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FEATURE Plans to celebrate Modesto’s 150th year as a city were all scuttled because of the coronavirus pandemic, but that shouldn’t stop people from celebrating the city’s historic past.

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DEPARTMENTS

24

IN THE KNOW 14 16

Calendar of Events 209 Cemeteries

ARTS&CULTURE 24 28 32

Fall Fashion Trends Cole Hinkle & the Debauchery Tracy mural

16

FLAVORS 36 38 43

Dying Breed Brewing De Vega Brothers Soups On

NAVIGATOR 54

Amador Flower Farm

THE GREAT OUTDOORS 58

Sierra Splendor

FULL OF LIFE

62 Fitness and Beyond 66 Breast cancer survivor 70 Osmosis

32

PLACE CALLED HOME 72 76

Master Gardeners Dream Home

MARKETPLACE 80 84

58

62

Weed Nuns Branding Challenges

80 209MAGAZINE.COM

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Vol. 7 No. 41 ■ October/ November 2020 ■ $4.95

PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

EDITOR Kristina Hacker

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAHERS Jeff Benziger Teresa Hammond Marg Jackson Jonamar Jacinto Matt Johanson Angelina Martin Claudia Newcorn Sabra Stafford Virginia Still Frankie Tovar

ART DIRECTOR Harold L. George

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sharon Hoffman

SALES & MARKETING Chris Castro Beth Flanagan Rich Matheson Karen Olsen Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber

SPECIAL CONSULTANT Larry Dovichi

Fall is a good time to feed the soul and, in this issue, you can get inspiration to do just that.

Nothing says comfort food as much as a good bowl of soup. In this issue, local chefs share their favorite soup recipes you can recreate at home.

The City of Modesto is celebrating a historic milestone this year, its 150th anniversary. While the city’s sesquicentennial events have been cancelled, civic pride will reign all year.

A local veteran and artist has turned his struggles with PTSD into a work of art that graces a downtown Tracy building.

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 209 Magazine writer Teresa Hammond shares her very personal battle with breast cancer and cancer survivor and American Cancer Society spokesperson Susan Powers talks about awareness, health and surviving.

We hope that each of the stories in this issue of 209 Magazine enrich your life and help to make this place we call home a better place to live, work and play..

Y

L a t

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F Y La

Hank Vander Veen Publisher hvanderveen@209magazine.com

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To advertise in 209 Magazine, call Manteca • 209.249.3500 • Oakdale • 209.847.3021 Turlock • 209.634.9141 209 Magazine is published 6 times a year 121 S. Center St., 2nd Floor • Turlock, CA 95380 Comments: khacker@209magazine.com www.209magazine.com ©Copyright 2020. 209 Magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher of 209 Magazine is strictly prohibited. The opinions expressed in 209 Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of 209 Magazine management or owner. 209 Magazine assumes no responsibility and makes no recommendation for claims made by advertisers and shall not be liable for any damages incurred.

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Notes

with FRANKIE TOVAR

Consistency has been paramount to Studio209 since the show’s inception in 2014. Talented hosts and correspondents, interesting subjects, on-brand packaging and visuals — all developed with consistency in mind because reliability is an important part of our relationship with our audience.

Our weekly release of new episodes every Thursday was also a major part of that relationship.

Unfortunately, like so many other people and businesses around the country, Studio209 was majorly disrupted by the Covid19 pandemic and its effect on communities around us. While we tried our best to offer new episodes over the past few months, the consistency we prided ourselves on fell from week to week to every two weeks and sometimes even three. To say the release schedule was less than ideal would be an understatement.

Studio209 is finally snapping back to normalcy in October, however, with a lineup of brand-new episodes that will carry us through the remainder of 2020. Sure, large events like festivals are still off our menu, but there are still plenty of stories from all over the Valley for us to share with you.

STUDIO209 is a weekly magazine-style video series filmed in the heart of the Central Valley. Join us every Thursday and enjoy a wide range of coverage from community events to personal profiles and more. ftovar@morrismultimedia.com

Follow us on our journey back to normalcy by subscribing to Studio209 and turning on notifications on YouTube so you can be reminded when new episodes are released.

You can also follow on 209Magazine.com as well as Facebook and Instagram.

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Episode 262 Soundcheck209 Cole Hinkle & the Debauchery (see page 28 for magazine story)

Episode 263 September Equinox with Sisters of the Valley (see page 80 for magazine story)

Episode 264 Halloween House in Turlock

OTHER EPISODES TO WATCH 265: Riding for Piper 5D Barrel Race 266: Cancer Survivor Susan Powers

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intheknow

OCTOBER

COMMUNITY EVENTS

1

PUMPKIN PATCH AND CORN MAZE

The Amador Flower Farm is opening their pumpkin patch and corn maze through the month of October and the first week of November. The pumpkin match and corn maze will be fully open and operating as normal, with the exception of the tram rides, which will not be offered. The pumpkin patch and corn maze will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The Amador Flower Farm is located at 22001 Shenandoah School Road in Plymouth. For more information call (209) 245-6660.

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PUMPKIN AND ZUCCHINI WEIGH-IN

The Farms of Tuolumne County will be hosting the Pumpkin and Zucchini Weigh-in on Oct. 10 at Indigeny Reserve in Sonora. Attendees can enter a pumpkin or zucchini for the weigh-in contest, or just come to explore the grounds and have some fun. There will be pumpkins for sale, along with Smokin Hot Meats and Treats, Get Me Some Kettle Corn, and Mother Lode Toys. Admission is free. Entries must be at the event by 11 a.m. The weigh-in is at 11:30 a.m. Prizes awarded at 1 p.m. There is plenty of room for social distancing and picnics at Indigeny Reserve. Entry into the contest is free and there will be cash prizes for the largest pumpkin and zucchini. To download a Weigh-In entry form go to www.TCFarms.org. Indigeny Reserve is located at 14679 Summers Lane in Sonora.

15

STOCKTON CRUISE NIGHT

Classic car owners and fans are invited to partake in the Stockton Cruise Night on Oct. 15. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. classic cars will be crusing up and down the Miracle Mile in Stockton. Cars and their drivers meet in Gian’s Deli parking lot across from La Palma as well as the Taps Plastics lot, in the 2300 block of Pacific Avenue. The cruise will head out at 6:45pm. Cruise route will be provided at the event. Cruisers are asked to respect the neighborhood and not rev motors, do burnouts or litter in the area. Those who are watching the event are asked to not gather in front of La Palma because their outside tables are for dining guests. Additionally, everyone needs to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

People can also follow the cruise on Instagram @stocktoncruisenight.

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HAVEN’S WALK A MILE RE-IMAGINED

Haven Women Center of Stanislaus is re-imagining their Walk a Mile fundraiser as an oldfashioned night at the drive-in movies. Haven is partnering with Modesto Subaru, the Modesto Nuts and The State Theatre to bring “The Wizard of Oz” to the screen on Oct. 16. The showing will be at Modesto Nuts at 601 Neece Drive in Modesto. Parking starts at 6 p.m. and the show will start at 7 p.m. Prior to the film a runway video of fundraisering participants will be shown and will culminate with the crowning of the 2020 Haven Hero. Funds go towards ending domestic violence in the community. Tickets for the event are $75 per car. Tickets must be purchased in advance from The State. Text to order concessions will be available. No alcohol is permitted. For more information or tickets visit bit.ly/Drive-in_mile. To participate in the fundraising effort, visit www.havenwalkamile.org.

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PROSPECT THEATER PROJECT RADIO PLAY

NOVEMBER

The Prospect Theater Project will be bringing some suspense to Halloween night with their radio production of “Sorry, Wrong Number.” Lucille Fletcher’s story revolves around an invalid woman confined to bed who accidentally overhears a telephone conversation in which she seemingly hears two men plotting a murder. She increasingly becomes frantic as she struggles to get someone to believe her. The production will be streamed at 6 p.m. Oct. 31. Tickets are $10. For more information and tickets, visit prospecttheaterproject.org.

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RUN & WALK AGAINST HUNGER

The Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin is inviting runners and walkers and anyone who wants to burn some calories and raise money for the food bank to participate in the Run & Walk Against Hunger 2020 on Nov. 26. This year the event is going virtual. This means that participants don’t have to gather at one centralized location to complete their run or walk, but rather can do it in a space that allows for more social distancing. The organization is offering three different registration options: $30 - Participant / No T-shirt. $35 - Participant / Pick Up T-shirt at Fleet Feet (Located in Lincoln Center 265 Lincoln Center, Stockton). $40 Participant / T-shirt mailed.

To register for the event visit www.runagainsthunger.org

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intheknow

By Jeff Benziger

Sleuthing in the Altaville Protestant Cemetery in Angels Camp, the author found the grave of Jimmy Rolleri, celebrated for taking a shot at legendary Black Bart during the robbery of a stage east of Copperopolis. The bandit received only a flesh wound.

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The 1921 grave of Lt. Harold “Bud” Coffee was moved to this spot inside the Acacia Memorial Park.

Hollywood actress Olympe Bradna Wilhoit (inset) died in 2012 and is buried next to her husband in the Stockton Rural Cemetery.

M

any people avoid cemeteries, but those fascinated by local history are intrigued to study the older burial grounds with their elaborate and unique markers and monuments and reflect on rich historical legacies.

Cemeteries throughout the 209 are a tangible link to local, state and national historical figures of decades and centuries ago.

The Stockton Rural Cemetery – once outside of Stockton at 2350 Cemetery Lane but now enveloped by the city – contains the remains of many historical figures. Burials here include Reuel Colt Gridley who in 1864 gained national prominence from Austin, Nevada by selling a single sack of flour over and over to raise $275,000 for the U.S. Sanitary Commission benefitting wounded Civil War veterans. Gridley, who was mentioned by Mark Twain in “Roughing It,” is celebrated by a tall monument topped by a marble statue of him with his hand resting on a flour sack.

Best known for killing Senator David Broderick in a San Francisco duel and meeting a violent death himself, California State Supreme Court Justice David Terry is buried there.

Acacia Memorial Park in Modesto contains the remains of Lt. Harold “Bud” Coffee killed in a July 14, 1921 air crash.

The Modesto headstone of Congressman James Carson Needham and wife Dora.

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The hot-tempered Terry became embittered against state Supreme Court Justice Stephen Field over a court decision. When the two showed up quite by coincidence at the Lathrop train station on Aug. 14, 1889, things got ugly fast. Terry interrupted Field’s breakfast and assaulted him. Field’s guard pulled out his gun and fatally shot Terry.

Underground film director Russ Meyer, whose grave marker notes he was “king of the nudies,” is at rest here. So is Hollywood actress Olympe Bradna Wilhoit (1920-

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intheknow

California Governor James Budd, mostly forgotten by history, receives special treatment at the Stockton Rural Cemetery.

2012) who starred in Ronald Reagan movies.

Luminaries there also include California Governor James H. Budd (1851-1908); Benjamin Holt, inventor of the first practical crawler-type tread tractor; John C. Edwards, the ninth governor of Missouri; former Stockton mayor Louis M. Hickman (for whom the town of Hickman was named); and the Sperrys of Stockton flour mill fame. Infamous Sheriff Thomas Cunningham, who helped track down legendary outlaws Black Bart and Tiburcio Vasquez, was buried there in 1900 after dying in Tuttletown.

The conglomeration of cemeteries on Scenic Road in Modesto is replete with historical figures key to Stanislaus County. It’s the final resting place of Superior Court Judge Loren Fulkerth (1860-1934) who presided over the preliminary trial of outlaw Bill Dalton who was accused of robbing the train in Ceres on Sept. 3, 1891. Dalton and partner Riley Dean were released for a lack of evidence. Eventually the job was pinned on John Sontag and Chris Evans who engaged in bloody standoffs with the law.

