The Current November 2016 - Market Edition by Specialty Publications

November 2016

50 shop local

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to market!

TO MARKET! persnickety

SWEETS

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BOUTIQUE school grounds

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Local is Where the Heart Is

Contributors

ith all of the shop local initiatives and promotions we have experienced over the years, we all now know how important it is to shop at locally owned businesses. It keeps our money in our own community where it is needed the most and keeps the doors open at the small businesses that give our community its own personality. The importance of shopping local to keep our community thriving cannot be stressed enough.

However, when shopping for gifts this season, there is another benefit from shopping at small local businesses. If I asked you to tell me what was the most meaningful gift you ever received, what would it be? Was it the Target gift card you got last year? Was it the PlayStation that was ordered for you from Amazon? I doubt it. I’m even willing to bet it wasn’t the most expensive gift. Shopping small and local can be an adventure. It gives you the opportunity to go on a real treasure hunt to find the perfect, unique, and truly meaningful gift that speaks to the recipient, letting them know that gift came straight from the heart. I love to find things that represent the connection I have to the person I am giving to. I never find those things in a big box store. I find them in unexpected places when I am just killing time browsing through small local shops, usually when I’m not looking for a gift at all. My loved ones remember those gifts and they cherish them and the meaning behind them. They let them know how special they are to me and that I am paying attention to the little moments and conversations that we have together. Plus, I never have to worry that someone will give them the same gift so they inherit the responsibility of returning it to the store. If that isn’t enough there are even more reasons to shop local; smaller lines, outstanding and personal customer service, and a much more pleasant atmosphere. A cheerful and festive little boutique will get you in the holiday spirit, while the glaring overhead lights of a super store stocked high with massed produced consumer bate can bring out the Grinch in anyone. Shop local tip: locally produced items like Bruno Peppers, Lodi Wines, or bottles of Cecchetti Olive Oil are great to stock up on for last minute, unexpected holiday guests. Everyone loves them and they have meaning because they came from your home… and as everyone knows, Home is where the heart is. Last but certainly not least: the best gift you can give to your community is the gift of your time. Be sure to spend some time this holiday season helping out at one of the many local non-profit organizations. The satisfaction of helping others is the biggest gift you will ever receive! Happy Giving,

Advertising Director Deitra Kenoly Editor Karen Bakhtegan Graphic Artists Jason LaMasters Jason Ente Dan Loeffelbein Account Specialist Liz Saldivar Social Media / Event Specialist Lina Tirre Writers Charleen Earley Middagh Goodwin Eunice Green Bob Highfill Melissa Hutsell Denzel A. Jackson Mike Klocke Howard Lachtman Jasmine Leek Harry Pacheco Susan Michener Spracher Joshua Stoner Jennifer Torres Photographers Ashlee Blackard Charleen Earley Lindsay Ortez

About the Cover The vintage photo was taken in the 1950’s. Pictured are Stockton residents and best friends, Frances Martinez and Vera Sandoval shopping in Downtown Stockton. The Martinez family, who provided the photo, told us there was a local photographer who frequented downtown, snapping photos of shoppers and then selling them the prints for 10 cents each. We would love to hear from any readers who might know who that photographer was, and if he has any relatives still residing in Stockton.

$5 value

Karen Bakhtegan

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Publisher Roger Coover

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MARKET november 2016

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08-19 market

-50 shop local spots -prime cut: yosemite meat market -to market! to market!

20 bites

-just desserts: persnickety sweets -recess time: school grounds coffee

24 vines -harney lane winery

26threads -peek-a-boutique: caterpillar children’s boutique

28 community -a man of the people: larry knapp -memories of downtown past, visions of downtown future

34 vitals

-a healthy dose of perspective -the lazaro effect

38 get out -november events calendar

40artbeat

-elevate dance studio -b sharp school of music

44 the campus -studying abroad

46 book nook -the book of unknown americans

48 perspectives -what’s in a word? -duty calls

52 the undercurrent

-the economics of art & entertainment -the nightcrawler

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contact our specialists

209.943.8585

Liz Saldivar The Current lsaldivar@recordnet.com Outside print and digital specialist

Lina Tirre Current Events Live etirre@recordnet.com Event specialist Social media

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 starting Thursday, Oct 27th 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 november 2016

Infusion Playhouse 2005 Pacific Ave Stockton

Kings Card Club 6111 West Lane, Suite 103 Stockton

Mr. D’s Pizza 122 E. Oak Street Stockton

We Play 3252 Tomahawk Lane Stockton

Mexican Heritage Center 111 S. Sutter Street Stockton

My Partners Furniture 113 W. Harding Way Stockton

Wine & Roses 2505 W. Turner Road Lodi

Meyers Optical 858 W. Ben Holt Drive Stockton

Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau 125 Bridge Place Stockton

Midtown Creperie 3311 Pacific Avenue Stockton Millie’s Art Korner 229 E. Alpine Avenue Stockton

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Stockton Indoor Sports Complex 3251 N. Ad Art Road Stockton

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Shop Local Spots

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George Lucas and his old-fashioned meat market Story and photo by Charleen Earley

o, he’s not THE George Lucas who created Star Wars, but he is the George Lucas who owns Yosemite Meat Market in Stockton – and not a day goes by when someone asks him if he’s that guy.

YOSEMITE MEAT MARKET:

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“Dinner reservations especially,” said George. “They’ll ask me ‘are you the George Lucas?’” Technically he is, and the novelty is fun, but the most important things George likes to talk about are his loyal customers and the finest aged meats, poultry and cheeses he serves. “We make our own Italian sausages here, our brisket is roasted for 18 hours, and we serve half or whole chickens,” said George. “We are known for our dry-aged rib eye and NY steaks.”

Just in time for the holidays, Yosemite Meat Market is also known for their free-range turkeys (never frozen), boneless legs of lamb and pork roast, prime ribs and filet strips, seasoned to order. “Customers need to place their order at least three weeks in advance,” said George.

Born in Stockton, raised in the Victory Park neighborhood, George, who is half Italian and half Mexican, worked as a journeyman cabinetmaker for 15 years. “I was thinking about doing something in the food business, so I asked the guy who ran Yosemite Meat Market if he would teach me how to break beef, with the idea that I would buy the business from him,” said George. “I did that for six weeks with no pay!” Once he took over the business, learning whom his customers were, was a cinch. “I knew about 50% of the customers because I lived in that neighborhood!” said George, who makes a concerted effort to keep his deli spotless, clean and comfortable.

George has three grown kids with wife Suzi, who handles the bookkeeping. She’s also a full-time nurse at Dameron Hospital. In the last 25 years of deli service, the two have made many new friends.

His business philosophy is about the Golden Rule.

“I love coming to work every Monday, because we are closed on the weekends, but what I love the most are our repeat, loyal customers. We have second and third generations in our deli section and fourth and fifth generations who’ve been buying our meats!”

“I treat my customers like they’re family, treating people the way I want to be treated – equally,” said George. “I also try to stay in good shape, so I can be around for my family and kids.”

With freshly made French onion, minestrone or chicken and rice soups, the meat market doubles as the perfect lunch spot, where hot foods are served Monday through Friday 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., cold sandwiches till 5:30 p.m. Beer, local wines and desserts can accompany the meals. Operating as an old-fashioned butcher in a modern day setting, George said he’s seeing a growing appreciation among

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the younger generation embracing quality cuts of meats and cheeses.

Yosemite Meat Market 915 N. Yosemite (corner of Yosemite and Poplar) Stockton, CA 209.466.7357 yosemitemeat@sbcglobal.net Facebook: Yosemite Meat Market and Deli M-F | 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Sat & Sun | closed

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n an ever-homogenizing world, local businesses with perseverance and character have an economic advantage. In fact, according to the Institute for Self Reliance’s “Top 10 Reasons to Support Locally Owned Businesses,” this is the number one reason to support our regionally grown companies. These businesses also build economic and social relationships, contribute to local causes and inspire entrepreneurship, product diversity and local decision-making. There is no better example of this than our Central Valley marketplaces. We spoke to a few of these markets about what it means to be independently operated.

