For the you taking care of your heart, and theirs. We deliver proactive preventive care that’s proven to keep you healthy, and world-class treatment if you do get sick. Choose Kaiser Permanente, and get high-quality, personalized care, designed to help you spend more healthy years doing more of what you love. Learn more at kp.org/centralvalley
For all that is Central Valley. For all that is you.
From its beginnings in 1976 feeding the senior citizens of San Joaquin County to today, with 93 pantry sites across San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, the Second Harvest Food Bank is truly ‘sharing the harvest’ to feed those in need. Second Harvest Food Bank, based in Manteca, has a significant impact on food pantry and feeding programs across the area, providing more than 19.9 million pounds of food to seven counties.
Vol. 11 No. 65
October/ November 2024
PUBLISHER/OWNER
Hank Vander Veen
EDITOR
Kristina Hacker
MANAGING EDITOR
Sabra Stafford
WRITERS
Christopher Correa
Dennis Cruz
Kristina Hacker
Matt Johanson
Sabra Stafford
Dennis Wyatt
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Harold L. George
ARDVERTISING
Chris Castro
Beth Flanagan
Rich Matheson
Karen Olsen
Corey Rogers
Melody Wann
Charles Webber
The weather is — FINALLY — cooling off, so it’s a great time to get out and about and enjoy everything the 209 has to offer. In this issue we feature a few places and activities to make your fall one to remember.
“Pumpkins are like Christmas trees. When little kids see them, their eyes light up and they smile.” This year marks the 40th annual Sunrise Kiwanis Manteca Pumpkin Fair, which takes place in downtown Manteca on Oct. 5 and 6. The street fair celebrates the fact that 70% of California’s commercially grown pumpkins roll out of Manteca every year.
Missing the mountains? Once autumn brings colder temperatures to the High Sierra, those yearning for happy trails could stick to the lowlands or wait until spring to lace up their boots. Consider a third option, though: a medium-Sierra destination like Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy.
And be sure to check out our Marketplace section. Local interior designer Wendy Glaister was recently recognized as she received an ASID ANDYZ Award for 2024 Best Outdoor Space. The American Society of Interior Design (ASID) ANDYZ Awards’ is an annual celebration of the year’s Best in Interior Design. Glaister’s Outdoor Oasis project that landed the award for Best Outdoor Space features a four seasons design concept and multiple areas for outdoor entertaining.
SCAN this to advertise in 209 Magazine or call Manteca • (209) 249-3500 • Newman • (209) 243-8170 Oakdale • (209) 847-3021 • Turlock • (209) 634-9141 209 Magazine is published 6 times a year FOLLOW
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Thank you for taking the time to read this and every issue of 209 Magazine. We welcome your comments, calendar events and stories. We hope you will support the businesses and charities that have chosen to partner with us. We appreciate them and look forward to being the most relevant magazine in your home, a place called 209.
Hank Vander Veen Owner/Publisher, 209 Magazine hvanderveen@209magazine.com
The 209 was a busy place with festivals happening around the region as summer came to a close.
To have your event featured in Scene in the 209, email sstafford@turlockjournal.com
The Lodi community celebrated their mostpopular harvest – grapes. The festival held over Sept. 13 to Sept. 15, featured carnival rides and games, concerts, art shows and some creative grape murals.
were on hand to serve some samples from their organization.
The annual Park Fete in Escalon was held July 27 with a parade, carnival, pageant and plenty of other family-fun.
A mainstay of many parades, including Escalon’s Park Fete, the Modesto Aahmes Shriners popular ‘Mini Lizzies’ were back, chugging their way along Main Street.
TUNNEL TO TOWERS
The Tunnel to Towers 5K run and walk was held on Labor Day weekend as part of the Newman Fall Festival. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was created in the memory of New York Firefighter Stephen Siller with the mission of assisting catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, fallen first responder families, and Gold Star families.
Locks routinely runs Tunnel to Tower races across the country. He came to the Newman event and ran the race in his gear and carrying an American flag.
with marching in the
and at the reviewing
OCT12 2024 OCT12 2024
The 3rd annual San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Foundation Mounted Patrol Unity Rib Cook Off will be Oct. 12. The cook off starts at 7 a.m. and dinner starts at 4 p.m.