Jackson City Cemetery contains the remains of the victims of the August 27, 1922 Argonaut Mine disaster.

Deputy Marshal Andrew McGinnis, killed in a Fresno shootout with Sontag and Evans on Sept. 13, 1892, is buried at the Modesto Citizen’s Cemetery. The Knights Ferry resident and lawman was familiar with Sontag and Evans when they operated a livery stable in Modesto.

Meanwhile Dalton left California – but not for good – for Oklahoma. He participated in a May 23, 1894 bank robbery in Longview, Texas. Evidence at the scene led lawmen to his home near Pooleville, Okla., where he was shot and killed while attempting to 209MAGAZINE.COM

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Famed attorney Melvin Belli is at rest in Sonora, his place of birth.

flee. Dalton’s widow Jane Bliven Dalton brought his body back to Livingston to be buried in the yard of her father, Cyrus Bliven. When the house was sold, Dalton’s remains were relocated to an unmarked grave in Turlock Memorial Park.

Acacia Memorial Park in Modesto contains the remains of Lt. Harold “Bud” Coffee killed in a July 14, 1921 Modesto crash while making a historic flight from Yosemite Valley to the Bay Area.

Also killed were three others, including Giocondo Jacuzzi whose brothers made the airplane prior to manufacturing

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An impressive monument honoring Reuel Colt Gridley (1829-1870) towers over his grave and those of Civil War veterans he helped when he sold a celebrated sack of flour multiple times to raise funds for them.

whirlpools. Giocondo’s grave is a short distance away in the St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery.

Other notable Modesto burials include Roberts Ferry founder John W. Roberts who died in 1894; Hughson town founder Hiram Hughson; and Congressman James Carson Needham (who was born in a covered wagon in 1864 near the Carson River). Needham Avenue in Modesto is named for the congressman, who served from 1903 to 1913 and died in 1942.

One of the largest markers is that of notable Robert McHenry (1827-1890).

Years ago, backed by DNA evidence, it was discovered that McHenry was actually Robert Brewster who changed his name after deserting the Army.

Another interesting Modesto grave is that of circus and old west sideshow performer Louis Fred Foster (18611924). His headstone, etched with “Rough and Fancy Rider & Roper, Rifle & Revolver Expert,” bears the likeness of a lariat he designed. Foster was acquainted with Buffalo Bill and Gordon “Pawnee Bill” Lillie. His photography side gig placed Sitting Bull before his lens. Foster was associated with Boston, Mass., but lived in

The tallest grave marker in California is along Highway 140 east of Merced at N. Arboleda Drive.

The lone grave is of George Hicks Fancher, an obscure farmer who died in 1900.

Oakdale in his later years.

In Knights Ferry’s Oak Grove cemetery you’ll be greeted by a tall marker for William F. Lane, killed as a member of a posse tracking down horse thieves. The chase ended near the Coastal Range where Lane was fatally shot on April 21, 1858. Townsfolk avenged the death of his killer by breaking the suspect out of the jail in La Grange (then Stanislaus

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County’s seat) and lynched him from a tree.

The tallest grave marker in California is along Highway 140 east of Merced at N. Arboleda Drive. The lone grave is of George Hicks Fancher, an obscure farmer who died in 1900. He farmed 4,000 acres and became so wealthy that his estate designated $25,000 for his memorial. A more practical brother suggested a smaller marker and allocating $20,000 for a library in Merced. The matter was decided when a California State Supreme Court ruled that Fancher’s wishes had to be observed.

He is buried under 1,000 tons of granite topped by a 68-foot-high obelisk jutting into the sky.

MOUNTAIN CEMETERIES Famed San Francisco attorney and author Melvin Belli (1907-1996) has an interesting headstone in Sonora’s Odd Fellows Cemetery. Belli, famous for representing clients like Jack Ruby, killer of JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Chuck Berry, was born in Sonora. He was laid to rest with his grandparents, the Mourons. His headstone declares Belli “the most important lawyer of the

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intheknow

A large grave marker for Robert McHenry (1827-1890) dominates Acacia Memorial Park in Modesto. For years he was esteemed in Modesto history but DNA later embraced the discovery that he was actually Army deserter Robert Brewster.

20th century for victims’ rights … a living legend ... and an American folk hero.”

Tilted to the view of Highway 120 motorists, Jamestown’s hillside cemetery contains the remains of Donner Party survivor Leanna Donner App. She was one of the young daughters of George Donner when the famed immigrant party was trapped in a Truckee snowstorm the winter of 1846-47. The Donner children were rescued but their parents succumbed to starvation and exposure. Mrs. App was raised by foster parents. She died in 1930 and is laid next to husband John App, a Jamestown miner.

A number of graves in Calaveras County are linked to the infamous stagecoach bandit Charles Boles, AKA Black Bart who committed his first robbery at Funk Hill in Calaveras County on June 27, 1875. In his final robbery of Nov. 3, 1883 – committed at the same location – Boles was grazed by a bullet fired from the rifle of James “Jimmy” Rolleri who was deer hunting on the mountain when he stumbled upon the robbery. Rolleri died at age 37 and is buried in the Altaville Protestant Cemetery in Angels Camp. Boles was arrested days later in San Francisco and brought to San Andreas for trial in front of Judge Charles Victor Gott-

A number of graves in Calaveras County are linked to the infamous stagecoach bandit Charles Boles, AKA Black Bart schalk who found him guilty and sent him to San Quentin State Prison.

Gottschalk was elected judge in Calaveras County in 1879 and served for 25 years. He married Charlotte Noriega, a woman 29 years his junior. The judge had grown fond of her sister’s son, Victor J. Shinn and when he died at age 10 on May 9 1898, Gottschalk grew despondent over the boy’s death. Feeling old and fearful that he was becoming a burden to his much younger wife, the judge shot himself in the head while sitting at his desk in the San Andreas courthouse. He is buried just feet from little Victor in the People’s Cemetery in San Andreas.

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JACKSON Jackson City Cemetery (also known as Pioneer Cemetery) contains the remains of the victims of the August 27, 1922 Argonaut Mine disaster.

Perishing in the fire and flood 4,650 feet below ground were 47 miners.

Legendary Pony Express rider and Wells Fargo stagecoach guard Mike Tovey (1842-1893) is buried in Jackson. He was fatally shot during a June 15, 1893 ambush of the stage between Ione and Jackson. Authorities suspected Milton Sharp of the killing since Tovey helped send him to Nevada State Prison after committing robberies of the Bodie stage in 1880 and had breathed threats against Tovey prior to his 1889 prison escape. Sharp was apprehended in Red Bluff. Later a petty thief named William “Bill” Evans confessed to the murder and spent the rest of his life in San Quentin but Wells Fargo had lingering doubts about his guilt.

Angelo Noce (1847-1922), credited as being the father of Columbus Day, is buried in Jackson. An Italian immigrant who founded Colorado’s first Italian newspaper, Noce worked with a Colorado lawmaker to sponsor a 1906 bill proposing a Columbus Day holiday. Colorado created the holiday and the other states followed suit.

Also buried there is Hiram Craig Meek (1788-1881), a major in the War of 1812, who was acquainted with George Washington.

A link to President Lincoln may be found in the Ceres cemetery in the grave of George William “Will” Averill, an early-day blacksmith. Will served in the Civil War before heading to California and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. During a nine-month hospital stay, Will met President Abraham Lincoln who sized him up and asked him to stand back-to-back to see who was taller; Will was two inches shorter than Abe. On another occasion, Mrs. Lincoln gave the ailing Will an orange.

LAKEWOOD MEMORIAL PARK Thousands of gravesites at Lakewood Memorial Park are the final resting place of many who lived their lives in Stanislaus County since the 1850s

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such as the pioneer Hudelson family. But others are more recognized.

Hollywood actor Dean Jagger, best known for playing General Waverly in the timeless Christmas classic White Christmas and Major Harvey Stovall in the 1949 movie “Twelve O’Clock High,” was laid to rest in the North Hyland section of the Hughson cemetery near Santa Fe Avenue. He died in Santa Monica on Feb. 5, 1991 after succumbing to flu and a heart attack. Jagger became acquainted with Stanislaus County through his wife, 1941 Oakdale High School graduate and dance instructor Etta Mae Norton Jagger, who died in 1992 and is buried next to him.

An icon of the Great Depression,

Florence Hill Thompson is buried at Lakewood. Thompson was the subject of a famous photo, the Migrant Mother, taken by Dorothea Lange in 1933 in a frozen pea field, which came to symbolize the destitution that gripped the country during the Dust Bowl. While the photo did prompt the federal government to send food relief to the camp, Thompson, her husband and kids had moved on. Up until her death in Scotts Valley, Mrs. Thompson had resided in a south Modesto trailer park.

Max Foster (1906-1996), founder of Foster Farms, rests at Lakewood. Foster was a Modesto Bee editor in 1939 when he and wife Verda purchased a repossessed 80-acre farm using

Standing at 68 feet tall east of Merced is the grave of an obscure farmer named George Fancher who died in 1900. His estate designated $25,000 for this memorial, the equivalent of $773,000 in purchasing power today.

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$1,000 borrowed on a life insurance policy. They began raising turkeys and expanded to chickens and dairy cattle in the 1940s. Foster Farms is now the largest privately owned dairy and poultry business in California.

Chester Smith, an accomplished recording artist and TV station manager who died on Aug. 8, 2008, is also at Lakewood. Smith began singing on Modesto radio station KTRB in 1953 and signed a recording contract with Capitol Records where he achieved some fame with his hit, “Wait a Little Longer Please Jesus.” In 1963 he received a license for KLOC radio based in Ceres. Smith teamed up with Spanish International Network (SIN) which was the precursor to Univision. ■

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“45 YEARS is a lot of lessons learned. Put our experience to work for YOU”

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OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

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intheknow

Fall Fashion Finds

By SABRA STAFFORD

I

t’s safe to say many of us have been spending a lot of time in our “comfy clothes.”

Wouldn’t it be nice though, on those occasions when we leave our living rooms, to do it in style? We found some fabulous fashion finds right on treend for the fall and all available at stores here in the 209.

Fall Colors The colors of autumn - when the leaves change from green to marigold and rust and the sky wavers from blue to gray - are represented this season in some of our favorite fashion finds.

Off the shoulder caramel sweater from Envy Fine Clothing, multiple locations in the 209. @envy_clothing Sleeveless midi burnt orange dress from Liliana Downtown Boutique and Fashion Concierge in Modesto. @lilianadowntown

Blue multi-print blouse and classic blue jeans from Helen & Louise in Merced. @shophelenlouise

Soft mustard sweater and wide brim gray hat from Glitz Fine Clothing in Turlock. @glitzfineclothing

Long-length gray cardigan from Liliana Downtown Boutique and Fashion Concierge in Modesto. @lilianadowntown

Mini dress in blue from Glitz Fine Clothing in Turlock. @glitzfineclothing

Coat in light caramel from Glitz Fine Clothing in Turlock. @glitzfineclothing 209MAGAZINE.COM

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90s Throwbacks Remember torn denim, cropped tops, flared jeans, neon, and flannel? Those were the staples of 90s fashion and now they’re back for a new round.

One shoulder dress in neon green from Liliana Downtown Boutique and Fashion Concierge in Modesto. @lilianadowntown

Tank top, T-shirt and denim skirts from Envy Fine Clothing, multiple locations in the 209. @envy_clothing

Cropped top and flared jeans from Envy Fine Clothing, multiple locations in the 209. @envy_clothing

Flared jeans, crop top and flannel button down from Envy Fine Clothing, multiple locations in the 209. @envy_clothing

Def Leopard T-shirt and flared jeans from Envy Fine Clothing, multiple locations in the 209. @envy_ clothing

Black top, torn jeans and flannel button down from Envy Fine Clothing, multiple locations in the 209. @envy_clothing 209MAGAZINE.COM

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intheknow

Pleats, tiers and ruffles It has been said that the truth is in the details and if that is the case, then these clothes are truthfully devine.

