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FEATURES There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshbaked bread. Luckily, here in the 209 there are plenty of locally owned bakeries to fulfill your bread needs, from sourdough loaves to buns and croissants, buttery goodness is not far away. If bread making might be something you’re interested in trying, quick bread recipes are an easy way to get your start.

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 – ISSUE 43

IN THE KNOW 14 16

DEPARTMENTS 16

20

Calendar of Events Team Koltyn

ARTS&CULTURE 20 24

Shades of Grace Knack for Knots

FLAVORS 26 29 30 31

Diamondback Grill Hey Bartender Meatless Meatballs Mini Cheesecakes

29

NAVIGATOR 32

Mount Diablo

40

THE GREAT OUTDOORS 36 40

Sierra Splendor Fore Your Information

FULL OF LIFE 52 54 56 60 64

Fitness and Beyond Diabetes Fighters Heart Health Keep Going Best of 2021

A PLACE CALLED HOME 68 70

Composting Basics Dream Home

54

MARKETPLACE 72 74 78 80

Stanislaus Rage Room Thomsen Hops Teammates Sports Cards & Collectibles Keyword Cannibalization

72 209MAGAZINE.COM

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F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2021

1/27/2021 1:51:55 PM

Vol. 8 No. 43

February/ March 2021

$4.95

PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

EDITOR Kristina Hacker

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAHERS Dale Butler Sethaniel Clark Teresa Hammond 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

It’s a new year and with it brings hope for a prosperous future. The 209 definitely has the potential to make a full recovery from the impacts of the recent pandemic. The businesses, organizations and people who make up the 209 are continuing to thrive and we feel privileged to be able to feature them in this magazine. In this issue, you will feel uplifted by an Oakdale family who turned tragedy into generosity, get tips for hiking Mt. Diablo and learn about local bakers. Teen rising music star Ava Grace is also featured in this issue, as well as tips for living your best life in 2021.We hope that you will support all the businesses and organizations highlighted in this issue of 209 Magazine, as we work together to make the 209 the best place to live, work and travel.We look forward to being a part of your community in the coming year.

SPECIAL CONSULTANT Larry Dovichi

Hank Vander Veen Publisher hvanderveen@209magazine.com

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 209magazine.com ©Copyright 2021. 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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F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2021

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Notes

with FRANKIE TOVAR

209 PODCAST Dr. Juris Grasis: Covid19 Update

UC Merced professor and virology expert Dr. Juris Grasis returns to the 209 Podcast to talk about the continued Covid19 pandemic, the vaccines that are being made available to the public, and what else we can expect in 2021. Dr. Grasis was previously featured on the podcast on March 20, 2020 alongside psychology expert Dr. Jenny Howell.

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

bit.ly/209PodcastApple

bit.ly/209PodcastSpotify

STUDIO209.T V

WE’VE GOT THE 209 COVERED

209 PODCAST Congressman Josh Harder

District 10 Congressman Josh Harder makes his second appearance on the podcast to speak about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, certifying the election and what that tumultuous day means for the future of the country. Congressman Harder was previously featured on the podcast on April 3, 2008 when he was a Congressional candidate.

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209 PODCAST Kevin Kramer: MLB Player and Philanthropist

We welcome Turlock native Kevin Kramer onto the podcast to talk about his time as a dual-sport athlete at Turlock High, winning the College World Series as a UCLA Bruin, being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and his new non-profit the Kramer Family Foundation.

National Blood Donor Month

January is National Blood Donor Month and Studio209 did its part to spread awareness about the importance of blood donation and need for more donors with an extended PSA. One donation has the potential to save three lives and only 10% of Americans donate, so why not help increase those numbers in 2021?

Dutch Hollow Farms – Hands on the Wall Farm Dedication

A longstanding destination for Valley residents to enjoy locally grown flowers, fruits and vegetables, Dutch Hollow Farms commemorated its move to a new location with a special event for families to enjoy. Watch as children and their parents help dedicate the new farm by dipping their hands in paint and leaving their prints along the yellow wall.

OTHER EPISODES TO WATCH 275: Soundcheck209: Ava Grace

You can read all about Ava Grace on page 20 ,but you have to press play on this episode of Studio209 to watch her perform her new solo single Senior SZN. 276: Hope’s Chance Horse Sanctuary

Hope’s Chance has been giving horses a second chance at life since 2013, providing a home in Modesto for the abused and neglected.

Angelina Martin stops by the non-profit on this episode to meet the horses and find out more about the sanctuary/rescue.

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intheknow

FEBRUARY

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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DRIVE-THRU CRAB FEED

The Grace Lutheran Church in Modesto will be holding a drive thru crab feed from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13.

Individual tickets are $60 and come with three pounds of crab, tri tip, salad (no dressing), bread and butter, baked potato with butter, chives and sour cream.

Family tickets are $230 and serves four to five people. It comes with 14 pounds of crab, a whole tritip, salad (no dressing),bread and butter, four baked potato with butter, chives and sour cream.

For tickets call (209) 522-8890.

14

VIRTUAL VALENTINE CABARET AND TEA

Congregation Beth Shalom is starting their 29th season of Sunday Afternoons with a Valentine concert and tea on Zoom from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 14.

The concert will feature Christine Capsuto Shulman and Elizabeth Neff, performing "Love Songs Through the Genres."

The full Afternoon Tea will include tea sandwiches, scones and jam, Valentine pastries and chocolates—as well as teas—packaged for you to enjoy in the comfort of your home.

Drive-thru pick-up of tea goodies will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at CBS, 1705 Sherwood Avenue, before the concert begins at 3 p.m. Tickets are $50 and are available at http://bit.ly/ConcertTea

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MARCH

3

VIRTUAL PUPPET SHOW

The Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library is hosting a virtual puppet show on Facebook from March 3 to March 16.

Puppet Art Theater's "Tale of the Dragon's Tail" is the story of Princess Penny and the mystery of the wizard and the dragon that has been spotted in the hills above the castle. The show is free to watch. Visit the library's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SSJCPL/.

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ONLINE SONGWRITING RETREAT

The 2021 Yosemite Songwriting Retreat will be held online this year from March 12 to March 14 and is designed to connect members of the songwriting community and develop the craft. The online retreat will feature classes, mentor sessions and performance opportunities with Keith Greeninger, Joe Craven, Gail Dreifus, Adam Burns and more. Tickets range from $125 to $200. For more information and to register visit yosemitesongwriting.com.

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intheknow

By SABRA STAFFORD

A

s December rolled in and the Christmas spirit began to ramp up all across the 209, Oakdale resident Tracy Gulcynski was feeling a dark melancholy that no twinkly lights could pierce.

The Christmas tree was up, but underneath there would be no presents for Gulcynski’s grandson Koltyn Sparks-Blackwood to unwrap. No action figures to make fly through the air. No blocks to stack up and then knock over. No bicycle with training wheels for his little legs to pedal.

Koltyn, a toddler with big, blue eyes, had a personality that his grandmother describes as “all boy.” Some of his first words were ‘vroom vroom,’ which he would shout out when he saw his daddy’s motorcycle. He had a hug at the ready for any puppies, cats and other kids that crossed his path. He could be lulled into sleep with some cuddle time and his favorite bedtime stories, and if he was really resisting slumber, a foot rub would likely get the job done.

“He was so affectionate,” Gulcynski said. “If he had a

chance to climb up in bed with you and snuggle, he took it.”

The memories Gulcynski holds of her grandson are precious for so many reasons, but perhaps most poignantly because they are truncated.

On Jan. 15, 2019, at the age of 23 months, Koltyn died after suffering a blunt force trauma, in what would later be determined as a homicide.

For Gulcynski and the rest of Koltyn’s family, the grief that remains with them after his death is like the pain from a new wound. And the anger over how he died has been palpable.

But even with this ever-present grief and a gnawing frustration, Gulcynski, along with her family and friends, were able to push it aside and created a community-wide effort that brought some much-needed joy to children and families in the Oakdale and Sonora area for the Christmas season. And they did it all with Koltyn’s name on their lips and his memory in their hearts.

Team Koltyn organized a toy and bike drive that resulted in more than 40 new bicycles being given to children and piles of wrapped toys to open on Christmas. In itself, the toy and bike drive is an admirable achievement, but it’s even more impressive that it was accomplished in just a few weeks — from the onset of the idea to distribution.

“It was about three weeks until Christmas when Koltyn’s aunt, Theresa Blackwood, came up with

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the idea of doing a toy drive in Koltyn’s name,” Gulcynski said. “His uncle put in the first $1,000 and Justice for Koltyn added $2,000 and we were off.”

From there the idea grew legs and took off running.

Community members were inspired to join in and gave their money and their time to make it a success. One resident even made a $1,000 donation in Koltyn’s name to pay for a month’s stay at a local motel for a homeless family and then pay to have their car fixed.

“It was amazing how the community came out and supported this,” Gulcynski said. “People were shopping, donating and helping give the gifts out. There were so many who came out to help. It was very emotional and a lot of gratitude.”

The opportunity to spread so much joy in Koltyn’s name did them all so much good, Gulcynski said, and allowed them if just for a time to not have to focus on all the unanswered questions that remain

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in the wake of his death.

“It felt great to put something positive back into the community,” Gulcynski said.

On Jan. 15, 2019, Koltyn’s mother, Waterford resident Nicole Sparks, brought him in to Adventist Health Sonora with what was initially thought to be the flu. But when his condition continued to decline, he was transferred to UC Davis Children’s Hospital. It was there, surrounded by his family, that Koltyn passed.

“We were all there by him when he passed,” Gulcynski said. “It was hard to believe it was happening but we never believed it was the flu. We knew right away that someone had hurt him.”

From the onset Koltyn’s death was deemed suspicious, but was changed to a homicide after an autopsy showed he had sustained blunt force trauma to his abdomen, along with signs of shaken baby syndrome and smothering.

Prior to his death, Koltyn had been in the care of a babysitter, Joseph Maloney, who was

the boyfriend of Koltyn’s mother.

Koltyn’s father, Joshua Blackwood, is Gulcynski’s son.

Haunted by questions of what happened to this little boy, Gulcynski and Koltyn’s great-aunt Theresa Blackwood launched Justice for Koltyn. Through social media platforms, hashtags and in-person demonstrations, they have not ceased in their efforts to get answers. For more than two years they have carried on this campaign for justice and on Jan. 25, the Tuolumne County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Sparks and Maloney.

Maloney is charged with second degree murder, assault on a child causing death, and child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death. If convicted on all charges, Maloney faces up to a 25 year to life sentence in state prison.

Sparks is charged with child abuse under circumstances likely to cause great bodily injury or death. If convicted, Sparks faces up to six years in state prison.

Maloney was arrested at his home in Sonora in January. His bail is set at $1,000,000. Sparks’ arrest warrant remains outstanding. Her bail is set at $25,000.

