52 minute read
Shopping
Shopping Winners
Antique Store MAIN STREET ANTIQUES, TURLOCK GOLD THE ANTIQUE WAREHOUSE, SALIDA SILVER VINTAGE MARKET, TURLOCK BRONZE
Appliance Store DIRECT APPLIANCE GOLD
CENTER APPLIANCE, MANTECA SILVER
COSTCO BRONZE
Baby Clothes ENVY FINE CLOTHING GOLD RAGAMUFFIN, MODESTO SILVER SASSY PANTS CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE BRONZE
Bargain / Discount Store
HOPE CHEST THRIFT STORE GOLD
NEARLY NEW, MANTECA SILVER
MARSHALL’S BRONZE
Bike Store
WORLD OF WHEELS, MODESTO GOLD FUN SPORT BIKES, MODESTO SILVER
CYCLE MASTERS, TURLOCK BRONZE
Bookstore
YESTERDAY’S BOOKS, MODESTO GOLD
BARNES AND NOBLE, MODESTO SILVER
THE BOOK EXCHANGE, MANTECA BRONZE
Bridal Boutique THE BRIDAL VAULT, JAMESTOWN GOLD MIRA BRIDAL SILVER BIANCA’S BRIDAL COUTURE, MODESTO BRONZE
Camping Gear CRESCENT SUPPLY GOLD BASS PRO SHOP SILVER DICK’S SPORTING GOODS, TURLOCK BRONZE
Children’s Accessories
PENCIE & GINGER, ESCALON GOLD
FARM HOUSE, TURLOCK SILVER
RAGAMUFFIN, MODESTO BRONZE
Children’s Clothing
RAGAMUFFIN, MODESTO GOLD
PENCIE & GINGER, ESCALON SILVER
SASSY PANTS CHILDRENS BOUTIQUE, STOCKTON BRONZE
Children’s Furniture
WOODS FURNITURE GALLERY, TURLOCK GOLD
VINTAGE MARKET, TURLOCK SILVER
Children’s Shoe Store
STRIDE RITE GOLD
ENVY FINE CLOTHING SILVER
FAMOUS FOOTWEAR BRONZE
Christmas Decor
MULBERRY LANE, MODESTO GOLD
VINTAGE MARKET, TURLOCK SILVER
FARM HOUSE, TURLOCK BRONZE
Consignment Store
HOPE CHEST THRIFT STORE GOLD
THREADS CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE SILVER
OFF CENTER THRIFT & GIFT, TURLOCK BRONZE
Cowboy Boots BOOT BARN GOLD
OAKDALE FEED & SEED SILVER
ENVY FINE CLOTHING BRONZE
Craft Store
MY THING BEADS GOLD
HOBBY LOBBY SILVER
HOBBY SHOPPE, OAKDALE BRONZE
Custom Furniture
BACK HOME, TURLOCK GOLD
RUSTIC ROOTS, TURLOCK SILVER
AT HOME, MODESTO BRONZE
Custom Jewelry CICCARELLI JEWELERS, MODESTO GOLD VAIL CREEK JEWELRY, TURLOCK SILVER YONAN’S JEWELERS, TURLOCK BRONZE
Custom Reclaimed Furniture
BACK HOME, TURLOCK GOLD
ANTIQUE WAREHOUSE SILVER RUSTIC ROOTS, TURLOCK BRONZE
Estate Sale Company ESTATE OF AFFAIRS GOLD
GRACE AND SONS SILVER
CENTRAL VALLEY ESTATE SALES BRONZE
Fine Jewelry VAIL CREEK JEWELRY, TURLOCK GOLD CICCARELLI JEWELERS, MODESTO SILVER GABRIEL FINE JEWELERS, MODESTO BRONZE
Florist
YONAN’S FLORAL, TURLOCK GOLD
MANTECA FLORAL SILVER
WILD BLOOMS, RIPON BRONZE
Furniture Store
AL’S FURNITURE, MODESTO GOLD
WOODS FURNITURE GALLERY, TURLOCK SILVER
BACK HOME, TURLOCK BRONZE
Gift Baskets
STEWART & JASPER GOLD THE BUTLER’S PANTRY SILVER
MOBAAK AROMATHERAPY SHOPPE BRONZE
Gift Shop FARM HOUSE, TURLOCK GOLD MOBAAK AROMATHERAPY SHOPPE SILVER THE BUTLER’S PANTRY BRONZE
Grocery Store VILLAGE FRESH MARKET, TURLOCK GOLD O’BRIEN’S MARKET SILVER COSTLESS FOOD COMPANY BRONZE
Gun Dealer
BARNWOOD ARMS, RIPON GOLD
BILSON’S SILVER
FRED’S FIREARMS BRONZE
Handcrafted Jewelry MAMTA HARRIS GOLD
ENVY FINE CLOTHING SILVER
FAITH WEAR DESIGNS BRONZE
Hardware Store
SCHEMPERS ACE HARDWARE, RIPON GOLD
ACE HARDWARE, ESCALON SILVER
ACE HARDWARE, STOCKTON BRONZE
Holiday Lighting THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT GUY GOLD ACE HARDWARE, MODESTO SILVER ACE HARDWARE, ESCALON BRONZE
Winners
Home Accessories
VINTAGE MARKET, TURLOCK GOLD
THE BUTLER’S PANTRY SILVER
MOBAAK AROMATHERAPY SHOPPE BRONZE
Home Decor
FARM HOUSE, TURLOCK GOLD
VINTAGE MARKET, TURLOCK SILVER
THE BUTLER’S PANTRY BRONZE
Home Electronics
BORDONA’S HOME FURNISHINGS, OAKDALE GOLD
KIRKES ELECTRIC, TURLOCK SILVER
COSTCO BRONZE
Home Lighting
MANTECA LIGHTING GOLD
PHILLIPS LIGHTING, MODESTO SILVER
RUSTIC ROOTS BRONZE
Home / Garden Store
THE GREENERY, TURLOCK GOLD
RAINFOREST NURSERY, MANTECA SILVER P&L ESCALON BRONZE
Mattress / Bedding
MANTECA BEDQUARTERS GOLD
WOODS FURNITURE GALLERY, TURLOCK SILVER
COSTCO, TURLOCK BRONZE
Men’s Clothes
ENVY FINE CLOTHING GOLD
CAMARA’S CLOTHING, TURLOCK SILVER
BOOT BARN BRONZE
Olive Oil Business
SCIABICA’S GOLD
OLIVE OIL PANTRY, MANTECA SILVER
SCARLATA FARMS, TRACY BRONZE
Party Supplies PARTY CITY GOLD
GRAND EVENTS, MODESTO SILVER
FARM HOUSE, TURLOCK BRONZE
Place to buy Art THE GALLERY FINESSE GOLD MEMORIES FOR THE MAKING, LODI SILVER
CARNEGIE ARTS CENTER, TURLOCK BRONZE
Second Hand Bookstore
LIGHTLY USED BOOKS, TURLOCK GOLD
YESTERDAY’S BOOKS, MODESTO SILVER
THE BOOK EXCHANGE, MANTECA BRONZE
Shoe Store
BURTON’S SHOES, LODI GOLD
FLEET FEET SILVER
ENVY FINE CLOTHING BRONZE
Shopping Mall / Center
MCHENRY VILLAGE, MODESTO GOLD
LINCOLN CENTER, STOCKTON SILVER
VINTAGE FAIRE MALL, MODESTO BRONZE
Sporting Goods DICK’S SPORTING GOODS, TURLOCK GOLD ANDERSON’S BIKE SHOP, MANTECA SILVER BILSON’S SPORTING GOODS BRONZE
Thrift Store
HOPE CHEST, MODESTO GOLD
NEW & AGAIN, LODI SILVER
NEARLY NEW, MANTECA BRONZE
Toy Store TARGET GOLD
ENVY FINE CLOTHING SILVER
HANDS ON BRONZE
Unique Local Shop MAIN STREET ANTIQUES, TURLOCK GOLD DIGS SILVER MOBAAK AROMATHERAPY SHOPPE BRONZE
Upscale Second Hand Clothing
THREADS CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE GOLD
NEARLY NEW, MANTECA SILVER
PLATO’S CLOSET BRONZE
Western Clothing
BUCKSWORTH WESTERN WEAR, OAKDALE GOLD
JOE HASSAN’S CLOTHING, LODI SILVER OAKDALE FEED & SEED BRONZE
Women’s Accessories