Ruffle maxi floral dress from Glitz Fine Clothing in Turlock. @glitzfineclothing

Long floral ruffle skirt and black tank from Envy Fine Clothing, multiple locations in the 209. @envy_clothing

Long-sleeve ruffle mini dress from Helen & Louise in Merced. @shophelenlouise

Black pleated mini dress from Helen & Louise in Merced. @shophelenlouise

209MAGAZINE.COM

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Pleated mini skirt from Glitz Fine Clothing in Turlock. @glitzfineclothing

26

White long-sleeve dress with lace and ruffles from Helen & Louise in Merced. @shophelenlouise

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Metallics

Metallic necklace and bracelet from Helen & Louise in Merced. @shophelenlouise

Since we didn’t get gold, silver and bronze during the summer Olympics, we can get then in our fall fashion.

Reversable leather jacket in gold from from Liliana Downtown Boutique and Fashion Concierge in Modesto. @lilianadowntown

Multi-strand necklace from Helen & Louise in Merced. @shophelenlouise

209MAGAZINE.COM

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arts&culture

Music rooted in the Valley

By FRANKIE TOVAR

Americana, or whatever you want to call it — it’s roots. It comes down to blues, country, old school rock and roll — it’s roots.

And Modesto is definitely a huge hotspot for that.”

—Amie Astelle

odesto has become a hotbed for Americana music in recent years with a fresh crop of bands that embrace the genre’s traditional sound while also adding their own contemporary flair. The quest for an independent sound has resulted in some bands spurning the Americana title for less blanketed and more niche-specific names like bluegrass, country or folk.

For Cole Hinkle & the Debauchery, a promising Modesto act with a self-titled album set to release before year’s end, 209MAGAZINE.COM

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the name used to categorize their music is far less important than the foundation of the music itself.

“Americana, or whatever you want to call it — it’s roots. It comes down to blues, country, old school rock and roll — it’s roots. And Modesto is definitely a huge hotspot for that,” bassist Amie Astelle said. “It’s so unknown and so underground…People don’t realize what we have.”

Oscillating between a two-piece and three-piece band, Cole Hinkle & the De-

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bauchery is anchored by singer-songwriter and guitarist Cole Hinkle and upright bassist Astelle, the self-described debauchery of the group. Drummer Sky Harris rounds out the band and will be featured alongside fiddler Dylan Nicholson on the upcoming album.

Currently living in the same house in North Modesto, Hinkle and Astelle have a sibling-like relationship that would lead many to assume they’ve known each other for the majority of their lives. A little more than two years ago, however, the two were complete strangers.

“It started out as a solo project. Originally I was just writing songs and playing them by myself,” Hinkle said.

After touring with musician Bob Wayne in 2018, Astelle returned home to Modesto where she started hearing whispers of a young songwriter named Cole Hinkle that her friends insisted she had to meet.

Their insistence was met with skepticism.

“No one in Modesto or the area plays what I like. They don’t get it,” Astelle explained. “I was like yeah, yeah, yeah.

Whatever.”

Astelle’s skepticism was put to rest after a chance encounter at the 2018 MAMA Awards where Hinkle noticed her Bob Wayne trucker hat and sparked a conversation with his future bandmate. The two were playing together onstage by November and just a year after meeting they won the 2019 MAMA Award for Best Americana Band.

“I describe our sound as dark,” Hinkle said. “I’ve always been told I write really sad songs…It’s very personal, a lot of the songs.”

“If Cole’s happy, you’re not getting music,” Astelle said.

With a gravelly, almost grunge-like delivery of country-themed lyrics, Hinkle’s words about loss and pain blend well with Astelle’s aggressive upright bass lines to create songs that can be both haunting and beautiful.

Such is the case with “Fall Will Come,”

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arts&culture

a song from their upcoming album that the band played for Studio209 in the living room of their home.

“At the time when I wrote this song I was definitely a sad child with a notebook,” Hinkle said “I tried to fool everybody because everybody told me, ‘That’s enough waltzes.’ So this is my fast song, if you will.”

A cornerstone of their stage show, “Fall Will Come” and the rest of their set list have made Cole Hinkle & the Debauchery local favorites at venues like Ralston’s Goat in Modesto, Hideout Saloon in Mariposa and Dying Breed Brewing in Oakdale.

“We have so many amaz-

ing people in our lives that have helped us along the way, that we play shows with,” Astelle said. “That’s a musical family.”

Those interested in upcoming shows can find Cole Hinkle & the Debauchery on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. And don’t forget to listen to the band’s performance of “Fall Will Come” on Episode #262 of Studio209 at Studio209.tv. ■ 209MAGAZINE.COM

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We have so many amazing people in our lives that have helped us along the way, that we play shows with. That’s a musical family.”

—Amie Astelle

OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

9/25/2020 11:21:26 AM

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arts&culture

By JONAMAR JACINTO

W

ill Watts has overcome traumatic experiences stemming from his time in military service and a motorcycle crash that left him with broken legs and a shattered spirit.

It was at a five-day retreat in Peru where he found solace. He returned home a new man and took on new hobbies like art and music.

Inspired by his struggles with mental health, Watts illustrates his story in the form of a mural he painted on the side of a downtown Tracy building. The display may catch the eye of drivers heading northbound on N. Central Avenue, but one would have to park and walk to Jackson Alley — between the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts and West Side Market at 715 N. Central Ave. — for a better look.

Watts, a lifelong Tracy resident, doesn't mind that his work is somewhat hidden.

“It's about mental health, and (the remedy) is hard to find and get to,” Watts said.

“It's kind of fitting. There's some poetic justice to it.”

Tracy artist and veteran Will Watts at work on the Veteran's Mural Project.

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Everything I was painting I was feeling.

I put a lot of emotion into that piece of art.

Veteran's Mural Project

by Will Watts, in progress, July 2020

Veteran's Mural Project by Will Watts, work in progress, demon detail.

In 2016, not long after the completion of his second tour of duty, he was involved in a motorcycle accident in downtown Tracy — not too far from where he composed the mural.

The wreck temporarily crippled him physically, but the real damage was dealt psychologically. It ended his military career and relationship.

“It basically took about a year or two for my legs to recover, but I was still dealing with the mental aspects of it,” Watts said. “I was so depressed and so angry — all those PTSD things. Things just got to a point where my anger got the best of me. My ex and I got into fights. Things got violent and terrible and she ended up leaving me.

“That was the last straw. She was the last thing keeping me from not killing myself. After she left, I was kind of lost.”

He made two trips that changed and saved his life.

The first was to Peru.

Unable to find the right fit with counselors provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Watts and younger brother Isaiah sought alternative methods to treat his mental illness. They discovered Ayahuasca, an Amazonian psychedelic tea made from a plant and vine from the region.

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Watts enrolled in a five-day Ayahuasca retreat with Etnikas, a program that combines ancient Incan healing techniques with modern medicine.

Clients work with Shipibo healer shamans and Q'ero priests, but the Etnikas medical team also includes a cardiologist, general practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist and nurses.

It took only a day for the battle within to shift toward the light.

Watts participated in the first of three Ayahuasca ceremonies, an experience he described as “incredibly difficult but also beautiful.” Watts recalls visions of his ex-girlfriend dying in a seeminglyendless loop. In other visions, he sees himself dying. Watts shared the morbid imagery with a shaman and psychiatrist who steer the mental rehabilitation.

“I was so scared,” Watts said. “It made me go through (death) over and over until I realized I wanted to be alive. I felt brand new after that. I met God and the devil and they both taught me a lot of lessons about myself and who I want to become. I came back literally as a whole different human being.”

Watts gave up drinking. About a week after returning from the retreat, he picked up a paintbrush for the first time. He then taught himself how 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CULTURAL ARTS DIVISION – CITY OF TRACY

The 32-year-old is at peace with a lot of things following wars in Afghanistan, at home with a girlfriend and with himself.

Watts graduated from Merrill F. West High School in 2007 and enlisted in the Army at age 17, intending to never come back to “Tank Town.”

In 2011, he and his team were on a mission when their truck was blasted by an improvised explosive device (IED).

The vehicle contained equipment that the group could not leave behind, and this simple operation turned into a fiveday ordeal in a remote and dangerous location.

This harrowing event marked the beginning of Watts' inner struggles. It drove him to alcoholism.

“I did start to have (PTSD) at the time I was in the Army,” he said. “I used to drink like a fish. I was 25, not seeking help for myself and avoiding everything I needed to work on and focus on. I didn't know where to start.”

It only got worse from there.

Watts was then deployed to Guantanamo Bay where he worked as a prison guard and met his now-ex-girlfriend, another service member who later moved from the East Coast to live with him.

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arts&culture

PHOTO BY JONAMAR JACINTO/209 MAGAZINE

Veteran's Mural Project by Will Watts, located on the West Side Market Building in Jackson Alley adjacent to the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in downtown Tracy.

to play the piano.

More on his artistic endeavors later.

Watts was aware that not all of his wounds were healed. So, in late 2018, he set out on another excursion but to a country he was a little more familiar with — Afghanistan.

Accompanying him was cousin Lexie Alford, a world traveler and YouTube personality whose claim to fame is as Guinness World Record holder for being the youngest to visit all 196 countries at age 21. She documented the trip and posted the video on her YouTube channel, “Lexie Limitless.”

While there, Watts delved into the culture, visited various landmarks and mingled with the people. Afghans were once the enemy, but he now sees them through a different lens.

“Revisiting as a civilian, I was able to make peace,” he said. “After I found this healing, I was able to just let even more go.”

The Tracy Arts Commission caught wind of his story as well as his artis-

tic talents. He was a top candidate to participate in the Civic Art Program's Downtown Tracy Mural Project.

Watts began his project in June, completing it in about a month.

“It was a little stressful,” he said.

Watts was initially nervous about painting in front of passersby, but the downtown crowds were thinned by coronavirus concerns.

At the center of Watts' mural is a cross-legged soldier levitating while in deep meditation. Surrounding him are demonic-like figures while angels hover on each side of the subject. There are also two large hands looming overhead with palms down.

“There's a big ring around him that symbolizes that he has found peace,” Watts said. “Even when he's surrounded by darkness and light, he still has this sense of peace. All the demons represent emotions I've felt in my military career — some are reaching out in anger, some in fear.

“Above him are the hands of God 209MAGAZINE.COM

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protecting him, and the angels are also there adding guidance and protection.”

Now, he serves as one of those angels.

He has convinced fellow military vets and friends to partake in Ayahuasca retreats, and they've come back with their own success stories. For this soldier-turned-artist, he considers the downtown mural to be one of his greatest achievements.

“I was going through a range of different emotions,” he said of his first glance at the completed project. “Obviously very proud to have it done and in awe to have had the opportunity to do this, but it was also very emotionally draining. Everything I was painting I was feeling. I put a lot of emotion into that piece of art.”

“Before the mural I wasn't calling myself an artist because I'm so new to it,” Watts added. “The arts have been such a therapeutic thing. It's a way for me to process my emotions about the things I've gone through in my life.” ■

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35

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flavors

By VIRGINIA STILL

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

T

he creative minds of Dying Breed Brewing owners Josh Malcolm, Joe Novotny, and Dan Wood each bring something special to the brewery including a variety of craft beers that will delight even the toughest beer snobs.

