Contents
W.A.C.E. Award Winning Publication of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce
TURLOCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Business News 115 S. Golden State Blvd. Turlock, CA 95380 209-632-2221 Fax 209-632-5289 Hours: Mon-Fri 10am – 4pm
Sharon Silva President/CEO sharonsilva@turlockchamber.com
Tasha Van Santen Director Communications/Development Ext. 104 tasha@turlockchamber.com
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MedicAlert Foundation Continues Tradition of Delivering
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Jessica’s House Promotes Strength and Resilience
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CSU Earns Renewal of Prestigious AACSB Accreditation
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Unemployment Rate Declining . . . NOT
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Providing Information Between Homeless and Panhandlers
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City Council Working on Finalizing and Approving Budget
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Denham Honored at Turlock Chamber Breakfast
Page 16 Ago Page 16
2013-2014 Leadership Turlock ClassID Must Fill Commitment It Made 25 Years
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Mixers for April, May and June
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Chamber Recognizes Businesses That Have Been Members For 25-50 Years
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Ribbon Cuttings
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Real Estate Returning To A Seller’s Market
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TID Must Fill Commitment It Made 25 Years Ago
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Turlock Convention and Visitors Bureau Promotes Community Events
New Members
Sharon Berry Administrative Assistant Ext. 100 sharonberry@turlockchamber.com Kassi Fortado Membership/CVB Assistant Ext. 101 kassi@turlockchamber.com
Jessica Lundberg Administrative Assistant Ext. 103 jessica@turlockchamber.com TURLOCK CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Desa Cammack Director 115 S. Golden State Blvd. 209-632-2221 Ext. 107 desa@visitturlock.com
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BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
Chairman Postitive Economic Trends
Of The Board - Mike Romeo
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ummer is now over and we are rolling into a very busy time of year. Throughout the community we see new businesses opening and long term businesses thriving. We are also seeing positive economic trends in the central valley. The Turlock Chamber board of directors is working for its member businesses to serve as an advocate for commerce and industry by facilitating interaction among business, government, education, labor, and the greater community. Last month the Turlock Chamber was fortunate enough to host a ceremony honoring U.S. Representative Jeff Denham. He was presented with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Spirit of Enterprise” Award. The award recognizes Rep. Denham’s work supporting American workers and businesses through policies that encourage private sector investment and growth. Healthcare is an important topic for local and national businesses. The future of healthcare holds many uncertainties at this time. Starting October 1, 2013, under the healthcare reform law, millions of Americans will have an opportunity to sign up for new government subsidized health insurance plans. New online exchanges in each state are to be up and running to coordinate this process. California embraced the idea early on, but the scale of the effort has led to many delays. We will have to see if the October 1 date can be met. One thing is for certain, employer sponsored wellness programs will help lower business healthcare costs and improve employee productivity and overall wellness. The Turlock Chamber actively assists with the development of a business friendly community. We will continue to work on increasing our business memberships. At the same time, we are enthusiastically supporting our current business members. As the chairman of the board I am excited about the ongoing work being done at the Turlock Chamber of Commerce. Mike Romeo, MD Romeo Medical Clinic
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
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2013 Chamber Board of Directors
Mike Romeo (Chair) Romeo Medical Clinic
Andrew Wigglesworth (Chair Elect) MedicAlert Foundation
Paul Porter (Past Chair) Steve Gemperle (Treasurer) Winton-Ireland, Gemperle Enterprises Strom & Green
Mike Allen Allen Mortuary
Dianna Bettencourt Oak Valley Community Bank
Fred Brenda Valley Tool & Manufacturing
James Brenda JKB Energy
Dean Doerksen Central Ag Products
Julio Hallack DBA Concrete by Hallack
Mike Lynch Mike Lynch Consulting
Linda Nowak CSU Stanislaus
Steven Padilla Sunopta
Mike Rose B & B Manufacturing
Jeff Segars Foster Farms
Ashour Badal CSU Stanislaus
Kyle Kirkes Kirkes Electric
Chris Kiriakou Cornerstone Consulting
Bill Bassitt (Ex-officio Member) Alliance
Marty Jakosa (Ex-officio) Foster Farms
2013 TURLOCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE STAFF
Sharon Silva CEO/President IOM, Institute for Organization Management, University of Arizona, Bachelor Arts Organizational Communication
Tasha Van Santen Director Communications/ Development Bachelor Science Business CSU Stanislaus
Sharon Berry Administrative Assistant Bachelor Science Education Pacific University
Chamber Champions
Allen Mortuary • B&B Fluid Power Emanuel Medical Center • Gemperle Enterprises JKB Energy / Living • Kirkes Electric Lancaster Painting MedicAlert Foundation Romeo Medical Clinic Turlock Journal Turlock Scavenger/Turlock Recycling Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance Agency PAGE 6
Kassi Fortado Membership / CVB Assistant Merced College
