine | JUNE 2013 | 7

“Our