The tap room opened in mid-May and is rustic and welcoming. There are 14 taps that change on a regular basis but customer faves will always be on tap. Although they have only been open a few months, there are several beers that have become customer favorites like the El Macho, which is a Mexican Lager and a top seller, a double IPA called the Caster 8, Made in the IPA, and Rollin ze Hayz. All the beers have crafty names (pun intended) and some even have a story behind their names.

We will have a plan so that we can continue to serve patrons even if we have to give out panchos or whatever.

The Hayz is a mild IPA with a hint of pineapple and the Caster 8 is a double IPA that is a bit stronger with 8.1 percent ABV (alcohol by volume). The Kolsch Revolver is a German style beer that is an easy, lighter option that Wood 209MAGAZINE.COM

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calls “a lawn mowing beer.” For a real crisp, clean, hoppy taste Made in the IPA may be a preferred choice.

Although Willy Tea has only been beertending for a few months he has always been fond of beer and music.

He has been a musician for the past 20 years so combining the two at Dying Breed has been exceptional.

“I am pouring beer and people are smiling and drinking beer,” said Tea about beertending. “That is my favorite part and I enjoy beer. The brewers and the owners are very kind people and their intentions are beautiful. It just goes to show through the beer and everything. People have a great time here and now with the stage (for outdoor performances) this is going to be a pretty exciting place.”

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Despite the challenges from the coronavirus, Dying Breed was able to open with a very successful drive-thru concert and beer pick up in March. In less than two hours they were sold out of their growlers on opening day. Since then they have adjusted to the rules and regulations with sanitizing, masks, social distancing and tables six feet apart on their outdoor patio.

“At first there was a concern for safety,” stated Novotny. “So, we had to be extra vigilant with cleaning and take extra steps and extra precautions to make our customers feel comfortable. One of the things that has been great for us is when folks come out here and see how big our outdoor space is and the space that we have in between tables, they feel comfortable.”

The custom stage in the outdoor area gives musicians a platform to showcase their talents and entertain crowds that are ready for live music. When things open up fully, they have plans to have live music on a regular basis along with some other entertaining ideas that they are keeping under wraps at this time.

Wood is the brew master and has been working on some special craft beers for the fall with a traditional Oktoberfest brew that will be released in October.

They will also offer a few different German style beers, stouts, porters, and celebration type beers.

“We are staying positive so hopefully things will ease up a little bit,” noted Novotny about the winter. “We will have a plan so that we can continue to serve patrons even if we have to give out 209MAGAZINE.COM

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panchos or whatever. We didn’t know how important it would be in our plan to have an outdoor patio. This has truly been pretty awesome.” ■

IF YOU GO DYING BREED BREWING 963 Shepard Ct Suite B, Oakdale, CA 95361 PHONE: (209) 322-3526 www.dyingbreedbrewing.com HOURS: Wednesday & Thursday............... 3–9 PM Friday............................................ 3–10 PM Saturday....................................... 12–10 PM Sunday.......................................... 12–8 PM Monday & Tuesday ...................... Closed

OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

9/25/2020 11:23:38 AM

flavors

De Vega Brothers

A little piece of Italy

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

By VIRGINIA STILL

209MAGAZINE.COM

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D

e Vega Brothers Rafael and Alberto have been serving up Italian cuisine to the 209 for over two decades. The restaurant is truly a family affair with the brothers, wives, children, nephews and even their dad putting in blood, sweat and tears for the restaurant’s success.

The fine dining restaurant is located at Stone Creek Village in Stockton on Pacific Avenue. The wide-ranging menu has stayed relatively the same since their humble beginnings with the exception of a few changes and specials. They prepare all their own sauces and pride themselves in bringing fresh tasty dishes to their customers.

In the beginning the brothers worked for other Italian restaurants where they took on many roles like dishwashing, serving, and cooking. They both learned recipes and techniques that they implemented into their own creations and skillset.

“For many days, many weeks, many years I worked … I learned everything and I would keep it in my head,” said Alberto. “I kept dreaming of opening my own restaurant one day.”

“So, we would get together and talk about opening our restaurant,” added Rafael. “We were working for these people and we had been working in Italian restaurants all these years. We knew how to make all the Italian dishes and we knew

how to create new dishes. So, I was like why don’t we open our own restaurant and start putting ourselves up there. It took us 10 years to save money and open our own restaurant.”

Although they did not have any experience owning a restaurant, they had experience in all the other positions. The first few months were extremely hard for them trying to figure everything out back in 1999 when they opened what they call a ‘hole in the wall’ as their original location in Manteca was very small.

“It was hard the first time. It was scary because we put everything on the line,” stated Rafael. “We had to go for it and if we don’t make it, we will have to start again from the bottom. If you never try, you are never going to find out if it is going to happen or not so that is what we did.”

It didn’t take long before they had customers lining up.

“We had a moment where we realized we made our dreams happen,” expressed the brothers. “This is the American dream. Dreams come true in America.”

They relocated to a different location on Main Street in Manteca and after being asked by several customers to open a place in Stockton they opened another location in Brookside. They opened the Stone Creek Village restaurant 10 years ago and have since closed down the other locations.

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I am so happy and proud that people like my food.

— Alberto De Vega

IF YOU GO GETTING THERE DE VEGA BROTHERS 5757 Pacific Ave, Suite A140 Stockton, CA 95207 CONTACT (209) 323-4339 HOURS Monday - Thursday 11am - 9pm Friday - Saturday 11am - 10pm Closed Sunday

OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

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flavors

“We have families and it was getting too hard,” explained Rafael, “It is not about the money, but we need to have a life. When we had a day off all we did was sleep. So, we decided to just focus on this beautiful restaurant.”

They are open for lunch and dinner and have a happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily with drink and appetizer specials. The full bar has an extensive wine list and a variety of cocktails like the Hawaiian Ocean, Paradise, an Appletini, Sunrise, and an Old Fashioned to name a few, hand crafted by Joanne, the wife of Alberto De Vega.

De Vega Brothers also caters, has an outdoor patio for dining and offers takeout. Although their dining room is closed due to the coronavirus, they do have outdoor seating on their patio and have even extended out into the common area of the shopping center to adhere to the social distancing guidelines.

The appetizer menu has tasty selections including the guest favorite Coconut Shrimp, Steamed Clams Bordelaise, Crab Cakes, Fried Calamari strips, and of course Bruschetta that can be ordered with a twist, adding some Ahi Tuna.

Lunch is served between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and along with an assortment of salads like the Calamari Caesar Salad, Greek Chicken Salad, House Steak Salad, and Salmon Salad there are several entrée options that are ‘Delizioso.’

The lunch menu has traditional pasta dishes and sandwiches served up with French fries, salad or soup, as well as a few hearty dishes like the Pork Chop, Tri-Tip, or Greek Chicken.

On the dinner menu there is something for everyone. Whether you want a vegetarian dish, steak, pork, chicken, veal, seafood or traditional gourmet Italian dishes, De Vega Brothers offers it. Along with the Spaghetti, Ravioli, Tortellini and traditional Italian dishes they have Halibut, Giant Prawns, Chicken Marsala, Veal Picatta, Pasta Del Mare, Pasta Salsiccia, Lamb Chops, Prime Rib, Pork Osso Buco, and Eggplant Parmesano.

The Angus Rib Eye Steak and Giant Prawns is a current guest favorite. The Halibut and Salmon are fresh from Alaska.

For those that want a little something sweet to eat they offer Flan, Tiramisu, Spumoni Ice Cream, sorbet, chocolate cake and cheesecake.

“We both like cooking,” remarked Alberto. “I am so happy and proud that people like my food.”

In November they will be open on Thanksgiving Day and will serve up the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry, stuffing and all the fixings. ■ 209MAGAZINE.COM

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41

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OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

9/25/2020 11:04:03 AM

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OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

9/25/2020 11:04:05 AM

Mushroom Stroganoff Soup

C

ooler weather calls for comfort foods, and it’s hard to top soups. Most families have at least one soup recipe that is handed down through the generations. The ability to balance the flavors and textures that make up a superior soup is also the mark of a great chef. Whether you create the perfect soup at home or sample the delicious soupy selections at your favorite restaurant, fall is the perfect time to get your soup on. ■

Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 medium shallots (about 2/3 cup), chopped 1 package (10 ounces) white button mushrooms, trimmed and sliced 1 package (10 ounces) cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

— Recipe courtesy of "Whole in One" by Ellie Krieger on behalf of Milk Means More

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Directions: In soup pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add shallots and cook, stirring oc1 tablespoon casionally, until softened, 2 minutes.

Worcestershire Add button mushrooms and cremini sauce mushrooms, increase heat to medium1 teaspoon Dijon high and cook, stirring occasionally, mustard 3/4 teaspoon salt, plus until mushrooms release liquid and beadditional, to taste gin to brown, about 8 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add broth, 1/4 teaspoon freshly Worcestershire sauce, mustard, 3/4 teaground black spoon salt and pepper; bring to boil. pepper 1 cup whole-wheat Add egg noodles and boil gently, uncovered, until noodles are nearly tender, egg noodles 5 minutes.

1 cup 1% low-fat In pitcher or medium bowl, whisk milk, milk 1/3 cup sour cream and flour until flour 2/3 cup sour cream, dissolves. Ladle 1/2 cup broth from pot divided into milk mixture and whisk well then 2 tablespoons allpour milk mixture into pot. While stirpurpose flour ring, bring to gentle boil then lower heat 2 tablespoons and simmer until thickened, 2 minutes. chopped fresh Season with additional salt, to taste. parsley

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flavors

Curried Butternut Squash Ingredients: 1 large butternut squash (about 3 pounds), halved vertically and seeds removed 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling 1/2 cup chopped shallot (about 1 large shallot bulb) 1 teaspoon salt

M

ohini Singh’s award-winning Curried Butternut Squash Soup is representative of the Turlock chef ’s love for flavor — a soup she believes provides all of the comforts of fall in an American dish, but with some of the familiar spice from her childhood.

Singh is the Culinary Arts Instructor for Pitman High School and is married to Leroy Walker, who owns the restaurant First and Main in downtown Turlock.

There, Singh serves as a chef and helped to develop the establishment’s Asianinspired menu, which incorporates her very own line of spices. These influences can be found in Singh's very own soup recipe which will impress guests you may be serving this fall. ■

Directions: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the butternut squash on the pan and drizzle each half with just enough olive oil to lightly coat the squash on the inside (about ½ teaspoon each). Rub the oil over the inside of the squash and sprinkle it with salt and pepper.

Turn the squash face down and roast until it is tender and completely cooked through, about 40 to 50 minutes (don’t worry if the skin or flesh browns—that’s good for flavor). Set the squash aside until it’s cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large soup pot, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat until shimmering (if your blender has a soup preset, use a medium skillet to minimize dishes.) Add the chopped shallot and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until the shallot has softened and is starting to turn golden on the edges, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute, stirring frequently. Transfer the contents to your stand

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1 teaspoon turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder 4 garlic cloves, pressed or minced 1 teaspoon maple syrup 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 3 to 4 cups (24 to 32 ounces) vegetable broth, as needed 1 to 2 tablespoons butter, to taste

blender (see notes on how to use an immersion blender instead).

Use a large spoon to scoop the butternut squash flesh into your blender.

Discard the tough skin. Add the maple syrup, nutmeg and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper to the blender.

Pour in 3 cups vegetable broth, being careful not to fill the container past the maximum fill line (you can work in batches if necessary, and stir in any remaining broth later).

Securely fasten the lid. Blend on high (or select the soup preset, if available), being careful to avoid hot steam escaping from the lid. Stop once your soup is ultra-creamy and warmed through.