Rinaldi’s Market Rinaldi’s Market in Linden, California first opened it’s doors while Harry S. Truman was president of the U.S. in 1948. Tony Rinaldi built the original shop and sold it to Jimmy Jue, whose grandson, Victor Fong, manages the store today. “A lot of people knew my grandfather, and a lot of people knew my dad. A lot of these customers are family friends.” For several generations the business has been a staple in his family and in the community. The market, rebuilt in 1996, sits on a one-acre lot and provides everything from fresh Chinese food to groceries and one of the most renowned selections of Napa Valley wine around. The market also offers locally sourced fruits and vegetables, explains Fong, such as stone fruit from Ferrari Farms; squash,

eggplant and beans from Barbagelata Farms; tomato sauce from Stanislaus Foods and a variety of bread from Genova Bakery which delivers six days per week. Customers also enjoy the shop’s fresh meats, deli, java city and food made to order. Staff favorites include spicy chicken teriyaki over steamed rice, made with carrots, onions, bell peppers and jalapenos. Sandwiches, cheeseburgers and fries are also popular among patrons. Chicken wings are another favorite around the holidays and Super Bowl. However, laughs Fong, those aren’t even on the menu: customers just know they can order them. That is a benefit of being independently owned, described Fong. “When the customer wants something, we don’t have to go through corporate.” This allows him flexibility on his menu and the ability to directly communicate with his patrons. Another advantage to operating a local business is being involved in the tight knit c o m m u n i t y, explains Fong. Rinaldi’s supports a number of foundations and events including the Linden’s Lions Club, Linden Chamber of Commerce and the Linden Cherry Festival.

Marina Marketplace Marina Marketplace Stockton is also a community-driven establishment, whose independent operation allows them to be more directly involved with regional organizations and their customer base. The marketplace was founded in September 1996 and celebrated its 20th anniversary this September. The neighborhood store is popular for its deli and seafood describes Office and Human Relations Manager, Michele Boccia. Aside from its meat counters, the market’s tri-tip sandwiches -made on site every weekend, rain or shine -- and custom cakes are renowned among customers and staff. When it comes to fresh photos courtesy Rinaldi’s Market

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produce, Marina takes a farm to market approach, showcasing local, fresh goods. The company, whose sister store includes PriceCo Foods in Sonora, features products such as Delta Queen asparagus. Because of its contributions to local causes, Marina’s staff feels “truly part of the community,” says Boccia, who’s been with the company since it opened two decades ago. The market supports several regional foundations such as the Mary Graham Children’s Shelter, the Child Abuse Prevention Council and the Lincoln Unified School District. Each school in the district has a coupon that’s designed for them. Customers turn these coupons in at the time of check out. Each month, the market cuts a check back to the school for five percent of total purchases, explains Boccia. “We also offer ‘Holiday Bucks’ and Biennial Customer Appreciation Nights.” During the holidays, customers can purchase food bags with or without a turkey at the market. Each bag goes directly to the San Joaquin/ Stockton Emergency Food Bank. “I believe being small makes it easier for us to be more directly involved with

the community,” Boccia says of the advantages of being independently operated. “It makes us more in touch,” and creates a sense of well-being. The staff, Boccia says, absolutely prides themselves for their traditional-type customer service because, “[there are] lots of customers that we’ve had for 20 years. [There are customers that] started the store with us. We’ve had generations of customers.” Patrons are known by name and are seen almost daily, she adds. “We even hire from within the community.”

Podesto’s Market and Deli Being connected to the community means customers feel like family. At P o d e s t o ’s Market and Deli in Stockton’s Lincoln C e n t e r, owners and employees work side-by-side and greet regulars. “Our [patrons] see [us] working in the store,” says Bernie Morgenstern, who co-owns the store with his wife, Debbie, and sons. “[Customers] know that when they are shopping here, they are helping our family and contributing to local causes [...]” The business continually supports area schools, churches, the Salvation Army and food banks throughout the year. Podesto’s has been a family owned and operated business since 1982: though, the shop’s history extends back to 1956 when it was founded as one of 12 former Don Quicks supermarket locations by Max and Louise Podesto. Today, the market “carries 30,000 items but is still a neighborhood, family-run store that is service-oriented,” describes Morgenstern.

Marina Market photos by Ashlee Blackard

Customers can grab anything from tissue to caviar here. The shop boosts a diverse and highly competitive selection of both imported and domestic goods. Along with the conventional, there’s an assortment of specialty items, adds Morgenstern, “[We put] an emphasis on quality, organic and gluten free products.”

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Quality service and selection is yet another advantage of owning and operating an independent business. So is being able to listen to your customers, and make decisions based on their specific needs. “We know our customers, we can carry the items that they are looking for,” he adds. “We know what our customer want. Even if we know [the products] are slow sellers, we can get it for them.” “This is their store. We listen to their suggestions.” Podesto’s is a service-oriented company. “It’s probably the last store that will put your name on your order,” explains Morgenstern. Whether it’s a USDA choice prime rib, spiral ham, a turkey for the holidays or a pie from the bakery, the staff will set aside your freshly made order with your name on it. “It’s exactly what you ordered. It’s bagged up, waiting for you, ready to go.” The market stresses that this individual, personal attention to its customers is what makes Podesto’s -- and local markets -- stand out. “[Customers] get that personal service that’s been lost in most big box stores.” By doing your grocery shopping at locally owned at operated businesses, you’re helping to build communities. Generation over generation, the specialized customer services, products and commitment to community make our locally grown businesses unlike any others. So, keep these independently owned and operated businesses -- and others with local roots -- in mind this holiday season and throughout the year. For More Information: Rinaldi’s Market: 4625 Duncan Rd. Linden, CA (209) 887-3507 Marina Marketplace: 3201 W. Benjamin Holt Dr. Stockton, CA (209) 955-0380 MarinaMarketplace.net Podesto’s Market and Deli: 104 Lincoln Center Stockton, CA (209) 951-0234 PodestosMarket.com

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Persnickety Sweets

by Charleen Earley What began as a blog for her friends and family members to keep them abreast of her latest culinary creations, journaling her meltdowns and successes in the kitchen, later morphed into a full-blown side job – more like a labor of sugary love. “As far back as I can remember, I have always loved to bake,” said Mickey Ditmore, owner of her home-based business, Persnickety Sweets in Lodi. “I would test out things that I thought sounded good. Sometimes they were big hits and sometimes I would end up crying on the kitchen floor because it wouldn’t work out.” Practice must’ve made perfect for this self-taught baker, since she opened her business in January of 2013, and continues to garner rave reviews from her customers. “Freshness and quality is what I always hear about,” said Mickey, mom of two, ages 13 and 17 with husband Jarred. “That makes me really happy, because that’s exactly what I’m going for.” Pineapple Princess cupcake is her signature creation. “I have yet to meet one person who doesn’t fall head over heals for those little hunks of love!” she said. With plans to one day open a shop, her current goal is to continue working for the City of Lodi – for the last 10 years, it’s a job she’s passionate about– and spend time with her family. “I would like to wait until my kids are a little bit older so that I can enjoy this time with them, instead of jam-packing my days with opening and running 20

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a small business,” said Mickey. “Time with them is the most important to me.” Since Persnickety Sweets is home-based, Mickey works strictly with advanced orders of no less than a dozen, mostly cupcakes, but she dishes up mint fudge brownies and peanut butter fudge brownies for the holidays. Cupcake flavors include Oreo cupcakes, gluten-free Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chai (chocolate cake topped with chai spice buttercream), Josephine Baker (chocolate cake filled with homemade banana curd, topped with banana cream cheese buttercream), Fiori di Sicilia (vanilla citrus cake topped with cream cheese buttercream), Chocolate Salted Caramel, Lemony Sunshine (lemon cake toped with lemon buttercream), and many more. Thinking outside of the culinary box is another one of her specialties. “I love creating. I like that I can mix ingredients together that people typically wouldn’t think of when they think of cupcakes, like beer/pretzel, earl gray/honey/lavender or wine/chocolate,” said Mickey. “I love being able to create something like that and literally turn around and give it to my family with love,” she added. “And the same applies when I turn around and give sweets to a customer.” Personalized service is important to Mickey. “People know that what they are getting from me was made especially for them,” she said. “I am not making cupcakes for the masses in hopes that they will sell. Everything I make in my kitchen is made with a specific person or group in mind.” www.persnicketysweets.org persnicketysweets@yahoo.com 209.298.8829 photos courtesy Persnickety Sweets

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Recess Time School Grounds Coffee & Gelato Bar