THREADS CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE GOLD
ENVY FINE CLOTHING SILVER
EVE & ME BRONZE
Women’s Clothes
STELLA MITCHELL GOLD
GLITZ FINE CLOTHING, TURLOCK SILVER
ENVY FINE CLOTHING BRONZE
Beauty of Backpacking
50 Lessons in 50 Years
Inyo National Forest: Backpackers trek past Split Mountain in Inyo National Forest.
When the first wild bear I ever saw up close wandered past my backcountry camp, I grabbed my camera and shot pictures like mad. Bears appear to Yosemite tourists all the time yet had somehow eluded me during my first several years of park visits. Unwisely, I followed the bruin as I finished a roll of film and even loaded another.
My fellow forest-dweller didn’t like it and let me know with a snarl and sudden step in my direction. The bear’s bluff charge nearly made my heart leap out of my chest. I got the message and backed off, a bit wiser than before.
Fifty years of outdoor experiences have taught me a few things which I hope are worth sharing. Through this series, I offer you 50 tips to judge for yourself. This column, the fourth of five, focuses on backpacking. Whether you go for a few days in a nearby park or a few months on the Pacific Crest Trail, a wide and wonderful world awaits those willing to trek into the wilderness. ●
Desolation Wilderness: Only backpackers get to see views like this at Desolation Wilderness.
Start easy and build up gradually. Hiking out to camp for a single night will help you learn to make a longer trip more comfortable. Of course, it helps considerably if you exercise and attain good fitness before a backpacking trip, especially a long one. Try taking some day hikes with your pack first, both to build your strength and to test your pack weight.
Travel light. The less your pack weighs, the easier and happier your hiking becomes. This sounds obvious and yet we all learn the hard way. For instance, do you really need a tent? In many situations, just a sleeping bag and camping mattress get you through the night comfortably. Shoot for a base weight of 20 pounds or less; some ultralight experts get under ten pounds. Even veteran backpackers find new ways to shed weight as ever-lighter gear reaches the market.
Consider these gear suggestions. Hiking poles will help take the pressure off your knees when you climb or descend hills. Some people swear by hiking boots but lighter options work too; I often wear running shoes. Wear whatever footwear you choose around before your backpacking trip to ensure your comfort. Sandals let you take off your shoes in the evening and give your feet a break.
Learn to use a map and compass Don’t rely exclusively on electronics to navigate. Phone apps and GPS devices work great, until they don’t. When batteries die, signals disappear or gadgets break, you need a backup plan. Surprisingly few backpackers possess map and compass skills, but those who do avoid costly route-finding errors. By the way, when something looks wrong, stop and reassess. You won’t find your course correction just over the next hill. Chances are, it’s behind you.
Watch out for water. This greatest necessity also weighs more than anything else, so it’s important to carry the right amount and plan ahead on where to refill your bottles. Guidebooks, maps, and fellow hikers can all provide this information on dry stretches of trail. While I hesitate to rely on electronics, many hikers use apps like Guthook which provide up-to-date information about seasonal water sources. In addition, filter water you suspect of contamination. This isn’t always necessary but err on the side of caution, especially around livestock.
Avoid mosquito bites and don’t let the bugs bug you. First, time your outings to avoid the pesky bloodsuckers, which hatch during spring in the lowlands and then work their way up the mountains through summer. Second, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to guard against them. Many use chemicals like DEET which definitely help, but those concerned about their possible health hazards can get by without them by observing the first two tips. Mosquitoes are thankfully less numerous following a dry winter like we had this year.
Ansel Adams Wilderness: The author and companions relished a visit to Ediza Lake in Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Sierra Sunrise: Early risers enjoy a High Sierra sunrise.
Leaves of three, leave them be! Learn to recognize poison oak. The enemy’s leaves are green in spring and summer, red in fall, and fall off the plant in winter, but the stems are still dangerous. Thankfully, the oily plant doesn’t grow above 5,000 feet and presents no problem on high elevation hikes. But when in doubt, touch nothing suspicious. If you do touch it, wash your skin and clothes. Good idea to wash your dog too.
Bring fishing gear if you’re camping somewhere with angling potential. Backcountry lakes and streams deliver far better action than more easilyreached fishing holes. Fish bite best in the early morning and evening hours. It doesn’t take much tackle or expertise to land a few in the right waters, and doing so will make you a hero in your camp.