If you would like to thin out your soup a bit more, stir in the remaining cup of broth. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil, to taste, and blend well. Taste and stir in more salt and pepper, if necessary.

If your soup is piping hot from the blending process, you can pour it into serving bowls. If not, pour it back into your soup pot and warm the soup over medium heat, stirring often, until it’s nice and steamy.

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9/25/2020 11:26:27 AM

Executive Chef

TONY LEMENS

E

xecutive Chef Tony Lemens from Rush Creek Lodge shared a White Bean & Kale Soup that is served at the Lodge in the fall and winter to comfort and warm the soul. The recipe was scaled down since Chef Tony usually makes 5 gallons to serve guests at the Lodge.

Rush Creek Lodge is a contemporary Lodge located next to Yosemite National Park. Set on 20 woodland acres adjacent to the park’s Highway 120 West entrance, the lodge is a “destination within a destination” situated at the doorstep of the park. ■

White Bean & Kale Soup Serves: 8 Ingredients: 1 cup dried white beans 2 cups water 1 cup diced large onion 1 cup diced celery 1 oz chopped garlic 4 cups finely chopped kale 2 cups diced tomato 2 oz white wine 2 cups vegetable stock 2 cups tomato sauce 1 tsp salt 1 pinch chili flakes 1 tsp dried oregano 1 tsp dried basil

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Directions: Cook the onions, celery and garlic until softened.

Season the vegetables with salt, chili flakes, oregano and basil. Add the white wine and reduce slightly. Add the beans, soaking water, canned tomatoes, veg stock, and tomato sauce.

Simmer for 60 minutes. Add the chopped kale. Use immediately or cool for later use.

OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

9/25/2020 11:26:36 AM

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Built on a strong foundation and with our vision on the future, we are a community built on care.

Find a Doctor today at dmc-modesto.com

209 Magazine 41-Oct-Nov 2020.indd 46

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s

n

209 Magazine 41-Oct-Nov 2020.indd 47

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feature

Modesto celebrates 150th anniversary

By SABRA STAFFORD

T

he lights that arc over downtown Modesto and proclaim Water Wealth Contentment Health could have instead trumpeted Nobody’s Got Modesto’s Goat had some early town leaders not intervened. The downtown arch was constructed in 1912 to welcome visitors coming into town in the relatively new invention of automobiles and that was the winning motto.

Town leaders opted for the second place submission.

The city was just 42 years old at that point and was already a hub of agricultural activity and production. Now, Modesto in its 150th year, is the 12th largest city in California and continues to be a leader in agriculture. It’s also safe to say nobody has their goat.

The decision by the Central Pacific Railroad in 1870 to set down tracks in the San Joaquin Valley was a formative one for Modesto.

“Stanislaus County was an agriculture powerhouse of sorts before Modesto was even in anyone’s imagination,” said Bob Barzan, co-founder of the Modesto Art Museum. “Well before 1870, the county was an internationally important area for wheat and barley. This is one of the reasons why, though probably not the most important reason, the railroad built into the San Joaquin Valley: to bring that wheat and barley to market.

“By 1900, agriculture was in serious

decline and so was the population of Modesto. It was irrigation that rejuvenated agriculture in the county and the county became a source of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy. About the same time, Modesto was able to attract the food processing or manufacturing industry. Agriculture alone does not support many people, but food manufacturing can and that is a significant reason Modesto’s population started to grow again.”

The food manufacturing sector helped spur Modesto’s growth over the decades, particularly during WWII, when canned goods and other food products were churned out for the war effort.

Modesto became a travel destination for classic car enthusiasts with the success of “American Graffiti” from hometown favorite son George Lucas.

The movie shined a light on cruising, and for decades teenagers kept the tradition going by driving up and down McHenry Avenue. Now, the tradition is relived and celebrated yearly in June.

Plans to celebrate Modesto’s 150th year as a city were all scuttled because of the coronavirus pandemic. But that shouldn’t stop people from checking out some of the points of interest in the city’s history on their own.

“I think the 1915 Southern Pacific Depot at 9th and J Street is significant because it is the only remaining historic 209MAGAZINE.COM

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railroad building,” Barzan said. “The Maze family home on Maze Road is probably the oldest building in town on its original site, about 1877, and the Church House might be the last remaining building that was moved here in the boom of 1870. Modesto had several library sites before the McHenry Library at 14th and I, but that building moved the town into a new sense of accomplishment. Of course, the arch is a great memento of the booster period.

“The Heckendorf House by architect John Funk from 1939 on Patricia Street is a house of national significance for its architecture,” Barzan said. “It was featured in at least four New York Museum of Modern Art publications and is one of the most influential pieces of Modernist architecture in this part of the country. Another building of importance is the Stanislaus County Hall of Records, also from 1939, designed

by Russell Guerne deLappe. Both buildings represent a time in Modesto's history when the city was progressive and even cutting edge.”

A few other historical stops include the McHenry Mansion, Graceada Park, The State Theater, and the Modesto Historic Cruise Route Walk of Fame.

People can also learn more about the history and development of Modesto at the website https://modestoartmuseum. org/modesto-150/. ■

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9/25/2020 11:27:38 AM

•

1870 Founding and Settlement: Modesto was founded as one of the San Joaquin Valley’s railroad towns. In the late 1860s, Collis Huntington, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker (the “Big Four”) announced plans to construct a railroad down the San Joaquin Valley to connect the northern and southern portions of the state.

•

1900 The boom in irrigated farming caused Modesto’s population not only to rebound from the losses of the 1890s, but to nearly double to 4,034 by 1910. Irrigation brought tremendous prosperity and new buildings rose all over Modesto and phone service reached 466 addresses in 1906.

• • • •

1910 Modesto was known as one of the most progressive, prosperous, and beautiful cities in the state.

1911 Municipal charter provides for an air strip, the first in the country.

1913 Modesto becomes auto gateway city into Yosemite National Park.

1917 Modesto’s citizens responded to World War I by organizing a Red Cross auxiliary, and holding benefits and patriotic parades. When the United States asked men to join the military, 872 young Modestans joined, from a total population of about 8,000.

•

1920 First air freight delivery of auto parts. Flown from San Francisco to Modesto, made national news. In the 1920s, Modesto was also the largest butter producing city in the country. There was a magazine published here titled, Butterfat.

• • • •

1925 Beaty Building, first electrically heated building in California.

1933 KTRB signed on the air. A big signal, and the only station in Modesto for the next 17 years.

1936 Sciabica Olive Oil opens, oldest producer and maybe largest, in the country.

1946 Modesto experienced rapid growth in the decades after World War II. Modesto’s population of about 16,000 residents in 1940 rose to more than 36,000 by 1960.

• • • • • •

1971 Modesto held the first Curbside Recycle in the United States.

1972 Modesto was named the All American City.

1982 Shell Oil Company Laboratory closes.

1990 City outlaws cruising, last of the famous cruises.

2017 Modesto-Merced Metro population reaches 820,000.

2018 Modesto officially added to the San Jose, San Francisco metro area with a population of 9,600,000.

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OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

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WE ARE HERE FOR YOUR

SUCCESS

Each member of the Chamber is important, no matter what the size. We not only want our local businesses to succeed; we want them to thrive. We help small businesses and non-profits grow by providing exposure, assisting in start-ups and providing advocacy.

Whatever your business needs, we are here to help.

For over 100 years, the Modesto Chamber of Commerce has been serving the Greater Modesto Area with quality programs and services designed to help businesses grow and thrive.

To execute our adopted mission we have developed an acronym that helps keep us focused. That acronym is “CARES: Community, Advocacy, Relationships, Education and Service.”

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BECOMING PART OF THE CHAMBER FAMILY PLEASE CONTACT : INFO@MODCHAMBER.ORG OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: WWW.MODCHAMBER.ORG

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OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

9/25/2020 11:04:08 AM

ENTEKRA CONGRATULATES MODESTO AS IT CELEBRATES ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY

We are proud to be a part of this thriving community and look forward to building upon its continued success in the next 150 years.

(209) 624 1630 info@entekra.com | www.entekra.com

209 Magazine 41-Oct-Nov 2020.indd 51

9/25/2020 11:04:08 AM

Back row, starting from left: Randy Anderson, Vice President/Investments; Jeffrey Sutton, Managing Director/Investments; Larry Maddox, Financial Advisor; Richard Midgley, Financial Advisor; David Beach, Senior Vice President/Investments; Dane Anderson, Branch Manager, First Vice President/Investments; Jerod Havel, Financial Advisor Front row, starting from left: Nicole Alberto, Client Service Associate; Anna Salazar, Client Service Associate; Lisa Buzick, Operations Supervisor; Asma Mahmood, First Vice President/Investments; Chris Reece, Client Service Associate

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209 Magazine 41-Oct-Nov 2020.indd 52

9/25/2020 11:04:09 AM

1893 La Grange

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9/25/2020 11:04:09 AM

navigator

A HIDDEN Amador Flower Farm GEM & Nursery

By CLAUDIA NEWCORN

54

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9/25/2020 11:28:28 AM

FROM COUNTLESS DIFFERENT COLORFUL DAYLILIES SPROUTING ACROSS 14 ACRES OF ROLLING FARMLAND TO A DELIGHTFUL KID-FRIENDLY PUMPKIN PATCH AND OUTDOOR PICNIC AREA, IT’S THE PERFECT FAMILY DAY TRIP UP INTO THE FOOTHILLS.

W

e’re all looking for closeto-home escapes these days, and one of our region’s hidden gems is the Amador Flower Farm & Nursery. From countless different colorful daylilies sprouting across 14 acres of rolling farmland to a delightful kid-friendly pumpkin patch and outdoor picnic area, it’s the perfect family day trip up into the foothills.

Flowers galore Located just outside of Plymouth, nestled in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley foothills and surrounded by boutique wineries, AFFN specializes in daylilies, with over 1000 varieties spread in walkable rows on the grounds. For those of you who think daylilies come in one color – orange – think again. Think every color you can imagine – and more. Ruffled edges. Ornate patterns. Huge. Tall.

Small. Delicate. Just a few of the words that popped into my head as I ambled about, ogling the incredible diversity of these flowers that are happy in the Central Valley’s dry sunny climate.

Established in 1996, the nursery is open to the public, no admission needed. The AFFN acres’ peak bloom usually runs June through August; however, the flowers continue to bloom through Fall. After you

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park, head for the charming wooden building and gift shop to pick up information cards about daylilies before you start exploring. There’s a good reason to do this.

While the plants showcase the lilies, most are also available in pots and in early Spring as bare root bulbs. Every row of pots is labeled with codes to help you select which ones would be best for your garden.

There are over 20 abbreviations, such as EE – blooms extra early. HT – height of flower scape in inches.

S – semi-evergreen. Without those info cards, you won’t know their key performance attributes. Helpful hint: take a snapshot or write down the numbers from the daylily’s sign. The plants are organized numerically, and if you lose your lily, the helpful folks at the counter can point you in the right direction.

While selecting varieties from those that were planted, I discovered that some are actually being “proved” and not yet ready for market. A nursery person explained they do extended assessments of the bulbs before making them available to the public, seeing how they grow and thrive. When dormant, a portion of the planted bulbs are dug up in early spring and sold as bare root in store or online. 

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navigator

Drought tolerant and easy to plant – and deer resistant as well – daylilies can add sprays of color from Spring through Fall, depending on which plants you choose.

You can pick up care and feeding instructions on how to keep your daylilies happy from the nursery, and the very friendly staff are happy to answer questions.

Beyond flowers Being all outdoors, the nursery has had the good fortune to be able to remain open throughout the year; it is open year ‘round, seven days a week. A pleasantly shaded picnic ground beside a burbling creek welcomes visitors.

