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printed on recycled paper
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COMPLIMENTARY COPY COURTESY OF BIG VALLEY FORD
HOLD TattooSTEADY artwork by byby Chris “Ginsu” Jones Chris “Ginsu” Jones
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HOLD TattooSTEADY artwork by byby Chris “Ginsu” Jones Chris “Ginsu” Jones
printed on recycled paper
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Contributors Publisher Roger Coover
GUEST EDITOR’S NOTE Think like a man The Current is proud to continue to publish fresh perspectives, community ideas and highlights of local community leaders. As you saw in the May edition, it was our honor to feature some of the brave and inspiring stories of women in Stockton and surrounding communities. We encourage you to continue supporting these leading ladies by shopping at their small businesses, getting involved in their community projects and telling them, “Keep up the good work,” when you see them out and about. For the month of June, we are just as thrilled to celebrate the hard work, commitment and talent of just a few of the men who are shaping and molding our communities for years to come! As a husband, father and man here in Stockton, the task at hand can seem daunting. We all know the realities of not only finding work but keeping a job in our economic climate. Pair that with the difficulty of actually getting to do something we are passionate about? It seems impossible. We’re proud to show you stories of men who have flipped the script…and not always in the traditional fashion. Our community needs men to continue being men. Men that serve selflessly, lead by example and look out for others. We need men that will pass on the right traditions, speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves, and be innovators for a better future. I am thankful to have rich examples of those who have gone before us, but am more excited to be a part of a new generation that carries on the torch. While society will often describe what it means to “be a man,” I think we can look no further than our own backyards to find true examples. Look close enough and you will find these attributes of a man: servant, giver, leader, protector, father, lover and fighter. Do you know of men who serve those around them? Give of themselves often? Lead by example? Protect our communities? Father the fatherless? Love the community which has given us so much? And fight the good fight of change? My heart breaks if you don’t. They are present, I promise. Just flip through these pages to see for yourself!
Advertising Director Deitra Kenoly Editor Karen Bakhtegan CoverA rtist Christopher Jones Graphic Artists Jason LaMasters Jason Ente Account Specialists Deanna Luna Liz Saldivar Social Media / Event Specialist Lina Tirre Writers Charleen Earley Middagh Goodwin Jeremy Gottschalks Bob Highfill MelissaH utsell MikeK locke Chris Kimble Miguel Meza Heather Mompean LeahM yers Susan Michener Spracher JenniferT orres Zachary Winthrow Photographers Ken Cantrell Robert Dawson CharleenEar ley Heather Mompean Susie Mora Photography Lina Tirre Rich Turner The Current wants to become your voice. Do you have something to say? Are you a writer? An armchair columnist? A blogger? Are you an entrepreneur? An inventor? An innovator? An artist? Are you paying it forward? Do you know of a hidden gem or an unsung hero whose story needs to be told? We want to hear from you and we want to include you in upcoming editions. Email: thecurrent@recordnet.com Follow us and share your photos and messages
Chris Kimble
Digital Sales Manager for The Record
june 2016
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The
HIM Edition
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10-33 him
-not your daddy’s barbers -being adam giadrone -crazy for creating comics -fathers and families -where everybody knows your name -lord of stocktown -sky king
34 my generation
-miguel in the middle
36 the campus
-#CASenDebate -you are hired
40 biz generous -we are family
42 postcards from the delta -cuttin' the 'gras
44 threads -tailored to perfection
45 hops
-something’s brewing
47 vines
-lange twins
49 vitals -snoring
50 what’s new
-new biz in town
52 get out
-calendar of events
53 the undercurrent -kind of blue -trés hot jazz -from pavement to plantman -the nightcrawler: valley brew -live music calendar
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contact our specialists
209.943.8585
Deanna Luna The Current dluna@recordnet.com Inside print and Digital Specialist
Liz Saldivar The Current lsaldivar@recordnet.com Outside Print and Digital Specialist
Lina Tirre Current Events Live etirre@recordnet.com Event Specialist
events
Get The Current delivered to your home the fourth Sunday of every month by subscribing to The Record. Go to Recordnet.com to get your subscription started. ~or~ Pick up a free copy of The Current sponsored by Big Valley Ford on the following week at any of these local businesses: Black Rose Tattoo 237 E. Miner Avenue Stockton Brannon Tires 4905 Claremont Avenue Stockton Canepa’s Car Wash 6230 Pacific Avenue 642 N. Hunter Avenue Stockton
Downtown Stockton Alliance 125 Bridge Place Stockton Friends of the Library 1724 W. Hammer Lane Stockton Green’s Nutrition 1906 Pacific Avenue Stockton
Canepa’s Lube & Oil 6220 Pacific Avenue Stockton
Humphreys College 6650 Inglewood Avenue Stockton
David’s Pizza 1744 W. Hammer Lane Stockton
iKutz Barbershop 2420 W. Turner Road Lodi
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Infusion Playhouse 306 E. Main Street Stockton
Millie’s Art Korner 229 E. Alpine Avenue Stockton
Kings Card Club 6111 West Lane Suite 103 Stockton
Mr. D’s Pizza 122 E. Oak Street Stockton
Mexican Heritage Center 111 S. Sutter Street Stockton
My Partners Furniture 113 W. Harding Way Stockton
Meyers Optical 858 W. Ben Holt Drive Stockton
Stockton Civic Theatre 2312 Rosemarie Lane Stockton
Midtown Creperie 3311 Pacific Avenue Stockton
Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau 125 Bridge Place Stockton
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Stockton Indoor Sports Complex 3251 N. Ad Art Road Stockton We Play 3252 Tomahawk Lane Stockton Wine & Roses 2505 W. Turner Road Lodi
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Christopher Jones Stockton
Why did you choose art? I have a passion for creating things. Sometimes they happen to be rad, sometimes not so much. It’s all in the eye of the beholder, right? Why do you choose to live in Stockton? Best darn taco trucks in town. Medium used: Whatever is available. Where can our readers find your art? @ginsu_jones @stocktonisfresh @stockmarketca @the1850collective @preservestudio www.the1850collective.com – to peep the upcoming events we have lined up for you fine folks.
“The big lesson in life, baby, is never be scared of anyone or anything.” – Frank Sinatra
Recent recipient of the Comet Award for being an innovative promoter of the arts in Stockton
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Not Your Daddy's
BARBER
By Charleen Earley
C
overed in tats from head to toe with lots of art on his face, Candido Gomez found himself judged by employers who did not want to take a chance on hiring him. While most of his experience was in warehouse work, at age 28, he fell into cutting hair.
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“After bouncing from shop to shop, I finally got tired of working and running other barbershops and started falling in love with the business side of barbery,” said Candido, owner of iKutz Barbershop in Lodi. Last year, with a strong desire to be the best dad to his four-year-old daughter with wife Stephine, Candido decided to go to Moler Barber College in Sacramento to learn the craft. The commitment was huge. Every Monday through Saturday he got up at 4:15 a.m. to catch a premier bus from Stockton to Sacramento; from there he’d run five blocks to catch the commuter city bus which took him deeper into Sacramento. He would get home around 8 p.m.
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He did this for a year and never missed a day. “I didn’t come from money, so I thought ‘how am I going to make this happen?’ I put all my money into this,” said Candido. The sacrifice was worth it all. His tattoos might’ve played into his destiny, forcing him to find his calling in barbery.
On your next visit to iKutz, be sure to pick up their very own “brew,” Barber Juice. This soothing aftershave solution provides a clean, satisfying tingling sensation, while also leaving your skin revitalized and refreshed. At only $10 per bottle, it won’t hurt your wallet, either.
“I’m a good worker; people just couldn’t see it. My tattoos are not gang-related, it’s just my style,” said Candido. A philanthropist at heart, Candido started a charity called 209 Cares, giving free haircuts to the homeless in San Francisco, later in Stockton. The charity grew too big, so he handed the reigns over to his good friend and artist, Nicholas Burnett. After getting his barber license and desperately looking for work, Candido was just about to give up, when on the same day as getting a job interview to work another warehouse job, a different opportunity came up. “I got a call for this barbershop!” said Candido. He opened his business in January this year, and even though he’s 29 years old now, he’s a big fan of old-school barbery. “I do the hot towel service for every guy, and I make sure my other barbers do the same,” said Candido, who offers cuts, face shaves, comb-overs, tapers and more. Candido took a chance on finding his passion. “You only live once,” he said. “If you have a dream and you don’t try to accomplish your dream, you’ll never know if it works.” iKutz Barber Shop 2420 W. Turner Road Lodi, CA 95242 209.361.6608 Instagram: ikutzbarbershop
photos courtesy Candido Gomez
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Not Your Daddy's
BARBER
SHEAR
ART By Susan Michener Spracher
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t’s pretty unique to find a place that carries both an old-school and a progressive vibe. Yet Cal-Pine barbershop has just that. Traditional barber chairs reside within walls covered with art produced by local artists, making for an interior that clearly reflects a mix of then and now. Using a barbershop never goes out of style for some men. Chris “Ginsu” Jones, one of six barbers at Cal-Pine, explains that like women to a salon, men like having a place they can go relax and banter about guy stuff. You may find a wife waiting outside because the conversation is the “men-only” type. Likening it to a pool hall or a bar, Jones says, “You can’t go fishing that day, but you can come by the barbershop and hang out.” The shop offers traditional cuts, straight razor shaves and beard trims, with Jones doing intricate cuts featuring sports teams’ logos, spiderwebs, and geometric designs – styles he does for women as well. A beer or cocktail comes free with your cut. Jones says the thing that makes the shop successful is attention to what the client wants, a comfortable atmosphere, the ability to make an appointment or just walk in, and the familiarity of connection. “We know who you are; we know what you like. That’s what makes this so much fun; we have clients that are friends and family.”
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photos by Lina Ti
wner), y Zaragoza (o Fields, Rand ce is Jones hr an C rr r, Te t: de er left to righ as, Steven H el rn O ch Ri s, Frank Chavi
It’s that kind of camaraderie that’s led the shop to becoming an incubator of sorts. You can purchase hometown-created Port City Pomade and experience/ purchase artwork created by local artists. The desire to showcase that Stockton has talented artists, musicians, creatives and business owners led to holding shows at the shop, and the start of the 1850 Collective. The cooperative is a hub for artists to come together and showcase their talents at shows put on by the Collective. Jones said, “There’s a fresh movement going on in Stockton right now. People are paying attention and it’s looking good. We have to stay focused and understand that we have to work together.”