Be realistic about your schedule, especially at elevation. Mountain miles take more time and energy than lowland ones. When my family first hiked a segment of the John Muir Trail, we seriously underestimated the difficulty and time required, forcing us to march 20 miles out on our last day. The trail doesn’t care if you’re in a hurry. You’ll enjoy yourself more if you take adequate time.
Finally, leave wildlife alone! For starters, don’t stalk a bear like I foolishly did. Additionally, take steps to protect wildlife from effects of your passage. In bear country, carry a bear can; hanging your food bag from a tree rarely works well. Clean your camp and don’t leave out food for any animals to access. Dependence on human handouts means death for our furry friends.
I try to hit the trail for a few days or weeks every year. Every trip produces special memories. When I look back at some years, my backpacking trips are the events I remember best about them.
Spotting wildlife always delivers thrills, too. I’ve been fortunate to spot bald eagles, California condors, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and quite a few bears. I love taking pictures of them, which I happily shoot from a respectful distance.
Shadow Lake: Sun sets on a summer day at Shadow Lake.
IMPROVING
MY GAME WITH PRO HELP
By SETH CLARK
When most people begin to play a new sport, they usually have a coach or take lessons to help train them and teach them the rules of the game. I first started golfing as an excuse to get out of the house and go hang out with my buddies after work, so five years ago when I first started swinging a club around, I had no idea what I was doing. I could still say the same up until a few weeks ago when I decided to change that.
Golf is one of the hardest games to play and for some reason I thought I could learn the tricks of the trade by myself. Between YouTube, Google and the various golf influencers I follow online, I thought I had all the knowledge I needed at my disposal. But online tutorials and tips can only get you so far when playing such a complex sport.
Over the last few months of playing, I’ve felt like I hit a plateau with my game. I’ve been shooting consistent scores, but I still wasn’t pleased with where my game was at. I was struggling with a bad slice when hitting my driver and I was hitting very inconsistent shots with my irons. I have a decent swing, but I find myself chunking and topping my irons too often. So, after struggling for five years and torturing myself trying teach myself how to play, I finally decided to book some golf lessons and learn from a professional.
For a right-handed player like myself, a slice is when you accidentally hit the ball and it curves to the right. A hook is when you hit and the ball curves to the left. A chunked shot, also known as hitting it fat, means that you’ve hit the ground before making contact with ball, and topping the ball is when you hit on the top of the ball causing it bounce or roll.
There are so many reasons why a person could play poor golf, and when trying to analyze your game by yourself it can be difficult unless you’ve been playing for many years or are a professional. I’m not sure why it took me so long to book a set
of lessons, but after only two lessons so far, I’m so happy that I made the decision to try and better my game.
Finding a golf pro isn’t a hard task at all. With a little online searching you can find a coach at almost any course near you. Before booking lessons though, it would be wise to assess your goals and figure out why you want lessons in the first place. When you contact an instructor, they will first ask why you’re booking lessons and what it is you’re looking to fix.
I live in Turlock, so the closest course to me is River Oaks in Ceres. I’ve played this course for years, so I already knew a little bit about their PGA professional Greg Silva, but had never met him prior to my lessons. I have a few friends that have booked lessons with him in the past and they all had great things to say. After completing two lessons with Silva, I can honestly say that their praises were well justified.
Upon first meeting Silva, he made it clear that his love for the game is unlike any other person I’ve met. He has been teaching golf for 56 years and it has all been to help grow the
game and teach young, up-and-coming players to fall in love with the sport.
He started playing golf when he was 10 years old and the time, he was given the nickname “thousand questions” for his never-ending search for answers. While on a trip to visit family in Utah, Silva’s mother signed him up for a golf tournament.
Unknown to both Silva and his mother, she had signed him up for a professional tournament. Silva would go on to place first while breaking the course record, scoring a 10 under 62 complete with a hole in one on the third hole. He walked away with his professional status, the prize money and a ‘64 Cadillac convertible. Pretty impressive for a 17-year-old high school junior.
Upon returning to California, Silva started working for his father who was also a golf pro in Modesto. Since then, Silva has been teaching the great game of golf and establishing an impressive resume. In 1967, he set the course record at Tracy Golf and Country Club. He had five eagles and 13 pars, which also set a record for most eagles in a tournament.
I paid only $170 for a set of four lessons, which is a fair price for the knowledge gained. Most golf lessons can cost double that depending on the area you live in or the person giving the lessons. But it’s never been about the money for Silva. He leaves no doubt that his reason for teaching is to help spread the knowledge he’s gained through such a lengthy and prestigious golf career.
During my first lesson with Silva, he watched me swing and hit a few balls. We went through the basics such as grip, stance, alignment, tempo, etc. I won’t go into great detail so I don’t give away his knowledge for free, but for the most part he said I had a good swing and he thought I could be a decent player.
The one thing he called me out on right away, though, was my grip. I was gripping the clubs the wrong way. At first, I was completely unsure of this new grip because it really weakened my right hand and I started spraying the ball in every direction besides straight, but after a few weeks of practice, I have finally become more comfortable with the way I’m holding my clubs. My second lesson was focused on swing drills and repetition. Silva taught me the proper swing plane and how to improve my muscle memory off the course so that when I pick up a club, my body knows what to do without thinking too much. Golf is
I’m not sure just as much of a mental battle as it is why it took me physical. You need to train your body and mind so as not to get distracted over so long to book a set of lessons, the ball. No coach is going to be an instant miracle worker or be able to fix your but after only two lessons swing over night, but from the times I’ve gone to the range since changing my grip, I feel like I am hitting straighter, so far, I’m so happy that more consistent shots. I have yet to play a round with my new swing, so after a few more practice sessions and lessons I made the decision to try I’m going to have to put my newfound knowledge to the test. I look forward to finishing my next and better my game. two lessons with Silva and seeing what new knowledge I can pick form his brain. I feel lucky to have found such an experienced mentor who is so accessible. I will be updating you all in the next issue to let you know everything I have learned and see how it translates to playing the game on an actual course. Wish me luck as I embark on the path of golf enlightenment, and until next time, hit it hard. ●
By TERESA HAMMOND
So here we are … the “Best of” issue.
Truth be told, it’s one of my favorites. As a publication driven on all things 209, this issue helps highlight some of the best of the best for our 209 community members, as well as those passing through.