Check out the massive oak in the

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center of the flower acres, with nearby seats for quiet contemplation. There are easy walking paths along the stream, as well as among the flowers. The nursery building also carries an assortment of other plants, as well as unusual and seasonal gifts.

Normally AFFN has up to 10 events a year, from Easter Egg hunts to Fall Fun Days, as well as tram tours around the property. I checked and they plan to do their Pumpkin Patch this year, although it will be laid out differently to minimize crowding. The corn maze will be open, the scarecrows and hay bales waiting, and gourds, pumpkins and other fall festive

treats will be awaiting their guests.

If you want to do a little wine tasting as part of your trip, many of the local wineries are open. Just Google wineries near Plymouth, CA for current information. Most also carry food items and have outdoor eating areas.

A couple more helpful hints: Wear comfortable shoes for walking – the grounds are hilly. And a hat – daylilies like sun, so most of the walks are in full sunlight.

Bring a picnic and enjoy just sitting outside, away from it all.

You can learn more above events, activities, the flowers, and shop online at www.AmadorFlowerFarm.com. ■

9/25/2020 11:28:42 AM

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209 Magazine 41-Oct-Nov 2020.indd 57

9/25/2020 11:04:11 AM

thegreatoutdoors

CYCLISTS COMPLETE

CROSS-COUNTRY

EXCURSION

By MATT JOHANSON

Utah delivered the bikers’ favorite scenery from the cross country ride.

O

n the toughest bicycle trek any of them had tried, Day 7 ranked as the toughest day.

As the team pedaled on State Route 375 through Nevada’s hottest desert, July temperatures soared well into triple digits.

Four cyclists biked nine straight hours on a shade less road. So relentlessly shone the sun that they used the meager shelter of their panniers for shade on short breaks; one considered crawling into an irrigation pipe. Between towns stretched 110 merciless miles. When their last bottle ran out, they were forced to wave down passing cars to plead for water.

“I told myself, if I can make it out of

Everyone we encountered was so kind to us and so welcoming.

It showed me how we’re all just human. I would never trade the experience for anything.

— Dasha Yurkevich

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this alive, I can do anything,” said Dasha Yurkevich, 18.

Maybe she and her friends can. Three recent graduates of San Francisco’s Ruth Asawa School of the Arts and their Turlock native teacher embarked on the adventure of a lifetime on July 1. Despite the pandemic, they aimed to bike across the entire country. Nevada’s desert was just one of many challenges along the way.

California provided the first. After crossing the Central Valley, the bikers climbed to Yosemite’s western entrance, ascending some 5,000 feet on their third day. Every muscle ached as the stillgreen team made camp.

“Is that the toughest day we’ll have?”

OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

9/25/2020 11:29:53 AM

Four California cyclists pedaled 52 days to cross the Brooklyn Bridge and reach the Atlantic Ocean.

asked Emmet Forde, 17.

“No,” replied teacher and Turlock High graduate Andy Padlo, 59.

The next day required even more uphill as they cleared 9,943 feet and the Sierra Nevada crest, their first mountain range but not their last, nor their highest.

Besides sun and suffering, Nevada delivered the Extraterrestrial Highway, an other-worldly vibe, a glimpse of Area 51 and the first of many kind strangers.

A store owner near aptly-titled Caliente invited the crew into his home for pancakes, sausage and their first showers in nine days.

“People are really kind hearted and generous,” Padlo said. “It felt great to sit down, talk and come to see them as not that different from ourselves.”

Utah won favor as the scenic highlight as the group rolled through Red Canyon, Grand Escalante National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park. “In terms of environment and scenery, Utah is a beautiful marvel of nature, with red rock walls that shoot straight up,” said Julian Jordan, 18.

“Utah was the only state you couldn’t compare with anything else,” agreed Forde. “With all that red rock, it felt like being on another planet, like Mars. Scenery like that boosted our morale.”

Colorado required the steepest climb

over the Rocky Mountains via 11,312-foot Monarch Pass, the highest point of the trip.

“Climbing that mountain made me so happy,” said Yurkevich. “A beautiful nine-mile climb through the Rockies to the top of the Continental Divide was the most incredible and surreal experience.”

A century (100 mile) ride the next day led to a friend’s home in Colorado Springs for a welcome break and desperately-needed showers.

“Kansas was emotionally drain-

A flooded road forced the group to wade up to their waists in Missouri.

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ing,” said Padlo.

Rather than flat and fast, the terrain proved hilly and slow, with strong headwinds, heavy rainstorms, heat, humidity and countless truckers who crowded them on narrow roads. Strangers approached to pray for them.

Crossing the state took six days, double their estimate.

“I’m never going back,” vowed Forde.

Missouri, the Show Me State, showed the first cornfields so vast that the travelers were compelled

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thegreatoutdoors

In all, the Californians rode 3,614 miles, climbed 155,706 feet uphill, averaged 69.5 miles a day and repaired 65 flat tires.

Dasha Yurkevich celebrates reaching New York and the end of a long journey.

to covertly camp in them for two weeks.

“It was shocking to see just how much of the country is corn. In California, that’s so foreign that they make it part of sci-fi movies,” said Jordan.

Illinois saw an encounter with police.

Two officers stopped the cyclists, checked their IDs and questioned them.

“We still don’t understand why we got pulled over,” Yurkevich said.

Though the police offered kind words during the exchange, the teens called the meeting “unsettling.”

In Indiana, armed protestors rallied outside the Capitol to claim “the China virus is all just a hoax” and “medical professionals are lying” and “masks really just make you more sick.” The event bewildered the four Californians, resting on a nearby lawn, who avoided most big cities and nearly cancelled their trip because of the coronavirus.

“That rally was really a shock. Their guns were almost as big as I was. Their fingers were on the triggers and there were no police in sight,” said Yurkevich.

“Those people showed me how different the country is.”

Ohio gave a more welcome surprise.

While fixing a flat tire in Columbus, the bikers met a fellow cycling enthusiast who let them camp in her yard, fed them, and helped tune up their bikes.

In West Virginia and Pennsylvania, the Appalachian Mountains awaited.

But instead of another epic climb, the weary crew found a bike path on an old railroad bed which inclined only gradually. After 45 days and some 3,000 miles of riding, the team appreciated the break.

“I was really thrilled to find that,” said Padlo of the Great Allegheny Passage.

“The trail winds along a river and past little towns, bike hostels and cafes. We almost didn’t feel like we were climbing the Appalachians.”

In New Jersey, a well-wisher awaited them with cold water, one of thousands who read about the adventure in news reports and followed along at instagram. com/youthbikeamerica.

Finally on Aug. 21, the group reached New York, visited Times Square and crossed the Brooklyn Bridge. Several new biking friends joined them on the final miles.

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Jordan said. “‘The kindness of the local bikers made us feel like we were part of the community.”

At Brighton Beach, family, friends and a television crew awaited. Seven weeks earlier, the cyclists dipped their tires in the Pacific Ocean. Now they did so in the Atlantic. For good measure, Jordan jumped in the water.

“It felt like the right thing to do,” he said. Tears of joy flowed.

In all, the Californians rode 3,614 miles, climbed 155,706 feet uphill, averaged 69.5 miles a day and repaired 65 flat tires.

But more than the numbers or even the destination, the journey and its discoveries defined the feat.

“Everyone we encountered was so kind to us and so welcoming. It showed me how we’re all just human. I would never trade the experience for anything,” Yurkevich said.

Not least of those discoveries was the group’s own potential. All four hope to take more ambitious bike tours and suggest that others consider doing so too.

“If more people knew their potential, they could do this as well,” said Forde. ■

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fulloflife

By TERESA HAMMOND

Cancer for me has been a tremendous wake-up and reminder — life is full of peaks and valleys and it is only because of the valleys that we can truly love and appreciate those peaks.

I

t wasn’t supposed to be painful, that’s what a friend told me. That’s the hope I hung on to, as one appointment continued to lead to another after discovering a lump on my right breast.

Mine was painful. So painful, in fact, it woke me from slumber one night in late February. Located to the far-right side of my breast, rolling on my side it felt like I’d rolled onto a rock. More like a pebble, but painful nonetheless.

Yet that would have been simpler. A rock can be removed from the sheets, a tumor, one the size of a peanut, would be a bit harder to evict.

So as the world began scrambling in the early days of COVID-19, I began being poked and prodded to solve the mystery of the lump which woke me.

Before expanding further, I must confess amidst all the early mayhem and concern of this newly breaking

pandemic, there was not one hiccup to my care. Tests and lab work seemed to become weekly occurrences. Not one insurance delay, re-scheduled appointment; it was – and remains to be – seamless.

On April 15 of this year, via a FaceTime call with my OB her eyes told me what her words soon would, the mass was cancer. The next week, via phone call, I would meet my oncologist and two days later (in person) my breast surgeon.

Surgeon? Yes, the surgeon referral was when I recognized this would not be treated via a few chemo pills. It’s also when I learned there’s more to cancer than learning what “stage” cancer is.

Prior to my diagnosis, I felt I was pretty savvy and knowledgeable about cancer. Over a decade of volunteer time with the American Cancer Society, as 209MAGAZINE.COM

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well as personal connections to family and friends affected by cancer, I figured I knew this road.

That quickly changed when I learned I had Triple Negative Breast Cancer. “An aggressive” breast cancer, my new BFF (aka my surgeon) told me. Yet because we caught it early, the cancer was treatable yet the road would not be short.

Due to the aggressive nature we would need to start with an equally aggressive treatment plan, surgical removal would have to wait.

I still remember her words so clearly and, gratefully, my mother was there to confirm what I had heard was accurate.

“Surgery will remove the tumor, but it won’t save your life. I won’t allow my ego to get in the way. Chemo is going to save your life and you should have been in chemo last week.”

The following week my port was

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placed in the left side of my chest and would be used for the next 12 weeks of chemotherapy treatment.

Upon its insertion, I quickly told my friends and family I had become bionic.

The details can become quite boring to the masses and what I’ve come to learn is no two cancers and treatment plans are exactly the same.

Mine was taxing; I’ll simply leave it at that. My initial chemo treatment was successful and “resolved” the tumor and threat to the lymph node. As I type this I am recovering from a double mastectomy and the first phase of my reconstruction. I am well and I am fortunate.

The personal side of this, through every step I could not help but acknowledge my good fortune. In mid-April, after recovering from the shock and reality, my partner and I (both athletes)

acknowledged that we’d embrace a “get ‘er done” attitude and push through every hurdle placed in front of us. In this moment, that is exactly how my story of Stage 3, Triple Negative Breast Cancer has gone.

Knowing so many who have walked this path of varying stages and diagnoses, I recognize “smooth” is not always possible. Yet here I am, grateful, lucky, blessed – we’re checking the boxes and getting me back to my health.

Early on, my surgeon gave great advice and to this moment I believe it made all the difference in my overall health. During chemo I allowed myself some down days, I ate responsibly, I gave up drinking and on the days I was able I walked one to three miles – every day. Keeping my body physically strong during a time when we would be breaking it down, seemed wise and, well, in 209MAGAZINE.COM

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my case it worked. While my hair fell to the wayside, my physical appearance remained much the same.

Midway through treatment, I remember checking in with my kids (ages 13 and 16), inquiring how they were feeling about “mom being sick.”

My son put it best, sharing that before I started treatment he was scared and worried. “But not much has changed mom. Aside from a few naps here and there you’re the same, so it’s really okay.”

Music to a mother’s ears.

Our road is still continuing. Chemotherapy is still on the table, pending lab results from the mastectomy, but we aren’t stopping.

There are many lessons to share with others, barely six months into my cancer journey.