Cal-Pine is located at 2008 Pacific Avenue on the Miracle Mile Phone: 209.463.4185 Find Cal-Pine on the Ave and 1850 Collective on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
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n o s l e N m a i l Wil Age: 44
Occupation: Principal, Cesar Chavez High School Doctoral candidate at Concordia University of Irvine. Dissertation focus is college and career preparation for African American and Latino students Stockton Why I choose to live in Stockton: I choose to stay in Stockton so that I could make a difference in my community as a public school educator. My role model: My role model was my high-school dropout mother, Jacqueline Nelson. Even though she did not complete high school, she was driven to improve herself so that her kids would have a better life than she had. She instilled in my two older sisters, my older brother, and I that education is the key to success and a way out of poverty, and to always do our best at whatever we chose in life, no matter what people may think or say about us. Also, to leave the world a better place for our kids as she did for us. How I pay it forward: As an educator, I take pride helping students reach their potential so they are ready for the 21st century. Each day I come to work (when I was a teacher, as an assistant principal, and now as a principal), my focus and drive is for my students. Not to just ensure they graduate from high school, but to ensure they have the skills to continue their learning, to have their career of choice, to have a successful family and to be positive contributors to our community. My greatest passion is: My family and my career. My wife and three sons are my foundation. Each day I get up, I thank God for them and work hard so they can have the life they deserve. My career in education provides the opportunity for me to be involved in one of the few careers that truly changes and improves the lives of the people of our community. When our students are successful and ready for college and career, all boats are lifted up and everyone benefits.
My advice to young men: No matter who you are or what you do in life, you will always have struggles and people who doubt you. Stay focused on who you are, focus on your family and your community. Dream big and reach for the stars. The only person on this earth who can stop you from attaining your dreams and aspirations, is the person you see when you look in the mirror.
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Q and A with San Joaquin native and Hollywood screenwriter/producer Adam Giaudrone by Melissa Hutsell
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he Stockton native draws millions of fans each week as a writer/producer of BET’s hit show Being Mary Jane. The Current spoke with Adam recently about his hometown, some of his projects, and what it’s like to be a Stocktonian in Hollywood.
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When you get down to the core of who we are as people: remove socioeconomic differences, the color of our skin, a person’s religion, we all have fairly similar motivations.
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Adam Giaudrone (Gee-uhdrone-knee) graduated from Saint Mary’s High School in Stockton, and attended UC Davis, where he studied communications and English. After pursuing a career in modeling, he worked in the Bay Area, where he eventually started his own PR and marketing firm. The firm thrived, but Giaudrone felt unfulfilled, and decided to follow his dream of acting. In 1999, shortly after marrying his wife, Nicole, who is also from Stockton, the Giaudrones moved to Los Angeles. Giaudrone has sold several pilots over the years, created a show for the CW – the The Beautiful Life - and worked on projects that include CBS’s Swingtown and currently, Being Mary Jane. Q. When did you first think that you’d “finally made it” in Hollywood? A. (Laughs) I’ve thought that many times. But this business is a roller coaster. So… I guess, I’ll let you know when I get there. Q. You are a model turned actor turned writer – that’s quite a journey. A. Yes, but spanning more than 25 years. I modeled from the end of high school until a little beyond college. The peak of my “career” was a brief stint living in Milan, Italy working with Elite’s men’s division. Even with that, I always felt like I was barely hanging onto the bottom rung of that industry… As for acting, it was really just a bridge to discover screenwriting. Q. How did you find your passion for storytelling?
photos courtesy Adam Giaudrone
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A. I had always written short stories, and loved creative writing. I had been writing my whole life; I just didn’t believe, or really even june 2016
consider that a career as a screenwriter was possible. When I was studying to be an actor, I realized very quickly that I was more interested in the creation of the character, and their motivations, than in the performance. Which is good for a writer – not so much for an actor. I just felt a connection with writing and figuring out what makes characters do what they do.
storylines on TV?
Q. The topics you write about are so diverse, from a female broadcaster in Being Mary Jane to a group of models living in New York in The Beautiful Life. What are some common themes that inspire you or that you enjoy writing about?
Gabrielle Union is as good of an actor as any writer could ever ask for – she really understands the nuances of what we’re trying to do.
A. All characters want to be happy, want to be loved, and want to be successful. It’s that same quest that we have as people – to be the best version of ourselves – that inspires us to face the hurdles that get in our way. Mary Jane is a single, black female, and I’m a married, white male. Demographically speaking, that’s as far as you can possibly go. But there’s something about the honesty, the desperation, and the need to be good, that we can all relate to. When you get down to the core of who we are as people: remove socioeconomic differences, the color of our skin, a person’s religion, we all have fairly similar motivations. So, I try to put myself into the shoes of my characters, and ask myself “what experiences do they have that are similar to mine?” Then I build off of that.
A. It’s surreal. It’s like watching your own thoughts and dreams play out on screen.
Q. You told me before that you’re the only white writer on an all-black staff. Can you tell me about that experience? A. It’s been life-changing. As someone who grew up in Stockton, I’ve always been surrounded by – and friends with – all types of ethnicities. But a writers’ room is a very bold, raw, and brutally honest place. It has to be. As the only white person in the room, especially in this political climate, I’ve been able to listen to, and be a part of, conversations that I think very few non-black people are invited in to. I feel that if anyone – white, black, or otherwise – were able to hear the level of honesty that I hear in the writers’ room, it would make society a better place. Q. How do your Central Valley roots influence your work?
A. I write from my experiences, and so many of my experiences come from growing up in Stockton. We all have different challenges, but where we come from is a big part of who we are Q. What is it like to see stars like Gabrielle Union play out your as people. » june 2016 the current
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Q. Would you ever shoot in Stockton or in San Joaquin County? A. In a heartbeat. Q. Do you have any words of encouragement for fellow San Joaquinians who might aspire to work in show business? A. Have a good sense of who you are and where you come from before going into a fame-driven business. It can change you very quickly. Being from Stockton kept me grounded. As for advice, it would be to dream big: There is more to the world, and to what’s possible, than the small circle of friends that we have in junior high and high school. It doesn’t matter where you are from; it matters what you do. Your actions matter more than any geographical location. Stockton gets a bad rap in the national media, but there are so many wonderful people that live here. Ultimately your actions determine your worth, and that’s more important than listening to hype about your hometown. And strive for the life that you want. As artists, we are so frequently asked, “when are you going to get a real job?” I got so tired of hearing that question, that once I started finding some success, I named my production company, This is My Real Job Productions. Because it is. Don’t let anyone ever determine the value of your dreams. Q. When you aren’t creating TV, what shows do you like to watch? A. When it comes to dramas, I watch them all. As my wife likes to joke, “as research.” Shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men […] and The Sopranos opened up a new level of quality and creative freedom in TV, giving shows like Mr. Robot on USA, UnREAL on Lifetime, and Being Mary Jane on BET, a chance to thrive. Most people have heard of HBO’s epic drama, Game of Thrones (which I love), but then there are also shows like Black Sails on Starz, which continually blows my mind. To stay updated with Adam Giaudrone and his future projects, follow him on Twitter @Nicada 18
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e i n r e B Age: 37 Occupation: Police officer Stockton Why I chose to live in Stockton: I was raised in this city, and it is my home. I have traveled around this country and have been overseas, but there is no place like home. This city is filled with awesome people. They just need to see it, too. My role model: My mom, Elvia, is my biggest role model. She is the one who taught me to love God first and to believe that He always provides. She taught me how to be a man and what it took to provide for your family. How I pay it forward: I pay it forward by helping out where there is a need, whether it be through my church or my job. My greatest passion: My greatest passion is God and the family He has blessed me with. My advice to young men: Don’t be a negative statistic. We all have a choice to be better than our circumstances. Stay humble, and do not believe yourself to be above someone else. photo by Lina Tirre
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BAM! POW! KAZAM!
and he’s made himself available to me,” added Sean. “He lived in New York, now in San Francisco, and he’s worked for Marvel and DC Comics.”
These are words that excite Sean Miller, who has been drawing for the last 30 years – the first two years of his life don’t count because he spent it doing baby-things. Drawing comics has been his forte the last five years.
Artists run in Sean’s family, first with his dad who did architect drafting in his spare time, along with photorealism painting, watercolors and airbrush. His younger brother Andrew lives in China and works as a graphic designer.
“I was drawing at two years old, and my drawings were pretty elaborate,” said Sean, founder and creator of Anchor Comics in Stockton.
“I’m self-taught with pen and ink. I had the opportunity to go to art school, but I ended up buying an electric guitar instead!” said Sean, who played guitar and sang vocals for a couple of bands, Neptune Massive and Inflight Magazine.
His most notable title, The Original, is a series of three books set in a dystopian future, focusing on the world’s first superhero and his struggles coming out of retirement to face a growing threat to humanity.
Each comic book takes him roughly one month to complete, and for Sean, whose books are considered appropriate for all ages, he offers his readers a message, as in his latest book series, titled Kid Sherlock.
A stay-at-home dad, Sean is also a graphic designer from home for Restoration Hardware, while his wife Megan, who works for Beverly’s Fabrics, attends school for computer programming.
“Sherlock Holmes is in elementary school with his sidekick Watson, a talking dog,” explained Sean. “The book deals with anti-bullying, and they investigate things like missing playground equipment. It’s also about fitting in. Watson is very shy and people make fun of him because he is different. One of the lines in my book says, ‘It’s the difference that makes the difference.’”
Sean loves everything about creating comics. “It’s pure imagination and creativity – and it’s really cool!” said Sean, father of three, ages 5, 3 and 2 with Megan. “You can insert your own feelings and project them onto a character that doesn’t really exist – but ‘you’ exist and you if you don’t feel comfortable saying it out loud, you can say it on a page.” He said his parents always encouraged his creative side, and remembers distinctly them asking him what he wanted to be when he grew up.
Sean’s plan to move up the professional comic ladder has already begun. BAM! “I just signed a contract with Action Lab Entertainment with Kid Sherlock,” he said. “I’ve completed two books and have four more to go.”
“I was in the fourth grade and I told them I wanted to be a cartoonist!” said Sean, who sells his comic books on his website or at Al’s Comic Shop located on the Miracle Mile. “Sean has been coming to this store ever since he was a kid,” said Al Greco, co-owner of Al’s Comic Shop for the last 37 years with his son Mike. “I like everything about Sean and his work. He’s doing great and he was always a great kid.”