By Harry E. Pacheco

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f drinking coffee and eating gelato can be both family and environmentally friendly, then School Grounds Coffee & Gelato Bar is ahead of the game. While parents enjoy their locally roasted organic coffee in an earth-friendly corn-based cup, kids can eat their gelato, and play board games offered inside the shop (sharing the gelato with their parents, is optional). Add in the beautiful eclectic mix of modern and antique décor and live music from local artists like Mondo or William Sconce and the Knockouts on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 9 pm, and you’ve got a spot that is definitely worth a visit. Located in charming downtown of Lodi, School Grounds Coffee & Gelato Bar is owned and run by the husband-and-wife team of Clayton and Krysta Pleyte The couple, who also own another local favorite spot, Smack Pie Pizza, which is just a couple of doors down, are expecting their first child soon. While entrepreneurship has always been in their family, this venture was a bit new to both of them. About a year ago, Clayton decided to leave his job as a craft-beer salesman and start his own coffee shop despite having no prior experience in the field. He knew he needed a strong mentor and he found one in Fabrice Moschetti, a coffee guru originally from Nice, France. Her company, Moschetti, Inc is now based in Napa and specializes in locally roasted organic, fair-trade coffee beans. You guessed it, Schools Grounds buys their coffee there too. If hot coffee is not your thing, one of the unique offerings at School Grounds is their Nitro coffee. This is where Clayton’s draft-beer experience comes in handy. It’s essentially coffee brewed into kegs and pumped with nitrogen using a similar draft beer system. Adults can enjoy this cold concentrated caffeine beverage while the younger ones can enjoy their gelato and pick out other snacks like fruits and locally made home-baked goods. Whether you come by yourself or bring the whole family to stay for awhile, an outing to School Grounds will be a pleasant and relaxing treat. School Grounds Coffee and Gelato Bar 115 S. School St., Ste. 5 Downtown Lodi 209-224-5873 Hours: Monday -Thursday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday & Saturday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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photos by Lindsay Ortez

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by Bob Highfill

Harney Lane Winery

s the holiday season nears, it’s time to think about finding great stocking stuffers and gifts for the wine lover in your life. There isn’t a shortage of wine-related gadgets or places to find a perfect item that shows how much you care. What better place to look for wine gifts than a winery? And perhaps the top spot to shop is Harney Lane Winery in Lodi. Inside their beautiful tasting room always is a well-thought-out, seasonal display centered on a wine country theme with items that would satisfy most any home entertainer, picnic lover or wine enthusiast. “We really like to help support our local, small businesses,” said Andie Cortez, who works in the tasting room. “But it’s fun to see people excited when they come in here because they always know, oh, I can get that special something for my friend or family member.”  24

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Among the more popular gift items at Harney Lane are wine backpacks that include glasses, a cheese board and have room to hold a bottle of wine; growlers with enough capacity to hold an entire bottle of wine and keep it at the right temperature (great to take on picnics); artisan jewelry including Firefly from Guatemala and Rose Gilley of Sacramento; pewter animal head pourers/aerators (great for a wine-loving outdoors enthusiast); cook books; flavored olive oil; balsamic vinegar; and custom-made gift packs. “The pourers are very popular because we have so many different ones,” Cortez said. “Those sell really well all the time.” Soon, more Christmas items will be on display. “We have a lot of Christmas ornaments, we have a lot of sparkly signs,” tasting room manager Concetta Wilkins said. “It really gets transformed into a winter wonderland. Every area of this beautiful tasting room gets its own theme.” But if you can’t make it to Harney Lane, here are some more gift ideas that can found online or at fine wine shops and retailers:

Aerators are a popular gift. They are small enough to fit into a stocking and they serve a useful purpose. When red wine passes through an aerator, oxygen quickly is introduced allowing the wine to breathe. Oxygen helps soften the tannins in red wine and draws out more of the aromatics. Aerators do the job by the glass, which can be more desirable than pouring an entire bottle into a decanter. “Best Reviews” rated the Zazzol Multi-Stage ($23) aerator as the best of the best because of its heavy, clear acrylic design, 32-hole bowl and because it can be taken apart for easy cleaning. “Best Reviews” rated the Rabbit Aerator/Pourer ($12) as the best bang for the buck. This device fits into the bottle opening and aerates the wine as it is poured. For the wine lover who would appreciate the latest and greatest gadget, check out the Velv Wine Oxygenator ($250), which was unveiled at the 2016 Wine Bloggers Conference in Lodi. Aerators rely on ambient air. But the Velv product introduces 99.5 percent pure oxygen into the wine by way of a micro-diffuser. The product claims to bring wine to its peak aroma, smooth mouthfeel and full flavor in just minutes.

Contact reporter Bob Highfill at 209-546-8282 or bhighfill@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet. com/fromthevine and on Twitter @bobhighfill.

Shopping for a wine lover is great fun and there is a lot out there. 

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A k e e P e u q i t u o B

Caterpillar Children’s Boutique by Joshua Stoner

enzi Leonard is a small business owner with a unique store. Located in the middle of the Miracle Mile, Caterpillar Children’s Boutique is a Buy, Sell, Trade store that features gently used kids clothes, maternity clothes, and baby gear from the Stockton community. Lenzi’s background in business, specifically selling, comes from her years working in the bay area. “I worked for companies like Papyrus, Red Envelope, and World Market. I noticed that Stockton didn’t have any Buy, Sell, Trade stores so I decided to start my own.” Lenzi’s modest store is clean, tastefully decorated, and packed with a variety of products. “We carry newborn clothes through kids size 14 clothes. We also have maternity wear for new moms and newborn baby gear...We have no shortage of inventory as we receive new clothes practically every day.” Though one might think that so heavy an influx of product would leave the store too saturated, Lenzi finds that she is able to be picky with so much clothing coming in. It is part of her goal to only offer the best 26

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quality of goods to her customers. As a matter of fact, my daughter’s closet is full of outfits from the Caterpillar Boutique. My wife gets really excited when she can gather a pile of clothing/ accessories that our daughter has grown out of, so that she can bring it into the store to sell and trade. One of our best purchases from the boutique was a Pottery Barn toddler chair that retails at about $130, that we got for only $25!

owner’s lines in-store, she responded “I knew there was talent in the community and I wanted Caterpillar to be a platform for that.” It turns out to be a win-win for Caterpillar and the respective business owners as Lenzi displays the product lines in the store for a few months and gives the profits to their creators. Currently, there are three local product lines featured in the boutique: Crunchy Mama Bear (instagram.com/ thecrunchymamabear) which sells organic skin products, Baby Whimsy (instagram.com/babywhimsyclothing) which sells handmade baby outfits, and Sweet Cheeks Boutique (instagram.com/ sweetcheeksbabygoods) whose specialty is baby accessories, bibs, teethers, as well as outfits.

A year and a half into business at her location, Lenzi is happy with the success that she has experienced with the boutique. “Social media has really helped spread the word about the business as well as some local magazines that have highlighted the store.” In addition to the aforementioned merchandise carried in store, Lenzi also made the decision to feature a line of local, handmade products. When asked about the decision to carry other local small business e Blackard

photos by Ashle

Lenzi feels Caterpillar provides for the community through it’s resale of gently used clothing. “We provide families the opportunity to dress their kids in nice, high-end outfits for an affordable price. It also keeps money right here in the community which supports local families, programs, and businesses.” Lenzi has certainly hit the ground running with her boutique and only plans to continue. When asked about her goals for the coming year, she responded by saying that she would love to open a second location, maybe a consignment store for men’s and women’s clothing. Expect to hear more great things about Lenzi and Caterpillar Boutique in the near future! SPECIAL COUPON: BRING THIS ARTICLE IN TO THE STORE OWNER AND RECEIVE 10% OFF FIRST VISIT TO CATERPILLAR BOUTIQUE.