Desa Cammack Director Turlock Convention and Visitors Bureau Western Association of Chamber Executives Academy Graduate
Jessica Lundberg Administrative Assistant Bachelor Arts – Liberal Studies CSU Stanislaus
Upcoming Events: Mixer Turlock Memorial Park October 15th Economic Trends October 30th Mixer Geigers Fine Jewelry November 19th BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
MedicAlert Foundation Continues Tradition of Delivering Lifesaving Services for Millions Worldwide
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s a global nonprofit committed to the health and wellbeing of millions, MedicAlert Foundation has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Founded by Turlock Physician Marion Collins in 1956, MedicAlert’s story began after Dr. Collins’ daughter Linda experienced a lifethreatening allergic reaction. It was in that moment, when Dr. Collins realized the critical and life-saving aspects of medical identification for those with underlying medical conditions and allergies. Since then, MedicAlert has become the most dependable medical identification and information network in the world with 4 million members globally. The Foundation has also implemented modern technology to optimize the management of its members’ health information, provide for the extension of its 24/7 services to new markets (such as employers and health plans), and allow for new and exciting partnerships and product offerings (like the recent introduction of the
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
MedicAlert® GPS + Essential, a cutting-edge GPS location device). Going forward, MedicAlert will continue to utilize its new technology to continue delivering lifesaving services and products. Yet, even with an eye towards what the future promises, MedicAlert is reminded of its past, to ensure that it will always provide the same lifesaving services that its founders had originally envisioned.
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BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
Erin Nelson
Executive Director, Jessica’s House
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o one ever wants a traumatic event at their business, but sometimes they happen. Jessica’s House, a grief support program for children, teens and families, provides a Crisis Team to assist the community in the event of a critical incident where a child is affected. Members of the team have specialized training for critical incidents such as critical incident stress debriefing and critical incident stress management. There are two certified trauma specialists on the team with a focus on children’s trauma. • If your organization has a critical incident where a child is affected, the team can help with: • Educational material to help you as you heal • Identifying signs of trauma • Support groups for children, teens, and families which incorporate creative expression with structured sensory activities • Referrals for extra support if needed
Jessica’s House Crisis Team is available on a 24-hour basis and is able to be activated immediately. The service is free and helps promote strength and resilience and supports our mission to be a healthier community. To learn more, call (209) 250-5395.
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
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COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION EARNS RENEWAL OF PRESTIGIOUS AACSB ACCREDITATION
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URLOCK, Calif. — March 29, 2013 — The College of Business Administration at California State University (CSU), Stanislaus, has earned a prestigious accreditation through AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) International. The college was first granted AACSB accreditation in 2003, and received its renewal without the need for any continuing review from the accrediting agency. “To earn a maintenance of accreditation with no continuing review is an impressive achievement,” CSU Stanislaus Provost James T. Strong said. “This distinguished recognition is tangible evidence of our university’s commitment to maintaining a high quality of instruction and an exceptional learning environment.” To earn and maintain AACSB accreditation, the CSU Stanislaus College of Business Administration must meet specific standards of excellence, and their deans, faculty and staff must demonstrate a commitment to ongoing continuous improvement to ensure that the institution continues in delivering the highest quality of education to students. “We are extremely proud and gratified to earn the maintenance of our AACSB accreditation, an honor shared by less than 5 percent of the world's business programs,” said Linda Nowak, dean of the College of Business Administration. The College of Business Administration boasts a number of recent accolades, achievements and initiatives, including: • The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recognized a CSU Stanislaus student as a top HR student in the nation in 2012 for the fourth time in six years. PAGE 10
• Professor of Business Economics Gökçe Soydemir published the second annual Business Forecast Report for the San Joaquin Valley, a valued planning tool provided for local business leaders. • The college launched its new Online MBA program — the state’s first fully online master of business administration program to be accredited by AACSB. • Business students worked with the Internal Revenue Service, the Hughson Family Resource Center and the Turlock Salvation Army to provide no-cost income tax service and financial literacy education for the community's low-income population through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. • In March, the college hosted the third annual Women’s Leadership Forum, featuring notable alumnae of the university. This year’s keynote speaker was Stanislaus County CEO and CSU Stanislaus alumna Monica Nino. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.