Passion, coupled with a license to be your alter ego through drawing, is what it’s all about. “Everyone wishes they were bigger, faster and stronger. With comics, you can explore that aspect of yourself,” said Sean. “I love comics so much, I just have to do it.”
If you asked Sean where he wanted to be five years ago, he would’ve said “to support my family creating comics.” Thing is, he’s doing that. So he set new goals. “I would love to work for a bigger [comic] company like Marvel or DC,” said Sean, who admires the works of Darwyn Cooke, Jack Kirby and Paolo Rivera. “Paolo Rivera has given me great advice. He’s given me corrections
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Visit Sean Miller’s website at www.anchorcomics.com Sean with Al Greco, co-owner of Al’s Comic Shop.
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Steve Salas Age: 42
Stockton Occupation: Carpenters Local 46 out of Sacramento Why I choose to live in Stockton: I came to Stockton seeking a better opportunity at a young age. I found what I needed professionally and was able to start a family. My role models: Are my teachers and coaches I have had throughout my life. They all have impacted me in different ways and various times. How I pay it forward: I give all my free time and dedication to the youth of Stockton by being a boxing coach at Stockton Police Youth Activities (S.P.Y.A.) located at McKinley Park Community Center. By teaching youth the fundamentals of boxing, they are learning the values of respect, a good work ethic, fitness, healthy living, focus, dedication, and concentration. All of these values are needed in the ring, as with anything else they do in life. My greatest passion is: Being able to do what I do and actually see the youth develop and apply those skills I have taught them. My advice to young men: Respect is earned, and first impressions are extremely important. How you carry and present yourself is a large part of how people will treat you.
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It takes a village... By Charleen Earley
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aised by a single mom with many siblings, Sam Nunez knows firsthand what it’s like to grow up without a father – it affects everyone, even the community.
It’s why he’s extremely passionate about the non-profit organization he created 13 years ago called Fathers & Families of San Joaquin (FFSJ) in Stockton. “What I realized is that we don’t have a youth problem – we have a dadproblem instead,” said Sam of Stockton, father of five kids, one of them adopted. “Many of my peers had absent fathers in their lives and seeing the struggle of young men in our communities because of absent fathers – I recognized there was a lack of programs available to young men and fathers,” he added. »
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His team set out to examine the conditions of San Joaquin’s communities, specifically those of color and distinct poverty. With a background in violence-interrupter work, Sam said their mission is simple and vital. “To promote the cultural, spiritual, economic and social renewal of the most vulnerable families in Stockton and the greater San Joaquin Valley,” he said. Their programs are vast and comprehensive to include family strengthening programs, case-management, youth empowerment programs, youth-led action research, Straight-A Guide training program, Healing Circles, MultiEthnic and Cultural parenting classes, financial literacy classes and much more. Sam’s motto – “we can’t teach them if we can’t reach them.” With their family reunification services, Sam said they facilitate supervised visits among those who have children in Child Protective Services. “We follow them on that journey to make sure they are involved in their families and engaged in their community as well,” said Sam. “This is part of reclaiming their lives.” Not only the youth, but elders are a huge part of their services, to include resources for seniors, free meals, intergenerational mentoring and activities. “We have a very robust group of elders, 50 to 60 who congregate here every day,” said Sam. “It’s all about their social and emotional wellness. We give them a healthy breakfast and lunch along with a variety of activities so they feel they have a place as well.” Meeting the needs of young men, fathers and elders (women too) is important to Sam and his team at FFSJ. “Our center is alive with activities and crucial services,” he said. “It’s important because this transcends our issues – it creates a better stage for better health, and educational and family outcomes. We have to broaden our work to have a deeper impact on our community. Stockton is poised to transform our future, so we don’t settle for less.”
Fathers & Families of San Joaquin Youth & Family Empowerment Center 338 E. Market Street Stockton, CA 95202 www.ffsj.org Mon - Fri | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 209.941.0701
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Story and photos by Charleen Earley
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midst our digital revolution, busy with texting or posting on Facebook, one is hardpressed to find place to hang, smoke a cigar, sip a beer or wine and chat it up with your best friends. Your search will end though, once you walk into Stogies Lounge on West Pine Street in Lodi. It’s where owners Gary and Denise Wiman run their lounge like that TV series. “It truly is a ‘neighborhood – Cheers’ kind of bar, one will be remembered when they return,” said Denise, who also works for the City of Lodi. The couple took ownership of Stogies Lounge a year ago this July, yet Gary had been a customer for the last 20 years. “The opportunity to become owners came up, and we jumped on it,” said Gary, who works for the City of Lodi, too. Their top sellers include the Macanudo and Arturo Fuente cigars, with stogies ranging in price from $2.50 to over $20. When it comes to brews, the IPAs (India pale ales) are pouring fast. “Right now the IPAs are real popular,” said Gary. “The Track 7 Panic IPA (7.0% ABV) and Drakes Denogginizer (9.75% ABV) are selling well, too.” Denise said Stogies started in Lodi in the late 1980s, selling pipe tobacco and cigars. It moved to its current location around 2000, when the previous owners added beer and wine to the mix. Along with cigars and pipe tobacco, Denise said they also carry nine beers on tap, and over 40 different bottled beers in stock. They serve local
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local wines only, with the most popular being Oak Ridge OZV. “We have a pool table, dartboard and shuffleboard, and this spring we added outside patio seating on Pine Street,” said Gary. “Since taking over ownership, we have added lounge chairs, more bar tables and seating.” The Cheers-like setting gives smokers a place to chill. “There is a place for tobacco smokers – we welcome you!” said Denise. “We understand the majority of people are not smokers, but smoking is a legal activity. We have a place where you and like-minded people can relax and enjoy your fine tobacco products.” While Denise does not smoke cigars, there are plenty of women who do. “Women who smoke cigars appear to be independent and confident,” said Gary. “We do several events at local wineries and the Grape Festival, and we sell as many cigars at these events to women as we do men.” He added that women enjoy the flavored cigars more, such as vanilla, cherry, rum and coffee-flavored stogies. Not every customer is a smoker, either. “We are a cigar lounge, but that doesn’t mean all of our customers smoke,” added Gary. “They just have to understand that we are a smoking establishment.” Cigars range from mild to medium to bold, as well as smooth and spicy, and when it comes to taste, Gary said it’s like beer or wine – each individual has his/her own taste preference. A family-run business, their daughter Tosha helps with bookkeeping, and their son Garrett works the bar on Saturdays, while attending nursing school during the week. At the end of the day, Denise said it’s all about their customers. “We love the people,” she said. “We have true life friends through Stogies.”
Stogies Lounge 230 W. Pine Street Lodi, CA 95240 209.334.5764 www.styleoflodi.com/ stogies.htm
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heiscurrent Stockton Just graduated from USC with my Master’s in public administration. Occupation: Union business representative/political coordinator and director of community organization SEMILLAS. Why I choose to live in Stockton: My roots are here. I was born and raised in Stockton, and this is where I am also raising my family. I am passionate about my city, and uplifting those who have been forgotten and neglected, while challenging the established status quo and raising community expectations and standards. There are many challenges here, but also many opportunities to grow. I love its diversity. The world is at our fingertips here.
My greatest passion is: Uplifting the community. My approach to this is two-pronged: building a new paradigm by raising standards and direct advocacy, and challenging conditions that hinder growth and opportunity, as well as fighting to eliminate any such obstacles. My advice to young men: Have pride in yourself and always move forward. Think ahead while also living in the moment and enjoying life. Strive for success in all you do, and be accountable to yourself, while also having consideration and a sense of responsibility for your community. Make your own odds, and if the game is rigged against you, change the game.
My role models: Growing up I had no father, so my role models were other neighborhood kids and celebrities as a substitute. Now I would say my role models are those who strive for success while maintaining a commitment to community empowerment, those who overcome and progress against all odds. How I pay it forward: I pay it forward by using my education, talents, skills, networks, etc., to help those who, like myself, may not have had all of the opportunities in this society. I advocate consistently for the disenfranchised segments of my community while also reinforcing an example to follow and mentoring/advising others with the lessons I’ve learned. I founded a community-based organization called SEMILLAS (Scholastic Educational Movement In Language Literacy And Scholarship) to encourage and support more students to succeed in education, as well as combating the chronically low literacy rates by providing books to gradeschool students, encouraging success, and promoting a culture that values and fosters educational attainment, as well as advocating for public policy and access to resources that supports that mission.
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Lord of
STOCKTOW N Story & photos by Charleen Earley
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here’s no skateboarding without the kingpin, the foundation piece attached to the bottom of the Canadian maple that holds the wheels. It’s the concept Ray Willis drew from for naming his skateboard shop. “You can’t have a skateboard without that key part,” said Ray, who opened Kingpin Skate Shop in Stockton seven years ago, and loves everything about the sport. He’s 40 years old but started skating at nine. “I loved it – the individualism of it,” he said. “I can do this no matter where I go. I did Little League as a kid and remember thinking, ‘these kids aren’t my people!’ Skating brought certain people together, and it wasn’t forced.” 28
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A family-run business with his wife Janet, who doesn’t skate, but does the paperwork side, Ray sells boards, parts, beanies, jackets, hats, shoes, T-shirts, and their own popular brand of leather shoelaces and accessories, called Mates Brand. “We sell DGK, Baker, Primitive and Girls, which is not just for girls,” said Ray. “And our base, complete with professional trucks, board and wheels sells for $114.99. We try to have the best prices.” A sport for anyone, Ray said his customers are from ages four on up to their fifties, and when it comes to selling, it’s more about an honest assessment of where a rider is in his or her experience level – even if it means losing a sale. “We’ve directed people to toy stores sometimes,” said Ray, who said their clients are from all walks of life, from teachers to businessmen. Born in Bellflower, CA, and raised in Stockton until age 14, Ray then moved to Santa Cruz and got sponsored by SC and SMA Skateboards. “I skated with my friends every day,” said Ray. “When I was a kid in Stockton, all the skate shops in Stockton sponsored me!” Running his own business is a lot like skateboarding – it’s fun, and it’s something he does every day. “It’s always hard work and determination,” he said. “I come to work every single day, and I have to keep up with the new trends that are out there, and pick which ones we will get behind.” Not one to put a stereotype on skateboarders, Ray said they all understand each other well. “There’s no one stereotype. We understand why we’ve got ripped clothes!” said Ray. “Sometimes you beat yourself up. You try a couple of tricks; you fall. I’ve done it. And that’s what I am now – a skateboarder. To me, there’s nothing more gratifying than skateboarding. It never leaves you.” Kingpin Skate Shop 526 W. Benjamin Holt Drive #C Stockton, CA 95207 209.474.0374 www.kingpinskate.com Instagram: kingpinkskateshop
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by Mike Klocke
en Cantrell describes his youth succinctly: “I was an airport rat.” Was there really a chance that wouldn’t be the case? His father was a World War II pilot who later built his own experimental planes and served in the Civil Air Patrol. His mother was an instructor who taught hundreds of people how to fly. And so, growing up in Santa Rosa, he knew the ins and outs of aviation from hanging around the local airport. “It got into my blood from a very early age,” Cantrell said. Cantrell, now a Lodi resident, has turned his aviation passion into a successful business. He runs ViewPoint Aerial Photography and has a plane based at the Lodi airport.