Each issue, as one column idea comes to a close for this space I’m faced by … what’s next?
As a columnist, it’s not always easy knowing what thoughts to share – and there are many. The struggle or challenge is always the thought of what’s relatable or helpful for our readers. Now of course, the reality in this is that it’s not a one size fits all publication and neither is this column. My goal and/or wish, however, remains the same, with each issue I hope to gain the attention of one new reader. Life after all isn’t one size fits all either, so as I may share a topic relatable to the runner, yogi or mom in one issue, the next may connect with someone battling cancer, going through divorce or simply just trying to get through the days with a smile.
Hence the segue to this issue’s topic, inspired by the issue theme of “Best of.”
In previous issues I’ve shared that while 2020 threw the world the curveball of COVID I was thrown a separate curveball of cancer. Now 16 months post-diagnosis life has begun to take shape to something which is somewhat recognizable. In truth the task of overcoming Stage 3 Breast Cancer was a bit more involved than I had envisioned, but we’ll save that for another issue.
Looking at life now, versus one year ago is much, much different and as I thought to this issue I challenged myself with making it a bit more personal. Sharing the Best of the 209 as a magazine, inspired me to personally think of what it means to be the best me.
Case in point, it’s taken some discipline as well as deep thought in silence to recognize that the shutdown (as well as cancer) had some less than favorable effects on me personally. In mid-June as I began returning to our office, I quickly recognized how much I’d missed being in this space.
Now as I type this from an area Starbuck’s I find myself invigorated by the music, the people in passing, the conversation and just the overall energy.
During the past year, while my tribe focused on my illness and helping me heal and recover, my focus was honestly on my children and my partner. A fact I didn’t truly realize until the world reopened and things around our home began returning to normal. Suddenly the things which kept me occupied as I helped each of them, was no longer needed. It was time for me to return to some normalcy, just as they had. The shutdown had such a major impact on each of us in numerous different ways, yet this I never saw coming.
It’s the pivot, which so many have talked about.
Looking ahead, as well as thinking of this issue, I’ve challenged myself to utilize the lessons from the most recent path to make myself better. Not perfect, but better. For me that always begins with fitness and while I love to be outside, I also like to see the reward of calorie burn … so on the treadmill I went.
I’ve also taken the time to arrange for lunch and coffee dates with friends I’ve truly missed, socializing feeds my soul and laughter, well, it is the best medicine.
In addition, corny as it may sound, each morning when I wake I reflect on the day before and what I could have done different or better. I’ve also stopped letting the anger of others get the best of me. Whether we realize it or not, we remain in an angry time, as people are still recovering from the lack of … well, everything.
I recognized that anger in myself not that long ago and it saddened me. My life is a good life; I’m blessed in many ways. I shared my concern about this with my mother who, being the sounding board that she is, shared it made perfect sense given the year I’ve had.
I’d like to say I was at peace with that, but I’m not. So now as I look to the final months of 2021, I’m simply checking back in with myself and getting back to basics and then rebuild from there. We’re never too old, experienced or knowledgeable to not strive for better.
This quote I happened upon recently pretty much sums it up: “The happiest people I know are evaluating and improving themselves. The unhappy people are usually evaluating and judging others.” – Unknown ●
Fitness from
above the shoulders
By TERESA HAMMOND
—Matt Fitzgerald
It’s a book which could not be timelier for the masses. While its cover may cause some to shy away, ‘The Comeback Quotient’ by Matt Fitzgerald isn’t a book simply about running and fitness.
Located on the cover, just below an image of Olympic Marathon runner Molly Seidel, are the words “A get-real guide to building mental fitness in sport and life,” which could not be truer.
Through the pages of the book, Fitzgerald examines mental fitness through the stories of elite, as well as recreational athletes. He also includes mini chapters in the book documenting his comeback as an Ironman tri-athlete.
“The reason I included that element is because I wanted to show readers that I’m not just peddling this message because I think it sounds good and I can sell a lot of books,” Fitzgerald shared. “I wanted people to recognize that I believe in this stuff to the point that I practice it in my own athletic endeavors, which matters to me. I’m not going to play around with methods that don’t work.”
The “stuff” and “methods” the author speaks of specifically are the mindset of the “ultra-realist” and the application and usage of the mindset to endurance sports.
“It’s not just the physical that make elites, elite,” the author said. “It takes something above the neck to get to the top in running. It’s just the psyche of the ultra-realist, someone who just is not afraid to look at reality no matter how bad it is or getting.”
As the concept is demonstrated through the stories of elite, as well as recreational runners overcoming significant setbacks, the stories are told in such a way that even the non-athlete can
learn and benefit from the takeaway.
“Not to say rec athletes don’t have that, some do, some don’t – yet there is a difference,” Fitzgerald further noted.
The concept, as well as title for the book, Fitzgerald shared was presented to him by his editor at VeloPress.
“I’d been wanting to write a book about what is uniquely different about athletes … basically a book that is able to address what is mental fitness and who has it and who doesn’t,” he said. “How do you get it, if they don’t have it.”
The book examines the concept and does for the reader what Fitzgerald does for his one-on-one clients as a trainer.
“I believe these ideas are true. I believe they have relevance for the endurance athlete or anyone who’s trying to come back from some type of adversity,” Fitzgerald stated. “It’s just a matter of how do you connect it in a way which is useful.”
As a long time endurance athlete who happens to earn a living writing books, articles and coaching other athletes, Fitzgerald himself has also found personal occasion to put the concept into practice.
Some might say most recently that would be the case more than ever before.
Just as the book was being released, Fitzgerald began experiencing some physical setbacks.
The writer shared he contracted COVID-19 in March of 2020, early in to the pandemic as well as the testing and diagnosis. Following a month of feeling sicker than he’s ever felt, he slowly began returning to regular activity. By October of 2020 he described having a really bad workout, which led to a series of bad workouts. Research, testing and more research eventually led the lifetime athlete to learn he has Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome or Long COVID. It’s an after effect of the virus, which while not “active” or contagious, is very present to the individual living with it.
“It’s sort of like some pain condition,” he said. “It hurts one minute, it doesn’t hurt the next and you can’t completely put your finger on it.
“Some symptoms come and go, some don’t really bother you,” he continued. “Mostly you adapt. There’s no cure. The thing is not fully understood.”