The first would be the value of self-

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fulloflife

A passion for reading continued on varying topics once hearing the diagnosis of Triple Negative, Stage 3 Breast Cancer.

Step 1 in the world of treating the disease, having a port placed in my chest for chemotherapy treatment.

Quick selfie after a 5-mile walk. Staying active on the good days during chemo was important for me and my family.

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exams. Again, I was lucky my mass woke me. The tech administering my diagnostic mammogram shared my mass would not have been discovered in a standard test; it was too far back. Follow through was equally important, meaning I did not let a busy mom schedule interfere with the importance of the initial appointment and I was tempted.

From that first appointment to present day, I have journaled details and information along the way. Prior to any and all appointments questions for the doctor placed in the book for review and later reference.

In short, my diagnosis prompted me into a new business. I’m now in the business of saving my life and rebuilding my health. To this day, I have not relied on traditional medicine exclusively. Alternative options have become just as much a part of this journey as has utilizing an alternative healer and working through emotional road blocks.

I’m doing it all.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the number one driving force for me through all of this is faith.

I’ve always believed everything happens for a reason and God truly doesn’t give us more than we can handle.

An epilepsy diagnosis at the age of 13, battle with infertility though my 30s and now cancer. For many that may seem a lot, for me it still goes back to faith.

As my seizures are controlled, I am the mother to two beautiful healthy kids and now, well now I’m facing one hell of a path for a midlife makeover but I’ll be damned if I won’t see this through and be better for it on the other side.

Cancer for me has been a tremendous wake-up and reminder — life is full of peaks and valleys and it is only because of the valleys that we can truly love and appreciate those peaks. Here’s to the climb and the good health to get me there. ■

OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

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fulloflife

Powering through

By SABRA STAFFORD

I’m a mother, daughter, nurse, friend and I am a cancer survivor.

It’s a title I’ll carry for the rest of my life.

C

ancer may have taken a few things from Susan Powers’ life — most notably the loss of her mother from the disease — but eight years into remission this breast cancer survivor opts to focus on all the things cancer did not and cannot take away from her.

“Cancer can’t take away my dreams, my relationships, my personality and my zest for life,” Powers said.

Powers, a trauma nurse at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, also says cancer gave her something she never expected to find in her life; a big voice. And she’s using that voice to advocate for women’s health and spread a message of positivity.

“You are your best advocate and it’s important to use your voice and be aggressive in your health care,” Powers said.

Powers, now 52, was 43 years old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. 

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fulloflife

“It was the scariest day of my life,” Powers said. “I immediately thought of my family and my two daughters and what would happen to them if I wasn’t around.”

It was a fear Powers understood well. She was 25 years old when she lost her mother to breast cancer. Reflecting on the milestones her own mother was not able to experience with her, Powers was determined to put everything she had into this fight for her life. In just a short amount of time she underwent rounds of chemotherapy and a series of surgeries. Then she had to wait and see if all the efforts were going to lead her to remission.

“It was the marathon I never signed up to run,” Powers said of her experience. “But I ran it and I crossed that finish line.”

Powers now uses her voice and actions to champion breast cancer awareness. She has served as a motivational speaker for several events including Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

“I felt in my heart that I had a big voice to empower women,” Powers said.

And while Powers keeps her focus on all the things cancer did not take away from her, she knows it is forever a part of her life and she has decided to carry that mantle with pride.

“I’m a mother, daughter, nurse, friend and I am a cancer survivor,” she said. “It’s a title I’ll carry for the rest of my life.”

Powers has created an annual fundraiser with Tresetti’s World Caffe in Modesto to support breast cancer research. This year’s event — Pink Patio Night — will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 15. ■

It was the scariest day of my life.

I immediately thought of my family and my two daughters and what would happen to them if I wasn’t around.

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fulloflife

THE THREE OF HEALTH AT OSMOSIS

By VIRGINIA STILL

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

A

n alternative health and wellness service in Modesto seeks to rehydrate, re-energize and rejuvenate its guests. Partners Terra Goodrich and Alyssa Badiou have combined their medical expertise and their passion for helping people to offer IV hydration and vitamin therapy replacement to everyone in the 209.

Osmosis is celebrating its one-year anniversary this November as they opened their doors on Nov. 1, 2019. Some people may be familiar with this alternative method which gained popularity in Las Vegas with the ‘hangover drip’ and made its way to Beverly Hills and now is available in Modesto. The cozy lounge is nestled in a business center at 803 Coffee Road, Suite 10, Modesto, alongside other health and wellness options.

Goodrich has been a Registered Nurse for 10 years, spending time in the emergency room and five years as a cardiac trained nurse specifically. She has always been passionate about working out and doing her best to stay healthy. Badiou is also an RN and both their husbands are in the medical field as well.

“I see how people can come in really sick so I wanted to avoid that,” said Goodrich.

“On my journey I came across IV hydration and vitamin therapy replacement. I thought

As we get older, we don’t create or absorb as much of those vitamins that our body needs to thrive and feel healthy and to operate at a top level, so we will help replace that.

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‘wow that is a great way to help people stay healthy’ outside and not just people that are active and working out but people that have chronic diseases, too. It really helps them.”

She said some people, such as those who have had a gastric bypass or those with certain chronic diseases, they don’t absorb vitamins so receiving vitamins through the drip is a good option.

“We can help with pain and do so many things that are beneficial and keep them out of the hospital. So, I thought I can do that and here I am.”

They offer IV hydration and vitamin therapy replacement using natural vitamins that the body should absorb at 100 percent. Goodrich explained that when people take a vitamin pill the body only absorbs about 30 percent, but with the IV hydration they get 100 percent.

“As we get older, we don’t create or absorb as much of those vitamins that our body needs to thrive and feel healthy and to operate at a top level,” noted Goodrich.

“So, we will help replace that.”

Some of her clientele are people with chronic pain, inflammation, and stress that take a 30-minute drip in the pink Himalayan salt room. The pink glow in the room that is made up of salt walls and a salt floor along with the crystal in the entrance add to the healing experience. A woman that was losing her hair, for instance, was administered an Inner Beauty drip that replenished her hair and nails and rehydrated her skin. They can customize the drip for each person’s needs specifically like the Immunity infusion that helps people that feel tired, rundown, or feel like they are getting sick. Even those that workout can get a Performance drip to help them with muscle composition and better results. The Weight Loss drip aids those that are getting started with a diet and exercise routine with a natural

boost of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

“This is good for anybody and everybody,” advised Goodrich. “Everybody at some point has something going on.

Anybody and everybody are welcome. We have multiple drips that do something different and then we can customize based on what the person is feeling. They will see a benefit.”

The suggestion from Goodrich is to receive a drip once a month and that can change based on the person and their needs.

The prices vary as well and for those that use the services on a regular basis they offer discounts. They also offer house parties for four or more individuals. They are on an appointment basis that can be scheduled online through their website Osmosis-Lounge. com or by phone 209-556-2116.

“The favorite part for me is when someone comes in here and tells me how good they feel and that they haven’t felt like that in a long time,” stated Goodrich. “That makes me happy because then they are functioning better and then life is better.

Some people that come in here are like ‘I never knew I could feel this way.’ It is really great to see.”

Although COVID-19 shut them down for a while they are glad to be open once again.

The clientele that they were helping could not get what they needed so when they reopened they were extremely busy and ready to get their customers feeling good.

“To be able to feel yourself at 100 percent capacity and everything is working the way it should because your body is fueled the way it should be; it doesn’t have a money measure,” remarked Goodrich. “You cannot put a price on that but you can put a feeling and that feeling is something you have never felt before. So really taking your health into your own hands and saying I deserve to feel my best. That is what we want and we want to help people feel their best.” ■

We can help with pain and do so many things that are beneficial and keep them out of the hospital.

So, I thought I can do that and here I am.

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placecalledhome

Still growing

Master Gardeners cultivating success

By MARG JACKSON

PHOTOS COURTESTY OF UCCE

M

ore time at home, and for many, fewer dollars coming in amid the realities of the pandemic, has set the stage for a surge in home gardening.

And that’s just where the UCCE, University of California Cooperative Extension, specialists come in.

“We are getting more calls and a high percentage of people are interested; there is more interest from people wanting to grow their own food than ever before,” explained Master Gardener Program Coordinator Anne Schellman, of the UCCE in Stanislaus County. “People have been attending our online classes.”

An added benefit of the online learning is having a librarian that recommends different books to go along with the classes, helping enhance the learning experience.

For those interested in getting started, Schellman said the Central Val-

ley is uniquely located so that they can basically garden throughout the year.

“They can visit their local nursery or garden center for seeds and plants,” Schellman added.

Especially good to grow in the fallwinter season are vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, peas, beets, lettuce, garlic, onions, Brussels sprouts, mustard greens and turnips.

“Root vegetables should always be planted from seeds,” noted Schellman.

For the true beginners, other vegetables can be purchased from stores and transplanted into home gardens.

“They need to prepare the soil, use some compost and mix it into the ground first,” Schellman said. “Look for an area that gets six to eight hours of sunlight or more, lettuce can take a little less.”

It doesn’t really take much room to plant a small home garden and, along

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with providing a payoff that you can enjoy at the dinner table, gardening is also a good, physical activity that offers the chance for some exercise.

The Master Gardener program through UCCE turns 40 years old this year, Schellman said, and is active in most counties around California. In Stanislaus County, the program started in 2018 but it has been in existence for several years in areas including San Joaquin and Merced counties and in cities ranging from Sonora to Fresno.

There are trained master gardeners available to help those with questions or the novice looking for guidance.

“We have 55 master gardener volunteers (in Stanislaus County) that were trained for six months, every week they trained for five to six hours,” Schellman explained of the extensive requirements.

The most recent group to go through the training was able to start the year

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The environment, gardening and conservation are all a part of the lessons featured through University of California Cooperative Extension, UCCE, with Master Gardeners Heidi Aufdermaur, left, and Roxanne Campbell on hand to provide information at ‘A Day Without Water’ event in Modesto in 2019.

with the sessions in person but, after March, had to regroup and get all the trainees set up on Zoom so they could continue with the weekly meetings online.

Schellman said she was proud to see that all 31 people that started the training in the latest group of master gardeners made it through the additional challenges associated with learning through the pandemic and all graduated the class.

“Once you graduate, you give back to the community, donate your time,” she said.

They have master gardener volunteers in the Riverbank and Oakdale areas, Denair, Salida, Turlock and more.

Last year, as part of ‘giving back’, the UCCE Master Gardner program had representatives at the Oakdale Farmers Market each week and also were at the Modesto Farmers Market in addition to attending a variety of community events.

The UCCE also has a demonstration garden at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center on Cornucopia Way in Modesto and are planning a November groundbreaking for new ‘theme gardens’ on the site which, when able to open to the public, will be a sensory learning experience.

Master Gardeners Terre Gouveia, left, and Rho Yare staffed a booth, met with the crowd, and offered up a variety of gardening information at the Salmon Festival in Knights Ferry in 2019.

Schellman grew up in Modesto and said she developed an interest in gardening early on, noting that her grandfather would have her help out in the garden, planting some items on her own and assisting with the maintenance.

She went on to attend Cal Poly to study horticulture, after first learning about the field of study at Modesto Junior College, and has a degree in Environmental Horticulture Science.

“This is the perfect job for me,” Schellman admitted of sharing her knowledge and passion for gardening – both for food and fun – with others.

Online classes that focus on a variety of gardening topics are available to anyone interested; the October-November class will be on ‘Water Wise Gardening.’

Despite the hiccups caused by the shutdown of in-person meetings and the loss of several on site opportunities to meet with the public, Schellman said the master gardener program is “still growing” and seeing plenty of interest in those wanting to be involved.