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It’s a second career for Cantrell, who helped open and manage many Longs Drug stores throughout Northern California for the former pharmacy chain.
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I can’t get enough of clouds. Their beauty is mesmerizing when you’re flying through them. It never gets old.
— Ken Cantrell
Talk about fate. Cantrell, 62, one day decided to get some aerial photographs to “personalize” the Lodi Longs store he was managing at the time. He was aghast with the price. “I looked at that price and thought, ‘I can do this work myself,’“ he said. He’s done just that. A camera mounted in the belly of the fuselage of his plane enables him to take photos — one every second — of what’s below. He bids for and accepts jobs, often taking photos of the progress of construction on projects such as the new Sacramento Kings area or the now-open state prison hospital complex in Stockton. He also has shot photos for media outlets, including The Record. Cantrell’s RV-6 plane, which he built himself, doubles as a business and pleasure craft. He’s come a long way since dreaming of flight at age 13.
photos courtesy Ken Cantrell
A teenage milestone
In his formative years, Cantrell was “champing at the bit” to fly. Like most teens, he was anxious to get his license. Unlike most teens, it was a pilot’s license. First things first. The glider. Cantrell started glider lessons when he was 13, with his eyes clearly focused on his 14th birthday. “You could solo a glider at age 14, so I kept working toward that goal,” Cantrell said. “I’d get on my bicycle and ride it over to Calistoga for my glider lessons. I was able to make that solo flight on my birthday.” After that came an amazing venture. At age 17, he took off from Santa Rosa on June 25, 1971 and, for the next three months flew around the perimeter of the United States. “Texas … I got lost once there,” he said with a laugh. “There were some funnel clouds in Alabama and some very bad weather along the east coast. But it was an amazing journey.” He slept at airports or with acquaintances he has made along the way. He would do odd jobs to make money, and frequently was invited to homes for meals.
My wife and I go on frequent flights over the Delta. It’s very unique and I never, ever get tired of looking at it. — Ken Cantrell
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I’m a huge Giants fan. The park is so pretty in person, and it’s amazing from the air. There are regulations, so you have to keep your distance. But you can appreciate the beauty of the setting.
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— Ken Cantrell
A sign from above
Busy raising a family and working for Longs, Cantrell pushed aside aviation for about 15 years. Then one day, in the late 1990s, he looked up to the sky and saw a small plane overhead. “The powerful thought that came to my mind was, ‘That’s me. That should be me again.’“ And so he embarked on building that RV-6. He took his first flight in the labor of love in 2002.
“When you build something yourself, it means a lot to you,” Cantrell said. “I’m very careful with it. I emphasize safety. And I do all of the maintenance.” Cantrell said he has had to work just as hard establishing the aerial photography business. “There are a lot of calls and emails to try to nail down business,” he said. He praises the organization PAPA – Professional Aerial Photographers Association International – for helping him gain skills, make connections and promote the business. “I’m really enjoying myself, and I’m going to take this as far as I can,” Cantrell said.
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Cantrell attended some air shows and finally made it home – convinced he could eventually become an airline pilot. “But the war in Vietnam started to wind down over the next couple of years and many very experienced pilots were coming home and getting those jobs,” Cantrell said. “So I went to work for Longs. It turned out to be a good decision for me and my family (wife Marilyn, sons Ryan and Kevin – and he now has five granddaughters).”
The FAA has no-fly zones during the fires and you have to keep clear so others can do their jobs. But from afar, even though the fires are horrendous, there’s an eerie beauty to them.
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— Ken Cantrell
june 2016
r e k l a W n a y R
heiscurrent
Age: 28
Stockton Why I choose to live in Stockton: I choose to live in Stockton because it is where I grew up. My role model: My role model is my grandfather Ernest Walker because he was such a giving man to all with a big heart. He taught me my everyday values: respect, honesty and compassion. How I pay it forward: I started a FREE youth sports conditioning program called “Game Face Conditioning.” I teach children h e a l t h y, active drills to enhance speed, footwork, agility and balance. My greatest passion is: Giving back to the community is my greatest passion. I want to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed in sports and life. My advice to young men: Never give up; believe in yourself and always try your best!
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photos by Suzie Mora Photography
by Miguel Meza
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am Miguel and I’m 15. I have an older brother who is 18 and a sister who is 17, and two younger brothers who are 8 and 7. When I was 7 years old I became a big brother for the first time, and then again when I was 8. Our family gets a lot of attention in public – I used to think it was because people made a big deal over the babies, but that is still the case today. So maybe people are just fascinated by big families… but whatever it is, there is a common topic that comes up to me – “How do you feel about being the middle child?” I never really understood what the big deal was or what I was expected to say. According to the Urban Dictionary, middle child syndrome is “When a middle child typically of a family of three kids who are close in age feels left out or neglected because the bigger sibling is the first-born
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and typically an overachiever, they get the most privileges. A younger sibling is the ‘Baby’ of a family and gets away with more, as well as being the most looked after. Middle child syndrome starts when the middle child is squeezed between these two and has trouble finding their ‘niche’ in the family.” I do have to admit things were a little hard in the beginning because I had been spoiled for so long, and soon after I realized that, I had to learn what being a big brother was. I was faced with the responsibility of having to be an example while learning and growing myself, which at times was challenging and confusing. But never did I feel misplaced, left out, or disconnected from my family.
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www.psychologytoday.com says: What are some common stereotypes about middle children? They are considered to be neglected, resentful, have no drive, have a negative outlook, feel like they don’t belong – in other words, that they suffer from “Middle Child Syndrome.” A Stanford University study showed that middles are considered the most envious, least bold, and least talkative of all the birth orders.
Do you like to write? Do you have something to say? We are seeking student guest columnists from all San Joaquin County high schools to write about trends, hot topics, and issues that affect you and your peers.
Do you debunk any myths about the middle child? Yes! Middles are not embittered wallflowers – they are social beings and great team players. If middles are so resentful and bitter, why are they more cooperative and trusting in their friendships? And why are they such successful leaders? Fifty-two percent of our Presidents have been middles. Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Madonna – all are visionary middles with strong leadership qualities. Depending on how you search you can find all sorts of things that say one thing to another. But this is my perspective: I feel I don’t have this middle child syndrome, and I feel that my position in my family is an advantage. When I am feeling like I want to be mature or do cool things, I like knowing I have the company of my older siblings (who both drive cars of their own), but when I feel like I want to relive my childhood, be silly, play around, and just be carefree, I don’t mind playing with my little brothers – they are the perfect excuse. Besides, they look up to me, and that is nice, too. So maybe this syndrome is a myth, maybe it doesn’t apply to families with five kids, or maybe I am just different. The only thing I know for sure is that my parents are very involved with us all, and push us to be our best. I love our crazy, loud, busy family…and yes, I am in the middle of it all.
Our monthly My Generation feature is YOUR forum. Your column can be serious or light-hearted, humorous or inspiring, thought-provoking or just plain fun. We want to hear from YOU. If you are interested in contributing as a student guest columnist or you just have a topic you would like our guest columnists to address, email kbakhtegan@recordnet. com for details.
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Miguel Meza is a sophomore at McNair High School in Stockton
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alifornian’s eyes were on University of the Pacific this spring as the five leading candidates for the state’s imminently vacant U.S. Senate seat faced off at the DeRosa University Center. Attorney General Kamala Harris, Representative Loretta Sanchez, businessman Ron Unz, and former chairmen of the California Republican Party Tom Del Beccaro and Duf Sundheim all tried to stand out in a crowded field of contenders. The event, held April 25, was relatively amiable, compared to the acrimonious presidential debates citizens grew accustomed to seeing during the primary season, and it offered a chance for students to experience the political process firsthand.
Election season offers students a first-hand glimpse of politics
by Zachary Withrow, UOP Student The Pacifican
One of the topics addressed during the debate was that of college tuition, an issue raised by Pacific’s student body president Serena Welch. Welch, a senior, asked for candidates’ thoughts on whether the federal government should provide free college tuition for students. Harris and Sanchez supported free community college, while Unz, Sundheim and Del Beccaro opposed free tuition in favor of alternative measures, such as reducing the cost of university bureaucracies. Welch said she was happy to participate in what she characterized as a great debate. “Some candidates were better at evading the direct question than others, but overall I felt like I left the debate knowing more about the candidates and being more informed on what my decision will be,” she said. After the debate ended, most of the candidates stuck around to chat with reporters and students. Harris was a notable exception; the frontrunner left the university center lobby in a hurry after briefly answering questions, shaking students’ hands, and urging them to “stay politically active.” Many students took advantage of the rare opportunity to see and hear from candidates in person. Tazeen Hussain, class of 2017, who had a seat in the ballroom, felt that the debate was a positive experience for the community overall. “I think that, because Pacific is such a relatively small university, seeing senatorial candidates come out here is a great experience,” Hussain said. “People in Stockton, especially young people, are getting better access to information about the candidates … This exposes us to what is going on.” Alec Peden, class of 2019, who served as an usher during the debate, was grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the high-profile
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event and to witness the dialogue up close. “What stood out to me was how passionate most of the candidates were,” Peden said. The debate also helped promote the university. “I think this exposed the campus to a wide audience that might have been unaware of who we were,” said political science professor Jeffrey Becker. “It showcased the fact that the University can host these types of quality events.”
Zachary Withrow is a junior at the University of Pacific and the sports editor of the school’s newspaper, The Paci! can. He is studying to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in communication. Upon graduating in 2018, he hopes to pursue a career in public relations. When Zach is not writing for The Paci! can, he enjoys watching Bay Area sports, volunteering for local political campaigns, and spending time with his dogs.
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A
s another academic year ends, many students are turning to prospects for employment during the summer months.