Since learning of his acute illness, the author has drastically changed his daily routine from hours in the gym, cycling and running each week to walking with his wife several days a week.
“Practicing what I preach and the reality of it … accepting the reality of it,” he said of the lessons learned post-COVID. “You know there’s a difference between acceptance and resignation and I am not resigned.”
While not resigned, he is an ultra-realist.
“How okay can I be? How happy can I be? How productive can I be if things don’t get better,” Fitzgerald said. “The virus is gone, but it’s left its calling card and you’re never the same again.”
The author went on to share he’s learned it’s okay to face reality, to admit to being weak and have self-doubt.
“If it’s true, it’s better to put it out on the table,” he said. “You can’t solve a problem, you’re not willing to identify. Being okay with being authentic.”
Applying the ultra-realist concept to his own current chapter of life, Fitzgerald shared, it was surprisingly easy, when he realized he would have to give up running.
“The handwriting was on the wall,” he said.
And now he is moving forward with a positive mindset.
“Comparison is the thief of joy. No matter who you are, be happy to be you,” the ultra-realist concluded. “Your journey can be as fulfilling and exciting and rewarding as any other athlete if you just stop wanting to be that other athlete. Focus on writing the best possible ending to the story that is uniquely yours.” ●
By TERESA HAMMOND
The year 2020 and early 2021 brought many lessons to residents of the 209, as well as throughout the country. Forced to slow down and shut down, many learned through the COVID-19 pandemic to do more than be still, but be well.
Self-care and services offering a little pampering proved to be just as important or more so, as the industry for many was put on hold.
As the owner of Natural Path Wellness Center in Ripon, Jennifer Komatsu shared just a handful of months into the pandemic the need for their services quickly became apparent. Reopening last June, she and her staff were available for clients that had doctor’s notes deeming their services “essential.”
Looking to an issue packed with many of the 209’s “Best of,” Komatsu offered insight as to how readers may care for themselves to also be the “Best of their personal self.”
“We build from the inside of our body to the outside. That’s where wellness for me comes from, from the inside,” Komatsu stated, sharing thoughts that massage is the gateway to wellness.
“Once people are comfortable with that then they might expand a little more,” she said. “People should feel they deserve it. They deserve to take care of themselves.”
Self-care practices such as daily meditation, frequent massage, facials, foot treatments and detoxes are just the start of helping one release stress, as well as negative energy which can fester in the body.
“When we’re stressed and our level of stress gets out there, our words are not kind sometimes, our smiles not kind, our hugs are not kind,” the wellness specialist shared. “When we really take the time to do all of that, that’s when you feel health within the body and that’s where it begins.
“It’s festering in their organs, in their heart and in their soul,” Komatsu continued, when speaking of stress.
— Jennifer Komatsu
Energy work may also be helpful as it opens up the chakra to let the flow of energy recalibrate. Once again re-building above, down, inside out. A practice which Komatsu shared most clients become open to after experiencing the multiple benefits of regular massage.
“All massage therapists are different and offer different benefits to a client,” she shared. “It’s important to be seen once a month and people learn that as they go. It’s important for people to relax and let go. Massage moves the lymphatic system, stimulating circulation, breaking up scar tissue. It allows us to be able to function better.”
Wellness experts as a whole believe connection is so important to the individuals’ overall health. Affecting everything from head to toe, including digestion and overall gut health. The belief being holding on to negative energy of living a life of high stress can have multiple effects on one’s overall health.
“You have to find a balance in life,” she said. “Balance is being able to take care of you, so you can take care of everybody else and not burn your adrenals out.
“It’s so much more than just digestion,” Komatsu said of gut health. “We have a lot of people that are constipated and don’t know you’re supposed to eliminate more than once a day.”
This can and often does result in bloating, cortisol levels change and an unhealthy liver. Things that can change naturally with diet and supplements.
“You have to be ready on your wellness journey and everybody is in a different place on their wellness,” she said of achieving your best of. “It’s a lifestyle change. We feel like we’re selfish if we take care of ourselves. We don’t deserve to take care of ourselves or it’s not accepted, but that’s our number one thing. We could be so good if we just take care of ourselves. So much better and it’s just the ability to do that.” ●
offers fitness with frequency
By ANGELINA MARTIN
usband and wife duo Aaron and Kate Unruh set out to create a new culture in the Valley — one that would get the community outdoors and give them a chance to heal both mentally and physically. Their idea manifested itself through Valley Vibes, which offers fitness with frequency through noise-cancelling headphones, some stellar beats and guided workouts.
Kate Unruh and her husband moved to Turlock from San Francisco about two years ago, she said, which is where they were first introduced to silent disco activities. From dance parties to yoga sessions, silent discos allow the participant to immerse themselves in a world all their own thanks to noise cancelling headphones which play the same music for everyone taking part.
To someone walking by, these events look completely silent. To those dancing or exercising, however, it’s a private party that only they understand.
“I absolutely loved the vibe and the whole scene of the silent disco,” Kate said. “When you arrived, you felt so welcome...Once we moved out here and the pandemic hit, it was so difficult to get that interaction with other people.
“It just seemed like the perfect business for us to start because the headsets allow for social distancing, and it really gives people a chance to connect and create friendships.”
Valley Vibes offers silent disco yoga classes every Friday and Saturday, and silent disco full body workouts on Sundays. They also host events periodically, like their upcoming Strawberry Moon Flow silent disco which will feature a yoga session, refreshments, a virtual photo booth and a dance floor under the moon on June 24. A majority of events are held in Turlock parks, Kate said, and the community can register for classes and events on the Valley Vibes website. It is Kate and Aaron’s hope that Valley Vibes will continue to grow; they frequently participate in pop-up
Hopefully we can help people discover something new and events and hope to be present at more, and as time passes, they plan on offering more classes and hosting more events. It’s also their goal help them get excited to give back to the community; the about taking care of business recently hosted a clean-up their physical health and day which saw them pick up trash mental health in a fun and exciting way. in downtown Turlock. Though they’ve only been operating for a couple of months, Valley Vibes is already making an impres—Kate Unruh sion on Turlock. “I think the reaction has been really wonderful and so exciting for us. We’ve created a little community, and one of our biggest goals is making connections with as many people as we can,” Kate said. “Hopefully we can help people discover something new and help them get excited about taking care of their physical health and mental health in a fun and exciting way.” ● For more information, visit www.valley-vibes.com or call 626-421-8304.