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Negotiating justice, one case at a time by Charleen Earley

e enjoys gardening, cooking, socializing, working on cars and travel, but the one thing Larry Knapp enjoys the most is helping accident victims and their families find justice from personal injury. “I get to help people who wouldn’t otherwise help themselves against large corporations,” said Larry of Law Offices of Lawrence M. Knapp in Stockton. “They feel helpless. They’ve been harmed and wronged and now faced with this unbelievable daunting task of trying to get justice. For a layperson, that is overwhelming. They don’t know what to expect or how to handle it.” “I take great pleasure in fighting for them,” added Larry, who was born in Passaic, New Jersey. Father of two grown kids ages 22 and 24 with wife Pamela; Larry is the former president of the San Joaquin County Trial Lawyers Association and currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Consumer Attorneys of California. He did his undergraduate work in English and history at the University of the Pacific (UOP); however, he has his wife to thank for his Jurist Doctor degree. He met Pamela at UOP, who later went to work at Humphrey’s College. She encouraged him to use her “family discount” to get his law degree. “She actually has her ‘PHT’ (Put Hubby Through) degree on my wall at home!” he laughed. “She came home one day and said ‘you can attend the college at an attractive discount!’” He hasn’t regretted it once. “I had a grandfather who was a lawyer and went to Harvard. I took the LSAT (admissions test), did well on it, got admitted and found it was something that I really enjoyed and found I was pretty good at it,” he said. 28

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Practicing for the last 23 years in Stockton, focusing mostly on personal injury cases, Larry talks about three important things in finding the best attorney. First is to find an attorney you know and trust, whether they handle cases like yours or not. “Ask that person if they can handle it, and if not, if they know of someone who does,” said Larry. “You don’t want to call just anyone; you want someone you know and is competent.” Second, Larry advises people to do their research and read that attorney’s reviews. “Today we have the Internet! People can do research on their own and see who has good reviews and also, who has made an effort to have an online presence. Check out who is saying good things about them,” he added. Thirdly, Larry suggests people talk to more than one attorney, until they find one that’s a good fit for them. A myth about attorney’s fees is one Larry likes to break. “I work on a result-fee, meaning a contingency fee. All of my business is done this way, so my fee is based on the results I get from my clients,” he said. “If I don’t get a result, I don’t get paid!” “Most people don’t realize that’s how it works – it’s one of the ways lawyers have to make sure that cases they take are meritorious,” Larry added. “Most (not all) lawyers won’t take a case they don’t think they’ll win.” Larry is proud of one his recent victories. “My most recent verdict I got last month was for a wonderful woman who will be in chronic pain for the rest of her life. We were fortunate to have a good jury and in turn, she had a good compensation,” said Larry. In yet, compensation doesn’t cure chronic pain. “Of course, true justice would be if we could take people back to the way they were before they were hurt, but what we have in modern society is ‘money-justice.’ And that’s okay, because as a modern society – it’s the best solution we have, and we can’t go around taking an ‘eye for an eye.’ The jury in this case provided future medical care quite adequately for her.”

Law Offices of Lawrence M. Knapp www.stocktoninjurylaw.com 209.946.4440

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ur newly formed non-profit with aspirations to support revitalization of Downtown Stockton, brought its members and information to Senior Awareness Day at Micke Grove Park this past May. The Save Downtown Stockton Foundation introduced itself and its goals to a population that remembers the Downtown of the 1930’s’, 1940’s, and 1950’s. Visitors to the SDSF exhibit space were encouraged to write down their memories of good times in Downtown, along with their suggestions for improving the current Downtown. From fifty-two comments from visitors, these are major generalizations that could be drawn:

Specifically, some of the memories included: • “Great shops downtown, Mom & Pop stores, drug stores, ice cream shops”

• Downtown had affordable restaurants, a variety of shopping, and entertainment, something for the whole family, drawing people from all over Stockton.

• “When I was a little girl, Downtown was nice, going to Kress, sitting at the counter, and going to Newberry’s; it was nice walking the streets.”

• Downtown felt “safe” and “welcoming.” Lighting was better; parking cost less; lots of people shopped and visited with friends and families, expressing enjoyment and comfort with their surroundings.

• “I remember the old courthouse and love Weber Point. I want to see more different restaurants and more shops!” • “My sister and I went to movies. We stopped at Kress for a hot dog and did some window shopping. There used to be three movie theaters-this we did every Sunday.”

• Downtown imparted a sense of history and importance: the magnificent Courthouse where many were married; the Hotel Stockton with its beautiful street level restaurant and unsurpassed rooftop view of the city and the Delta; the pride in Downtown many building and shop owners exhibited by their clean and inviting locations.

• “Shopping with Mom at Lerners, Dunlap’s, and The Sterling” • “I used to go shopping to Kress with my mother and I have wonderful memories! I love Stockton!” • “I am a native Stocktonian. When I worked, we visited Lerner’s, Leed Shoes, because there was no Mall. We had a great time and felt safe.” • “Taking the bus downtown from North Stockton with my girlfriend and shopping at Kress Variety store, going to the Brown House next to the Bob Hope Theater; it was safe.” • “When my daughters were little we used to shop downtown, and at Kress and Newberry’s for lunch.” • “I love Newberry’s, and I loved that it was safe.”

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• “In the 50’s, it was nice, with many people and more stores. Christmas was beautiful downtown.” • “As a child, we used to square dance above a furniture store. In the 40’s, Big Bands played there, too.” • “On my 30th anniversary on the Hotel Stockton rooftop, we had an incredible evening looking at the sunset.” • “Born and raised here, I am proud of my Stockton, and its history. Memories of going shopping downtown for school clothes at Penney’s, Rosenthal’s, Kress, and Woolworth.”

• “Walking down Main Street and seeing everyone you knew – they really were the Good Old Days.” • “Spending all day Saturday, going from shop to shop, buying, eating at Woolworth’s. Many memories, that is the Stockton that I really loved.” Yes, times have changed in the past fifty years, and yesterday can’t be resurrected, but so much of Downtown’s glorious past still exists in its buildings and activities. If anything, due to the current diversity of our population, Downtown could be the one thing we Stocktonians all have in common on a positive note. Empty buildings, closed storefronts, and abandoned lots are available for business, retail, offices, and housing: this is an opportunity and not a liability. The students of the schools which have been located in Downtown reflect the diversity of the city; their parents come Downtown on a regular basis, reestablishing the “eyes on the street” of the liveliest Downtown eras. The availability of locations for shops, businesses, and restaurants serving this new Downtown population should be promoted, and supportive of this are Bay Area businesses looking to locate Downtown.

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The new housing units already constructed and those planned for the near future for Downtown will house the portion of our population who want the experience of living the urban life. Those living Downtown will soon demand grocery stores, pharmacies, medical care, clothing shops, cafes, and business services. And the structures and much of the infrastructure for those activities already exist. Yes, our North Stockton malls provide shopping and social interaction for Stocktonians, but they are typical of most suburban centers; they could be anywhere. Downtown Stockton is not just â&#x20AC;&#x153;anywhere.â&#x20AC;? It has a distinctive history, a rare inland waterfront, and an inventory of great architecture. Downtown can become what all Stocktonians can be proud of and where all citizens can share it and feel welcomed.

--written by Linda Derivi, Co-Founder of Save Downtown Stockton Foundation Save Downtown Stockton Foundation is holding its second annual fundraising event, InSpire, in March 2017. Contact Martina Morio at 415-279-7849 or Linda Derivi at 209-603-2874 for details. We hope to see you there!

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Healthy Dose

PERSPECTIVE Shop Local for Your Health by Eunice Green, NHD

h…the internet. What a great place to do your shopping! There are deals galore, often shipping is quick, and you don’t even have to leave your home. Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? But what are the long-term effects of this type of shopping? What are the economic downsides to sending your money out to another city, state or even country? These are some things that we don’t often think about when we see those great deals online. There are some very good reasons to shop locally. I think that we all would like our own communities to be prosperous, to not see boarded up businesses in our areas. Shopping locally keeps the dollars in our local economy, and those dollars recycle back into our community and enrich the whole community. The businesses that are in the area you live create jobs for the people that you know – your friends, your family. And the money they earn again gets recycled back into the community. Shopping locally helps the tax structure in your city, county and state, as these businesses pay taxes that are used for the public services that you are able to use. But I am going to talk more specifically about buying your health food and supplements on the internet. There are more disadvantages with this type of shopping for you personally, than when you purchase a book, dishes or clothing on the internet. This is your health – purchasing these products on the internet can be a real gamble, and your health is not something that you should gamble with. First, when you purchase your supplements on the internet, you have no idea who you are buying from, what their qualifications are, and what the quality of the supplements is. Personally, when it comes to my health, I would rather be able to look the person in the eye, to be able to talk and discuss the supplement, rather than just get a “good deal.” What most people don’t realize is that there is a huge difference in quality; all supplements are not created equal. Even some of the well-known brands that we see advertised on television are substandard. These companies often use more of their financial resources for advertising rather than product research and development. 34

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Because the health-food industry – the supplement industry – is not very well regulated, anyone can put together a supplement, put it in a bottle, slap a label on it, and advertise it on a website. Unless the product does specific harm, there is nothing to stop this. The underlying harm can come from the fact that it is totally ineffective, and you have just paid for something that has no direct action on your health challenge, wasting your money and fooling you into doing something that you think would help. There is a similar problem with purchasing your supplements from discount stores. The buyers in these large chains are very well-trained – well-trained in profits and margins. Their job is to make the most money they can for their companies. They are not trained in health and nutrition, and are seldom aware of quality in what they buy. When you have thousands of people shopping – which happens in these stores, whether a product works or not – this is not much of an issue. There will always be more customers as they attract volume. In the smaller stores, results are very important. Every customer is very important, and if what is recommended doesn’t work, they won’t be back. So your smaller independent health-food stores are going to make more of an effort to carry and recommend top-quality products. They generally have knowledgeable staff who can assist in making decisions. You won’t get that kind of help and support from the internet or from a discount store. Stockton is so fortunate to have two excellent health-food stores with employees who really care, are well-trained, and who also give back to the community. My store, Green’s Nutrition, has a mission statement that says: “Our mission is to assist and support our customers to achieve optimum health through the use of quality health products.” We are on the Miracle Mile, and love the sense of community in catering to the Miracle Mile neighborhood. Artesian Health Foods is on the north end of Pacific Avenue, and they also cater to their customers in supporting their health needs. These two small, family-owned businesses help the economy of Stockton by employing local people, care about their customers and love what they do. Both of these stores also carry many locally-made products that encourage local entrepreneurs in the area. Again, a plus for our economy. Another plus for the economy of Stockton is that we use local people for services that range from security to repairs. I encourage you to support locally-owned businesses that will help build the community that you live in. It is fun to shop locally as every small independent business has a distinct character and product diversity that may surprise and delight you.