“This distinguished recognition is tangible evidence of our university’s commitment to maintaining a high quality of instruction and an exceptional learning environment.” – CSU Stanislaus Provost James T. Strong
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
The Unemployment Rate is Declining . . . Happy Days are Here Again?. . . NOT by Chris Kiriakou
n September 6, 2013 the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a press release reporting that the unemployment rate was “little changed at 7.3%”. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a division within the Department of Labor. They are responsible for the monthly reporting of the latest unemployment statistics including the unemployment rate, job growth, the unemployment rate for each type of workers and unemployment by industry and sector. A graph was included in the report showing the trend since August 2011. See the chart at the end of the article.
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and Modesto was reported at 12.9% (Economic News Release, Table 1. Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and metropolitan area, August 28, 2013) The U-6 number for California at the end of 2012 was 19.3%, nearly a fifth of the labor force. (April 17, 2013 BLS News Release 13-701-SAN, Table 2. Measures of labor underutilitzation by state, 2012 annual averages (percent)) The news snippets are not necessarily the full picture, or a pretty picture for California.
Chart 1 is good news for the nation, California and Turlock. Almost a 2% drop in the unemployment rate over 2 years. Good news, right? Well there is always more to the story when it comes to statistics. Although it’s true that the rate is getting lower and is dropping the underlying numbers that go into the conclusion is only part of the story.
So what does this mean for our little plot of California? Remember the trickledown effect? Higher unemployment means less pay checks, less pay checks means less consumer spending, means less demand for goods and services, means less factory and service jobs, means less pay checks. Sounds like a loop with no end. Jobs can be created by the private sector that actually increases the amount of goods and services rather than taxing and redistributing. It’s really up to the private sector to revive the economy. But the private sector requires an environment that promotes business, an environment that allows open participation in the free market, rather than be regulated into oblivion.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also publishes some other data and statistics in a series of monthly reports. Augusts’ report was no different. Source: Sept. 6, 2013 BLS Press Release US-DL 13-1803 The BLS reports a series of statistics called Measures of Labor Underutilization. There are six measurers called U-1 through U-6. Moving from U-1 through U-6 each provides a more comprehensive view of unemployment in the US. U-1 only covers persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of the civilian labor force. While U-6 includes total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part-time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force. The term “marginally attached to the labor force” is defined as “. . . those who currently are neither working nor looking for work but indicate that they want and are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the past 12 months. Discouraged workers, a subset of the marginally attached, have given a job-market related reason for not currently looking for work. Persons employed part-time for economic reasons are those who want and are available for full-time work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule.” (April 17, 2013 BLS News Release 13-701-SAN) The U-6 number which is the most inclusive is nearly double the unemployment rate for the US, shown as 14.7% for the year 2012. But wait, that is the US what about California?
This small discussion was aimed at better understanding the BLS statistics and how they affect our community. I hope it helps because it is important and a reflection of a number of our citizens.