By MARG JACKSON
From the street, the home looks inviting – with a well-maintained front yard – but it is what you find out the back door that transports you to a place of peace and serenity.
Hidden away, tucked between the Stanislaus River and the street named River Bluff in Oakdale, longtime retired educator Gary Jones has crafted a unique garden retreat.
“I’ve lived here since 2015,” Jones, who moved to Oakdale from Turlock, said about settling in the River Bluff Drive home.
He grew up in the Valley and his career included several years as the assistant superintendent with the Hughson Unified School District as well as part time work teaching at both Modesto Junior College and Stanislaus State.
“It has been two years now that I’ve been completely retired,” Jones said.
And he has spent much of that time turning his backyard, which slopes down from the back porch toward a bluff overlooking the Stanislaus River, into a peaceful garden setting that includes a seating area, work shed, a chicken coop, water fountain and plans for more.
His sister, Bonnie Jones-Lee, also is an avid gardener with a home along the river and the two were both enrolled in the Master Gardener program offered through the University of California at Davis. The program is overseen in Stanislaus County by Anne Schellman. They were graduates of the first class, which underwent the extensive training from January through June in 2019.
There is a new class for Master Gardeners planned in January 2022 and applications are being taken now; both highly recommend the class, noting that the training is beneficial in many ways. From learning about trees, flowers, fruits and vegetables and insects, the two said the class is a great hands-on experience and teaches the way to approach gardening for the best chance at success in the Central Valley.
Happy to promote the UC Davis-based training, Jones said he and his sister have staffed booths at the Oakdale and Modesto farmer’s markets to provide information about the Master Gardener program.
For Jones, the backyard garden gem wasn’t formally sketched out. Much like a garden, it took root and grew from there.
“It just kind of happened,” agreed Jones. “My first thing was I needed to do something to get down (the backyard slope), so we put the stairs in first.” The back porch runs the length of the house, leading to the stairs. Fashioned with railroad ties, the stairs take you down to a couple of different terraced levels of garden greenery. The railroad ties, Jones said, were purchased both at Conlin Supply in Oakdale and at Modesto Feed.
COLORS Splashes of color are evident throughout the backyard garden retreat of Gary Jones in Oakdale, sandwiched between his back porch and the Stanislaus River beyond the bluff. STEPS A view from the lower garden level shows the railroad tie-steps that lead up to the back porch through the greenery of a garden planted and maintained by Gary Jones of Oakdale.
His brother-in-law Alvin Lee put together a garden shed so there was plenty of room for Jones to work. Known as a cord house because the shed is roughly the size that would fit a cord of wood inside, there are cedar rounds incorporated into the design. The rounds are cut from wood that was reclaimed from burned out trees on property that Jones has in the Sierras. The door is also unique; in its previous life it was a classroom door at Magnolia Elementary School in Oakdale.
“That inspired me to get things going and I just kept adding stuff,” Jones noted of having the cord house/garden shed with his tools nearby. “It’s just so peaceful … I spend a minimum of an hour and a half out here every day … being retired, I’m able to do that.”
Close enough to the river to enjoy a cooling breeze, Jones also said the backyard affords him a view of a variety of wildlife, from foxes to deer to plenty of raccoons.
The garden features a number of flowers, trees and just outside the gate are berry bushes with berries ripe for the picking. A recent add-on was the chicken coop, with some young Rhode Island Red chicks that should be providing eggs by this fall.
Both Jones and his sister said the interest in gardening was
instilled by their grandmother, as well as a great aunt and uncle who were farmers in Northern California.
“We spent a lot of time there,” Jones said of the farm. “And our other sister is also a gardener.”
That sister, Karen Bonzi, lives in Turlock.
“We need more gardens, it’s a way to provide plants for the insects and birds, and there are plants that can be put in that are water wise and sustainable,” added Bonnie.
Jones does not use pesticides in his garden, preferring to go the organic route.
The Oakdale Garden Club Fall Tour, being planned for Oct. 9, will include a stop at the River Bluff home of Jones. He plans to stay busy until then to make sure the garden is ready for its day on display. He is also part of a group working with the City of Oakdale to establish a community garden that would feature vegetables as well as flowers. While there is a lot of paperwork to do in connection with that effort, Jones said he hopes eventually the idea will come to fruition.
For now, however, he enjoys the time spent tending to all that grows outside his own back door.
“Typically, there’s always something blooming out here,” Jones summarized. “It’s like my little paradise.” ●
FOUNTAIN A small water feature offers some peaceful background bubbling in the River Bluff garden of Oakdale resident Gary Jones, which also includes a view of the Stanislaus River.
Surrounded by growing flowers, the garden shed, a chicken coop and water fountain, Gary Jones has plenty to smile about as his backyard retreat is the perfect way to spend time in retirement.
By MEGAN KUHN
The Ripon Garden Club is once again inviting the public to tour a few of their finest gardens.
The Ripon Garden Stroll will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 and feature six homes located throughout the small San Joaquin County town.
The stroll will present a variety of lush foliage, exotic pottery and patios perfect for entertaining family and friends. Visitors are sure to be inspired by diverse textures and vibrant flowers while admiring the personal touches and stories each gardener has integrated into their yards. From sculpted hedges and glistening pools to greenhouses and tortoise enclosures, this year’s tour provides a beautiful collection of creative gardens.
A silent auction and a chance to win prizes in a drawing will be located at the refreshment station as well.
Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children under 12; no strollers please. Tour tickets can be purchased in Ripon at Schemper’s Ace Hardware, Parks Greenhouse Nursery and Thompson’s Nursery. In Manteca at RainForest Nursery. In Escalon at P&L Garden Center and Creative Water Gardens. Tickets are also available at the Greenery Nursery & Garden Shop in Turlock. In Riverbank at Morris Nursery and in Modesto at Westurf Nursery.
The Ripon Garden Club was first created in 1954 as a non-profit with the goal of protecting native plants and insects, to encourage civic beauty, and further educate the community about the environment. The club is led by a group of volunteers joined by a love of gardening and dedicated to giving back to the community.
Proceeds from the September Garden Stroll support scholarships provided to graduating high school seniors and community college transfer students in pursuit of an environmental or agricultural focused degree. Funds also support current projects such as Ripon’s downtown flower pots, Garden Therapy, school gardens and education, arbor day activities, Penny Pines, and the Blue Star Memorial. The Ripon Garden Club also works to conserve the dwindling monarch butterfly population by maintaining their butterfly garden in Stouffer Park.