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o r a z La t c e f f E

The

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Lazaro Nutrition by Joshua Stoner

first encountered Lazaro Nutrition in the Fall of last year. My daughter was turning one years old, I had [barely] finished a year of teaching high school full-time, and hadn’t been too active as a result of all the busyness. I was eating poorly and it became apparent that I had gained some weight. I decided that I needed to make a change. A good friend of mine referred me to the nutritional consultant he had been seeing for a few years. After some consideration, I decided to give him a call. The result would end up being the loss of 10+ lbs in just over a month and the beginning of a journey to better overall health. It came along with it’s own challenges but a year from then, I still look back and think of how transformative that initial program was. Matt Lazaro, founding owner of Lazaro Nutrition, has a unique background. “I actually never went to school for nutrition or physical fitness-” he tells me, “I specialized in Computer Science in college!” Matt ended up exiting the field after realizing that the field of study just didn’t hold the career opportunities he once thought it would. “I have an older brother who was a bodybuilder at that time and I got interested in finding out what makes someone look the way they do in the bodybuilding industry.” Eventually, Matt obtained a job at a sports nutrition store where he sold supplements and later in time, consulted with clients. Although he received numerous certifications, Matt doesn’t consider those the foundation of his knowledge on nutrition. “Over a decade ago, when I was first starting out in this field, I would have to ask an actual doctor for permission to view medical studies that had been carried out on the human body relating to nutrition.” Matt spent the next 10 years consuming hundreds upon hundreds of published scientific studies to gain a working knowledge of nutrition. Although Matt does work with many bodybuilders and high-performance athletes, his main obsession is a term he often employs: wellness. “I grew up a sick kid, always on antibiotics, inhalers, antihistamines. This ultimately contributed to my great interest in finding out how to make people well again.” Matt shares with me of his childhood where he grew up in a poor neighborhood with improper nutrition. As he looks back, he sees that lack of education was a huge factor. He is confident that real change can be made in the community

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if education on nutrition is advanced. Lazaro Nutrition seeks to help provide this nutritional education and lasting change to the community. The best part being that Matt doesn’t just help athletes or bodybuilders. He is committed to helping everyday people-moms, dads, old and young-get well. Through nutritional consulting and planning, Lazaro Nutrition helps people feel better. The company has an intriguing tagline: Nutrition with Integrity. “I feel it’s an obligation of mine to the community [to inform and help people get healthy]. Most research in the nutrition science field is carried out incorrectly and results in mass misinformation on critical topics.” It is evident by Matt’s tone, that he is passionately opposed to the injustices found within nutritional marketing. “I find it wrong that there is so much misinformation being sold to people when it comes to health and wellness. I have no problem being the person who stands up and calls out all the bullshit.” Matt tells me an alarming statistic regarding nutritional supplement companies (such as those found in local health stores or bodybuilding magazines)-90% of products currently out on the market, aren’t even designed to produce the results they promise. Matt is well aware that his presence and success at the local sports nutrition store he managed directly contributed to a deceitful market, “I felt I had no choice but to leave the supplementation industry and stop profiting from all the half truths they publish.” Luckily for the community, Lazaro Nutrition has taken up the task of doing widespread damage control for all those who suffer from the maladies brought on by malnourishment and misinformation. As our conversation comes to a close, I ask Matt if he can share any success stories with his experience in nutritional consulting and wellness education. “Many come to mind but a favorite of mine is a client in her 60’s who for the first time in 40 years, is at a weight she feels comfortable with. She also got off pretty much all her medications because of drastic improvement in blood work” (emphasis my own). Matt is not a doctor and certainly isn’t out to cure anyone but he is confident in the results he has seen time and time again: certain nutritional recommendations result in certain health improvements. “The human body doesn’t need any help from us-it just needs us to get out of its way.” Lazaro Nutrition has set a lofty goal for itself: Help 1,000,000 people in the next 10 years. Contact Matt and his team at info@lazaronutrition.info and become one of this incredibly rare and honest company’s next success stories on their way to achieving their goal.

photo courtesy Matt Lazaro

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November 3

BIGHEART PRESENTS: OPEROCIA, VANESSA SILBERMAN, EDDIE ANGEL, AND THE LOVE DIMENSION

Blackwater Republic 912 Yosemite Avenue, Stockton 7:30-11:30 pm facebook.com/theBlackwaterRepublic November 3

STOCKTON OPERA GUILD PRESENTS THE CURTAIN GOES UP

November 9

HOLIDAY MOVIE SKATING SPECTACULAR Stockton Arena 248 W. Fremont Street Stockton 7:30-9:30pm Info: 373-1400 November 12

FORCE IN FEMALES: A NIGHT OF ART & MUSIC

Brick & Mortar 125 Bridge Place, Stockton 4-9pm Info: email mariah@projectgia.com

Honoring James Haffner of The University of the Pacific Conservatory Stockton Golf & Country Club 3800 Country Club Boulevard, Stockton Reception 6pm, Dinner 6:30 pm, Program 7:30 pm Info : Sue Sherrow 209-932-1160 Reservations: Mary Millar 209-451-1086

Hutchins Street Square 125 S. Hutchins Street, Lodi For Info & Schedule: www. cranefestival.com November 5

THE PINK FLOYD EXPERIENCE

Starring House of Floyd and their Laser Light Show Bob Hope Theatre 242 E. Main Street, Stockton 8pm Info: stocktonlive.com 38

920 W. March Lane, Stockton Friday 4-8pm Saturday 10am – 4 pm Info: visitstockton.org

November 19

THE STOCKMARKET

Miracle Mile, Stockton 10:00am – 4:00pm For more info: www. stockmarketca.com November 20

November 4

ANNUAL LODI SANDHILL CRANE FESTIVAL

23RD ANNUAL FINE ARTS FESTIVAL SPANOS COMMUNITY CENTER @ ST. BASIL’S GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

Warren Atherton Auditorium San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Avenue, Stockton 6-9 pm Info: 957-0196

Presented by Musical Chairs Children’s Concerts Scottish Rite Auditorium 33 W. Alpine Avenue, Stockton 10- 11 am 209-487-2559

November 4, 5 & 6

November 18 & 19

STOCKTON SYMPHONY PRESENTS CLASSICS II: ODE TO JOY

RED GRAMMER’S CHILDREN’S CONCERT

Danner Hall, Delta College 5151 Pacific Avenue, Stockton 10 am – 4pm Visit deltacollege.edu for maps, directions & parking info

Bob Hope Theatre 242 E. Main Street, Stockton 7:30-10:30 pm Info: 373-1400

November 19

November 4

SJDC FASHION PROGRAM’S NEARLY NEW SALE

November 18

THE BEACH BOYS

November 13

JAZZ IN THE BALLROOM W/ CECIL RAMIREZ University Plaza Waterfront Hotel 110 W. Fremont Street, Stockton 6-8 pm Info: facebook.com/ InnerCityProductionsPresents November 13

THE SWINGIN BLUE STARS OF THE USS HORNET Charlene Powers Lange Theatre Hutchins Street Square 125 S. Hutchins Street Square, Lodi 3-5pm Info: 369-0336 November 17

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL STARR BAND Bob Hope Theatre 242 E. Main Street, Stockton 8 -10pm Info: 373-1400

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FRIENDS OF THE FOX PRESENTS CLASSIC MOVIE: THE STING Bob Hope Theatre 242 E. Main Street, Stockton 2:00pm Info: 373-1400 November 22