California’s unemployment rate in July 2013 was at 9.3% BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
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Make Your Change . . .COUNT! “Hungry, please help – God Bless!” How many of us have seen these signs being held by individuals who appear to be down on their luck and readily give a dollar or more to help? Without a doubt, it made you feel good that you were helping a person in need, right? But how would you feel if that sign was truthful and read: “Don’t live here or want to work and need help to support my drug and/or alcohol addiction.” Unfortunately, this is actually the case in the majority of the panhandling that is occurring in our town. Add to that, it is being done by subjects who come from the surrounding communities to take advantage of our generosity. Some of these subjects are making well over $100 a day to support their addiction! Did you realize that same amount of money routed to a non-profit organization could feed several people in need within our community? The Turlock Chamber of Commerce, City of Turlock and several non-profit organizations are teaming up in a collaborative effort to launch a campaign named “Make Your Change Count.” The goal of this collaborative is to provide information to our community members about the differences between the homeless and panhandlers. Our hope is that through this education, monies that people are willing to donate will be channeled to benefit those truly in need – instead of supporting alcohol/drug addictions. However, in order for this campaign to work, we are in need of the support of businesses throughout our community. If you are interested in supporting our efforts, please contact Tasha Van Santen at the Turlock Chamber of Commerce. We recognize the Turlock community is full of caring and generous people. Please help us put that generosity to work where it can do the most good and send a message to those looking to take advantage of our community that they will not get support for their addiction/habits here! PAGE 12
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
COUNCIL WORKING ON FINALIZING AND APPROVING 2013-2014 BUDGET
8. 9.
6/11/2013 7/23/2013
10. 8/13/2013
Forrest White
6/11/2013
John Lazar
7.
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM Drinking Water Supply Project Fulkerth Road Rehabilitation Improvements of Lander Crossing Subdivision Undertaking HOME eligible housing assistance activities Building Department Fee Structure City of Turlock Fiscal Year 2013-14 General Fund and Non-General Fund Budgets Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association’s Property Business Improvement District Waste Management Establishing a Mayor’s Economic Development Task Force CaliforniaFIRST
Bill DeHart
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
MEETING 5/14/2013 6/11/2013 6/11/2013I 6/11/2013 6/11/2013 6/11/2013
Amy Bublak
The Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association was granted another 10 years as a Business Improvement District this July. This is looking bright for Turlock’s future with many improvements for roads, infrastructure and landscaping being approved to move forward. A Mayor’s Economic Development Task Force has been established to help create more jobs for Turlock and will work with the Stanislaus Economic Development & Workforce Alliance on retention and growth of business in Turlock.
Steven Nascimento
By Desa Commack
Y Y Y Y Y
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Absent Absent
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• Drinking Water Supply Project – Authorizing the termination of the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement established on November 19, 1992, between the Cities of Ceres, Hughson, Modesto, Turlock, Delhi County Water District, Denair Community Services District, Hilmar County Water District, and Keyes Community Services District as related to the proposed Drinking Water Supply Project • Fulkerth Road Rehabilitation – Appropriating $100,000 to account number 215-40-420.51210 “Federal Construction Project” to be funded via a transfer of CFF (Transportation) reserve balance from Fund 305 for City Project No. 11-34, “Fulkerth Road Rehabilitation • Improvement of Lander Crossing Subdivision - Approving the Final Map and Subdivision Improvement Agreement conditioned upon construction of improvements of Lander Crossing Subdivision Project No. 0856, developed by Lander Crossing Properties, LLC • Undertaking HOME eligible housing assistance activities - Approving the consortium agreement between the City of Turlock and the Stanislaus Urban County for the purpose of undertaking HOME eligible housing assistance activities pursuant to Title II of the Cranston Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, and designating the City of Turlock as the lead agency in the Consortium and the Stanislaus Urban County comprised of the cities of Ceres, Newman, Oakdale, Patterson, Waterford, and the County of Stanislaus as sub-recipients of HOME funds for federal Fiscal Years 2013-16 • Building Department Fee Structures - Chief Building Official Eric Picciano presented the staff report on the request to supersede and replace Council Resolution No. 2013-009 and adopt an updated Building Department Fee Structure for permits, inspections or other fees required per Title 8, Building Regulations, of the Turlock Municipal Code as set forth in the attached “Cost Recovery Fee Table.” • City of Turlock Fiscal Year 2013-14 General Fund and Non-General Fund Budgets - Adopting the City of Turlock Fiscal Year 201314 General Fund and Non-General Fund Budgets and authorizing an additional $400,000 in deficit spending to fund overtime in Police/Fire Services and the Business Incentive Partnership Program. • Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association’s Property Business Improvement District - Establishing the Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association’s Property and Business Improvement District #3 Continued on page 15