Pacific students, alumni and faculty share their best interview tips for landing the perfect job
By Jeremy Gottschalk, UOP Student The Pacifican
Whether it’s for an internship, career or weekly gas money, the employment process begins and ends with the interview. Here are 10 of the top tips for landing a job, as presented by University of the Pacific students and faculty. 1. Smile and make eye contact: “I was really nervous, but I didn’t want to show it,” says civil engineering student Muhammad Khan, class of 2019. “Smiling is what people wanted to see. After smiling, everything started to flow. Smiling helped me connect with the interviewer and encouraged interest.” Since interviewing at The Grove on campus, Khan has spent seven months working in customer service and plans to interview for an internship with a Modesto company to further his engineering career. 2. Know your strengths: Business major Erin Spence, class of 2017, is pursuing concentrations in marketing and management and has been working at the DeRosa University Center Help Desk for seven months. “Know what you value in a workplace environment and what you can bring to the table,” she says. “Interviewers are going to ask … where you think you can contribute. I am very personable and outgoing. I also enjoy meeting people. My job requires meeting new people, sharing information and having a working knowledge of the campus.” 3. Be concise and think about your responses: “Don’t ramble,” recommends geology major Kaitlen Tanel, class of 2016. “Don’t fish for answers. Stick to a logical path and don’t be distracted.
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… Interviewers look for people who can think through problems clearly.” 4. Practice speaking before the interview: Speech pathology major Megan Germann, class of 2018, has worked at the University Bookstore for two years. She reflected on how important it is to think about your responses. “’Ums’ and ‘yeahs’— judging a cheerleader tryout at my old high school, I noticed the nervous people would use a lot of filler words. It’s better to pause and think about what you are going to say instead of dragging out filler words.” Practice speaking with someone before the interview. Listen to how you sound and correct any errors. Practice with parents, friends, anyone who will listen. Professors are also great partners. 5. Take a breath: Biology major Jessica Yeh, class of 2019, knows the importance of this basic human function. Ta k e your time and don’t rush through the interview. It’s more important to get your points across clearly than quickly. Regulating your breathing will allow you to elaborate on answers. Taking a deep breath allows you to better convey your point and represent yourself. 6. Get connected: Irene Camy, Pacific alumna and Assistant Director of Cooperative Education for the School of Engineering and Computer Science, referred to a Huffington Post survey showing that 80 percent of employers look applicants up online before making the call to schedule an interview. “The trick is getting the interview,” Camy says. “Just as soon as your resume is strong, go online and upload it to the job networking website, LinkedIn. Once a recruiter likes your resume, they will go to LinkedIn. It allows someone to click on your work. … Get seen; visibility and assertiveness are key to employment.” 7. Ask questions: Engineering management major Karina Castaneda, class of 2016, interned with McCarthy Building Co. in San Francisco from May through November 2014. “When you are going in for an interview, you are worried about impressing the interviewers, but this is a chance for you to interview them as well,” she says. “Asking questions turns it into a conversation and allows back-and-forth.” 8. Dress for success: “My mother instilled in me to always look the part,” reflected biology major Alana Manning, class of 2018. “This day and june 2016
age, people forget to take into consideration your attire and how it plays into an interview. … When I interviewed for Best Buy’s mobile phone sales department, I wore black slacks, heels and a blue collared shirt.” She went with a more formal style when interviewing for an internship with Visionary Home Builders. “During the initial interview, I wore a full suit since I was to meet the CEO of the company,” she said. “One of the other candidates had on capris and sandals; I believe that affected her chances of being hired.” 9. Build networks: Margaret Roberts is director of Pacific’s Eberhardt Career Management Center. “I see students fail to realize that the person they are sitting next to in school could be a resource,” she said. “People tend not to take advantage of that. I recommend people attend events they end up learning something or shaping their own views as to career progression. It’s an interesting e xp e r i e n c e to watch the light bulbs of students turn on throughout the semester as they discover that networking may become harder after school.” 10. Consider your recruiter: Companies that seek employees at colleges often use similar-aged employees to recruit. You may face a high proportion of millennial recruiters, one to five years out of college. Use this to your advantage! Knowing how to approach someone through similar interests or views can make an interview enjoyable for both of you.
Jeremy Gottschalk is a military veteran currently attending University of the Pacific. While serving for the Navy, he traveled to over 30 countries. Jeremy is a self-proclaimed computer geek. His academic interests include computer engineering and data analytics. Jeremy plans to continue his career in digital communications in Silicon Valley or Sacramento. His hobbies are traveling, hiking, video gaming, event planning, volunteering with the Nature Conservancy, all things ComicCon, as well as hanging out with his wife and friends.
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Going the Extra Mile By Charleen Earley
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hey don’t have to do anything more than simply raise their family and work their day jobs, but Jason and Michelle Gonzalez have this inner tug to do more – to go the extra mile and serve their community. It’s why together, despite a litany of challenging setbacks, they created a youth facility (for adults, too) in Stockton, a place where over 1,000 members of all ages are a part of 16 various sports leagues.
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“Sports are super important because they give kids and adults that sense of accomplishment. It also teaches them about teambuilding, and keeps them active and focused,” said Jason, who has played soccer ever since he was knee-high.
By day, Jason runs his own painting company called We Paint, while Michelle is a nurse case manager at San Joaquin General Hospital. The two are extremely proud of their oldest son Brandon, who recently earned a full scholarship to Santa Clara University.
Born in San Diego and raised in Stockton, Jason has been coaching for the last 12 years. His wife Michelle and their kids – Brandon, 17, Andrew, 14 and Kathryn, age 9 – all know the importance of sports.
“We believe in faith, family and friends – and after that, it’s how can we make a change and a difference in our community?” said Michelle, who admits with laughter, her athletic ability is minimal.
“I read an article that said 95% of Fortune 500 CEOs are run by either college athletes or a person who played college sports,” said Jason. “We are trying to change the culture of coaching, because 75% of all kids after age 13 quit playing sports, and crime spikes. Sports gives them that sense of being part of a team or group.”
In order to reach out to the community, the couple feels family involvement is crucial. “We always hear our kids’ teachers say it all starts at home. It’s why we’re always involved with our kids, whether it’s with sports, music or the arts,” added Michelle.
The couple received a Small Businesses in the Community award on March 30, from mayor Anthony Silva. “It’s been a long road to open this place,” said Jason. “It’s difficult to find support for facilities for kids. We’ve seen community centers, baseball and soccer leagues all shut down around us. It’s easier to find an iPhone than a soccer field.”
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In addition to their indoor soccer complex, the couple donates their time and money to local schools, charities and churches, with a mission focused on a community of kids. “We have to make sure there’s a vision for the younger kids,” said Jason. “If there are no positive role models and partners out there, then these kids have no hope. We need more coaches, mentors, teachers and parent involvement.”
photos courtesy Jason Gonzales
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Visit Jason and Michelle Gonzalez at www.weplay209.com or www.209wepaint.com
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Story and photos by Rich Turner
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hat’s your first experience with asparagus? Here’s mine: Unappetizingly gray-green, lifelessly limp and nothing like its picture on the can’s label. But then, I didn’t grow up on the edge of the California Delta where, for many decades, asparagus was one of the king crops and anxiously anticipated every spring by locals and the rest of the world alike. Then I moved to Stockton. As my first springtime in Stockton, in the mid-1970s, grew closer, I remember hearing about the coming harvest in a such a way you’d think they were talking about the beginning of baseball season. Nope, they were wondering which local stores would have the freshest spears of ‘gras – the locals called it ‘gras.
Closeup of ‘gras knife in hands of skilled cutter.
Of course, I’m wrinkling my nose and wondering what what the big deal is. Why the buzz about that slender, limp vegetable that my childhood self just would not eat?
Cuttin’ the ‘gras I don’t remember the exact occasion of my first taste of freshfrom-the-farm asparagus, but I do
Hurrying to place cut ‘gras on moving tractor that will take the fresh-cut crop to the packing shed 42
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remember it was simply steamed and unadorned, save for a pat of butter melting over it. I was smug in the knowledge that, even though this did not look like the scary stuff I remembered, I would not enjoy it. Boy, was I wrong. Now I get it, that eagerness of looking forward to seeing the first batches in the local produce aisles and having it readily available for a couple of months or so. In April of 1978, a few years into my photojournalist job at The Record (The Stockton Record then), I caught an interesting assignment. Staff writer Dick Clever was doing a story called “The Old Timers,” about a band of Filipino ‘gras cutters, some well into their seventies and beyond, who had worked together Picking up cut 'gras bundles for decades. In the pre-dawn overcast darkness of Robert’s Island west of Stockton, Clever and I meet the Old Timers as they gather in a farmhouse for a hot breakfast before heading out to the fields. As the light in the east attempted to pierce the threatening sky, the cutting began. Barely able to see anything against the moistureblackened peat soil, I wondered how the men could not only work in those conditions, but work at that quick a pace. I found it difficult to keep up with them, even though many were twice my age or more.
mechanization. Some mechanical harvesters are in development, but they’re still a long way from perfection, and prohibitively expensive.” How does he compete with less-costly, imported asparagus? “It is simply economies of scale. Having efficient crews, using best management practices, and having a well-run packing shed with quality employees are just some of the factors that have allowed us to stay in the game.” Here’s what has changed – acreage. According to Eileen Nichols Christin of Victoria Island Farms, California had about 28,000 acres growing asparagus in 1991 with the Delta representing about half of that, and Victoria Island was cultivating about 3,000 acres. Now the California Asparagus Commission estimates that only 9,000 acres remain, if that. “It will be The harvest on Union Island less next year,” says Christin. “We southwest of Stockton. hear they are taking out asparagus in the Salinas area as well. Unfortunately, we are no longer growing asparagus, but we had a good thirty-year run.”
When did the economy start to change to a point that so much acreage was converted to other crops? “NAFTA As day begins changed everything,” to break under Christin says. “A 15% tariff, eliminated by threatening 1998, was charged on skies, the Mexican asparagus imported into the U.S. cutting begins. prior to NAFTA. We have heard that Mexico now pays (laborers) $10 per Adding to my misery, day. We pay $10 per I was gaining height hour minimum, often and weight with almost every up to $20 per hour or more with step. It had rained a day or piece-rate plus medical insurance, two before, and as the thick goo etc. Harvesting prices are much sticks to the boot soles, one gets higher here, we couldn’t find enough taller. Unfortunately, heavier, people to harvest, and food safety too, needing to periodically costs were on the rise. Customers scrape off dense layers in order were not willing to pay enough of to continue. a premium for California-grown Breakfast before dawn. That Was Then, This is Now asparagus.” What has taken the place of the historical crop that was In recalling my challenging day in the fields back in 1978, I decided to see what has changed in the years since and get a first cultivated in the California Delta back in the 1860s? “Processor few new pictures. Turns out that much has changed and much has not. tomatoes, grapes, and almonds,” according to Christin. What hasn’t changed is the fact that this fragile crop can still only be hand-harvested. It takes experienced workers to select which spears to cut, and all the steps from field, to sorting, and to packing are done by hand. Bob Ferguson, a Delta asparagus grower and a partner in Kings Crown Packing, allowed me to access Union Island fields for photographs and tells me, “The future of asparagus here in California will depend on
The future? With a high degree of certainty, we can expect our national pastime to return every spring. Unfortunately, the outlook for locally grown asparagus may not be as much of a sure thing.