Join the Ripon Garden Club at their monthly meeting every first Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the American Legion Hall, 206 Stockton Ave. in Ripon. Guests may attend for free or become a member for $20/year. Learn more atRiponGardenClub.org and check them out on Facebook. ●
By ANGELINA MARTIN
With the start of fall right around the corner, there’s no better way to welcome the arrival of colorful leaves and pumpkin everything than with a refreshing glass of cider in the heart of Mariposa. Sierra Cider offers that and more through their immersive, hands-on experience, which takes visitors through the orchard-to-bottle process of turning apples into the ultimate autumnal adult beverage.
Sierra Cider owners Dana Tiel and David Bailey always dreamed of living in a place like Mariposa, with rolling hills and plenty of space. Beginning in August 2020, the couple spent weeks perusing websites in search of farmland for sale until eventually stumbling upon the cidery about a year ago. The original owners of Sierra Cider were selling the business — along with the 16 acres of Mariposa countryside surrounding it.
“We had a nice home in LA, but we were starting to think about children and the kind of lifestyle we wanted to raise them in. I saw the listing for this amazing cider company and
thought it was perfect,” Tiel said. “We’re both in marketing and wouldn’t have to throw our entire careers away, and we thought we could use our skills to promote the brand and learn how to make cider.”
By October 2020, the husband-andwife duo had closed a deal on the cidery. It was almost like they were meant to find the listing, Tiel said, since the pair loves all things fall. Their wedding was Halloween-themed, and they usually spend the season in search of farms selling apple cider donuts.
After Tiel and Bailey purchased Sierra Cider, its original owners Dave and Beth Lancaster stayed on as consultants and taught their successors everything about making the drink. They still live next door and have become the couples’ best friends, Tiel said.
“They’ve made sure we know exactly what to do and how to make cider the way they did it,” Tiel said. “Everything is kind of serendipitous, the way it all worked out.”
While Tiel and Bailey had a bit of a green thumb prior to purchasing the cidery, their backyard Los Angeles garden was a bit easier to manage than 800 apple trees. There’s been a learning curve in taking over and running their own business, but their prior experience has helped make the transition easier. By December 2020 Tiel and Bailey had picked their first crop of 3,000 apples.
“We had tons of fears diving into this headfirst and we knew we were doing something crazy. It was terrifying,” Tiel said. “We’re finally getting the hang of it though and feel prepared.”
Mariposa is the gateway to Yosemite National Park, which has welcomed significantly fewer guests over the past 17 months due to the coronavirus pandemic. This gave Tiel and Bailey time to perfect their craft, however, and the cidery now offers orchard tours and tastings which can be booked by phone, email or even on Airbnb Experiences. There are four different varieties of cider to choose from if you visit: Dry Summer Blend, Early Harvest, Farmhouse Style and Kingston Black Blend.
From searching online for their dream property to now living on it and providing the 209 with delicious ciders, Tiel and Bailey can’t believe their luck.
“Mariposa is like a perfect little town you’d see on a postcard,” Tiel said. “We never want to leave.” ●
Sierra Cider is located at 5569 Meadow Lane in Mariposa. Visitors are required to call, text or email to book a tasting before visiting the property and can do so at 209-347-6161 or hello@sierracider.com. For more information about Sierra Cider, visit www.sierracider.com.
By SABRA STAFFORD
In a forest of giant pines and ancient black oaks with the Sierra Nevadas in the background, Better Place Forests is giving people a unique option for a final resting place.
Just 45-minutes from Yosemite National Park and near the Don Pedro reservoir, Better Place Yosemite Gateway is a peaceful 172 acres to use as a sustainable alternative to cemeteries for families who choose cremation.
The conservation memorial forest protects and preserves the land and will allow local families who choose cremation a new option to lay their loved ones to rest underneath a private and permanently protected tree native to the land.
The forest includes an historic homestead teeming with wetland plants and fruit orchards dating back to 1883. The mountain meadow ecosystem is a rare and critical part of the broader Sierra Mountain ecosystem that protects the health and resiliency of the area’s rivers and biodiversity. Mountain meadows make up only 2 percent of the Sierra Nevada landscape and are critical to support the mountain species we know and love. It also helps protect a migratory pathway for wildlife, like black bears, mule deer, and black-tailed jackrabbits.
The idea for Better Place Forests came from co-founder and CEO Sandy Gibson’s own experiences with death at a young age. Gibson was 10 years old when his father had a fatal stroke. One year later his mother died after fighting Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for five years. The suddenness of his father’s death prompted a hurried decision to purchase the last family plot at an old church cemetery in Toronto, despite the proximity to a heavily-trafficked street.
As he grew older and life took him to new and far away places, Gibson recounted the visits to his parents’ graves were anything but comforting.
“You never forget someone dying, their funeral and their final resting place,” Gibson said. “I kept thinking there had to be a better way to do this.”
Better Place Forests let their clients pick a tree for themself, a loved one, or even an entire family. Then a spreading ceremony is planned and this can incorporate everything from the time of the ceremony, to a song being played, to a signature cocktail served to the survivors.
“You can’t make someone dying better, but you can give them some agency over it,” Gibson said.
For Mariposa County resident Dawn Leitzell, Better Place Forests was the right option for her husband Jim’s final resting place.
“Being in nature has always felt like home for me, especially this area near Yosemite,” Leitzell said. “My husband, Jim, was a volunteer with the Mariposa Fire Department for 12 years and we both have valued being community members here. Jim was always passionate about art and seeing the beauty in life. He created amazing paintings of Yosemite, taught art at Columbia College for many years as well as locally here at Greeley Hill. To know that Better Place Forests will help protect this land that we love so much for future generations is inspiring. It brings me a great sense of relief and joy to know that we can have a tree as part of a bigger legacy of sustainability and protecting open spaces.”
Better Place Forests has nine conservation memorial forests in the country, with four in California. Trees start at around $4,900 and some of that cost goes to forest maintenance like cleaning out underbrush and overgrowth to lessen wildfire risk.
Better Place Forests Yosemite Gateway is currently taking $95 deposits for their Founders Circle. Virtual tours will begin sometime this summer. ●
—Sandy Gibson
For more information visit betterplaceforests.com.