“We would like to thank everyone that put in countless hours of hard work to make this arrest,” Koltyn’s family said in a released statement.

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“Especially the Sonora Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office. We would also like to thank all of the reporters that helped keep us going over the past two years.

Now we can move forward and concentrate on Koltyn’s Law.” Koltyn’s Law would require hospitals to make immediate notices to law enforcement and Child Protective Services when a child is brought to an emergency room with signs of traumatic injuries, likely caused by abuse.

The toy and bike drive was not the first event staged in Koltyn’s honor. Since his death a poker run and dinner have been held to raise funds with the primary goal of aiding children who have been abused. Gulcynski said the toy and bike drive will also become an annual event.

“It’s so easy to feel overcome by the grief,” Gulcynski said. “So, you have to do something positive and keep yourself strong. We do it for Koltyn.” ●

F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2021

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arts&culture

By FRANKIE TOVAR

209MAGAZINE.COM

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F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2020

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L

ife as a teenager can often be a balancing act with schoolwork, social life and plans for the future acting as spinning plates. This is especially true for Ava Grace, an 18-year-old senior at Oakdale High, who has managed to balance the typical trappings of high school along with the unique challenge of fronting two bands and a solo act.

A pianist and vocalist with a fondness for the ukulele, Grace began her journey as a performer when she was just 14 years old, playing cover songs at restaurants and cafes in Oakdale and Modesto.

It was at one of these performances that she was discovered by Earl Mathews, a 20-year blues veteran from Modesto, who recognized Grace’s talent and approached her

with the idea of forming a band.

Within a couple of months, the seven-piece group known as Gravel & Grace was born.

By late 2019, a little over a year after their first practice sessions, the band was on tour in the South, playing their brand of music throughout Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. It wasn’t long after that their self-titled debut album “Gravel & Grace: Bringing the Blues” was released.

Grace’s musical career was taking off, but she still wanted to flex her musical muscle so she formed the Ava Grace trio with two other members of Gravel & Grace – Josh Broom and Will Melendez — to bring a more traditional sound to smaller venues in the 209.

With two bands bearing her

name, Grace’s need to perform was being met on two fronts and it seemed like 2020 would be another highwater mark for the Oakdale native. That was, of course, before the COVID-19 pandemic put all her best laid plans on hold.

Rather than stew in disappointment, Grace instead seized the opportunity to once again expand her musical horizons and began working on a solo project. With help from bandmate Josh Broom, Grace produced her first solo single “Senior SZN,” a lament about the loss of experiences that often define the final year of high school.

209 Magazine reporter Frankie Tovar sat down with the Oakdale musical phenom to learn more about her past and plans for the future. ●

“… my goal isn’t necessarily to gain popularity.

I think it’s more to gain community and to provide other people with something that they love and to be able to express myself and make an alright living doing that.”

Q: You’ve been performing since you were 14 years old, but how did you first start playing music and when did you start wanting to become a musician?

AG: “We had this big grand piano in the front living room that I just started playing when I was a really young child and kind of taught myself. Then eventually, because I had been singing in school choir and singing at home and playing the piano so much, my dad took me when I was 12 or 13 to record a little CD just for him to have in his car.”

Q: When it comes to your sound, who would you say you’re most inspired by?

AG: “When I first started out, I think my singing style was really influenced by the older, classic R&B and blues singers — Etta James and Aretha (Franklin), even Nora jones and her soothing voice…even a little bit of Janis Joplin in trying to get some growls in there. I think I just took all the things I liked and tried to put them together into one in terms of singing.”  209MAGAZINE.COM

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arts&culture

Q: And what about the themes of your songs? What do you tend to write about?

AG: “Anyone who knows me really well could probably pick out a number of my songs and say, ‘Oh this is about her experience with that person.’ It’s not super ambiguous, but I try to leave them vague enough so they can be interpreted by different people to mean different things to them.”

Q: Gravel & Grace isn’t your only band, there’s also the Ava Grace Trio and now your solo project. How do the three compare and contrast from each other?

AG: “Gravel & Grace tends to bring modern elements to soulful, older music. It brings a modern twist to an older sound whereas the trio does exactly the opposite – it brings an older sound to newer music. My solo project is an odd combination of all the music I like to listen to. I’m not one for sticking to a genre and I never have been and that might be a bit of a crutch for me at some point. A lot of people try to make you stick to a genre and I’ve had a lot of people try to give me that advice, but I don’t like to do it. I like playing a number of things.”

Q: You were able to go on tour with Gravel & Grace and play in a few different states in the South. What was that experience like?

AG: “Considering the fact that we do play music that is heavily inspired by soul and jazz and that whole style of music that originated in the South, to be playing it there was really special. It’s an entirely different experience to be in the birth place of that kind of music and to go to those special blues clubs where those amazing musicians have played that we admire so much, and to be able to channel that energy into ourselves."

Q: What are your plans for the future when it comes to your musical career?

AG: “For me, especially as a person who’s currently been looking for colleges and looking for the future in terms of just regular adult life, I’m not 100% set on specifically where I want my music career to go yet. I’m open to a number of possibilities and I’m so content with what I have now. I’ve never been a person who was searching for fame necessarily…my goal isn’t necessarily to gain popularity. I think it’s more to gain community and to provide other people with something that they love and to be able to express myself and make an alright living doing that.”

Grace’s solo single Senior SZN and Gravel & Grace’s selftitled album can currently be found on all major streaming platforms. For more information about future performances and releases follow @avagracemusic on Facebook and Instagram.

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arts&culture

By SABRA STAFFORD

Once you get the knots down you can really make anything.

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t's hard to imagine that Jackson resident Jessica Reese has any time to feel bored, much less to do something about it. As a caretaker, a mother of five, a student, and once the pandemic hit, a home school teacher, Reese's time is fairly well-occupied. But it was when the stay-at-home orders went into place that Reese started to feel a sense of ennui and began looking for a creative outlet. What she found was an art form that is once again making a resurgence — macrame.

"I found myself stuck at home more and I needed something creative to do," Reese said. "I started watching videos on how to do macrame and I just started doing it.

At first, I spent a lot of time pulling something apart and remaking it. It was a real labor of love."

Eventually, Reese found she had a knack for the knots and this led her to add two more titles: artisan and business proprietor. Reese launched A Girl in Knots last year and has been creating an inventory that includes earrings, ornaments, plant holders, keychains, wall

decor, and purses.

"Once you get the knots down you can really make anything," Reese said.

If the macrame wasn't enough, Reese also creates floral crowns and bouquets.

"I began my artist journey working for a florist in Folsom," Reese said. "I love to combine macrame and floral design whenever I can."

She recently got that opportunity with her sister's wedding, where Reese made the bouquets and a macrame backdrop for the ceremony.

"What I love the most is getting to make these pieces that people will always have as a part of their lives," she said.

Macrame is an artistic avenue that uses knots of various styles and shapes to create a textile. Other than a mounting ring to keep it in place, the work is done by hand. Because it is an art form done by hand, art 209MAGAZINE.COM

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historians have traced it back to the Babylonians and Assyrians. Later, it was something sailors did to ward off boredom and thus the art form spread around the globe. It was particularly popular in the Victorian era as a way to create home accents. Macrame also became synonymous with the bohemian aesthetic of the 1960s and 1970s.

After she began learning the craft, Reese learned that her great-grandmother used to make macrame creations as well.

"My mom was so excited to see that I was doing this art that her own grandmother used to do," Reese said.

One of Reese's macrame wall decorations is on display at the Airbnb Deer Lodge in Pine Grove, in the Gypsy Traveler room. Her creations can also be found for sale at Makers on Main in Sutter Creek (makersonmainamador. com) and at her Etsy store, the link for which can be found on her Instagram account @agirlinknots. she can also be reached by email at agirlinknots@gmail.com. â—?

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flavors

Burgers, home cooking classics

— and wine —

at Diamondback Grill

By VIRGINIA STILL

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

W

ine truly pairs with anything, as is evident at Sonora’s Diamondback Grill where burgers and grilled cheese highlight local vintages.

The Grill has called Sonora home since 1991 and for the past seven years Frank Uzzardo and Lana Smith-Uzzardo have been keeping locals and tourists alike nourished with made-from-scratch American cuisine featuring quality ingredients.

“We make all of our stuff fresh here,” stated Lana.

“Nothing comes out of a bag or a box or a can. We have great wines here and a sommelier that comes up with all these different options. We get a lot of

We make all of our stuff fresh here.

Nothing comes out of a bag or a box or a can. We have great wines here and a sommelier that comes up with all these different options.

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knowledge from her and we have really good quality here.”

The dressings, soups, marinades, salsas, compound butters and more are all made from scratch and they smoke their own fish and meats. They find it important to use local products like cheeses from Fiscalini Cheese Company in Modesto, local honey, turkey from Diestel’s local ranch, produce from Kline Family Farm, and Table Mountain Garden.

The menu has been the same for the most part since the beginning with only a few tweaks and daily special changes. The restaurant was a tradition for their family over 20 years ago and they want to keep the same traditions and consistency for future families.

“I like to say if it is not broke don’t fix it,” remarked Lana. “When we took over the business we kept the menu the same with very few changes. So we try to keep it simple. We have a big enough menu that pretty much pleases everybody and a menu that they know.

I like to say if it is not broke don’t fix it. When we took over the business we kept the menu the same with very few changes. So we try to keep it simple.

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“We try to keep it as consistent as possible with a few specials.”

February and March are typically a great time for restaurants – in a normal setting without a pandemic lurking – what with special Valentine’s Day menus and corned beef and cabbage specialties from chefs for St. Patrick’s Day. Diamondback Grill is no different with Valentine’s Day specials and in the past an added See’s Candy treat and a made from scratch corned beef and cabbage dinner. Plus, it’s a place you can count on being treated well.

“We get so many compliments on our service,” said Lana. “We have great servers that are friendly, respectful, and honest.”

According to Lana, the Famous Diamondback Grill Burgers are what they are known for and what people love and keep going back for. The juicy half pound burgers are on a sesame bun with all the fixings and a side of fries.

Another guest favorite is the Ulti-

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flavors

mate Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Fiscalini Farms San Joaquin Gold, smoked bacon, lettuce and tomato in La Brea Bakery sourdough.

The ribeye is a special on the menu that is a customer favorite along with the salmon. For a lighter option Lana recommends the Grilled Flat Iron Steak Salad that is seasoned with a toasted spice and served with sautéed mushrooms and onions on a bed of fresh greens with Pt. Reyes blue cheese dressing.

“They (customers) rave about our food and they come back for our food and look forward to us being open,” declared Lana. “They ask us all the time when we will be open. That is why we stay busy. It is word of mouth.”

The historic building in Sonora was once a pharmacy and they still have the window that now leads into the kitchen that has ‘Prescriptions’ labeled at the top.