For more information, call the Modesto office at 209-525-6802 or email them at: ucmgstanislaus@ucanr.edu “Our goal is to help people, using research-based information, to sustainably garden,” Schellman said. ■ 209MAGAZINE.COM

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Members of the Master Gardener class of 2020 learned about composting with worms; they had met a few times in person during the early part of the year before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a change to online meetings.

At Stanislaus County’s UCCE, there are a number of options for assistance. They include: HELP LINE (209) 525-6802; Answered Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon or leave a message.

PEST PROBLEMS http://ucanr.edu/ask/ucmgstanislaus

OTHER QUESTIONS ucmgstanislaus@ucanr.edu

YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://ucanr.edu/youtube/ucmgstanislaus Current videos available on the YouTube channel are: Fall Vegetable Gardening, Spring Vegetable Gardening, Herb Gardening, and Native Pollinators.

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placecalledhome

K

itchens and bathrooms remain among the top picks for homeowners looking to upgrade because their functional contributions to the household can’t be overstated and they typically provide high return on investment.

If you’re considering a renovation project for either in-demand space, consider some of these on-trend ideas from Doug King, CR, MBA, owner of King Contracting, Inc. and president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. ■

BATHROOM Spa-like setting. One longterm trend that is still in top demand for the master bath is design that mimics a serene spa. This plays out in cooler colors like white, blues and grays. Glass tiles are taking on a bigger role with many homeowners using them as artistic focal points in showers or opting for pebble-like tiles that spill from walls onto the floor.

Upscale practicality. Little touches that may have once gone unnoticed are now trending as opportunities to add elements of style. For example, curbless showers with offset lineal drains are preferred to traditional centered circular versions. Similarly, homeowners are upping the ante with lighting

such as fixtures integrated with fans and mirrors, and even below floating vanities for ambient light at night. One more place you might find lighting: on the bidet, which is also an increasingly hot addition in the master bath.

A splash of tech. Whether it’s 209MAGAZINE.COM

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used to control smart features or simply add entertainment like TV or soothing music, technology has a permanent place on the list of bathroom trends. The available features make it easy to make a full escape from the daily grind of life.

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KITCHEN Bigger functional spaces. Not only do many kitchen renovations result in added square footage, they also add practical features to make living and entertaining more comfortable and enjoyable.

When it comes to physical space, a popular choice is removing or relocating walls to make the room larger.

This added space can be instrumental in adding an island or peninsula for bar seating, which many homeowners view as a necessity when it comes to entertaining. Other features like icemakers, tall wine refrigerators and walk-in pantries are high on the frequent request list.

Another growing trend is a

kitchen designed for two, complete with a second full-size sink, dishwasher and microwave drawer, along with a larger island.

Clever storage. Making the most of storage space has always been a top desire, and homeowners are getting increasingly clever about how to maximize their cabinetry. Drawer organizers are in high demand, along with pull-out waste baskets that hide recycling bins within. Another popular approach is large base cabinets with pivoting shelving mechanisms for storing large items like mixers and other taller countertop appliances. Making use of every inch of space is common; even the toe-kick area

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for drawers are proving useful to hold smaller items or put kidfriendly essentials in easy reach.

Feature-rich appliances.

Appliance manufacturers are adding all kinds of bells and whistles, and those features are increasingly attractive to homeowners. Upper-end appliances are becoming more mainstream as homeowners discover features the more expensive models offer for ease of use and comfort. Larger freezer and column-style refrigerators are especially growing in popularity.

Find more inspiration and trending ideas for your next home improvement project at remodelingdoneright.com.

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marketplace

By ANGELINA MARTIN

O

n a small, one-acre farm just outside of Merced, a group of non-catholic nuns have made their mark on the cannabis industry.

Their religion doesn’t include gods or deities, but rather a peaceful existence creating CBD-based products which have helped countless customers deal with pain.

The Sisters of the Valley are referred to by many as the “Weed Nuns,” thanks to their line of CBD salves, oils, tinctures and even teas which are crafted from non-psychoactive cannabis. By utilizing CBD in their products, the Sisters of the Valley create medicine that has no effect on the mind, like THC does, but instead provides a powerful pain reliever and myorelaxant.

Sisters of the Valley founder Sister Kate Meeusen first declared herself a “nun” in 2011, she said, in protest of Congress declaring pizza a vegetable when it came to school lunches.

“I said, ‘If pizza is a vegetable, then I’m a nun,’” Meeusen said.

What followed next was the creation

of a full-fledged business with nature, activism and healing at its core. She developed the Sisters of the Valley’s first line of products in 2015 and the rest is history.

Meeusen believes that the group’s products are especially helpful thanks to their practices — all products are made by women and the cannabis crops are grown in accordance with lunar cycles.

“We get some pretty amazing healing stories from people, and we attribute that to the fact that it’s a very feminine environment and everything is done with energy of the moon magnifying what we create,” Meeusen said.

“Women are natural healers and having medicine separate from men feels like natural dance.”

While there are some men who work on the farm in the 209 and other Sisters of the Valley enclaves throughout the world (the sisterhood of non-catholic nuns has expanded to countries like Brazil, Mexico and Sweden), they mainly serve as farmhands and tend

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to the crops. The sisters, on the other hand, are the ones who turn marijuana into money by developing the medicinal products.

According to Meeusen, the nuns live and work together and are committed to leading lives of simplicity that respect nature and each other. They are inspired by the Beguine women’s movement of the 13th Century, she said, and also take a vow of activism.

The sisters spend hours each week advocating for causes related not only to marijuana, but feminist and social equality struggles. All of this falls in line with their main goal: helping people heal, including themselves.

“We’re very much into empowering ourselves,” Meeusen said. “…We value exercise and taking the best care of yourself...Running a business like this you could work all the time. If we wanted that, we would have just stayed working for the man.”

One of the Sisters of the Valley’s best sellers is their CBD salve, made from hemp-based CBD, coconut oil,

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We get some pretty amazing healing stories from people, and we attribute that to the fact that it’s a very feminine environment and everything is done with energy of the moon magnifying what we create. ­— Sister Kate Meeusen

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marketplace

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FRAUD

Not all medicine helps all people, but our topical salve is what people give us the most amount of raves about. That’s the thing people can’t live without.

The District Attorney’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Unit pursues an aggressive approach to identify, investigate and prosecute workers’ compensation insurance fraud.

beeswax, Vitamin E and lavender oil. The rub-on product is often used for joint pain, or as an aid for migraines. The salve is a must-have for most customers, Meeusen said, adding that one patient traveled from Norway to get her hands on it.

“Not all medicine helps all people, but our topical salve is what people give us the most amount of raves about,” she said. “That’s the thing people can’t live without.”

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Meeusen said Sisters of the Valley sold 50,000 products per month. Between COVID-19 and recent wildfires impacting the business, sales are now about a fourth of that number.

Still, she hopes that as time passes things will return to normal. She anticipates more people coming around to the idea of cannabis as medicine as well.

“At one time it was a common belief system that women had smaller brains than men, that the earth was flat and that the sun rotated around the earth,” Meeusen said.

“Throughout history, people have gotten common beliefs wrong and the common belief against the cannabis plant is completely wrong. Anyone who doesn’t understand it’s the best medicine we have will figure it out.”

To purchase CBD products from the Sisters of the Valley, visit www.sistersofthevalley.org. ■ 209MAGAZINE.COM

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If you or someone you know suspects any fraudulent activity, please contact us through our Amador office at

(209) 223-6444 or www.amadorda.org

SERVING AMADOR, CALAVERAS, STANISLAUS, TUOLUMNE AND MARIPOSA COUNTIES WHAT IS FRAUD?

» Faking an accident or injury » Exaggerating symptoms of an injury » Obtaining other employment while allegedly disabled and not reporting income » Employers failing to have required workers’ compensation insurance » Dissuading employees from claiming job-related injuries or seeking medical attention

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marketplace

Branding Challenges Faced

By BETH DEVINE

W

e understand that branding is a big part of any business.

When you’re able to establish an effective brand, your business is authoritative and trusted. Before delving into branding issues faced by small businesses, we must first understand what a brand is.

When people think of the word brand, there are a couple of things that come to mind. It could be signage, a logo, or an item used to market or sell product or services.

While this is right, this is just a

small aspect of what branding is.

Think of it as a promise you make to your customers — letting them know the type of service they can expect from you, how you are different from the competition, and, most importantly, what you stand for.

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Let’s think big for a minute and take a page out of the book of some of the biggest brand stories. How did they become so successful? While it’s easy to say they may have had a stroke of good luck or some influential support, the truth is that deliberate branding strategies were implemented to get recognized.

When it comes to smaller businesses, creating a viable brand strategy can pose some challenges. There isn’t a one size fits all plan that guarantees awareness. You have to consider branding as an art; it involves creating something different and new.

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Branding is easy for companies with large budgets and a talented marketing department.

But on the other hand, it can be quite challenging for a small business with limited resources.

Below are some branding challenges small businesses face.

The Ability to Accurately Define the Purpose of Your Brand and How It Differs from Others A brand’s purpose should accurately describe why your business exists and how it differs from the competition. A brand that clearly articulates its purpose can help owners make decisions that add credence and

improve customer satisfaction.

The focus of a small business, especially when starting out, is getting things running smoothly and efficiently. Very rarely is the focus on how to create a unique brand. Only after the business appears to be on its feet do owners think about how to turn their business into a recognizable local

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brand. Choosing to pay attention to branding early on can have a significant impact on logos, insignias, and other business-related collateral.

A brand’s purpose should accurately describe why your business exists and how it differs from the competition.

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marketplace

Making Your Brand Consistent

Creativity Issues

Consistency isn’t just about using brand colors and your logo in your marketing materials. It has more to do with ensuring your brand difference, and design is constant and portrayed in every area of your business and especially your company culture. Brand consistency means that when someone asks what your business stands for, you should be able to answer that by looking at it as a whole. The answer should resonate through everything that you do both personally and professionally.

Creativity can be established in numerous ways, especially with the assistance of a professional branding and marketing agency to help guide you. Many businesses suffer from creativity issues, but larger companies and brands have the advantage of being able to reach into their coffers and create a solution.

Most business owners aren’t usually marketers, and to begin dominating the competition, they should consider outsourcing essential branding and marketing initiatives.

The right marketing agency can provide you with innovative and creative ways to solve these problems and set the stage for your business to successfully evolve into a recognizable brand.

Creating a Brand Personality and Voice

Beth Devine is one of the most sought-after marketing experts in the Central Valley. She is the founder and principal of Devine Solutions Group, a multiple award-winning digital marketing headquartered in Tracy, CA. Connect with Beth by either calling 833-933-8463 or email her at beth@devinesolutionsgroup.com.

A brand personality and voice should be visible on marketing materials, social media, and email newsletters, etc. Its voice should be heard through every employee in every conversation. It speaks of purpose, mission, and quality service delivery. It should be an established personality combined with a distinctive, relatable voice, and able to create customer loyalty and referrals.

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Stay on Top of Your Health Your Safe Care is our #1 priority Do not delay care if you have an emergency, experience potentially life threatening conditions or have a major change in your medical issues. Talk with your primary care physician about: Scheduling annual screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies Updating immunizations and scheduling your flu shot Continuing your medications and managing chronic or acute disease Referrals to specialists for new conditions Our medical centers remain open and ready to care for you safely when you need us. Every precaution is being taken – combining infection prevention processes, training, testing and supply of personal protective equipment.

Find a Physician, visit EmanuelMedicalCenter.org or call 855-902-5633 DMC-Modesto.com or call 855-631-5673 DoctorsManteca.com or call 855-515-3620

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