By KRISTINA HACKER
209Multimedia Corporation, which owns the 209 Magazine, announced in July the purchase of the Gustine Press Standard and Westside Index newspapers from Mattos Newspapers. The two newspapers, along with their websites and commercial printing operations, expands 209 Multimedia’s holdings from Manteca in San Joaquin County, through Oakdale, Ceres and Turlock in Stanislaus County and now Gustine in Merced County.
“We firmly believe that local community news organizations remain vital to our subscribers as the trusted local source for news and information. We provide a forum for community discussion, public notices, obituaries, wedding engagements, sporting/community events, service organizations and everything else in-between. We are committed to fostering that environment while meeting the needs of all of our dedicated advertisers and subscribers,” said Hank Vander Veen, who along with his wife Kelly Vander Veen, own 209 Multimedia.
The Vander Veens have deep roots in the Valley.
Hank Vander Veen has been group publisher of the Manteca, Oakdale, Turlock, and Ceres papers in the Central Valley for almost a decade. Kelly Vander Veen has a background in digital management, commercial printing as well as newspapers. As owners, they oversee the operations and are responsible for all aspects of the business. This includes editorial, content, production and financial responsibility for six newspapers, several magazines and a digital services agency.
They are owners of the Manteca/ Ripon Bulletin, Turlock Journal, Ceres Courier, Oakdale Leader, Escalon Times and Riverbank News. They also own and publish 209 Magazine and several other specialty publications. 209 Multimedia publishes websites for all of its publications, has a video production studio and provides digital services for advertisers, including building and hosting their websites. 209 Multimedia has an extensive commercial printing operation printing 10-15 other newspapers and magazines each week.
Hank Vander Veen spent 25 years with The McClatchy Company, six years as publisher at the Merced Sun-Star. He started at The Modesto Bee in 1984 as a part time driver and worked his way
— Hank Vander Veen
through different management positions learning many aspects of the business along the way.
Kelly Vander Veen grew up in the commercial printing industry as her dad owned Lone Tree printing in Ceres. She worked there for many years learning the ins and outs of the business. Kelly Vander Veen also worked at The Modesto Bee in the finance department. Over the past 15 years she has managed several digital platforms for companies including Wikia. 209 Multimedia has three offices and a team including four editors that live and work in the communities they cover and have been doing so for more than 80 combined years. 209 Multimedia prints all of its publications at their printing facility in Manteca. Current staff from Mattos Newspapers will transfer over to the new company and we will maintain the office building on Fresno Street in Newman.
The West Side Index started publication well over 100 years ago in 1890; two years after Simon Newman had founded Newman. The Gustine Standard began publishing in 1910, three years after the sale of lots was held in what would become Gustine.
The Standard merged in 1995 with the Gustine Press, which Mattos Newspapers had started 10 years earlier.
Susan Mattos began her career with the newspaper and printing business in 1978, and has been publisher of the Index and Press-Standard since 2004. She has carried forward the commitment to community journalism, with an emphasis on accuracy, accountability, objectivity and fairness and has expanded the commercial printing business from a simple one-color press operation to a multi-faceted company — commitments Vander Veen aims to continue.
“We are so pleased to have such a distinguished company step in to continue the long tradition of quality local journalism on the West Side,” Publisher Susan Mattos reflected. “Hank and Kelly share the same locally-focused values and high standards our readers have come to expect, and for that I am so grateful.” 209 Multimedia Corporation will continue the 132-year tradition of focusing on local coverage of the communities it serves as its most important mission. ●
COCOBEE COMPANY BRINGS SUSTAINABLE CANDLES TO THE 209
By SABRA STAFFORD
Christie Wallace loves candles. It was nothing out of the ordinary for the Ripon resident to pick up a candle with an alluring scent that caught her attention. Or to unwrap one as a gift from the family and friends who knew her penchant for all types of candles.
But Wallace is also a woman that abhors waste and the growing pile of old glass candle containers stacked up in a kitchen cabinet haunted her.
“When you have a typical glass container… the quality isn’t made for multiple use,” Wallace said. “It’s made for a single use, to burn and then toss. It seemed so wasteful and I thought there had to be a better way.
“I wanted to build a candle company around the idea of sustainability and really change the burning habits we have by bringing a little more focus on the waste that is occurring with home decor and
especially the candle industry.”
With that goal in mind and a year of research, Wallace launched CocoBee Company in October 2020 and started selling hand-crafted organic coconut wax and local ethically sourced beeswax candles. The candles come in hand-carved wooden bowls made from reclaimed wood that can later be used as dough bowls or cheese molds or refilled with another candle.
Wallace offers a refill program so that her candle vessels can be used repeatedly. She also does use some glass containers that are thicker and heavier than typical glass candle jars and so can be refilled twice. The wooden vessels can be used over and over again, as long as there are no cracks or holes.
Wallace’s enjoyment of candles prompted her to purchase a candlemaking kit and take it up as a hobby. She saw she had a knack for it and started giving them as gifts to friends and family. Slowly the idea of selling candles started to take shape.
“It got my wheels turning on what am I seeing and what am I not seeing in the candle market, and what am I looking for and why isn’t it out there,” Wallace said. “That led into a lot of research on a sustainable candle and the wax being used.”
For Wallace a sustainable candle means more than a refill program.
“I like to choose waxes and essential oils that are ethically sourced,” Wallace said. “I use coconut and bees waxes because they are sustainably harvested. The wicks I use comes from a company that plants new trees and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.”
Wallace also makes wax drops, diffusers and recently launched candles using hemp wax. She also has plans to start offering natural cleaning products.
“I’m really excited about the hemp wax and to bring something new and different to our local market,” Wallace said.
CocoBee candles all have the signature bee emblem and can be found at stores in the 209 area, including Klean Eatz Market & Bakery in Ripon, Faux Glow Spray Tans and Boutique in Ripon, Mulberry Lane in Modesto, The Owl Box in Tracy, and on the CocoBee website.
Candles range in price from $29 to $65 depending on the size and vessel. The refill costs range as well, but usually are half or less than the original candle. Those wanting the candles refilled typically drop it at the store where purchased, but Wallace does offer a refill kit for those out of the immediate area.
CocoBee candles come in a variety of scents and styles. Wallace can also do custom scents and orders.
For more information on CocoBee products or to order directly, visit cocobeecompany.com. ●