It was also a shoe store at one time where the shelves have wine stored instead of shoes. They have big plank wood floors that back in the Gold Rush days miners believed gold fell through those cracks

I appreciate our customers being faithful and coming back. They are always calling and when we do open, they come in and bring their families.

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so they would go underneath looking for the gold.

With the fluctuating COVID-19 restrictions, Diamondback Grill has set up tables in the street next to their restaurant that has been closed off for that purpose.

“These servers work so hard and they love their job,” noted Lana. “They really had to sacrifice this summer when we were thrown outside and couldn’t serve indoors.”

The various parades throughout the year in downtown Sonora have been a huge draw for people to enjoy from all over and Lana has high hopes that they will be able to continue that tradition in 2021 and the restaurant can open completely once again to serve their loyal customers and tourists.

“This is a great location,” shared Lana.

“I love it. I appreciate our customers being faithful and coming back. They are always calling and when we do open, they come in and bring their families. That is the good part about it and you feel like you are doing something special.”

For more information call 209-532-6661 or visit diamondbackgrillsonora.com. They are at 93 S. Washington St., in Sonora. ●

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G

etting a drink at your favorite watering hole may not be easy these days with COVID-19 restrictions. This makes for the perfect time to try your hand at bartending while relaxing at home.

As cooler weather reins, nothing warms the soul better than a traditional Irish Coffee, with sweetened coffee, Irish whiskey and whipped cream. Try this drink at home with loved ones. â—?

Irish Coffee Ingredients

Directions

16 oz. hot water 2 tsp. light brown sugar 1 c. brewed coffee 2 oz. Irish whiskey (such as Jameson) ½ c. heavy cream for topping Chocolate shavings for garnish

Fill two mugs with hot water and let sit 2 minutes. Pour out water and add 1 tsp. light brown sugar to each mug. Pour over hot coffee and stir to dissolve sugar, then pour in whiskey.

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In a separate bowl with an electric mixer or by hand, whisk cream until soft peaks form. Cream should be thick but still pourable. Top coffee with cream by gently pouring over the back of a warm spoon to form a thick layer on top of coffee. Garnish with chocolate shavings.

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flavors

Walnut Meatless Meatballs Total time: 42 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup minced onion 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/2 cup California Walnuts, chopped 1/4 cup cooked brown rice 1/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley 1 egg, beaten

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Directions: Preheat oven to 375 F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.

In small skillet over medium heat, heat oil.

Add onion and garlic; saute 1 minute. Add tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Transfer to food processor with walnuts, rice, roasted red peppers, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, parsley and egg. Pulse until combined but not mushy.

Form into eight equal balls and place on prepared baking sheet. Cook 12 minutes, or until firm to touch. Serve with sauce of choice.

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Mini Chocolate-Beet Cheesecakes with Maple-Orange Glaze Serves: 12 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 1 large egg 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Crust: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup chopped walnuts 3 tablespoons salted butter, softened

Topping: 2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon whipped cream (optional)

Cheesecake: 1 jar (15 ounces) Aunt Nellie's Sliced Beets 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 12 medium muffin cups with foil liners.

To make crust: In medium bowl, combine flour and walnuts.

Using fork or pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Place about 1 tablespoon mixture into each lined muffin cup. Lightly press crumbs into bottom. Bake 5-6 minutes, or until crust begins to brown.

To make cheesecake: Drain beets, reserving 2 tablespoons liquid. In blender, puree 1/2 cup beets and reserved liquid until smooth; set aside. Dice remaining beets; set aside.

In large bowl, combine cream cheese and syrup. Beat until smooth. Add egg; mix until blended. Stir in reserved pureed beets. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Spoon about 3 tablespoons cream cheese mixture into muffin cups over warm crusts. Bake 15 minutes, or until filling is set. Let cool to room temperature. Place cheesecakes in refrigerator at least 30 minutes.

To make topping: In small saucepan, combine reserved diced beets, orange juice concentrate, syrup and cinnamon. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to boil, stirring frequently.

Continue cooking and stirring until mixture thickens and appears glossy, 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool to room temperature.

To finish: Remove cheesecakes from muffin liners. Top evenly with glazed beets. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

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navigator

It’s actually a fascinating mountain formation that offers fabulous views, intriguing geology, and insights on the region’s native peoples.

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Mount Diablo STATE PARK

By CLAUDIA NEWCORN

T

VISTA POINT

hese days, we’re all being encouraged to get outdoors for our mental and physical health. One of the prettiest places to visit at this time of year is Mount Diablo State Park – a hidden gem in plain sight.

I confess that Mount Diablo has faked me out for decades. Based on its conical shape, and what locals had told me, I always thought it was an extinct volcano.

It’s actually a fascinating mountain formation that offers fabulous views, intriguing geology, and insights on the region’s native peoples.

At 3,849 feet tall, Mount Diablo’s location in the Diablo Range between the Coastal Range and the Central Valley offers unparalleled 360-degree views from the peak’s Summit Visitor Center, extending over 100+ miles in every direction from beyond San Francisco to the snowy Sierra.

I began by going to the Center, open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which gets busy (it has overflow parking).

Built in the 1930s as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps project, this historic observation building features stone quarried from within the park. Look for the ancient fossil seashells embedded in the building’s stone as you climb the stairs to the Observation Deck. Inside you can learn about the area’s cultural history and geology.

The tower was originally built as a beacon for aviators but went dark during WW2 after the invasion of Pearl Harbor for fear of attracting enemy planes. It is now lighted only on December 7th in memory of those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor.

It’s also home to a historic landmark. In 1851, Colonel Ransom established Mount Diablo as the initial reference point for land surveys used to begin dividing up public lands.

From here, lines extending north, south, east, and west formed the survey grid that covers all of Nevada and most of Northern California, becoming the basis of today’s land survey system.

Weather atop Mount Diablo is unpredictable. On my visit, I spent much of the time surrounded by fog

BULGING UP & OUT

Mount Diablo State Park sits right in our own back yard, and makes the perfect day trip. There are two access routes: North Gate and South Gate – South Gate is closer to us. The drive to the mountain’s base is around an hour – but the steep twisty drive to the summit can take another hour – not including stops to enjoy the variety of activities along the way. The park features numerous history areas, hiking trails, picnic places, and campsites, and is also popular with cyclists.

Its geology is the result of a peculiar folding of the earth’s crust. Driving (slowly!) up Summit Road, you’ll see rock formations progressing from youngest (10 million years old) to oldest (190 million).

As the crust bulged upwards, erosion ate away at the topmost ‘youngest’ layers to reveal the older strata. The unusual result is that the mountain’s peak is actually the oldest stone.

Mount Diablo was and remains a sacred place for many Native California tribes.

Annual ceremonies were held on its slopes, and different tribes lived on and around the mountain. At places like Rock City, you can see ancient acorn grinding rocks.

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navigator

1936. A special treat: In spring, the mountain and its many slopes are known for an extraordinary display of wildflowers.

The source of the mountain’s name is unknown. The most “accepted” version is that in 1806, Spanish troops were pursuing a band of Native Americans. At nightfall, confident that they had them trapped in a thicket, the troops decided to wait until morning to capture them. The Native Americans slipped away in the night, and the troops insisted it could only have been with the help of El Diablo.

Mount Diablo State Park remains open with certain restrictions due to the pandemic. To check for updates and current policies, visit their website before you go bit.ly/ mountdiablostatepark. ●

and gusty winds, a common occurrence in spring and winter. But when the clouds parted, the views were extraordinary, distant landmarks seeming so close you could reach out and touch them. Spring and Fall are considered prime viewing times when the air is clearest.

Rock City is a must-see stop along your drive. Park and get out of your car for an easy-hiking treat.

It features sandstone rock formations that have been weathered by wind and rain into an extraordinary assortment stone shapes. There are the Wind Caves, the Elephant, and Sentinel Rock, to name a few. It’s a popular picnic area (no alcohol permitted) and offers great views of the summit. A fun fact: the picnic tables, benches and Diablo stoves were constructed from local stone by the Civilian Conservation Corps in

The source of the mountain’s name is unknown. The most “accepted” version is that in 1806, Spanish troops were pursuing a band of Native Americans.

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1/27/2021 4:02:49 PM

Time for a change.

Your local news source.

is now Now locally-owned.

2 0 9 M U LT I M E D I A . C O M

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1/27/2021 1:53:32 PM

thegreatoutdoors

By MATT JOHANSON

209MAGAZINE.COM

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S

kiing along the John Muir Trail in Yosemite rates as a lifetime highlight, but I could have done without the “Sierra cement.”

Pounds of snow clung to the bottom of my skis, and my companions’ also, slowing us like anchors for miles on end. We managed to muscle our way over Donohue Pass and complete our journey to Mammoth Lakes anyway.

I’ll never forget that outstanding adventure, nor to take enough wax on a ski trip again.

My younger self could not fathom the idea of turning 50. But as I reached the milestone recently, I’m grateful to still enjoy skiing and other outdoor activities that I picked up in my youth.

Following are lessons I’ve learned (often the hard way) over the years. This installment, the first of five, focuses on winter pursuits.

1. Give snowshoeing a try.

You’ll have whole snow-covered mountain ranges to yourself. Then once you get a taste of winter adventure, try cross country skiing for more speed and fun. It’s much cheaper and safer than downhill skiing. Don’t hesitate to rent gear before buying.

That will help you learn what equipment you want and spend more wisely to get it.

2. Dress in layers, avoiding cotton.

Whether you’re out on a clear day or caught in a winter storm, fabrics like wool or polypropylene insulate your body temperature even when wet. Cotton does the opposite, trapping moisture (including your own sweat) that chills next to your skin.

After I shivered needlessly through cold days and nights, I learned that it’s better to pay more for the right clothes.

5. Beware of the sun.

Even if clouds fill the sky, its ultraviolet light can still burn your skin quickly at high elevation. On my first cross country ski outing as a young adult, I foolishly took no sun precautions on a spring day at Sonora Pass.

The resulting sunburn fried my face and left me with red skin and blisters for weeks. Sunscreen and lip balm help, and covering your skin helps more.

6. Avoid stormy weather.

Skins will help you climb hills which are too steep for your skis to ascend without additional friction to prevent you from sliding backward.

In addition to preventing snow from sticking to your skis, wax will help increase your glide, speed and efficiency.

4. Time your outings wisely.

Skiing in March beats skiing in December. Early spring will probably provide better snow and definitely delivers longer and warmer days.

That’s not to say that you can’t have a good outing in early winter, but odds are that conditions improve later in the season.

I’m grateful to still enjoy skiing and other outdoor activities that I picked up in my youth.

3. Carry skins (sticky fabric strips) and wax for your cross-country skis, even if they are “waxless.”

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Deep, fresh powder makes you fight for every step and can slow one’s pace to several hours per mile. Heavy snowfall is good but that doesn’t mean you have to be there when it arrives.