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
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DENHAM HONORED at Turlock Chamber Breakfast
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urlock companies can be confident that a business-minded Congressman is representing them in Washington, D.C. For the third-consecutive year, U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) has been awarded with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise award. Denham was presented with the award at a Turlock Chamber of Commerce “Eggs and Issues Breakfast,” held Aug. 14 at the Turlock Golf and Country Club. The annual award is tough to win, according to Dick Castner, Western Regional Director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It holds legislators accountable for their voting records on business issues. “In our work in Washington, we find keeping voting records is a good idea,” said Dick Castner, Western Regional Director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. From hundreds of votes, the U.S. Chamber selects a few key issues. “We choose the tough ones,” Castner said. On those 12 tough issues, Denham voted in favor of business 11 times. His votes supported measures to increase domestic energy production, grant visas to highly skilled foreign workers, and cut federal red tape. Denham said the votes were easy to make. It was clear that supporting business would benefit his constituents. But tougher votes await in Washington, he said, on issues ranging from high-speed rail to immigration and veteran job creation. And on top of those challenges the federal budget still looms, where Denham hopes to reduce debt, reform medicare, and plan for social security's future. “It's a time to pay attention to what's happening in D.C.,” Denham said. PAGE 14
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
COUNCIL WORKING ON FINALIZING AND APPROVING 2013-2014 BUDGET - Cont’d Continued from page 13
• Waste Management - Directing Turlock Scavenger to deliver to Merced County Regional Waste Management Authority a minimum of ninety (90%) percent of the non-diverted refuse/solid waste collected by Turlock Scavenger for a period not to exceed one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days • Establishing a Mayor’s Economic Development Task Force - Establishing a Mayor’s Economic Development Task Force • CaliforniaFIRST - Authorizing the City of Turlock to join the CaliforniaFIRST Program; authorizing the California Statewide Communities Development Authority to accept applications from property owners, conduct contractual assessment proceedings and levy contractual assessments within the territory of the City; and authorizing related actions was introduced by Councilmember DeHart, seconded by Councilmember Nascimento, and carried unanimously.
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
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The Turlock Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome the 2013-2014 Leadership Turlock Class!
New Members
AJAVA Systems Inc. DBA World Grocer Alzheimer / Dementia Support Center, Inc. B & Y Accounting Services BNI Next Generation Turlock BNI Turlock Business Partners Community Vet Clinic Family Pet Mortuary PAGE 16
GDR Engineering, Inc. Hilmar Community Health Center Just Cause Consignment Lowes HIW Merced Medical Supply Millerick Engineering, Inc. Monte Vista Small Animal Hospital
Paychex, Inc Phillip Openshaw DDS PR and Marketing Primerica Financial Services R.A.M. Farms, Inc. Roberts Ferry Nut Co Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office BUSINESS NEWS ÂŤ FALL 2013
Mixers
JULY • AUGUST • SEPTEMBER
REX KLEIN INSURANCE
WAHL, WILLEMSE & WILSON
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
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THE TURLOCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WOULD
LIKE TO RECOGNIZE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN MEMBERS FOR 25-50 YEARS!
We thank you for your continued support Emanuel Medical Center Elness Convalescent Hospital Senior Assisted Living Turlock School Districts AAA Travel Bonander Buick GMC Boies Medical Pharmacy Wally Falke’s Air Conditioning, Inc. Stanislaus County Fairgrounds Gemperle Enterprises Heckendorf’s Auto Electric Western Valley Insurance Monte Vista Optometry Gibbs Maintenance Seeger’s Printing Turlock Recycling Company Booth, Jim- Realtor Farmers & Merchants Bank Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Balswick’s Tire Shop, Inc. Covenant Village Andre,Curt- O.D.