From seed to the first full harvest, asparagus is in the ground for 3 years. Asparagus is a very labor-intensive crop; no foolproof methods have yet been devised for mechanical harvesting of the fragile spears. Asparagus can grow as much as 4 to 5 inches a day, meaning the same fields can be harvested every couple of days for 8 to 10 weeks. About 70% of the cost of asparagus production is labor. In the interest of full disclosure, Eileen Nichols Christin of Victoria Island Farms is a sponsor of “Delta Grandeur,” my museum exhibit currently on tour throughout California.
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threads
TAILOREDTO
N O I T C E F R E P “A
by Leah Myers
man in a well-tailored suit will always shine brighter than a guy in an off-the-rack suit,” said Michael Kors. In other words, wearing custom-fitted clothes makes a big difference. Every man should own at least one tailored suit, sport jacket or dress shirt. Should you have a job interview, a wedding to attend, or social event where you will be the center of attention – tailoring is an easy way to make your clothes look remarkably better. No matter what your size may be, it can be a challenge to find clothes that are a perfect and comfortable fit. This is why tailoring is so beneficial. Alterations are an easy, affordable way to improve how you look in clothes. Tailoring and alterations can make anything from business suits to casual outfits appear more polished. If you find yourself not wearing half of the clothes you own because they don’t fit properly, tailoring a few key pieces will make you feel instantly pulled together. A recent article in Business Insider described how tailoring can improve men’s clothes. “Most men typically wear oversized clothes, not understanding the essential elements of a good fit or compromising fit for style,” said Amber Hamilton, managing director of clothing company Jaden Lam. “Shirts and sweaters are too big or too long and trousers are too saggy or bulky.” California Tailoring in downtown Stockton has specialized in men’s tailoring since 1984. Owner Romeo
Campana said “a lot of the younger men prefer a slim fit,” which can sometimes only be achieved through alterations. Campana said the average cost to alter a men’s suit is around $36 dollars. Because most clothing today is massproduced, and every brand’s sizes fit differently, it can be frustrating to find clothes that truly fit and flatter every shape. Tailors and alteration experts understand there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all. When clothing fits properly, it elevates and improves one’s overall appearance. Tailoring can also change the way you shop – as you find items in the store that are not a perfect fit, those pieces can be altered to fit with the help of a skilled tailor. Donna Wolff, owner of Aghazarian’s in Stockton, has worked in the tailoring industry for 45 years. Aghazarian’s, located in Lincoln Center, boasts a following of loyal customers and specializes in men’s and women’s alterations. Wolff works hands-on with a wide range of customers to achieve the perfect fit for any occasion.
Both California Tailoring and Aghazarian’s offer a quick turnaround time, and they will take your measurements for you in the store. The money and time spent on having your clothes fit your exact measurements will be money well spent.
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Aghazarian’s 420 Lincoln Center (209) 477-6801 California Tailoring 26 California Street (209) 464-5139
june 2016
By Jennifer Torres
A Lodi homebrewer prepares to take his beer to the national stage
B
ad Betty’s Brown Nut Ale is a deep amber-brown, malty with hints of chocolate, says its creator, Lodi home brewer John Brunet. “How can I describe it?” Brunet muses. “It’s a caramel, maltbased beer. It’s bready, nutty … It’s actually one of my favorites right now.” Brunet bought his first brew-at-home beer kit on something of a television-inspired lark. Two years later, and still holding down a full-time day job, Brunet is turning his hobby into a craft, one that is beginning to garner him recognition throughout the state. So far this year, Bad Betty has taken top prizes in three regional homebrewing competitions. The ale is now advancing to the final round of the National Homebrew Competition, billed as the largest contest recognizing outstanding beer, mead and cider produced by amateur brewers around the world. Judging takes place June 9 in Baltimore. photos courte
sy John Brun
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“We’ll see where it goes from there,” Brunet says. “Every craft brewman started the way I’m starting now.” A longtime American tradition, homebrewing became illegal in 1919 when Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcohol. Prohibition was repealed in 1933, but home beer making remained against the law until 1978 when President Jimmy Carter signed a bill to lift the federal ban on the practice. Now, according to a survey from the American Homebrewers Association, there are an estimated 1.2 million home brewers throughout the country, who collectively produce more than 2 million barrels of brew each year. “The craft beer industry has grown by leaps and bounds,” says Brunet, who brews out of his garage. Partial to hoppy beer, with a bitter bite, he looks for recipes online – shared among the thousands of homebrewing clubs across the nation – and tweaks them to his satisfaction. Although Brunet is not licensed to sell his beer, he can give it to friends and enter it into competitions and tastings. Each batch takes from three to five weeks to brew, depending on the complexity of the recipe. While he originally started making beer with pre-made malt extracts, he has moved on to managing the entire process from scratch. “It’s hit and miss, but I can pretty much go in and drink a beer anyplace and say, ‘I can make this beer.’”
photos courtesy John Brunet
And creative tinkering is part of homebrewing’s allure, Brunet says. “It’s very creative. For example, last summer, I pureed fresh strawberries and raspberries for a batch. Lately I’ve been playing around with stouts and the darker beers. I just finished a vanilla porter.” It’s often Brunet’s friends who help him name the beers. There’s: Don’t Call Me Honey, a blond ale made with fresh honey Brunet has been brewing almost since he started, Sorry Bastard, an amber ale, and Harvest Moon, a India pale ale. “I’m going to get close to retirement soon,” Brunet says. “If I can get to the point where the beer gets better and better, my ambition would be for this to turn into something more. To have something huge, you gotta start somewhere.”
To follow John Brunet’s home brewing adventures, visit his Facebook page, Wort to Fermentation Beer Co. 46
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Th
by Bob Highfill
&
LANGE TWINS FAMILY WINERY
T 1068472 he Art Korner 2x3.5”
VINEYARDS
he namesake twin brothers behind LangeTwins Family Winery grapes and fine wines they can. and Vineyards didn’t build their business for themselves; they built “For us here at LangeTwins, we are generational thinkers and their company for their children and their children’s children and so if you believe in generational investment, you can’t help but be on for generations to come. sustainable,” said Randy Lange, who will celebrate his 66th birthday Sustainability is a big buzzword in the farming arena. Sustainability with Brad in June. “You can’t help it.” is a way of life at LangeTwins. Every decision Brad and Randy have The Langes’ saga dates to the 1870s when Maria and Johann Lange made since they went into business together in the early 1970s has emigrated from Germany and settled in Lodi, where they farmed nonbeen intended to ensure the long-term viability of their company, irrigated watermelons. In 1916, the Langes purchased their first grape their environment and their family. ranch and in 1920, Brad and Randy’s father, Harold, was born. Harold Today, Brad and Randy stand strong alongside their wives, Susan worked with his father and the family farm expanded to include the and Charlene, respectively, and their five children. They are a nine- River Ranch and DeVries Road Ranch, where Brad and Randy were member team poised to continue providing the highest quality wine born and raised.
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Brad and Randy farmed with their dad, and in 1974, when the twins were in their early 20s, they decided to branch out. They founded LangeTwins, a vineyard management company, with 110 acres purchased from their father. As Brad and Randy started their families, their business grew. Robert Mondavi supplied much of his Woodbridge cabernet sauvignon program with LangeTwins fruit grown on a 38-acre vineyard at Lower Sacramento and Peltier roads in Lodi. Today, the twins have 8,000 acres under management. In the early 2000s, the wine grape business changed with globalization, consolidation and downward pricing pressure. In 2005, Brad and Randy made a pivotal, calculated risk. After consulting with Susan and Charlene and their children, who by then were all grown up and interested in becoming more involved with the family business, the family broke ground at what was a cattle pasture on East Jahant Road in Acampo just down the road from where they grew up, and built their state-of-the-art production facility and winery. “When we built this winery, we were looking out 100 years,” Randy said. “We were saying how as a family are we going to survive farming grapes in the state of California and remain an agriculture company?” The way to do it, Randy said, is to add value to the “farm gate.” “And the only way you add value to the farm gate and wine growing is you have to make wine and put your name on the bottle and go out and introduce people to that wine and say this is what we grow for a living.” LangeTwins Winery is a testament to sustainability. The family’s commitment to renewable energy includes a photovoltaic solar system capable of generating the equivalent annual use of 200 homes in California. More than 2,300 acres of LangeTwins fruit are certified sustainable by the Lodi Rules. Since 1988, the Langes have restored habitat in their estate and elsewhere. In 2012, they completed a 20-acre Riparian Habitat Restoration Project, and retired inefficient farm equipment for lower-emission models.
LangeTwins’ portfolio includes four blends with the Caricature label, and a line of estate and reserve wines made with some of the 23 varieties they farm. “This district and the wines that we produce here, we expect people to age our wines about the time it takes them to buy the bottle, take it home and pull the cork or unscrew the cap,” Randy said. “That’s exactly the type of wines we want to produce here. It’s a district that does really well with that type of wine, so we just meet that expectation.” Brad and Randy have turned much of the day-to-day operations over to their kids: Brad and Susan’s son, Aaron, works on the farming side and their daughter, Kendra, heads the marketing team; Randy and Charlene’s son, Phillip, works the farm, their other son, Joe, works in sales, and their daughter, Marissa, heads the wine division. “They’re fully engaged and are stepping up and moving the company forward from the winery side and from the vineyard side,” Brad said. “You can’t imagine what a feeling that is. We have never failed, never stopped looking down the road.” Aaron Lange said he takes his 3 ½-year-old son out with him to the vineyards whenever he can. “He loves nothing more than jumping in the truck and going to work with Dad,” Aaron said. Life goes on. “We need to stay on message for the next generation,” Charlene said. “If everybody stays on task, we’re going to do it.”