Waiting several days after a storm allows snow to settle, which makes for easier snowshoeing and skiing. Visibility will improve also, and if you’re lucky, someone else will break the trail you want to use for you.

7. Drive smart. If you think you might need chains, you need chains.

Stop and put them on your tires, even if it’s cold and stormy outside.

Carry emergency supplies, like food, water, blankets and flashlights. Taking a day off to avoid weekend traffic increases your safety and pays you back with a better trip.

8. When you’re ready for even more adventure, try snow camping.

Read up about winter gear: choose a good tent, stove, and sleeping bag.

Carry a snow shovel to flatten your camp site. It’s not a bad idea to try this close to a road and your car on your first time out.

9. How to stay warm when camping in cold weather?

An inflatable mattress will insulate your body temperature from the snowpack beneath you, providing a warmer night’s sleep than a foam pad. Check for leaks before you go!

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thegreatoutdoors

Another tip: heat water, fill your bottle and take it into your sleeping bag with you.

Make sure the bottle is closed securely! Even if you don’t heat your water, taking your bottle into your sleeping bag will prevent it from freezing overnight.

LAKE TAHOE Snow covers the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe appeal to skiers and snowshoers.

PHOTOS BY MATT JOHANSON/ 209 Magazine

10. Start your outing early in the day.

Stories abound about skiers and snowshoers caught out after dark and forced to spend a night in the snow. For example, Yosemite’s Ostrander Ski Hut has “benighted” scores of would-be visitors on its ten-mile trek from Badger Pass, including yours truly, twice! Neither would have happened if I had started midmorning instead of midday or mid-afternoon. At least I was prepared to “bivvy” comfortably the second time, which leads to a related point: carry emergency overnight gear on long day trips.

Don’t let these words of caution give you the wrong idea. Four trans-Sierra treks and scores of shorter snow outings rate among my favorite outdoor memories. Winter presents unique challenges but advice and experience will help you rise to meet them. Millions live within a few hours of California’s snow country, but just a fraction of them enjoy public lands in winter. If you join us, I think you will be glad you did. ●

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST Stanislaus National Forests offers multiple winter outings accessible from Highways 4 and 108.

YOSEMITE WINTER Those qualified for a long snowy trek will find no better destination than Yosemite’s high country.

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F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2021

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Personalized, High-Quality, Ethical Care from Your Local Providers

Chrissan Jones, M.D.

Board Cerrfied Dermatologist

Manteca & Turlock

Bryan Barnee, M.D.

Board Cerrfied Dermatologist

Catherine Biren, M.D.

Ethan Levin, M.D.

Modesto & Oakdale

Modesto

Board Cerrfied Dermatologist

Tracy

Mohs Surgeon

Treatments & Services: • skin cancer • acne • rashes • moles • psoriasis • eczema • anti-aging • Ultherapy • benign & malignant skin lesions • fillers Jordan Jepson, PA-C

Physician Assistant Cerrfied

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• Botox • sun damage • Mohs surgery • laser resurfacing • laser hair removal & more

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Physician Assistant Cerrfied

Modesto & Oakdale

It isn’t just a doctors office, they actually know who you are and listen to what your looking for and help you with the services that will be best suited to get the results you are looking for. The wait me is never long. With Covid, they have all the safety precauuons in place. Very happy with the office.

—GSD Paaent

Call or Book Your Appointment Online at GoldenStateDermatology.com TRACY 1542-A North Tracy Blvd.

209.836.2220

MANTECA 200 Cooage Ave., Suite 201 209.924.4086

MODESTO 1324 Nelson Ave., Suite B 209.524.9481 able

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209.524.9481

39

F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2021

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thegreatoutdoors

GETTING INTO

THE GAME

By SETHANIEL CLARK

FORE YOUR INFORMATION

A

s we all know, many lives have been negatively affected by the novel coronavirus, forcing some of our favorite restaurants and stores to close down in order to slow the spread. But, the one thing that’s remained constant and has even grown during these unprecedented times is the game of golf — the perfect remedy for getting out of the house since it’s a naturally socially-distanced sport. According to the National Golf Foundation, there was a 20% increase seen in rounds played between August 2019 and August 2020.

As an avid golfer myself, I wanted to start a column to help grow the game here in the 209 area. With so many new players enjoying the sport for the first time this past year, I thought it was important to share my knowledge of the game and connect with others who love the game or may be thinking of playing for the first time.

When I was younger my father always tried getting me into golf since he liked to play, but as a kid I wasn’t into the slow pace of the game. I grew up playing football and baseball, but now as I approach my 30s, golf is the one sport I play on a weekly basis. When I first got into golf it was just an excuse to get out of the house and go see my college buddies and catch up, but after a few years of playing we all meet up now to try and better our game. Even during this past year with so many 209MAGAZINE.COM

40-41 THE GREAT OUTDOORS - Golf Guy.indd 40

restrictions, it was nice to be able to safely play a round together and not have to worry about exposure.

I only started playing golf about four years ago, but since then it has consumed my life for better or worse. It’s a game that can have you feeling on the top of the world one moment, and the next you’re crashing down to earth and getting ready to put your clubs up for sale on eBay. I’ve experienced every emotion while out on the course — some of them not always pleasant — but there’s something magical about this sport that keeps you wanting more.

There’s no greater feeling in the world than when you flush a long iron, smash a drive onto the fairway or sink a long birdie putt.

Still, none of those feelings will ever top when I hit my first hole-in-one this past September. I went on a golf trip for my birthday with three of my close friends and we played a round at Eagle Vines in Napa. I’m not going to lie — I was having a terrible round and spraying the ball everywhere. I was hitting bogies and three putting all over the course, but when I stepped up to the 14th tee, I had the greatest shot of my life. It was 150 yards downhill with the pin positioned left of a small slope on the green. I took out my pitching wedge and hit a great shot just up on the top slope of the hill. Thinking I had stuck it right of the pin, I started to walk back to my bag to put my club away when my friends started yelling, “it’s rolling, it’s rolling!” I turned around just in time to catch the little white ball rolling slowly left downhill towards the flag. We all grabbed each other around the shoulders in anticipation and when the ball disappeared into the cup, we went absolutely crazy.

Never in my life had I thought I would get a hole-in-one, and to get one with three of my best friends with me to witness it was something I’ll cherish forever.

It’s these moments that make the game so great and wonderful to play, no matter what your skill set is. That’s why I want to help grow the game and see others experience the frustrations and joys of golf. Next issue, I plan on discussing some of my favorite courses that I’ve played in the 209, but I would also like to hear from you, the reader. If there are certain subjects of golf, courses you’d like to see covered or if you’d like to begin playing and don’t know where to start, email me at foreyourinfo209@gmail.com. ●

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After years of golfing, I hit my first hole-in-one in September 2020 during my birthday weekend.

Golf used to be the perfect excuse to hang out with my buddies from college, but now we all take each hole seriously and use the bonding time to work on our game.

The 209 is the perfect region for any golf enthusiast to explore some beautiful courses, like Teleli Golf Club in Sonora.Â

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Familiar Faces

and a lending hand

Please welcome Kim Parco, Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer, Tracy, and Rob Gildea, Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer, Stockton - Brookside.

Kim and Rob each have over 30 years of commercial banking experience in the Central Valley.

They are a true reflection of our commitment to hiring experienced professionals with deep roots in the communities we serve.

Come home to Oak Valley and come home to familiar faces and a lending hand.

Kim Parco

Rob Gildea

Commercial Lending

Commercial Lending

209.834.3347

209.320.7864

We are committed to supporting the borrowing needs of the communities we serve.

Cathy Ghan Commercial Real Estate 320.7867

Mike Petrucelli Commercial Lending 249.7370

Mike Garcia Commercial Lending 343.7607

Jeff Hushaw Commercial Lending 844.7544

Michael Stevens Victoria Gaffney Lynette Fletcher Rafael Martinez Commercial Lending 320.7860

Commercial Lending 343.7601

209 Magazine 43-Feb-Mar 2021.indd 42

Commercial Lending 844.7552

Commercial Lending 633.2859

Call Us About Your Next Commercial Financing Need.

Deep Roots ~ Strong Branches

www.ovcb.com

1/27/2021 2:29:52 PM

N

othing says comfort more than the smell and taste of fresh baked bread.

No need to dig out your grandmother’s cookbooks or try to figure out what

43 FEATURE - Cover.indd 43

exactly you do with yeast, as there are quite a few bakeries in the 209 that specialize in baking the perfect loaf of bread — along with a bevy of sweet treats. ●

1/27/2021 4:06:27 PM

feature

By ANGELINA MARTIN

N

early two years ago, Turlock resident and stay-at-home mom Megan Olson decided she wanted to try baking a loaf of bread to go with dinner. Little did she know, that one loaf would lead to her own business run from the comfort of her kitchen.

Kneady Wife Bread Co. was formed shortly after, when Olson’s friends and family tried the bread she had baked and decided they wanted more for themselves. Soon, word began to spread quicker than butter on a hot slice of sourdough. Olson now makes up to 150 loaves per week and has customers throughout the 209 area code, providing fresh-baked goods to not only Turlock but communities like Hilmar, Hughson and Oakdale as well.

Olson takes bread orders on Facebook and Instagram, where she posts menu information and details about upcoming pop-up shops she plans on attending. Online orders are typically picked up by customers from Olson’s Turlock home, and those who purchase from her in person at vendor

fairs have to get there early since she usually sells out in under two hours.

“I’ve always loved to bake and cook,” Olson said. “I like feeding people and love seeing what they make with my bread.”

Olson’s menu has grown from simple, sourdough loaves to now include offerings like bread bowls, bagels and even specialty breads, like jalapeño cheddar and cinnamon swirl.

She learned how to bake bread from a book, she said, and even purchased an additional kitchen oven in order to make more bread for customers — though even with the extra space she can still only bake six loaves at a time.

While Olson hopes to eventually be able to purchase a larger bread oven, for now she makes due by waking up at 3 a.m. the morning before a pop-up shop or order drop and baking until 11 p.m.

“It’s an all-day process to make bread,” she said.

To make sourdough bread, Olson has what’s known as a “starter,” which she consistently “feeds” water and

flour. She has had the same starter since she first started baking bread, and the substance requires constant attention or else it will die. Olson’s starter even accompanied her on a trip to Disneyland.

“It’s like another child to us,” she laughed. “We always joke that it should be in our family photos.”

While Olson’s starter has remained a constant in her life, the success of her business has shifted rapidly.

Although many locals took up bread baking as a hobby during the pandemic and made it almost impossible to find the ingredients and supplies she needed to stay afloat, she says her business has now nearly tripled over the last year.

“I think people realized how much work actually goes into making bread,” she said.

For now, Olson has no aspirations to open a brick-and-mortar shop for Kneady Wife Bread Co. She’s able to stay at home with her children thanks to her in-kitchen business and inspires others who have thought about open-

The best part has been meeting my customers and creating friendships, and chatting it up while our kids run around in the front yard when they come to pick up their bread.