Don’s Mobile Glass American AgCredit, FLCA Carr’s Cleaners Griffith & Masuda Calwater Drilling Co., Inc. Olde Tyme Pastries Ratto, Michael - D.D.S. Acme Electric Co. Patchetts Ford Mercury Swearingen, John- DDS Foster’s Pumps Petersen Electric
Turlock Irrigation District Geiger’s Fine Jewelry Kiwanis Club of Turlock Best Western Orchard Inn West America Bank Yosemite Farm Credit, ACA Harder’s Print Shop First Street Gallery and Frame Turlock Sunrise Rotary Club Golden 1 Credit Union Buchanan Enterprises, Inc. Turlock Dental Care Travelodge Budget Self Storage Raley’s Western View Mobile Ranch LLC. California State University Stanislaus Piro Trading International Turlock Dental Arts Almeida’s Classic Cars Triebsch & Frampton Super Store Industries
RIBBON CUTTINGS
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BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
Returning
TO A SELLER’S MARKET . . .
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ellers are in the driver’s seat as buyers continue to face tough competition in the inventorycontrolled market. As the second half of 2013 is on the horizon, it appears that limited inventory of available homes will continue to dominate the headlines for the balance of the year. The numbers of bank owned properties and sellers electing to proceed with short sales has continued to significantly decline the past 12 months. In January 2012, distressed sales accounted for 61.2% of total sales – in April 2013 distressed sales were down to 34.2% of all sales. As a result of the reduced inventory, Turlock median home values have risen over 20% the past year to
Turlock Average Home Prices Per Square Foot
$119.85 per square foot and are expected to climb for the balance of this year as we continue in a “seller’s market”. The rate of price increases will moderate as mortgage interest rates rise from the historic lows in the 3.50% range to the current 4.25% levels and investors move to the sidelines as improving home values have reduced investment rate of returns. A trend that we are watching closely is the recent rise of pre-foreclosure activity as evidenced by the rise in Notice of Default filings. Current filings are down almost 48% versus last year, but have risen two consecutive months. It is too soon to say that this increase in first-stage foreclosures will lead to an increase in bank owned inventories in the next six (6) months.
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
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t looks like the Greek government will not go into default on nearly $1.3 trillion Euros. Oh, by the way 1 Euro = $1.3256 today so that’s really $1.72 trillion give or take a few bucks. Come on, what does a default in a country the size of Connecticut mean to me here in Turlock on the other side of the world?? Well it really could mean a lot because guess who holds some of that debt??
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A Greek Tragedy The Greek government has issued about $1.72 trillion in bailout bonds to keep the country alive, more or less. A payment on the debt is coming due March 20 and the Greeks don’t have the cash. (No wonder, in December unemployment was 21%.) The Greek government has asked the private bond holders to take a 53.5% cut in the current value or a near 70% loss in the full value of the bonds, as well as, seeking a $172 billion loan. Well here’s the connection between Turlock and Greece, guess who holds Greek bonds and related derivatives, several large US banks!! Remember those pesky derivatives from four years ago, Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) that we’re still trying to recover from. Local Banks In June last year CNN reported that JP Morgan Chase, CitiGroup, and Bank of America held around $185 billion in Greek related derivatives. These are some of our local banks that we rely on for credit and services. But you say that’s a drop in the bucket compared to the $878 billion the US government bailout that the banks received under the Toxic Asset Relief Program (TARP). Guess what, Greece is just the leading edge of the storm with Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland not far behind. If Greece
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BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
WHILE TURLOCK
Slept!