ANNUAL HOSPICE OF SAN JOAQUIN TREE OF LIGHTS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Corner of Pacific & Yokuts San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Avenue, Stockton 6-7 pm Info: 957-3888 November 24

ANNUAL RUN & WALK AGAINST HUNGER

Banner Island Ball Park 404 W. Fremont Street, Stockton 8-11am Info: 464-7369

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November 26

HOLIDAY KICK –OFF ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE @ FASHION SAFARI

Give-aways, refreshments and more 120 N School Street, Lodi 10am -6pm 369-8222

November 27 & 28

SAN JOAQUIN KENNEL CLUB ANNUAL DOG SHOW San Joaquin County Fairgrounds 1658 S. Airport Way, Stockton 8am – 5pm Info: sanjoaquinkc.org

November 5

ART ACTIVISM PANEL The Haggin Museum and Cleveland School Remembers, a Brady Campaign Chapter, are presenting a Panel on Art Activism and a workshop on Saturday, November 5, 2016 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Haggin Museum classroom. There is no charge, but space is limited. Seating will be on a first come, first served basis. Advance sign-ups are available on the Draw It Out Facebook page. The panel features local art activists Denny Ah-Tye, Cathie McClellan, Ernest Tomasi, and Sylwia Qualls discussing their personal experiences and understandings of art activism: why and how each became involved in art as an activist, and how all of us can be involved in promoting causes we are passionate about through visual art. Those attending are encouraged to comment and ask questions. The panel will be followed by a workshop where participants design posters seeking local artists to create art on the theme “Our Anguish, Our Resolve” for an Art Against Violence exhibit in March 2017. At the workshop, a variety of free materials will be available, as well as stickers that include basic information about the “Our Anguish, Our Resolve” exhibit so that all may focus on artistic elements and effective presentation in making their posters, rather than on the exhibit detail information. Poster makers will be encouraged to place the posters they create in locations where they will reach an interested audience, such as churches, schools, businesses, community centers, living groups, college campuses, etc. The Call for Artists for the “Our Anguish, Our Resolve” exhibit is available now online at http://tiny.cc/dbpiey.

Sunday, December 4th, 2016

SANTA SUNDAY AT THE HAGGIN MUSEUM Santa Sunday Hours 1:30-4 PM. Free Admittance for both Adults and Children Santa Claus is coming to town. He will be at the Haggin Museum in Victory Park and he wants to visit with you! The Museum is beautifully decorated for Christmas. The cookies are baked, the punch is poured and Santa has a special treat for you! The Junior Women’s Group auxiliary of the Haggin Museum will provide a professional photographer to take your free Santa’s picture. Don’t miss this magical Christmas experience!

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n o i a Elev HIGHEST

Elevate Dance Studio by Joshua Stoner

s a pa ss io n fo r at he rin e Es au ha that she recently dancing and now o, with long-time opened her own studi al, ncer Edith Sumaqui friend and fellow da th share her passion wi she has a platform to was gan dancing when I the community. “I be ire qu in I ine tells me as 5 years old,” Kather g in nd in the perform about her backgrou on in high school, was arts. “I also danced er am, did a few summ the college dance te t en sp en s in LA, and ev intensive workshop s. ue in theatre,” she cont some brief time in ars tentional over the ye Katherine has been in e elf in numerous danc about involving hers

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styles, which include contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, ballet, and palm style, to name a few. Elevate seeks to blend a variety of different styles into its classes and help the dancers become versatile in their abliities. “We want to help instill confidence in our dancers about their skillset,” Katherine comments. “We offer several di f f er ent classes. photos courtesy Eleva We have a Creative te Dance Studio Movement class for kids between ages 2 and 5, Beginning through Advanced Jazz classes, Contemporary and Hip-Hop classes, adult classes, and competitive teen classes.” Elevate is a studio is for anyone. However, the original idea was to help kids get prepared for real world competition. “Many programs give all their kids ribbons when it’s not like that in real competitions.” It was also a goal of the co-owners to offer classes just for anyone to keep moving and stay activeespecially since most studios in town don’t offer adult classes but just for teens. Elevate’s mission is simple: Help build well-rounded dancers. When Katherine and Edith reunited after college and began working for a local dance studio, they noticed that the same guidance and foundation that they were given when they were young dancers, was absent. Edith and Katherine grew up dancing together in the same studio. Edith was years older than Katherine and was in the advanced classes that Katherine used to watch while waiting for her classes to begin. After growing up, both returned home to Stockton and ended up teaching in the same studio they grew up dancing in, and became good friends. “We want to produce confidence in the dancers we work with. We want to create a good reputation for Stockton-that it produces good dancers.” The two youthful and vibrant owners of Elevate studio seek to provide a fun, safe environment for families in the community. “We are creating classes around the kids and parents who attend our studio. We like to keep an open mind to what people are looking to accomplish but also encourage hard work and discipline.” So what inspired two young dance professionals from the local community to setup their own studio? Their love for dance and the suggestion of a couple friends, turns out. “After I moved back to Stockton after finishing college, Edith and I reunited after many years. A few of our friends were talking about the closing down of a certain local studio that their kids had been attending. Later in the conversation, our friends turned to us and asked, ‘Why not just start your own studio?’” It was this question that became the initial inspiration for what is now Elevate Dance Company. Katherine and Edith share the same vision and goals for dance and their dancers and compliment each other with their strengths in different areas of dance. The co-owners landed on “Elevate” for their studio because it represents higher level thinking and the holding of high standards. This is obvious in the character of both Katherine and Edith and it is exciting to watch their journey in our community unfold! COMING EVENT: Rob Hoffman, main male dancer from Step Up 2, will be coming in November to do a Intermediate/Advanced Hip-Hop workshop. There is limited availability for this workshop so register as soon as possible!

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p r a sh

School of Music: Sharpening minds through Music by Susan Michener Spracher

he sound of students practicing scales greets you on the way up the steps of the charming older home that is the B Sharp School of Music. Founder Heidi Benjestorf welcomes you to her dream realized.

Music has always been a part of Benjestorf’s life; taking piano lessons as a child, giving private lessons as a teenager and working for local music schools during college breaks. After college she worked for a time in her family’s financial business but found it wasn’t for her. Music was calling. Taking over as a church pianist led to making serendipitous acquaintances with a landlord with a building to lease and two fellow musicians, Chase and Carol Ann Loeb, who were onboard to teach lessons and help with school management. With a leap of faith, B Sharp School of Music opened its doors with the philosophy of sharpening minds through music.

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Benjestorf shares that while investigating her own learning style, she discovered research indicating that learning music helps with brain development, acuity, creativity and discipline. It can also lead to improved reading, language and math skills. This is true for children as well as adults and classes are available for both. “We have retired people taking lessons as a hobby and you can see the joy and confidence it brings them. Also parents taking classes with their child, which is fun,” said Benjestorf. There’s no shortage of instrument lessons available at the school, with photos courtesy B Sharp School of Music choices such as piano, violin, cello, flute, guitar, saxophone, bass, percussion, banjo, and ukulele. Vocal lessons are also available for students 11 years old and up. Little ones can get in on the fun with a Kiddy Keys class for 3-5 year olds. Classes are primarily given on a one-to- one basis, with some group lessons and recital opportunities twice a year. Simultaneous class offerings make it possible for parents to have multiple children taking lessons at the same time in one location. How do instructors make lessons fun for students that are less than enthusiastic? “Every child has a currency, a negotiating point,” says Benjestorf. It’s the personal connection teachers develop with students that make it possible to find what music appeals to a learner. They can then meet that interest by offering to leach or play that music when instruction is done. B Sharp has hit the right note in becoming part of the downtown Lodi landscape. Events such as street fairs and wine strolls make the perfect opportunity to provide music and a place to stop in and enjoy the musical community the school has developed. Teacher Carol Ann Loeb said, “It’s provided a music community, a clubhouse for like-minded people to share their passion.” Reviews on the school’s social media and web site share parent’s positive feedback about their children’s experience, “Both of my kids are taking lessons at B Sharp, and they adore their teachers! My daughter is taking flute and has progressed far more quickly than I thought possible.” For Benjestorf the school is more than a business. She is happy to observe the impact and joy that music offers and, “It’s also a way to stand up to the idea that you can’t make a living in music.” She has built it and they have surely come.