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ing their own businesses during the pandemic to chase their dreams because in the end, it’s worth it.

“As I become more and more successful I do doubt myself, but anyone can do it. You have to get up early and stay up late, but it’s possible,” Olson said.

“The best part has been meeting my customers and creating friendships, and chatting it up while our kids run around in the front yard when they come to pick up their bread. I’ve made some really great friends out of it. That’s my favorite part.” ●

Turlock resident Megan Olson went from baking bread for dinner to making loaves for the community through her business, Kneady Wife Bread Co.

Contact information: 209-277-0109 kneadywifebread co@gmail.com Specialty: Sourdough loaves 209MAGAZINE.COM

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feature

By SABRA STAFFORD

M

urphys has a well-earned reputation for fine wines and eateries serving up a bevy of delicious entrees and desserts. But there was one niche still open to fill and Todd Gunter was ready to step forward.

“Todd was inspired by a conversation with a friend about the need for fresh baked sourdough in our food and wine loving community,” said Serena Rudd, Gunter’s partner.

Out of that conversation Gunter set out to meet that need.

“With Todd’s love for cooking and persistence to learn he decided to take a bread making class to refine his skill,” Rudd said.

That effort and devotion to craftsmanship led to the creation of Todd’s Bread Company, which has been earning rave reviews in Calaveras County.

“Todd is an artisan with a great passion for

his craft,” wrote Nolan Love in a Facebook review. “Each loaf he makes is the product of careful study and focused attention and it is a joy to hear him speak about his love of baking and the journey he is on towards constant innovation and refinement. Get yourself a loaf of

the best bread around.”

A willingness to experiment with flavors has led to some local favorites, like the red onion focaccia and a cheddar jalapeño focaccia.

“Todd’s favorite part about bread baking is experimenting and sharing his creation with others,” said Rudd, who also handles all the sales and operations for the company.

The company’s reputation for making great breads was really cemented with their sourdough offerings — rustic, extra sour, and 9-grain.

“We are excited to offer real bread made from high quality ingredients,” Rudd said.

Todd’s Bread Company is used at The Watering Hole in Murphys and also is available at the Hatcher Winery tasting room in Murphys, the Lemon Tree Bakery in Angels Camp, Angels Food Market in Angels Camp and Sierra Hills Market in Murphys. ●

Contact information: (209) 404-0011 toddsbreadmurphys@gmail.com Specialty: arisan sourdough loaves 209MAGAZINE.COM

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By SABRA STAFFORD

T

he practice of making and kneading dough is just as much of Lana Zivanoviec’s family makeup as the color of her eyes. Her grandfather, uncle and mother were all bakers and taught her the traditional Serbian ways of making bread.

“I couldn’t run away from it,” Zivanoviec said. “It is in my genes and my blood.”

Zivanoviec opened her first bakery in Los Angeles. But after having their youngest child, the Zivanoviecs were looking to leave Los Angeles for a quieter life.

Jackson, home to the Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and a thriving Serbian community, was a town the Zivanoviecs had visited often and was where they decided to make their new home and eventually set up a new bakery.

“Walking through Main Street I spotted this

little location and the idea of opening a bakery was born again,” said Zivanoviec.

At Blue Door Bakery Zivanoviec makes bread the way she learned from her family.

Using rustic grains Zivanoviec makes small

batches of unleavened bread all by hand, with each loaf taking about 36 hours to reach completion.

“What I love about this process is that it fully connects you,” Zivanoviec said. “There are lots of variable factors that need monitoring. Is your starter hungry? Is the weather too cold? Is it too hot? Too humid? It’s almost like taking care of a child.”

Zivanoviec’s favorite parts of baking bread are the reactions it inspires.

“Once I get that beautiful loaf of bread from the oven, the whole bakery and Main Street in Jackson smells heavenly,” Zivanoviec said.

“Your family, friends and customers are eating with beautiful sounds of yum. At those times I feel my baking life is like a universal language that gives comfort to people and gratitude to God for our daily bread.” ●

Contact information:

bluedoorbakeryjackson@gmail.com

Specialty: Unleavened sourdough country bread 209MAGAZINE.COM

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feature

Quick breads to try at home

N

o need to break out the yeast for these easy quick bread recipes. Both banana nut bread and honey beer bread are the perfect recipes to start your love for home-baked bread. ●

Honey Beer Bread Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tbs. baking powder 1 tsp. fine salt ¼ cup honey 1 bottle (12 oz.) beer ¼ cup melted butter

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt until combined. Slowly pour the beer and honey into the flour mixture, and stir until combined.

Pour half of the melted butter into the bottom of a 9×5-inch bread pan, and brush it around to grease the inside of the pan.

Add the batter and spread it out in an even layer. Then brush the remaining melted butter evenly on top of the batter.

Bake in a 350-degree oven for 40 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick or knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove and transfer the pan to a wire baking rack and let the bread cool for at least 10 minutes.

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Banana Walnut Bread ½ tsp. vanilla extract tsp. ground cinnamon ½ cup unsalted butter at room temp.

1 cup sugar 3 very ripe bananas, peeled and mashed ½ cup walnut pieces

Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. fine salt 2 large eggs at room temp.

Directions: Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into a medium bowl, set aside. Whisk the eggs and vanilla together in a liquid measuring cup with a spout, set aside. Lightly brush a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan with butter. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with an electric hand-held mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually pour the egg mixture into the butter while mixing until incorporated. Add the bananas (the mixture will appear to be curdled, so don't worry), and remove the bowl from the mixer.

With a rubber spatula, mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the nuts and transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool the bread in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Turn the bread out of the pan and let cool completely on the rack. Wrap in plastic wrap. The banana bread is best if served the next day.

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fulloflife

What about our kids ?

By TERESA HAMMOND

While the death toll and case numbers continue to maintain the state of fear for many, I’m concerned about the numbers which are not being reported or talked about by way of our youth.

W

hen do we start talking about the kids?

That’s the thought that plays out in my mind so much as we continue to live the “COVID” life.

With a column space entitled “Fitness and Beyond,” I truly wish this issue I were penning something on revolutionary wellness, yet this is a topic which currently plagues me the most.

Mental health after all is (in my opinion) more important than “fitness,” so let’s just chalk this up to the “beyond” portion of this column space.

I wish this was a simple topic.

I wish my concern was simply about distance learning and the grades which so many are struggling with, but that (in my opinion) is fixable in time.

As I’ve shared with my two stu-

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dents, they are struggling through a time in education when most of the rest of the country is in the same boat – that’s a good thing.

They are not alone in this, academically speaking, and I remind them of this on the pretty regular.

Yet as I listen to the news and the COVID numbers, ICU concerns and vaccine updates, I wonder where are the reports on teen suicide? Where are the reports on the rise in cases of 5150, suicide attempts and teen depression?

Say what you will and agree or not, but as a parent I am just as concerned about this as I am about a family member getting COVID. While the death toll and case numbers continue to maintain the state of fear for many, I’m concerned about the numbers which are not being reported or talked about by way of our youth.

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This is personal for me. As a mother of two students who once looked forward to going to school we are now in a place of somewhat hopelessness.

Their hopes last spring of returning to school in the fall gone and the current dream of returning in the new year diminished.

Even with some schools observing a hybrid schedule and distancing guidelines in place, these kids miss people. The burden some are now living through while distance learning is troublesome.

Again, using my own two as an example, stuck at home distance learning while their mom battles cancer.

No escape of popping into school to spend time with friends, teachers, others and relieve their minds for a bit of their everyday reality.

Early into the school year, I began speaking with many friends who happen to be teachers. While some actually like the distance learning model, others have shared the frustration with teaching students while competing with at home distractions. Distractions which can mean anything and, boy, are the stories a doozy. Some have

shared parents addressing teachers via Google classroom during class time, young students bouncing baby siblings on their hips as mom and dad are off to work and older siblings are also in class; the list goes on and we’re not even addressing the academic piece yet.

How does one console the gifted student who is now failing from lack of intellectual stimulation? How does one help the average student who is now struggling because they thrive in an environment of hands-on learning? Or the insecure teen student, who now must stare at their image each day while in “virtual” class? And please someone tell me how do we equip these students with hope if they happen to have been given a teacher who lacks empathy?

Once again speaking from personal experience, I myself encountered a phone call with a person on authority questioning my involvement with my student. The condescending tone was both off-putting and alarming. Not one to be accepting of such behavior, I reminded this person that we are ALL navigating uncharted territory, not

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just the teacher, student and administrator, but the parents, the family and care providers as well. If we don’t work together now for the betterment of our children then we are failing just as much as our leadership (in my opinion).

Which brings me back to my initial concern, the mental well-being of our children as we navigate the (still) unknown with no true end date in sight.

As numbers have yet to be reported, I can share with respect of friend-tofriend confidentiality that teen suicide attempts, as well as an increase in 5150 cases have increased at our 209 hospitals. These are our kids. This is not a big city/urban problem. This is our problem.

So, as we look forward to the unfolding of events this spring, please take a moment to think about our children. Engage in conversation with them. Get outside with them. Remember their mental health is just as important as what we are dealing with in mainstream media; they need to feel seen, as well as supported. These are the faces and voices of our future and we must care for them. ●

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fulloflife

DIABETES S

an Joaquin County is at the epicenter of the diabetes crisis in the United States, as almost 50% of adults in Stockton have prediabetes and 10% have diabetes.

University of the Pacific has partnered with the Abbott Fund, the foundation of the global healthcare company Abbott, to focus on diabetes prevention, education and management in the community.

Pacific and the Abbott Fund devel-

Fighters

oped a certificate program in diabetes education for non-clinicians as a first step in addressing this issue. Through the study of the American Diabetes Association guidelines and observing the everyday lives of individuals with diabetes across their lifespan, the certificate was designed to focus on barriers to diabetes management in various settings: primary care clinic, workplace, school and home. A clinical certificate track is scheduled

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to launch in the spring, with both certificate programs offered through Benerd College.

Among the first students in Pacific’s certificate program were a group of health promoters in El Concilio’s family and child wellness program. In their roles, these health promoters provide a six-part, interactive, nutrition workshop program that teaches local parents about healthy eating and shopping, cooking demonstrations, home

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Educating community members is vital to address the issue of diabetes so people can create good habits and focus on prevention instead of treatment. ­—Jesus Margarito, El Concilio’s family health program coordinator

gardening, the value of exercise, plus CalFresh education and enrollment, as well as diabetes, cardiovascular and oral health education and awareness.

“Pacific’s Diabetes Essentials certificate program helped provide further education for our health promoters and content for them to share with our local community members,” said Jesus Margarito, El Concilio’s family health program coordinator.

“Educating community members is vital to address the issue of diabetes so people can create good habits and focus on prevention instead of treatment.”