Dinner tickets are $25. Rib Cook Off entry is $125 per two-person team. Ribs will be provided at the event. Enjoy raffle prizes, swag and a full day of ribs. All proceeds go to support the Sheriff’s Mounted Unit.
The event will be at the Clements Buckaroos Rodeo Grounds at 19813 Highway 88 in Clements.
For more information or tickets contact Det. Lindsey Wildman at lwideman@ sjgov.org or (209) 938-7789.
The 4th annual San Joaquin County Tractor Fest will be held at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 12.
Offerings include an interactive, hands-on tractor show, tractor parade, activities for kids, local food trucks, and the museum buildings and exhibits will of course be open to enjoy throughout the day.
Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and military members and $5 for kids 6 to 17 years old. Kids 5 years and younger are free, as are member of the museum. Parking is $6.
The museum is located at 11793 N. Micke Grove Road in Lodi
OCT12 2024
The Newman FFA will host a pumpkin patch and car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 12 at Orestimba High School at 707 Hardin Road in Newman, It will be a fun-filled fall day of pumpkin picking, games and activities and a classic car show.
Cover’s Apple Ranch will hold their 2nd annual fall festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 at the ranch at 19211 Cherokee Road in Tuolumne.
There will be a pumpkin patch, hay rides, hay maze, contests, fresh-pressed apple cider, train rides, a bounce house and plenty of food.
NOV 2 2024
The Stockton Symphony will perform a special concert, Heroes and Villains, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Atherton Auditorium at 5151 Pacific Avenue in Stockton.
Selections to feature Harry Potter, Superman, Batman, Darth Vader, Wonder Woman, the Incredibles, Cruella de Vil, and many more. If you get dressed up you can strut your stuff as you parade for the entire audience on stage at the symphony.
Admission is $15
For more information or tickets visit stocktonsymphony.org
NOV 4 2024
The mole festival, a celebration of the Mexican Mole iconic sauce and Día De Los Muertos will be from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 2 at 711 I Street.
There will be food vendors, artisans, games, a parade, dancing horses, altar de muertos, an art gallery, a mole contest, a catrina contest, music, and more. Admission is FREE.
A holistic fair hosted by Mountain Wellness will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds.
The event will feature handcrafted goods, wellness products, spiritual and healing tools, and
eco-friendly creations. There will be wellness practitioners in yoga, massage, alternative, spiritual healers, acupuncture, reiki, oracle/tarot readers, and other holistic health.
Organic and health focused food and beverages will be available, as will home-made food.
11 2024
The Ceres Music Fest will be at 12 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Ceres River Bluff Regional Park at 3761 E. Hatch Road in Ceres.
The festival will have a full line-up of music performers in all kinds of varieties. There will also be a food pavilion and vendors. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
The Merced County Veteran’s Day Parade will be at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Bob Hope Square in Merced.
This will be the 20th annual parade hosted by the Merced County Veteran Service Office.
23 2024
For information call Celia Edwards at (209) 426-7741 or Kelli Flesher at (209) 712-3148 NOV 10 2024
The opening ceremony will be at 11 a.m. and the parade will start at 12 p.m.
The Woman’s Club of Lodi will hold their annual 17th annual Christmas boutique on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The boutique will be at 325 W. Pine Street.
Tickets are available at www. ticketleap.events/.../cere.../ ceresmusicfest2024
By DENNIS WYATT
Pumpkins are like Christmas trees.
When little kids see them, their eyes light up and they smile.”
Those words, uttered by the late George Perry, was in response to a question more than a decade ago.
He was asked to explain how a handshake he made in 1958 with the late Antoine Raymus to rent acreage to plant pumpkins near the Old Summer Home School site at Cottage Avenue and Southland Road ended up leading to Manteca becoming the undisputed pumpkin heavyweight capital in the western United States.
Perry added “it was a joy” to grow something that made kids so happy.
Perry’s farming concern gave birth to George Perry & Sons. It is now the largest melon broker on the West Coast, moving harvests as far away as Arizona to market.
Actually, you could say George Perry & Sons is in the fruit business given that is what pumpkins, watermelons, honey dews, and cantaloupes are classified as botanically.