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by Jeremy Gottschalk The Pacifican

ccording to a recent survey from NAFSA, a nonprofit organization focused on international education and exchange, fewer than less than 2 percent of U.S. college students study abroad. Among those who do, about 75 percent are white. Why don’t more American students travel abroad as part of their college studies? Lauren Miller, Assistant Director of International Programs and Services at University of the Pacific, hopes to break down perceived barriers associated with education abroad. Rarely does study abroad interfere with a student’s academic progress, she said. Most just need to talk with their advisors, planning ahead to time their study abroad effectively. “One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is listening to students’ stories when they return from studying abroad,” Miller said. “They are almost always more mature, self-confident and intellectually curious upon return.”

at each location. “Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can, especially traveling when you have free time and a budget,” he said. “If there is an excursion set up by the program that is free or required a small fee … do it. It is worth the time and any trouble.” When asked about some of the difficulties he faced while traveling, Stephens recalled, “I speak Spanish fluently, so I could communicate in Chile. But they are known for speaking fast, using unique slang and a very thick accent.” In Tanzania, Stephens overcame language barriers by taking a beginner’s course in Swahili. Other potential obstacles include U.S. Department of State guidelines and passport preparation requirements. Working with an education abroad program can help facilitate the process and offer other planning resources.

Jackson Stephens chose the Council on International Educational Exchange to pursue study abroad opportunities in both Santiago, Chile, and Iringa, Tanzania. The council is a nongovernment organization that facilitates educational exchange.

While Stephens did not receive special financial aid to support his study abroad, he was able to apply his existing scholarships and grants to tuition expenses. “I would recommend and encourage others to study abroad,” he said. “It is something I will never regret, especially since I am not sure whether or not I will be able to return.”

During his two semesters abroad, Stephens stayed five months

Katie Ram, a physics major, worked with the Institute for the

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International Education of Students Abroad to help plan her trip. “Studying abroad offers a broad range of experiences,” she said. “Although I had plenty of time to check out all the major tourist attractions, over the year I saw so much more.” The student experience in her host country was also different than what she was used to. “Students generally live at home,” she said. “There is no on-campus housing, which leads to a much different atmosphere than what we are used to at Pacific. No studying in the library late at night – it closes early. No longboarding to class in three minutes. I was happy to get to class in 45 minutes by bike. There were much fewer clubs and no Greek life. In fact, many Chilean students asked me if all fraternities and sororities are like what they’ve seen in the movies.”

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Jeremy Gottschalk is a military veteran and 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 nature conservancy, all things Comic Con, as well as hanging out with his wife and friends.

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THE

BOOK NOOK NOOK

by Howard Lachtman

lthough immigration is a hot button for debate this election season, debates often tend to view newcomers to America as statistics or stereotypes rather than flesh and blood.

With writers, it’s a different story. In The Book of Unknown Americans, for example, novelist Cristina Henriquez introduces us to a small community of Caribbean, Mexican, Central and South American immigrants seeking to overcome poverty, prejudice and isolation to create new lives for themselves and their families in a land that’s as perplexing as it is promising. Local readers who wish to get acquainted with Henriquez’s acclaimed novel can also meet the novelist, who visits Stockton October 23rd as the featured author of One Book, One San Joaquin. “It is an opportune time for people to read and hear immigration stories and the impact—both positive and negative—for those having made a journey to America,” said Stockton Public Library literary and programming supervisor Merrilee Chapman. “Cristina’s visit to Stockton will be the icing on the cake. She will engage us with her own story.” Henriquez will speak at 2 p.m. October 23rd at the University of the Pacific’s Janet Leigh Theater, following a 10 a.m. book signing at Stockton’s Barnes & Noble Booksellers. In her UOP talk, the personable author will reflect on the challenge of writing a “novel of many voices” and bringing to life a diverse cast of characters by means of first-person storytelling. The questions posed by Henriquez’s novel are intriguing. Just who or what is an American? How do immigrants connect with the American dream? To what extent are they tolerated, feared or rejected by others? And how do they themselves make sense of their American experience?

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Henriquez is not the first writer to attempt this kind of story. Sandra Cisneros’s The House on Mango Street, Oscar Lewis’s The Children of Sanchez and Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things are classics. But she brings fresh perspective and creative originality to a novel in which issues such as race, homeland and culture acquire human dimension. The setting is not (as one would expect) sunny California or Florida, but a bleak apartment complex in a cold Delaware city. Here, newcomers exist as best they can, encouraging and supporting one another. One family has come to America in hope of finding treatment for their mentally-handicapped daughter; another family’s son falls in love with the girl. A romance is set in motion that engages the reader as it moves beyond soap opera and defines the delicate balance of this Latino community.

Learning to make the best of their circumstances, some of these “new arrivals” plant firm roots and exude the confidence of knowing they’ve made the best possible decision. “If people want to tell me to go home,” as one says, ‘I just turn to them and smile politely and say ‘I’m already there.’ ” Others complain the deck is stacked against them: “I felt the way I often felt in this country—simultaneously conspicuous and invisible, like an oddity whom everyone noticed, but chose to ignore.” Henriquez treats her characters with affection and empathy. But she is also a realist who shows us that the American dream can be elusive or illusory, and that happy endings are more typical of Hollywood than the real world. Few readers will close The Book of Unknown Americans unenlightened. For here, we grasp the allure of America and understand why outsiders risk so much to be part of it. Henriquez shows us not only another side of the immigration issue, but how much humans have in common with one another despite the economic or social status that separates them. She also reminds us that whether we arrived on the Mayflower or last night’s pickup truck, America is what it has always been---a nation of immigrants. Here, too, is a timely warning not to judge people based on preconceived notions or prejudices. As one such victim confides, “We’re the Unknown Americans, the ones no one even wants to know because they’ve been told they’re supposed to be scared of us and because maybe, if they did take time to get to know us, they might realize that we’re not that bad, maybe even that we’re a lot like them. And who would they hate then?”

november 2016

the current

What’s in a Word? by Denzel A. Jackson These words that we share have meaning and power behind them, and they can be used in all different kinds of ways. From making people laugh to making them cry, and they even hold the power to move us. It’s wonderful to make jokes, tease, and to speak lightheartedly, but keep in mind that there is always a time and place. But when words are used in a serious way, we should be very careful what we speak into the world. Forget the idea of it being a cliché that we all have great potential, because that really is the truth. When you are conversing with another person, your voice causes feelings and ideas to be manifested in the other person’s mind, this is a grand opportunity, and a place where you should exercise your highest levels of consideration and kindness. If you so happen to speak poison, then perhaps that will stick inside of the other person’s mind for far too long than it should. What if it re-surfaced when the person was only feeling a little blue, and because of your careless comment, that mood became darker. On the other hand and a much better scenario, if you said something sweet or encouraging, the next time that that person is sitting 48

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alone and thinking about the day’s events, maybe you get to put a smile on their face. Or perhaps I simply take things too seriously, and need to increase my willy-nilly. Far too many people are quick to downtalk this city, Stockton of California. Any place that you travel to, there will always be a mixture of wonderful people and people that are debilitating. I have been all around Stockton, from boyhood in a trailer park with my skateboard as transportation, to strolling around the golf courses of Brookside, and I have found that if you do not stick your head into trouble, trouble isn’t too difficult to avoid. Therefore, I think it may be an unfortunate case of cynicism making its way through this city. My idea and suggestion to all my fellow residents is to heed a bit of Mr. Jackson’s advice and ‘take a look in the mirror and make a change.’ Begin by molding yourself into the change that you want to see in the world, and while you are doing that, you will inspire countless others to do the same, I promise. Don’t let the nay sayers, haters, worrywarts, and mopes dishearten the place that you call home. Be mindful and be bold when using the most powerful tool that we have.