Christine Bolthouse, a full-time teacher at Health Careers Academy High School in Stockton, also partici-

pated in Pacific’s certificate program.

In her class, Bolthouse’s students work in groups to create educational videos with patient testimonials for all ages.

“In these testimonials, diabetes patients share their personal experiences with effective ways they have treated and maintained their diagnosis,” said Bolthouse. “During the certificate program I saw how powerful it was to hear from people struggling with diabetes and my hope is people can learn from each other’s successes to manage their own health.”

Stockton faces two issues: the prevalence of the disease, and the shortage of health care providers in the region, particularly diabetes educators. Ac-

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cording to the American Association of Diabetes Educators, for every certified diabetes educator in the US, there are an estimated 1,600 patients in need of services.

To help build this pipeline of health care workers with diabetes training, Abbott is offering scholarships to students in the certificate programs with the requirement that they pursue health-related careers in Stockton upon completion of the program, and that they currently work in this capacity.

For more information or to apply, email ContinuingEd@pacific.edu or visit the Diabetes Essentials certificates website at bit.ly/DiabetesCertificate. ●

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fulloflife

Make part

of your routine

Because heart disease is largely preventable, focusing on improving your heart health is important.

D

evoting a little time every day to care for yourself can go a long way toward protecting the health of your heart. Simple self-care, such as taking a moment to de-stress, giving yourself time to move more, preparing healthier meals and not cheating on sleep, can all benefit your heart.

Because heart disease is largely preventable, focusing on improving your heart health is important. Heart disease is a leading cause of death for women and men in the United States, and many Americans remain at risk, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). People with poor cardiovascular health are also at increased risk of severe illness

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from COVID-19.

“Studies show self-care routines, such as taking a daily walk and keeping doctor’s appointments, help us keep our blood pressure in the healthy range and reduce our risk of heart disease and stroke,” said David Goff, M.D., NHLBI’s director of cardiovascular sciences.

It may be easier than you think to “put your heart” into your daily routine. Each Sunday, look at your week’s schedule and carve out 30 minutes for heart-healthy practices. Take an online yoga class, prepare a heart-healthy recipe, schedule your bedtime to get at least seven hours of sleep or make a medication checklist. Then seek out support from others to help you stick to your goals. ●

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Consider these self-care tips to try each day to make your heart a priority:

Self-Care Sunday

Find a moment of serenity every Sunday.

Spend some quality time on yourself.

Mindful Monday

Be mindful about your health and regularly monitor your blood pressure or blood sugar if needed. Keep an eye on your weight to make sure it stays within or moves toward a healthy range.

Treat Yourself Thursday Treats can be healthy. Try making a dessert with fresh fruit and yogurt. Then stretch your imagination beyond food. Host a family dance party, take a few minutes to sit and meditate, go for a long walk or watch a funny show.

Whatever you do, find a way to spend some quality time on yourself.

Tasty Tuesday

Choose how you want to approach eating healthier. Start small by pepping your meals with a fresh herb or spice as a salt substitute.

Get adventurous and prepare a simple, new, heart-healthy recipe.

Or go big by trying a different way of eating, such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, which is scientifically proven to lower blood pressure. DASH is flexible and balanced, and it includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, lean meats, beans, nuts, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.

Don’t waffle on your wellness. Move more, eat a fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried, make a plan to quit smoking or vaping or learn the signs of a heart attack or stroke. You could be having a heart attack if you have chest and upper body pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea or lightheadedness. You might be having a stroke if you experience numbness in the face, arm or leg; confusion; trouble talking or seeing; dizziness; or a severe headache.

Follow Friday

Selfie Saturday

Follow inspiring people and pages on social media, or text a friend to help you stick to your self-care goals.

Remember to take care of your mental health, too. Two of the main hurdles to self-care are depression and a lack of confidence, according to a study published in the “Journal of the American Heart Association.” If your mental health is taking a toll, take action to show your heart some love.

Reach out to family and friends for support, or talk to a qualified mental health provider.

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Wellness Wednesday

57

Inspire others to take care of their hearts.

Talk about your self-care routine with loved ones or share a selfie on social media. Having social support and personal networks can make it easier to get regular physical activity, eat nutritious foods, reach a healthy weight and quit smoking.

Learn more about heart health and heart-healthy activities in your community, and see what others are doing for their heart health, at nhlbi.nih.gov/ ourhearts or follow #OurHearts on social media.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute via Family Features

F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2021

1/27/2021 4:12:32 PM

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F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2021

1/27/2021 1:54:43 PM

fulloflife

By TERESA HAMMOND

W

hile the year 2020 might be described by some as paralyzing, not Anna Ennis.

During a time when she may have easily faced financial ruin, the longtime hair stylist, beauty and health consultant made a choice to embody the title of her new book, “Keep Going!”

Recently released by Lighthouse Global Publishing, the Sonora native, wife and mother of two noted the challenge of 2020 proved to be her greatest inspiration for the first book.

“I definitely had wanted to write a book for over 10 years,” the first-time author said, noting a habit of starting and stopping multiple times on multiple topics in the past decade.

“Then this whole 2020 hit and I had a lot of reflection 209MAGAZINE.COM

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time,” Ennis continued. “I had been in the beauty and wellness industry for 20 years. I had a salon, it was immediately shut down and I’ve done all different types of things in business and I felt like this was a good time to explore.”

During the early weeks of the pandemic, Ennis shared being approached by friends and colleagues inquiring on her ability to stay positive and keep going as her livelihood seemed to be crashing around her. In April, via the notes section on her iPhone and Google docs, she began outlining her thoughts in between busy mom, wife and business owner duties. A labor which took three months, as well as receiving input and support from her friend and business partner, Erica Ormsby.

As owners of a publishing and PR company, Ennis shared they had been through the process with multiple authors

60

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“I’m the biggest believer of people and their dreams and I’m the most passionate about people living their dreams and just keep going.” and clients, yet she herself was new to the path.

“I had never done it myself,” she said of drafting and publishing a book. “Most of my book was transcribed on my phone in my notes section or a Google doc on my phone. At night time I would go through and do my edits and stuff for about an hour, hour and a half each night after my kids went to bed.”

Not using a busy life and new challenge of everyone being under one roof 24/7 as an out, Ennis maintained the unconventional approach and completed her first draft within three months of starting.

“I decided to be the client,” she said of the 2020 endeavor. “For me it was difficult, because I have a very easy time guiding. Just like most people, it’s easy to help other people, but when it comes to helping 209MAGAZINE.COM

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yourself, it’s more difficult.”

At the outset of penning her inspirational book, Ennis developed an outline of 10 personal stories that were most impactful.

“Ten stories that changed my life,” she said. “Going back and opening that box up, that was a little bit hard.

“It was kind of an emotional time and we were going through COVID at the same time,” she continued, “so I really had to put strong boundaries when I spent that time, kind of reliving those stories.”

Some of the stories, faced in the “box” she speaks of, are shared in “Keep Going!”, while others have been shelved to share at another time in another book.

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steps to actually publish someone and brand them from beginning to end,” the author said. “For me, like step eight I was like, I’m out.”

The repetitive process of the final edit and approximately 15 revisions proved to test the publisher, turned first-time author’s commitment to the task. Yet true to her personality and persistence, she forged forward.

“I think for me the resiliency and just keep persisting into whatever you’re dreaming about,” she noted of her commitment to stay the course and release her once desired love of perfection.

In time her resilience and perseverance would be rewarded in multiple ways. The first being the reaction of her daughters, ages nine and 10, upon the first case of books arriving.

Ennis stated the highlight of getting the delivery and her daughters being

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able to help her open it and realize mom had written a book. Sharing that during a time when she had gone from a very good income as a stylist to no income, she remained mindful of how she adapted and the eyes of her daughters watching.

“I’ve been that way my whole life, since I was a very little kid,” she said of her perseverance and determination.

“I’ve had adversity after adversity; it’s just part of my make-up. When things get really hard, I dig in even harder.”

It’s an attitude and outlook, which Ennis shares through varying chapters of the book, recounting personal stories, as well as thoughts on how to overcome and forge through the unexpected.

“It’s not a strong literary read,” she said of “Keep Going!”. “I wanted it to be like me and you sitting down for coffee and me saying, ‘No, keep

going. You got this.’ I’m the biggest believer of people and their dreams and I’m the most passionate about people living their dreams and just keep going.

“I’ve had some really great feedback from people that I would never think would give me feedback,” she added.

“For me that’s been the best thing.”

As one who gains more from giving than getting, Ennis has shared the new release with women’s groups, the underprivileged, as well as college students.

“I’m just hoping people will take one little bit from it and be inspired to do something different with their own life,” she said.

“Keep Going!” can currently be purchased on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, as well as on her website annaennis.co. An audio version is also available on Audible. ●

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JoAnn Oliveira (209)604-0992 joliveira@wisg.com Lic. #0596517

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fulloflife

By TERESA HAMMOND

C

oming off the disappointment of 2020 and the promise which initially seemed to lay ahead, more and more in the 209 are looking to 2021 as a reset and opportunity to reclaim their life.

Transformational life coach, speaker and owner of Up Level Your Life Consulting, Karrie Mitten shared the majority of her clients sought help with adjusting their vision through the 2020 pandemic year.

“Coming into 2021 what I do, is I teach people how to create a vision,” she said. “Live into the vision. The most successful people have the end in mind.”

Yet as one’s balloon may remain deflated via job loss, personal illness or family setbacks, Mitten shared it is well within the individual’s grasp to live their best life.

“Start with the question, “What would I love?”, Mitten shared from her Escalon home, “because when you ask yourself that question you get very different answers than ‘Well what does my bank account say I can do? What does my current situation say I can do? What do other people say I can do?’”

According to Mitten it is

through the mindset and the vision of the individual that can lead them to live a life of default or live a life of design. One must (mentally) design a life which they would love versus settling for one of default. A skill which requires both focus as well as unwavering positivity.

She likens the idea to driving down a freeway and having the end of the drive in mind. If you don’t focus on the destination, one can be “distracted by the bug guts.” If one is focused on destination, they see past the bug guts.

“Howard Thurman, Dr. Martin Luther King’s mentor, said, ‘Figure out what makes you come alive, and then go do that, because the world needs people who have come alive’ and that has never been truer,” Mitten said. “The world needs people to live the person that they are called to be, and a vision will get you there.”

The life coach emphasizes the importance of thinking thoughts to design a life that one would love, resisting the temptation to be negative or come from a place of ‘that can’t happen for me.’ In her words, when working from one’s vision working backwards from the vision

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(end goal) is the best way to live your best life.

“It changes your whole thinking process,” she said. “One of the things I teach my clients is, our results that we have in our life are the direct reflection of the thoughts that we’ve been thinking — everything.”

Yet not everything always goes the way one would like in life, a fact not lost on Mitten, most especially post-2020 and shifting into 2021.