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he water wars are increasing in fury. Out of district interests are increasing their pressure to take more water from the Tuolumne to send to the Delta, to make available to out of district agricultural and urban interests and to restore fish flows . It is a very good thing that the Modesto Irrigation District and the City of Modesto agreed years ago to provide clean Tuolumne River water to the residents of Modesto at the same low raw water cost provided to MID irrigators. Urban use is recognized as the highest beneficial use of water and trumps demands to allocate it elsewhere, particularly in times of shortage. At the same time that Modesto and MID worked out their arrangements for the water, the Turlock Irrigation District and the Cities of Turlock, Ceres, and Hughson announced that surface water from Tuolumne would be made available to their residents. All parties celebrated the accord. But unlike Modesto and MID, TID and its cities never worked out the details. 25 years later, all we can point to for progress is the millions of dollars in staff costs and reports for the on again off again discussions. We now face even more threats. In addition to the state effort to increase the flows into the river for fish, and efforts to make water available for agricultural or urban uses outside irrigation district boundaries, most of the cities in TID’s territory are facing a groundwater crisis of epic proportions. The groundwater basin that provides Turlock with its drinking water is being drained at an unprecedented and alarming rate. This is new. Millions of trees planted outside of TID territory on the eastside are powered by mega wells without regard to impact on the groundwater basin as a whole. That’s why some of the wells in the Denair area have dried up. Turlock is right in the cross hairs. Many of our wells are already contaminated with arsenic, nitrates and other pollutants. The
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
public health of our residents and the economy of our region is at risk. Experts agree that without a supplemental supply of clean water, the costs to treat contaminated water from existing city wells will be in the millions. Some say Stanislaus County can help by stopping to the over pumping on the east side. But will the Board of Supervisors take that step without the active support of TID and the cities of Turlock, Ceres and Hughson? Long term TID must fulfill the commitment it made 25 years ago to provide surface water at the same rate as irrigation water to the cities within its borders. Some believe this surface water should be reserved for agricultural uses only, but all TID’s constituents—- ratepayers and farmers—- should be treated fairly. There is a little publicized fact that helps explains why irrigation rates in TID are among the lowest in California. Irrigators are not charged anywhere near the cost of the water that is delivered to them. Every power customer in TID pays a 3 to 4% surcharge in his or her monthly bill to cover the irrigation service shortfall. TID, which prides itself on transparency in its billing, highlights different costs in its monthly electricity invoices, but the charge for irrigation services is never listed. TID power customers, the vast majority of whom live in the cities within TID, paid most of TID’s share of the bonds that were used to construct Don Pedro. In addition, they pay for the shortfall in any capital or operational costs on the irrigation side of TID. This amounts to millions of dollars each year. Our civic leaders in TID and the cities in the TID service area have taken so long to fulfill what MID and Modesto have had for over 20 years that there soon may be no water to share. TID , the cities within its borders and Stanislaus County must act, and soon.
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CVB Promotes . . .
Turlock Community Events
Picasso: 25 Years of Edition Ceramics 9/14/2013 - 1/14/2014, times vary 209-632-5761, carnegieartsturlock.org Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze 9/27/2013 - 10/31/2013, times vary 209-649-7078, www.ramfarms.com
Stephen Galloway: Still Living Exhibit 10/24/2013 - 12/20/2013, times vary 209-667-3421, www.csustan.edu
Code of the West Gun Show 10/26/2013 - 10/27/2013, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM 530-676-8762, www.codeofthewestgunshows.com Fall Festival 10/26/2013, 5:00 PM-9:00 PM (209) 632-4593, www.turlockcoc.com