There is a universal language to all creativity and that is the communication that I study. Whether that be in visual art, written words, or melodies for your ears, it is all one big trip of an adventure. With Lady California as my stomping ground, I am just another person trying to figure all this out, as well.

november 2016

the current

Civic Engagement in 1, 2, 3

by Jasmine Leek

et involved. Do your part. Give back. We hear these words so frequently but what does it really mean and how do we do it? Let’s face it. If you’re someone who doesn’t know what measures are on the ballot or who is running for mayor, it can be somewhat intimidating and overwhelming to “get involved.” Whether you just moved to this city or you’ve lived here for years, our civic culture has made it pretty easy to disengage in local government. Here are three easy ways you can begin to understand the current landscape. Dip a toe in the water: vote early, vote often. With November 8th around the corner, the importance of learning about local ballot measures, candidates running for school board and city council, and state propositions could not be greater. Admittedly, it is entertaining to watch the political circus of national politics. However, local candidates are the ones who will make the decisions that affect all of us most. There are several ways to learn more about these candidates. Local 50

candidate forums, special events hosted by a candidate, or meet and greet parties -- typically hosted by community members, friends, and neighbors. Making time for these interactions is critical to identifying the platform upon which a candidate is running, the experience they bring to the position, or the ideals that they hold. You can usually find the dates of these events on a candidate’s website or on social media. The City of Stockton recently sent ballot measure information to Stockton voters and there are many online resources that discuss the California propositions and candidates running for national, state, school, and local offices. Voter’s Edge, funded in part by the League of Women Voters of California, allows you to type in your address and access your specific ballot information. More information can be found at www.votersedge.org. Give it a look before November 8th. Splash around in the pond: start attending public meetings and get to know your elected officials. The easiest way to get up to speed on civic happenings is

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to attend public meetings. The decisions being made in this forum are those that affect our day-to-day civic life. Meeting agendas are almost always available for you to review and research the issues in advance. Becoming an informed participant is critical to ensuring your voice is heard by local officials and other community members and stakeholders. The Stockton City Council meetings are held every other Tuesday at 5:30pm on the second floor of Stockton City Hall. The City of Stockton broadcasts council meetings via livestream and on local television via Government Access Channel 97. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors meet on Tuesday mornings at 9:00am at the San Joaquin County Administration Building. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors meetings are also available online via livestream and broadcast on local television via Government Access Channel 97. Stockton City Council members hold public office hours so they can listen to feedback from local residents and share policies they are working on for their district. Developing a working relationship with your local representative that will allow you to keep them informed of happenings in your area and the issues that matter to you most can be beneficial to the overall health and vitality of your neighborhood. You can find more information about the email contact information, as well as dates and times of public office hours, on the city’s website. Dive headfirst into the lake: learn more about civic organizations in Stockton. If you like them, don’t be afraid to join. There are quite a few groups that bring awareness and organize for change on civic issues in Stockton, and they are all a little different from one another. The League of Women Voters, Campaign for Common Ground, Restore the Delta, Reinvent South Stockton Coalition, and Third City Coalition, are a sample of those that are actively involved in civic work today. Do some research online and then make an effort to connect. A great way to get a pulse on a group’s reputation is to ask friends, family, and coworkers what they know about the organization’s history, how they currently give back to the community, and what policies or ideas they have supported or put forth. Most of us are busy and have a million different things competing for our time and money. To truly transform our city and neighborhoods, we will need to reflect on our priorities and evaluate our participation in civic matters. A healthy democracy is one that welcomes informed, respectful individuals who are willing to do their part in creating the ideal community.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ A native Stocktonian, Jasmine Leek works as a consultant for local startups and nonprofits, providing an array of services from strategic planning to marketing and beyond. Earlier this year, she left her position at Huddle Cowork to found Third City Coalition, where she and her team are working on several projects to improve civic life. Along with several smaller projects, like Table 4 • 6 and Nonprofit Collaborators of San Joaquin, she currently serves as Board Secretary for Community Medical Centers and is a founding member and Director of Operations of the Stockton Younger Women’s Task Force. Jasmine can be reached at jasmine@thirdcitycoalition.com

november 2016

the current

by Middagh Goodwin

tockton has a population of approximately 305,658 people. Ten percent of those are over the age of 65 and about 30% are under the age of 18. Let us just divide that 305,685 in half, we now have 152,829 people in Stockton that are spending money (and of course so are those over 65 and under 18.) What can we do to encourage this group to invest just a fraction of their earnings each month within the local arts community? If everyone spent just an average of $5 a month (price of a cup of coffee at a corporate cafe), that would add up very quickly. The money you spend locally stays local. Statistics show that 60% of every dollar spent locally is re-invested locally. Invest in a better future for your friends, your families, and your children. Support the local arts community. Go to the StockMarket or other events, cafes, bars, and restaurants that support live music, poets, and artists. There is no excuse not to do it. Tthere is something happening that will appeal to anyone if you just take a moment to look around or ask a friend. Have your friends join you or use the opportunity to make new ones. › 52

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So let us do the math. Of the 305,685 people living in Stockton, if half of those spent an average of five dollars a month going to a show, buying a CD or T-Shirt from a band or buying a piece from one of the many artists in our community, that would equal over 9 million dollars in a year. (152,829 X 5 X 12 = 9,169.740) That is a lot of money being put back into our local community. Add to that the sixty percent that statistics say is reinvested back into the community. That is another 5.5 million dollars. So by simply spending $5 a month on average, together we can invest almost 15 million into our Community. Those are some pretty amazing numbers. So I encourage you to shop locally and support all the talented men and women, young and old who are creating art in Stockton. Together we can finance small changes that will lead to huge benefits for all of us.Â

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It’s that time of year again...

STOCKTON We need YOUR HELP!

The Sharing & Caring

Coat, Blanket and Sock Drive  CLEAN,

l a o g Our is to collect

10,000

gently used COATS

We need the following:  CLEAN,  NEW SOCKS gently used BLANKETS

at one of these participating locations:

530 E. Market St.

Bank of Stockton

United Way

401 E. Main St.

Police Dept. Stockton Arena / Heat Stockton 22 E. Market St. 248 W. Fremont St.

UOP — Athletic Dept. 3601 Pacific Ave.

Oak Park Ice Arena 3545 Alvarado Ave.

Women, Men and Children — ALL sizes.

DECEMBER 15, 2016

Please drop off your items The Record

items for distribution

Dorfman Pacific 2615 Boeing Way

Port City Marketing 209 Dorris Place

ACE Rail

4515 Quail Lakes Dr. 301 E. Miner Ave. 6808 Pacific Ave. 120 W. Walnut • Lodi 660 N. Main • Manteca 1175 Tracy Blvd. • Tracy 234 W. Main St. • Ripon

949 E. Channel St.

Stockton Fire Stations

Station 2 - 110 W. Sonora St. Station 3 - 1116 E. First St. Station 4 - 5525 Pacific Ave. Station 5 - 3499 Manthey Rd. Station 6 - 1501 Picardy Dr. Station 7 - 1767 W. Hammer Ln. Station 9 - 550 E. Harding Way Station 10 - 2903 W. March Ln. Station 11 - 1211 E. Swain Rd. Station 12 - 4010 E. Main St. Station 13 - 3606 Hendrix Dr. Station 14 - 3019 McNabb St. Fire Admin. - 425 N. El Dorado St.

Distribution Date: Saturday, December 17, 2016 • Stockton Arena 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Organizing Sponsors

• SPONSORS • Stockton Heat • UOP—Athletic Department • Bank of Stockton

the current

november 2016

N ightCrawler

The

The Graduate

by Mike Klocke

ell, the first thing you have to do is make a parking decision.

Hint: find a place on the street. The restaurant’s parking lot is virtually non-existent. But for years, people have overcome that obstacle to consume food, quaff beers, watch sports and generally enjoy the enduring atmosphere at “The Grad.” The Graduate is located at 2207 Country Club Boulevard in Stockton. It’s an iconic restaurant/bar/dive/watering hole/gathering spot that has been drawing hungry and thirsty folks for decades.

Are they expecting 5-star New York City restaurant quality? C’mon. accept The Grad for what it is and enjoy the outing. On a recent Sunday, we sidled up to the bar, ordered a teriyaki chicken sandwich and fries, chose from a selection of quality IPAs—and proceeded to watch the Oakland Raiders get stomped by Kansas City. There were some unhappy Grad patrons during that game — although many were cheered by the fact that the 49ers had just lost, too. There also were Packers, Cowboys, Giants, Ravens and other fans. They drank beer, ate sandwiches or pizza and yelled at the referees. All told, there are a dozen or so flat-screen TVs — all of decent size so you don’t have to squint to watch your team. Hey, and you can turn the kids loose to play on many of the games that surround the periphery of The Grad dining area. Listen, The Grad opened long before “It is what it is” became the go-to, catch-all phrase.

“OK, so maybe my review comes with a little bias. Ever since moving back home, The Grad’s pretty much become my version of Cheers, and with good reason. The food is good, the drinks are cheap and, really, there’s just no other place like it. So yeah, go. But leave my spot at the bar open, will ya?”

You’ll get families, friends, softball teams and — at this time of year — sports fans packing the joint. And, of course, places such as The Grad are going to have critics. You’ll find some snarky and derogatory comments about the food on the web. But with many of the comments, we question why folks went there in the first place.

november 2016

If you’re expecting gourmet meals, head elsewhere. But if you want grub, suds and atmosphere, then follow the advice of an online poster who wrote:

Sounds as if the proprietors should make sure this patron has her own parking spot.

the current

november 2016