“There’s a Napoleon Hill quote, ‘Every adversity, every heartache, every failure carries with it the seed of equal or greater value.’ Success comes to those who are curious as to what the setback has come to teach them,” Mitten emphasized, noting we must look for the seed in the apparent obstacle and plant the seed.

“Find it, plant it, nurture it, water it, you will harvest it and you will grow it,” she shared. “Everyone has ‘stuff ’ that’s content. Use the content to grow and nurture oneself to the next level.”

While the idea of a “best life” may be simple, it takes both commitment and desire which will make it so. Using one’s own life

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We have two choices – we can live a life of default ... stuck in the current patterns of our life, or we can create a life of design.

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fulloflife

PHOTO BY TRI CAO ON Unsplash

If you don’t focus on the destination, one can be “distracted by the bug guts.” If one is focused on destination, they see past the bug guts.

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experiences as the curriculum of their life novel to catapult them to the next level as they lean into their life of design versus despair.

“Our subconscious mind doesn’t know good from bad, right from wrong. It just knows,” Mitten stated. “What you focus on expands. Where your attention goes, energy flows. If one focuses on this is ‘bad’ you’re telling your subconscious mind it’s bad and it will be bad.”

Not one to simply sell rainbows and butterflies, as a life coach Mitten acknowledges that there are indeed circumstances beyond one’s control. Unquestionably, one cannot change the circumstance, they can however, alter the mindset of how they navigate through it, such as with COVID-19.

“The facts are that we have COVID. The truth is that we are far more powerful than any circumstance, situation or condition outside of us,” she stated. “The fact is we are stuck at home, but the truth is something is seeking to emerge here.”

Mitten added that there is an increased need for individuals to focus on being vibrant, healthy and energetic. Rather than make

an effort to learn how to feel better, she recommends they shift their focus to a mindset of simply feeling better.

“My goal moving into 2021 was to help people realize if they don’t create this vision, if they don’t create a vision of the life they want to live then they will default back to the same old patterns,” Mitten explained.

“We’re going to breathe another 365 days; I mean that’s not up to us. But if we’re going to breathe another 365 days, if we’re lucky enough we’re going to create a pattern of life. We’re going to create it whether we want to or not, so why not create something that we love,” she passionately stated. “Why not create a life of design and live into that.”

The key remains in positivity and maintaining this from leaning into a place of love, placing the focus on the positive and the desire, versus the default of defeat and despair.

“Our quality of life is determined by the quality of the questions that we ask,” Mitten simplified. “So if you continue to ask how am I going to get to the end of the month and pay all my bills, you’re going to continue to

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stay stuck in that lack, limitation and scarcity mentality. Versus what can I do to make some extra money, will be given answers and solutions that answer that question. It’s really all about what you’re focusing on.”

A life coach as well as a realist, Mitten recognizes not all days are good days. The trying moments are the ones in which the focus and the drive are most crucial to optimum success in one’s best life. Hence her commitment to the design must prevail over the despair.

“Let me end by saying that we are not here to live a mediocre life,” Mitten stated. “We have two choices – we can live a life of default ... stuck in the current patterns of our life, or we can create a life of design.

“We have the power to do that but it starts with our thinking – thoughts become things and everything is created twice. Our results in our life are the direct reflection of the thoughts we have been thinking – thoughts create feelings create action create results,” she concluded. “We must change our thinking, and what our thoughts are creating, to live our best life.” ●

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placecalledhome

home gardeners

Composting basics C

promotes soil fertility, stimulates healthy root development and aids in erosion control.

However, many gardeners often feel confused about the composting process.

Here are some FAQ's and their answers. â—?

IMAGE BY JOKE VANDER LEIJ - PIXABAY

omposting is the process of helping turning "waste" into an earthy smelling material that's like a multivitamin for your garden soil. Compost helps improve your soil structure and water holding capacity,

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WHAT CAN I COMPOST? IMAGE BY BEN - KERCKX PIXABAY

• Kitchen: fruit and vegetable scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, and eggshells.

• Yard waste: grass clippings (except Bermudagrass), leaves, pine needles, and shredded wood chips.

• Rotted manures from non-meat-eating animals are allowed, but not necessary.

WHAT SHOULDN’T I COMPOST?

IMAGE BY J GARGET - PIXABAY

• Avoid animal products (meat, bones, fish, grease, dairy).

• Ashes from the fireplace or BBQ (can cause pH imbalance in soil).

• Sawdust from treated wood.

• Dirt: this ends up making it heavy and too hard to turn.

• Avoid diseased plants.

• Weeds that have gone to seed, Bermudagrass.

WHAT ARE “GREENS” AND “BROWNS?”

IMAGE BY MANFRED ANTRABIAS ZIMMER - PIXABAY

IMAGE BY BLUEBUDGIE - PIXABAY

Greens are moist and rich with nitrogen and include vegetable & fruit scraps, grass clippings, coffee grounds, and rotted manures.

Browns are dry and carbon rich, and include dry leaves, straw, sawdust, wood chips, corn stalks, cardboard, and paper.

HOW MUCH GREENS AND BROWNS DO I NEED? When building a pile, you need to add equal amounts of greens and browns. The easiest way to do this is by using two 5-gallon buckets.

— Information provided by University of California Cooperative Extensive Gardeners of Stanislaus County. For more information about composting, view this UCCE video: bit.ly/GardenBasics

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placecalledhome DARK DRAMA Often overlooked as more of an “accent” color, black has become livable, luxe and inviting with textured woods adding rustic, homely charm. Edgy but classic, black cabinets can pair perfectly with nearly any design element still in its natural wooden state to create a distinct style that is all your own.

FAMILY FEATURES

T

he kitchen is the heart of many homes, and careful planning is a necessity when it comes to redesigning this essential living space. Picking out cabinetry — and a color for those cabinets, in particular — can be a challenging process.

Everything from the style of your cabinets to the amount of natural light your space receives are key factors to consider when choosing an updated hue. While white cabinets are an everlasting choice, and wood-stained cabinetry once held 70% of the market, painted cabinets now account for 70% of sales, signaling a significant shift among homeowners and their preferences.

Consider these on-trend cabinet stylings for 2021: l

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A SEA OF BLUE TOne of today’s hottest trends in kitchen cabinetry is the use of shades of blue, which provide calming and restful effects and the feeling of harmony and serenity. Pops of blue can be used as an accent color on islands or on either upper or base cabinets.

To balance out these dramatic darks, many homeowners are opting to pair a bold color choice like a navy hue - such as Bleu - with neutral to warm whites, such as wool and bone white, to create a crisp, clean look. Gold hardware can be used on navy cabinetry for an upscale and regal look while silver-tone hardware provides a contemporary finishing touch.

While lighter shades of blue, like aqua, are perfect for keeping spaces light and airy, one of the latest colors to emerge is a mid-tone classic blue.

MIXED WOOD TONES Even with the rise in painted woods, stains are seeing a surge in popularity. The application of stain to natural wood can enhance the character of the cabinetry. Neutral color, dimension, texture and soft luxury can be layered into nearly any space to create a blended balance.

Wood grains typically pair well with whites, grays, blues and brass tones — all of which are popular colors in modern kitchens and other localized entertaining areas such as in-home refreshment areas or bars.

Find more on-trend kitchen inspiration and color options at Wellborn.com.

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marketplace

F

By FRANKIE TOVAR

or years Olivia Bartlett’s husband made a living with his Tracy-based handyman business Andrew’s Maintenance until the spread of COVID-19 forced his business operations to stop. Like so many other business owners in the area, the Bartletts found themselves at a crossroads as they scrambled to find a way to support their family.

“We have four kids so it was like, ‘well, what do we do?’” Bartlett said.

Amid the frustration of the situation Bartlett found inspiration in an unlikely place — rage.

Drawing from an idea she had four years ago, Bartlett decided to switch the family business from repair to destruction with the opening of the Rage Room Stanislaus in Salida, a unique attraction its operators hope will help others

release their pint up frustrations.

“It was just something I wanted to do really, really bad,” Bartlett said.

“We put all of our savings, every penny that we had into this.”

As the name suggests, Rage Room Stanislaus is a place to unleash.

Providing a safe space to demolish a number of objects with the help of various weapons, the rage room proved to be a hit with locals during its August grand opening.

“We had the best first customers we could have asked for,” Bartlett said. “I think this is going to be something that is fun for people to come do that is also therapeutic.”

“It’s been described as stress relief through controlled destruction,” she added.

With a reservation system in place via their Facebook page, Stanislaus Rage

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Room offers a variety of packages for its customers based on the size of the items that will be smashed and battered as well as the time allotted to do so. There is also an option to bring your own items to rage out on.

Groups of three to five are allowed to visit per session but as of now only one person is allowed to participate in the mayhem at a time.

Individuals participating in the destruction are provided with coveralls, leather gloves, safety glasses, a face

shield, hard hat and ear protectors.

Though there are currently limitations in place in terms of participation and weapon selection, there are already plans to expand which includes a larger area to allow multiple people to destroy a number of items, including vehicles, with custom-made weapons to accompany the already available crowbars, sledgehammers and 2x4s.

There are also talks of lowering the minimum age to participate from 18 to 13.

“I feel like we have gotten so lucky. I don’t even know where it came from. It’s amazing,” Bartlett said. “I can’t even really describe it with words.” ● 209MAGAZINE.COM

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IF YOU GO GETTING THERE: STANISLAUS RAGE ROOM 5628 Pirrone Road Salida, CA 95368 CONTACT: 209-214-8282 www.stanrageroom.com HOURS: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday Closed Monday and Tuesday

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marketplace

By VIRGINIA STILL

209MAGAZINE.COM

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W

ith a trend of farm to table many people want to eat locally grown food and that supports local farmers, local business and the local economy. This trend has flowed over to farm to bottle and farm to brewery. There are many states that have seen a rise in local breweries and according to statista.com California had the most craft breweries in 2019 in the country with 907 throughout the Golden State.

The mass production of hops comes from the Pacific Northwest in Washington and Oregon. This is where most breweries in California get their hops. But a new local cooperative Ca Hop Co-Op President Tommy Bell of Atomic Hops, Vice President Zack Reinstein of Thomsen Hops, and Secretary Art Prudhel of Atomic Hops want to change that. California at one time had hop farms and in Pleasanton they even named a road after a hop farm that was once there called Hopyard Road.

They are in the beginning stages of the co-op but have been planning on the creation for a couple years.

“It is a collective effort,” said Bell.

“We are selling each others’ hops.

This is a grassroots project that is a collective thing. We are sharing ideas and helping each other.

We can try to share equipment if needed to help everybody grow. It is not about one person succeeding, it is we all succeed.”

Reinstein explained that there are economic advantages as well, as the business people share expertise, aiding each other in the pursuit of their common goal. At the heart of it all, he added, is bringing the focus to the 209.