In 2014, the Langes built their bottling line with energy-efficient insulation and a 500-kilowatt solar panel array on the roof. The winery has been designed in a way that additional construction would have minimal impact on the environment. Their new tasting room, the Press Room, is dug into an overpass where trucks off-load fruit into a system that utilizes gravity for gentle processing. LangeTwins continues to manage vineyards, sells grapes and bulk wine to other wineries, and custom crushes. David Akiyoshi and Karen Birmingham lead the winemaking team. The Photos Courtesy of LangeTwins
1525 E Jahant Road Acampo, CA 95220 langetwins.com Contact reporter Bob Highfill at 209.546.8282 or bhighfill@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/fromthevine and on Twitter @bobhighfill.
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SNORING
by Eunice Green, NHD
e the negativ how effects and to stop
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hen we think of snoring, it often is addressed by a spouse as an annoyance that keeps them awake. There are always a lot of jokes about snoring and sometimes the annoyance can escalate to the point of creating problems in a relationship. But snoring should be taken more seriously as it can have some major negative effects on your health. Continuous snoring, night after night, is a sign that not only is your breathing disturbed, but you are not getting good, restful sleep. Getting enough oxygen is important for blood flow and detoxification, and can have an effect on your brain function. Not getting enough sleep can negatively effect your energy levels. Some of the problems that can occur as a result of snoring are: weight gain as it increases fatty tissues that weigh you down on the air passages and increases inflammation in your airways; fatigue and stress, overuse of sleeping pills, tranquilizers and night caps can also exaggerate the conditions that lead to snoring. Smoking, though not a direct cause still contributes to it by producing excess mucus which can also restrict air flow Eventually, if gone untreated, this condition can lead to hypertension, heart disease, impotence, sleep apnea, dementia and strokes. It also will affect both the person who snores and their partner, emotionally and mentally, as well as physically. It also can have a negative effect on your partner’s health as the disturbed sleep from the noise of snoring will effect the rest that the partner gets.
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When sleep apnea is involved, many spouses lay awake listening to make sure that the partner continues to breathe. The problem is that there are multiple conditions that cause snoring. Not everyone can be treated the same. Sometimes it is caused by nasal congestion, sometimes it is a problem of the position of the tongue, sometime it is an issue with the throat. Making an effort to do something about this problem before it escalates is very wise. It does require some the current
patience and lifestyle changes. The following are some changes that can be helpful: -Lose weight – even losing a small amount of weight can reduce fatty tissue in the back of the throat. Exercise can help. Working out will not only tone your arms, legs and abs, but it can tone the muscles of the throat -Quit smoking, as it will lessen the irritation in the membranes -Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills and sedatives as they relax the muscles in the throat which interfere with breathing -Clear nasal passages -Avoid caffeine and heavy meals within 2 hours of bedtime -Sleep on your side There are also products that can help with all of these issues, whether it be problems with the throat, mouth or nasal passages. Sometimes you have to try different products to find the one that works best for you. Good sleep is so important for our health – it is what protects us from illness, boosts our immune system and repairs our bodies. It also keeps our brains from breaking down and helps them to repair as well. Good sleep is important for prevention of depression and stress and improves our ability to focus. Snoring is one of the biggest culprits with the interference of good, restful sleep. Address this issue sooner rather than later. It can truly save your life. 49
FASHION SAFARI THE CALIFORNIA STORE has a NEW EXPANED STORE! 120 North School Street, Downtown Lodi
SKY ZONE TRAMPOLINE PARK is NOW OPEN at Sherwood Mall 5358 Pacific Avenue, Stockton (next to Dick’s Sporting Goods) “Sky Zone is a one-of-a-kind entertainment destination perfect for all ages and we could not be more thrilled to be part of the Stockton community” said Johnnie Hernandez, owner of Sky Zone Stockton. “Fusing fun and fitness is the key to an active and healthy lifestyle and we can’t wait to bring this exciting experience to Stockton and nearby residents.” Sky Zone is the world’s first and largest system of indoor trampoline parks. They are the inventors of “fun fitness” and the makers of trampolines as far as the eye can see. Sky Zone gives you one of the greatest workouts ever combined with awesome, healthy fun. They have been voted the number one “out of the box” workout and the “best party ever.” Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 4pm – 8pm Friday 2pm – 9pm Saturday 10am – 10 pm Sunday 10 am – 8 pm
Fashion Safari invites you to their new, expanded store in downtown Lodi. The store is now two stores in one; Fashion Safari and The California Store. The new California Store features local and California inspired products. They carry the entire line of Bruno's products, local honey, Old Guys Rule T-shirts and home décor and much more! The store also has a new Art Gallery in the back featuring California Photography Art with beautiful prints on metal, canvas and wood frames. Fashion Safari first started out downtown in Lodi 13 years ago in a small, 240 square foot store offering jewelry and accessories. They later expanded to a bigger location downtown and started carrying clothing as well. Now in their new 2500+ square foot store, they offer so many additional products and keep growing more and more every day. They have won 13 Readers Choice Awards for best customers service, fashion accessories, gifts and clothing. The store hours are Monday-Saturday from 10am-5:30pm and Sundays from 12pm-5pm. They will stay open late on Thursday evenings starting May 19th for the Downtown Farmers Market. Make sure you stop by and see the new, beautiful store and all its additions! www.facebook.com/fashionsafari209 Instagram: Fashionsafari_Lodi
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RITA’S OF STOCKTON is now open in Palm Crossing 2829 West March Lane, Suite C-4, Stockton Rita’s of Stockton is open and offering up icy treats just in time for summer. Just to name a few to get your taste buds tingling; The Gelati is a layering of your favorite Italian ice and frozen custard. Blend the two together and you have the The Misto . Mix in your favorite crunchy toppings and you’ve got the Blendini! Open Monday - Sunday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM www.facebook.com/ritasofstockton
QUE 225 is serving up mouth watering BBQ on the Miracle Mile 1740 Pacific Avenue, Stockton Pork ribs, pulled pork or beef brisket…Need we say more? Que 225’s meats are slow-smoked for 14 hours at 225° resulting in a flavor that will knock your socks off. As if that wasn’t enough, you can choose from sides that include smoked BBQ beans smoked or their signature cheesy potatoes. Grab a single serving platter or a family meal. Catering is also available. YUM! Tuesday- Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 11am-8pm Monday Closed www.que225.com
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GET OUT
Every Friday through October WATERFRONT FRIDAYS Brick & Mortar and Janet Leigh Plaza North El Dorado at Channel Street, Downtown Stockton 3pm – 7 pm More info: 209-888-8624 Every Wednesday beginning June 1 –August 17 MUSIC IN THE PARK Victory Park 1001 N Pershing Avenue, Stockton More info: visitstockton.org (877) 778-6258
June 17 LINCOLN CENTER LIVE Lincoln Shopping Center Pacific Avenue & Ben Holt Drive, Stockton Info: lincolncentershops.com
June 18 LODI CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Lodi Lake Park 1101 W Turner Road Lodi, CA 95242 More info: lodicraftbeerfestival.com (209) 484-8117
June 18 CORKS, KEGS, & CANVAS Miracle Mile, Stockton Tickets $20 each Purchase tickets at Green’s Nutrition, Bellisima Boutique and Gluskins Photo. For more info visit stocktonmiraclemile.com
June 18 THE STOCKMARKET 630 East Weber Avenue, Stockton 10:00am – 4:00pm For more info: www.stockmarketca.com June 18 -19 BACONFEST Dell’Osso Family Farm 501 Manthey Road Lathrop, CA 95330 Saturday 9am-8pm / Sunday 9am-6pm Baconfest.com
June 18 OUTDOOR DINNER & CONCERT AT WINE & ROSES FEATURING THE SCORE 2505 W Turner Road, Lodi $70 per person plus tax. 6:30pm Open seating and no-host bar 6:45pm Dinner 8:15pm Concert info@winerose.com 209.334.6998
June 1 SCIENCE NIGHT LIVE World of Wonders Science Museum 2 N Sacramento Street, Lodi 6pm FREE 209.368.0969 www.wowsciencemuseum.org
June 18 - 19 BEER BANDS AND RIDES: CAR SHOW AND CONCERT Banner Island Ballpark Stocktonlive.com June 25 DELTA FUSION FESTIVAL 5 pm – 8 pm Victory Park, Stockton Deltafusionstockton.com
events
June 2 FOOD TRUCK MANIA Oak Grove Park 4520 W. Eight Mile Rd, Stockton 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
PRESENTS
June 12 CLASSIC MOVIE: MARY POPPINS Bob Hope Theatre 242 E Main Street, Stockton Tickets: stocktonlive.com June 13-18 SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY FAIR San Joaquin County Fairgrounds 1658 S. Airport Way, Stockton sanjoaquinfairgrounds.com June 15- July 10 1776 Stockton Civic Theatre 2312 Rosemarie Lane. Stockton For Tickets and Show Times: 209.473.2424 or boxoffice@sctlivetheatre.com 52
VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22
2016
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San Joaquin CounTY FAIRGROUNDS
• new & classic CARS • CHILI COOK OFF • KIDS ZONE • VENDOR EXHIBITS • FOOD TRUCKS • LIVE MUSIC
FOR MORE INFO CALL LINA TIRRE AT 209-470-8925 june 2016
Story & photos by Heather Mompean
Local Rock and Roll Cover Band Five band members – all lifelong Stockton residents. Stockton is our home. Most of us have our family here, raised family here, gained our education on the local campuses, and have day jobs in this town serving our community. When the weekend nears, Stockton becomes our musical playground! We are fortunate to enjoy our passion of music, playing at local venues such as Whirlow’s, Garlic Brothers, Stockton Sailing Club, Sorelle Winery, Concerts in the Park, festivals, private parties and more. Kind of Blue (KOB) is comprised of Doc Mompean on lead guitar, Dave Mompean on drums, Robert Fenley as vocalist, John Wise on keyboards and guitar, and John Williams holding it all down on bass. The band plays a wide range of rock and roll from the ‘70s to the current music of today, throwing in some funk and blues to spice it all up. “We love to see people dance, so our goal is to play the tunes that make people want to get up and shake their groove thang,” says Doc Mompean. “Really, we just want to have a good time, and want everyone around us to have a good time, too. By day I hear stories of sadness and trouble as a Marriage Family Therapist, so when the weekend comes around, I need to lighten up and let go of a lot of stress. Playing in KOB, hanging out with the incredible brotherhood of musicians – that’s my therapy.”