WGAS Motorsports Monster Truck Races 10/4/2013 - 10/5/2013, 6:00 PM-11:00 PM 916-215-9427, www.wgasmotorsports.com California Historical Radio Society Show 10/5/2013, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM 209-605-0290, www.cvantiqueradio.com Turlock Holistic Expo 10/12/2013, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM 209-604-5413, www.turlockexpo.com
Rich Roberts – Fall Auto Swap Meet 10/6/2013, 6:00 AM-4:00 PM 209- 358-3334, www.springfallturlock.com
Turlock Policeman’s Ball 10/11/2013, 6:00 PM-10:00 PM - 209.664.7303, Wine & Screams 10/11/2013, 7:00 PM-10:00 PM - 209-614-0084
John Shipman Motorsports 10/12/2013 - 10/13/2013, 6:30 AM-8:00 PM 209-541-3673, www.johnshipmanmotorsports.com Warrior Baseball FanFest, Carshow, & BBQ 10/12/2013, 12:00 PM-5:00 PM 209-664-6878, www.csustan.com/sports
Toscana’s Annual Halloween Party 10/26/2013, 9:00 PM-12:00 AM 209-216-3555 www.toscanas.net
Field of Ice 11/30/2013 - 1/12/2014, time varies 209-649-7078, www.ramfarms.com
Vince Gill 10/26/2013, 7:30 PM-9:30 PM 209-668-1169, www.turlocktheatre.org
Move Your Bones 5K 10/27/2013, 8:00 AM www.turlocktriathlonteamclub.webs.com
Harvest Festival 10/31/2013, 5:30 PM-8:00 PM - (209) 634-3922 Haunted Housing Halloween Gala 10/31/2013, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM - (209) 667-3675
Spooktacular Boooook Drive and Halloween Gala 10/31/2013, 6:00 PM-9:00 PM - 209) 667-3916 An Evening of Harmony - Starring The Crush 2010 FWD Quartet Champions 11/2/2013, 7:00 PM 209-869-6298, www.thecrushquartet.com Birth of the Cool & More: “Collective” Jazz Concert 11/8/2013, 7:30 PM 209-667-3421, hwww.csustan.edu Foreigner 11/8/2013, 7:30 PM-9:00 PM 209-668-1169, www.turlocktheatre.org
Country Folk Art Craft Show 11/9/2013 - 11/10/2013, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM 209- 634-4151, www.countryfolkart.com
Cloud Tectonics 11/14/2013 - 11/24/2013, times vary 209-667-3166, www.csustan.edu
Stepping Out for Life 5K Walk/Run 10/19/2013, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM 209 606 9517, www.turlockpregnancycenter.com
Sunday Arts Lecture Series:Guess what?—an assault on common sense by Picasso, the Bloomsbury group, and other modernists, Jesse Wolfe 11/17/2013, 2:00 PM 209-632-5761, www.carnegieartsturlock.org
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Jackie Evancho 11/23/2013, 7:30 PM-9:30 PM 209-668-1169, www.turlocktheatre.org
Festival of Lights 11/29/2013, 4:00 PM-9:00 PM 209-634-6459, www.turlockdowntown.com
Sunday Arts Lecture Series:Innovation and Invention: The Art of Pablo Picasso, Robert Flynn Johnson. 10/13/2013, 2:00 PM 209-632-5761, www.carnegieartsturlock.org Craft or Treat - A Halloween Boutique 10/19/2013, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM - 209-632-5683
47th Annual Arts & Craft Fair 11/23/2013 - 11/24/2013, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM 883-4776
Halloween Costume Contest at Red Brick 10/26/2013, 9:00 PM-1:30 AM - 209-667-8779 Haunted Hay Ride & Bonfire 10/26/2013, 7:00 PM-9:00 AM - 209-634-5471
SCAPIN—by Moliere (Dir. by Caroline Mercier) 10/3-13/2013, times vary 209-667-3166, www.csustan.edu
Opera Scenes Concert 11/22/2013, 7:30PM 209-667-3421, www.csustan.edu
Toy Train Show 11/30/2013 - 12/1/2013, all day 209-874-5544, www.sjvd-ttos.org
The Kamikaze Flireflies 12/5/2013 - 12/6/2013, 8:00:00 PM 209-667-3166, www.csustan.edu Wind Ensemble Concert 12/5/2013 - 12/5/2013, 7:30:00 PM 209-667-3421, www.csustan.edu
35th Annual Turlock Downtown Christmas Parade 12/6/2013 - 12/6/2013, 6:30:00 PM-8:30:00 PM (209) 668-5594, www.cityofturlock.org/christmasparade Carolfest 12/8/2013 - 12/8/2013, 7:30:00 PM 209-667-3421, www.csustan.edu
Ricky Ricardo Promotion 12/8/2013 - 12/8/2013, all day - 209-604-4167
Sunday Arts Lecture Series:Hands in Clay: Technique & Creative Process in Ceramics, John Toki 12/8/2013 - 12/8/2013, 2:00 PM 209-632-5761, www.carnegieartsturlock.org That’ll Be the Day The Music of Buddy Holly with Symphony Starring John Mueller as Buddy Holly 12/13/2013 - 12/13/2013, 7:30 PM-9:30 PM 209-668-1169, www.turlocktheatre.org Turlock Pentecost Association New Year’s Eve Dinner/Dance 12/31/2013 - 12/31/2013, 6:30 PM 209-678-3801
Holiday Boutique 11/16/2013, 8:00 PM - 209-648-2119
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
BUSINESS NEWS « FALL 2013
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