“We are hoping for local people instead of going up north and I am not dissing up north but to have a local product,” stated Reinstein, “local breweries are pushing that it is local beer because it is in Tracy or Lodi but the product is not completely local. We are trying to create a true local beer and be able to have everybody use our product grown here.”

Thomsen Farms has been around since the early 1950s and began in Pleasanton with 50 acres. Reinstein’s grandfather traded the 50 acres for 300 acres in Tracy. They farmed tomatoes, almonds, and wheat and in 2019 Reinstein ripped up the almond orchard and decided to try his farming hand at hops.

“I am trying to bring hops back to California and give all these breweries a local product that they can purchase,” noted Reinstein.

“Hops originally grew in California back in the late 1800s and early 209MAGAZINE.COM

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1900s. We are trying to do something new. It is great eating almonds and having tomato soup but we need something to wash those down with so we wanted to put in some hops for some beer.”

There are 16 acres of hop in Tracy that Reinstein has planted with nine different varieties so that he can determine which ones grow the best in his soil on his farm.

Atomic Hops was established after Bell put his construction skills together with Prudhel’s agricultural background and they have been in existence for about three years. They currently offer a few different varieties of hops like Chinook, Cascade, Mt. Hood, and Nugget along with plantings of new varieties.

“Our intent was to open a facility and do all the processing to ease the burden of debt to the people that wanted to grow past us,” remarked Bell. “So with the trellis systems required for hops, it is a large expense. You have poles, cabling, installation; it is a large expense. When you are doubling, quadrupling, or tripling the cost to get some processing to do that made it unfeasible for people.”

Along the way Bell and Prudhel crossed paths with Reinstein and with the same ideology and mind frame of banding

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marketplace

together with other hop farmers and creating a co-op to bring hops back to California, the dream became a reality.

“So we are taking our co-op which is the California Hop Co-Op and we have a centralized processing facility in the northern part of San Joaquin County and Zack is on the southern half of the 209 and we can try to facilitate anyone in the entire 209 area that wants to possibly grow hops,” expressed Bell.

The weather and temperatures as in many farming operations plays a factor in the growing of hops. They have planted a three-acre site that has 25 different varieties which they will closely monitor and test to see what grows best. They have partnered with Cal Poly to test some of their varieties and know what will grow in the California climate and what does not. They have also united with a few other farmers from around the state to share information.

“Like Zack said, we are doing this because of the local craft brewing market,” added Bell. “We have more breweries in any state in the union and we have the least amount of hops growing. There is a void that we need to fix.”

With 50 acres that they have established within the past two years they are far from the beginning when they only had a few varieties to offer local breweries. There are many breweries in the 209 and the farmers with Ca Hop Co-Op want to be a part of their craft creations.

“This is not a fly by night operation to where we don’t know what is going on,” noted Bell. “We are local and amazing. We have the most premium hops in California. We have the tests to prove it.”

Growing hops is no easy task and the farmers with the Ca Hop Co-Op are putting their all into it, focusing on quality and consistency.

The hops are green when picked and as the guys stated “super airy.”

Some of the varieties have different aromas like grapefruit, tangerine and pepper, or lemon. They will be ‘waking up’ in March and should be ready for harvest in August or September.

The process is elaborate, the equipment is crucial, and the man hours

are extensive but the passion from the farmers is even greater. They are just getting started. They will have a website, logo and more information coming soon.

“We are getting our name out there,” relayed Bell. “We didn’t just take it to the next level with quality but we have the full service to go from start to finish for every brewer in the state of California.” ● For more information, visit atomichops.com or call 209-406-9391.

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Draw with me.

bit.ly/haronetwork haroldgeorge.com

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haroartist

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marketplace

By DALE BUTLER

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“E

verything is selling right now,” said Jeff Hoekstra, store manager of Teammates Sports Cards & Collectibles at 2900 Standiford Ave. in Modesto.

“We’ve never seen anything like this.

Business has never been better. Sales are at least triple from what they were a year ago. It’s hard to know exactly why that is.”

Teammates has experienced an increase in overall sales since March while other businesses have been hit hard due to the coronavirus.

“You don’t expect people to spend a lot of money on collectibles when you go into a pandemic,” Hoekstra said.

“After COVID, we were seeing so many new customers, including doctors and lawyers. People are taking money out of their retirement and from the stock market and investing it into the hobby because the stuff is so hot right now.”

Basketball, baseball and football hobby boxes, which include guaranteed hits such as autographs and memorabilia cards, have been flying off the Modesto shop’s shelves for the past five months.

Curbside pickup is available, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

“Everybody is shocked when they see the price of cards now,” Hoekstra said.

“Your average box of cards isn’t $50 or $100. It’s hundreds of dollars. The bottom line is people want what’s rare and sells for a lot of money.”

The price of a 2019-20 Panini Prizm Basketball hobby box quadrupled from $400 to $2,000 thanks in large part to rookie phenoms Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, and future Hall of Famer LeBron James.

“Basketball is the king right now,” Hoekstra said. “Panini Prizm has taken over the hobby.”

Panini Donruss Optic Baseball hobby boxes have been a popular sell since being released several weeks ago.

Justin Torlucci, 47, of Lodi, opened

several boxes recently and pulled a Jasson Dominguez Rated Prospect Purple Prizm autographed card and Mike Trout Stars and Stripes super short print insert card.

Collectors, investors and sellers have also spent a lot of money on 2020 Bowman Baseball hobby boxes chasing Dominguez cards. Dominguez, 17, is the New York Yankees’ top prospect.

“Bowman has been huge,” Hoekstra said. “The only downfall is it’s more expensive because of the strong rookie class.”

Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa autographs and parallels are the most sought-after cards in all football hobby products, including Panini Chronicles and Contenders Draft Picks. The rookie quarterbacks were selected by the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins in the 2020 NFL Draft.

A customer at Teammates pulled a 2019-20 Ja Morant Panini Donruss Optic Basketball one-of-one autographed rookie card on June 26.

“It should sell for a minimum of $20,000,” Hoekstra said.

History was made in the sports cards world on July 19 when a 2003-04 LeBron James Upper Deck Exquisite rookie patch autographed parallel rookie card sold at auction for $1.845 million.

The previous record for any modern sports card sold was set in May when a gem mint 2009 Mike Trout Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects red refractor autographed rookie card fetched $922,500.

Blowout Cards has offered a $500,000 bounty to the person who pulls Zion Williamson’s 2019-20 National Treasures NBA Logoman one-of-one autographed rookie card.

“You can open a pack of cards now and pull a card that’s worth $100,000 or a lot more,” Hoekstra said. “That wasn’t the case a few years ago.”

The sports card industry has gone through its ups and downs over the years.

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Justin Torlucci, 47, of Lodi, is a regular customer at Teammates Sports Cards & Collectables. He opened several hobby boxes of 2020 Donruss Optic Baseball during a recent visit.

The number of shops has shrunk drastically since the mid-1990s due to the Internet, video games and other trading card games like Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon and Yugioh.

“There wasn’t any money to be made,” Hoekstra said. “I stuck with it because I love the hobby.”

Hoekstra has been in the sports card business for 27 years.

He worked, from 1993-2015, at Krier’s Cards & Comics in Modesto. The Pelendale Avenue shop has since closed its doors.

“I gave up tennis at Modesto Junior College so I could work and go to card shows,” said Hoekstra, who earned a business management degree from Stanislaus State. “I started selling at local card shows in 1989.”

Hoekstra opened his first pack of cards, Donruss Baseball, in 1981.

“My parents would buy us a Topps Baseball card set every year starting in 1983,” he said. “That’s why I got into it more. I started really building my collection in 1986.”

Hoekstra turned his passion into a profession.

“It’s an ideal occupation,” said Hoekstra, who also sells sports cards and collectibles on EBay. “It’s given me the flexibility to do what I want. I love sports. I enjoy what I’m doing.” ●

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marketplace

Keyword Cannibalization

By BETH DEVINE

I

n 2021, websites that Google finds easier to crawl are ones that rank better. If you have been trying to get your business website to rank higher in the search engine results pages (SERPs), you should ensure that keyword cannibalization is not

an issue that you are facing.

For those who are new to this topic, keyword cannibalization happens when you unintentionally target the same keyword across multiple posts and pages.

A practice like this confuses Google, especially when two or

more content pieces are similar in their structure.

In order not to confuse your website visitors, you should work on your keyword placement. Here are some actionable tips to help you with that:

How to detect problems First of all, you need to identify all of the cannibalized pages.

Doing this is as easy as one search along the lines of “your domain + keywords” and you will see your rankings.

For instance, if you are a call center, typing your brand name and keyword in the following format – [BRAND NAME + “call center”] – can give you a good idea of which pages are ranking for that specific keyword. You will get a list of results, but are they the ones you want?

More importantly, Google can get confused in the future and not know which page to prioritize in the rankings. As a result, you might even lose all rankings for the keyword at once.

Merge your content Merging your content can help you rank the page you want for the specific keyword. To do that, you should take all of the relevant content and put it on a single page.

You should know that this solution is useful, but doesn’t work for every situation. However, in most cases, merging your content from multiple pages into a single page will simplify and increase your website’s SEO. We recommend adding the content to the page that ranks highest in the SERPs.

Delete some content, if needed Deleting web pages may not be something you want to do at first, but it can help you with your rankings. For instance, if a blog post for a specific product or service that you offer ranks a lot higher than the actual product/service page, you may want to delete the content or change the keyword.

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Remove keywords As we mentioned in the tip above, one of the better ways to maintain specific content is through removing its keyword and replacing it with another one. Altering the keyword on the page or post is a good idea if you don’t want to lose its rankings. However, it is also a slower and more tedious process.

Change your internal linking Internal linking is always good for SEO but can also be a problem that leads to keyword cannibalization. If your web content links to other pages on your website, the links may be the elements that you can also improve.

We recommend adding or changing your internal linking so that the less critical content links to the one you want to highlight and prioritize. Doing this will send a signal to Google and, hopefully, get the change you wish to see in the SERPs, with your linked content being the one that should prioritize.

Alter your inbound link requests Last in our list of tips is the one focused on link requests. This one requires a more difficult approach, but it can be very important. If you have the time, you should research all related keywords with your brand name and get some software to track your backlinks.

The idea is simple – some of your pages might rank better because they have more (or better quality) backlinks. Contacting the webmasters of those sources and telling them to alter the link requests to the pages you want to prioritize is what you should do. Doing this can also help you increase your on-page SEO and strengthen your rankings.

In the end, it is safe to say that Google and other search engines use algorithms that are far more sophisticated and advanced than before. While it is always good to be more prominent in the search results, it can also direct your visitors to the pages you don’t essentially want them to see, or not the right ones. ● — Devine Solutions Group is a local resource for effective marketing strategies for businesses of all sizes. 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, an award-winning digital marketing agency headquartered in Tracy, CA. Connect with Beth by either calling 833-933-8463 or email her at beth@devinesolutionsgroup.com.

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