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We invite you all to dance your stress away, enjoy local food and drinks, and come hear KOB and all the great local bands right here in Stockton! July 2nd – Whirlow’s – 1906 Pacific Avenue, 95204 July 8th – Garlic Brothers – 6629 Embarcadero Drive, 95219 July 26th – Brookside Concerts in the Park, Nelson Park, 3535 Brookview Drive, 95219 www.facebook.com/kobband www.instagram.com/kobband For booking: 209.244.4549
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Story by Middagh Goodwin Photos by Robert Dawson
june 2016
endi Maxwell is the red-headed spitfire and bandleader for Stockton’s own Wendi Maxwell and Tres Hot Jazz. The band features Wendi–vocals, Brian Clarke–bass, Dax Compise–drums, Tom Renner–saxophones and woodwinds, Ken Cefalo–guitar, Chris Grey–guitar and Randy McMillian– vibraphone. Anyone who knows Jazz in San Joaquin County knows the players in the band. All well-respected and accomplished in their own right. They are a smoky-hot bluesy jazz combo. Her players love to improvise as Wendi croons, growls and spits out tales of heartbreak, adventure and love. This is not background music, this is not smooth housewives jazz, this is full-throttle jazz with a band that knows how to surprise and excite, fronted and led by a hip, confident, vibrant singer who knows how to hold an audience’s attention. »
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The band has been working on an album full of original songs written by Maxwell with the working title All Original Wendi Maxwell or possibly Wendi Maxwell’s Circus Life. Working with Matt Young at Press Studios in downtown Stockton, it will end up having 12 to 13 songs. This is their second time collaborating with Matt. Trés Hot Jazz has five songs in the can and will be returning later in the summer to record five or so more. This will be the band’s third release; the debut No More Blues is available for download and sophomore effort Help a Good Girl Go Bad is available on CD and download. Wendi and the band don’t venture too far from home, and that is the way they like it. Over the years they have played everywhere around Stockton from the Asparagus Festival to the Haggin Museum (one of their favorite places to play). Regularly performing at French 25 on the third Wednesday throughout the Summer (5/18, 6/15), Mile Wine where they have performed since it opened (6/18) and will be featured at Durst Winery (7/2). Wendi Maxwell and Trés Hot Jazz hold the unique distinction of being the only jazz band from Stockton nominated for a Modesto Area Music Awards three years in a row. Catch Wendi and the boys and experience something truly unique. Check out some songs online at soundcloud.com/wendi-maxwell
Middagh Goodwin Beat Happy! Music beathappymusic@aol.com
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art Betsy is a sm al c and saavy lo er. business own
r e l w a r C N ight
The
V
VALLEY BREW
alley Brewing Co. was doing the brew pub thing long before it was popular to, well…do the brew pub thing.
Mirco-breweries, craft brew shows and suds by the ounce are all the rage now. And that’s a good, good thing. Beer drinkers’ tastes have become more sophisticated. They do not want to drink swill. But as the trends in the beer biz intensify, you have to appreciate visionaries who were ahead of the curve. In the case of Valley Brew, tucked on Adams Street just off the Miracle Mile, that all started in 1994. Yes, 22 years ago. There have been many changes over the years including menu upgrades, a jazz club (Take 5), a room for large gatherings, temporarily veering away from in-house brewing and more.
Betsy called
the
By The Current Staff
The ambiance steps up a notch as the weather gets warmer and the outside seating area starts to fill up. The whole indoor-outdoor flow makes for a great atmosphere.
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to help her r each lots of poten tial new custome rs and drive tra ffic to her store.
Valley Brew moved away from in-house brewing to concentrate on other parts of its business late last decade. But the return to its beer-making roots has been welcome. If there’s a nitpick it’s the size of the pub’s televisions. Valley Brew could use larger screens to compete with many other joints for sports viewing. All the same, gimme an IPA, calamari, a mushroom burger and, oh, another IPA, and all’s good. All’s been good for the long haul.
Betsy now gets new customers through her doors
But mostly, this is a tried-and-true pub that has built a strong reputation. Valley Brew has endured and prospered.
all month long!
VB was making IPAs before it was hip to make IPAs. They have a couple of them – both excellent. There also are Indian Red Ale, Berry Ale, Black Cat Stouts and so much more. A group of us dropped by recently, a half hour before tip-off of a Golden State Warriors game. The inside seating area filled up quickly and the beer was flowing – along with Klay Thompson’s jump shots (Steph Curry was still on the shelf at that point). Valley Brew has underrated food, too. Virtually everyone swears by the calamari appetizer and the burgers continue to hold their own even as Stockton becomes a city with more burger options.
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Owner Kellie Jacobs shows off Valley Brew’s beer brewing tanks at the Miracle Mile area pub. RECORD FILE PHOTO
Do you have a place you think we should “crawl?” Send your tips to Current Editor Karen Bahktegan at kbahktegan@recordnet.com.
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by Middagh Goodwin
G
ary “Plantman” Young is a well-known figure in the Stockton/San Joaquin music mythos. He is best known for his tenure in Pavement, where he not only produced the early recordings but played drums with the band. Gary’s antics on the road were legendary, from giving out cinnamon toast or heads of cabbage to those attending shows, to his handstands on stage. It seems that sometimes people were going to those early Pavement shows as much to see what Gary would do as to see the band performance. Gary recorded and played with Pavement up until the release of Watery, Domestic. Young’s time with Pavement gave him “indie cred” and allowed him to be able to release the three Gary Young’s Hospital albums, Hospital (Big Cat Records), Things We Do for You and The Grey Album. Hospital was composed of Stockton musicians Kelly Foley (Vox/Guitar), Eric Westphal (Bass/Vox), Robin Vanderpool (Guitar/Synth) and Gary Young (Vocals/Drums.) The band gained cult status when the video for “PlantMan” was featured on an episode of Beavis and Butthead. Hospital toured the U.S. several times, doing dates on Lollapalooza and opening up for Sonic Youth. I remember watching Hospital at Lollapalooza in Sacramento, and it was quite surreal. There on stage, not the main stage but a smaller stage in the back parking lot, stood a group of musicians from Stockton. What made this moment so memorable was who was in the crowd watching them perform. You had Beck standing next to Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth, members of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones 58
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ia Victor sy’s is Bet r... tito compe
Victoria didn’t call the
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because Artie wouldn’t get off the phone! and Cypress Hill along with the Groovie Ghoulies, and I was there with members of the Australian band The Porkers. It was quite a surreal moment, with the audience being filled with more musicians than concertgoers. Over the years, Young has documented the sounds of Stockton and the surrounding area at his studio, LOUDER THAN YOU THINK. The Authorities, The Young Pioneers, Surrogate Brains, Pavement, Hospital and for awhile when SKA was cresting Dr Rocket and the Moonpatrol, The Sandwich Mafia and Section H all recorded there. Scott Kamburg’s post – Pavement band Preston School of Industry even recorded two 7-inches and the full-length All full-length All This Sounds Gas. If Gas . If you are looking to record, Young is still open for business. Gary Young has recently released a new EP, Malfunction. Malfunction is a brief look into the mind of the artistsix songs of avant garde, psychedelic, progressive rock for fans of Captain Beefheart, Brian Eno and Lou Reed. This might be the most accessible release by Gary Young to date. The release is currently available for download from www.cdbaby. com/cd/garyyoung.
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Victoria’s for mer customers ar e now Betsy’s customers.
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Live Music May 27
Terrie Londie and B-4 Dawn Band
R&B, Funk, Jazz, Old Skool and more Mr. D’s Pizza and Sports Pub 122 E Oak St, Stockton 9:30 – Close
May 28
DJ Gerard Jones Spinning Old Skool Mr. D’s Pizza and Sports Pub 122 E Oak St, Stockton
Adam S Messinger, Geovanie Brooks Blackwater Republic 912 N. Yosemite Street, Stockton 7 pm
Calling All Local
Musicians Tell us about your music, your band, or your upcoming gigs, or music releases for May.
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Email currentsj@ recordnet.com
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May 29
DJ Andrew Harris Spinning Old Skool Mr. D’s Pizza and Sports Pub 122 E Oak St, Stockton
June 3
Across the Atlantic, Nothing Planned, Reverie Blackwater Republic 912 N. Yosemite Street, Stockton 7 pm
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g n i m o c e p Mor u
s w o h S June 4
Big Ray and the Freeloaders Blues and Funk Breadfruit Tree Too 5646 Pershing Ave, Stockton 9 pm
Twin Cities, Groom Lake, Welcome Home, Artcls Blackwater Republic 912 N. Yosemite Street, Stockton 7 pm
June 9
Glasir, Deliver Me From L.L. Bean Blackwater Republic 912 N. Yosemite Street, Stockton 7 pm
June 11
Big Ray and the Freeloaders Blues and Funk Mr. D’s Pizza and Sports Pub 122 E Oak St, Stockton 3-6pm
Loki Rhythm
Garlic Brothers 6629 Embarcadero Drive, Stockton 8:30 pm
June 11 Crosstown 5
Partner with the team that will be dedicated to your success!
Abundance Vineyards 1150 W. Turner Road, Lodi 6- 9 pm
June 15
Journey Unauthorized San Joaquin County Fair 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton
June 16
Jasmine Jordan
Papa Urbs Grill 331 E Weber Road, Stockton 7 pm
June 24
Reverie, Greenside, Creekside, Goddamnit Eli Blackwater Republic 912 N. Yosemite Street, Stockton 6 pm
June 26 The Bottlenose Koffins
Get Artie o ff th phone and c e all today!
Blackwater Republic 912 N. Yosemite Street, Stockton 6 pm
209.943.8585
thecurrent@recordnet.com
june 2016
the c current urrent
61
’ m no 25% OFF Beer towers
nom’ GRAND OPENING SPECIAL FREE Appetizer with purchase of a Dinner
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Not valid during promotion Must present coupon expires 6/30/16
expires 6/30/16
Kings Card Club 6111 West Ln #103 Stockton • (209) 267-4567 www.kingscardclub.com
Breadfruit Tree Too Resta urant 5646 N. Pershing Ave Stockton • (209) 474-21 00 www.breadfruittree.co m
coupons’
1/2 OFF any 2 Topping Large Pizza
25% OFF Entire order
Dine in only. Not valid on special offers. Must present coupon
expires 6/30/16
expires 6/30/16
West Lane Bowl 3900 West Lane Stockton • (209) 466-3317 www.westlanebowl.com 62
Kings Card Club 6111 West Ln #103 Stockton • (209) 267-4567 www.kingscardclub.com the current
june 2016
june 2016
the current
63