The reason why San Joaquin County is California’s largest winegrape growing county is the well-drained soil, hot days with nights cooled by Delta breezes that steps up the sugar content of fruit.
It is the same reason why there are more pumpkins and water-
melons grown in San Joaquin County than anywhere else in California.
Manteca-Ripon is home to the two most well-known purveyors of watermelons — Perry & Sons as well as Van Groningen & Sons that broker under the moniker Yosemite Fresh.
Both growers’ carboard shipping boxes grace stores up and down the Pacific Coast from Costco, Target, and Walmart to mom and pop endeavors.
The 2,250 acres dedicated to growing pumpkins in the fields around Manteca, Ripon and Tracy is slightly smaller than the land that is within the four square miles in Manteca bounded by Louise Avenue, Cottage Avenue, Yosemite Avenue, and Union Road.
From those 2,250 acres, 54,500 tons were shipped to market. That’s 109 million of the 156.8 million pounds of pumpkins produced that year in California.
That means Manteca-Ripon-Tracy produced 69.8 percent of all pumpkins in California.
This year’s harvest is now under way.
Crews are busy tossing pumpkins into open bed trailers pulled by tractors through fields surrounding Manteca.
Throughout most of October, dozens of trucks will be rolling out of Manteca delivering to distributors throughout California a bounty of pumpkins.
It is little wonder pumpkins are celebrated the first weekend of October in Manteca.
This year’s celebration — the 40th annual Sunrise Kiwanis Manteca Pumpkin Fair — takes place in downtown Manteca on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct,, 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
And if you count pumpkin celebrations staged by other service clubs beforehand,
Throughout most of October, dozens of trucks will be rolling out of Manteca delivering to distributors throughout California a bounty of pumpkins.
the pumpkin fun has been going on for half a century in Manteca.
That said no one can throw a pumpkin party like “The Pumpkin Fair People” — the Sunrise Kiwanis.
Downtown Manteca is being turned into all things pumpkin in the triangle formed by Yosemite Avenue, Main Street, and Center Street.
It features free admission, free entertainment, free parking, and free fun.
The two-day Manteca Pumpkin Fair is one of the biggest laid-back events on the calendar in the 209.
It started 50 years ago as a way for Manteca’s pumpkin growers to express community pride and to give kids a day of old-fashioned fun.
Half Moon Bay’s bold and dubious claim in the 1970s that it was the Pumpkin Capital of the World has helped generate more than $1 million for Manteca non-profits.
That’s because Manteca pumpkin growers headed by Perry were a bit taken aback by Half Moon Bay’s boost given the fact historically anywhere between
70 and 80 percent of all pumpkins grown in California come from the fields around Manteca.
That prompted the farmers to start an informal “pumpkin fair” for a few hours one day at Library Park in downtown Manteca,
It consisted of some kids’ games, a belly dancer that first year, bales of hay and a small mountain of pumpkins. They also openly challenged Half Moon Bay’s claim. That led to the “friendly feud” between the two communities being a featured cover story in People magazine.
Today the Manteca Pumpkin Fair is staged by the Sunrise Kiwanis.
The event will feature food, vendor booths, games, rides, a kid zone, a beer garden and a community stage. There will be a car show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6.
For more information visit mantecapumpkinfair.org. ●
‘TOUCHED
By DENNIS WYATT
on Cruz was a postal carrier for 29 years.
But he is much more than that.
He’s a patriot, in the truest sense of the word.
Cruz is a veteran.
More precisely he is a veteran wounded in war who came perilously close to dying on the battle field
As such, Cruz is one of those that Quilts of Valor — a non-profit that seeks to honor those veterans and service personnel “touched by war” — with a handmade quilt.
Cruz was awarded a Quilt of Valor by Michelle McCumber, group leader for the Amador Valley Quilters Quilt
of Valor group on Sept. 12 at the start of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 6311 meeting.
And his story — or more precisely his service and sacrifice — is among countless honored by the nonprofit founded in 2003 by Catherine Roberts when her son Nat was deployed in Iraq.
The honorees are nominated for consideration.
Cruz was a 19 year-old machine gunner on an Army gun truck in 1968 in the Tet Offensive when his vehicle was hit by an enemy rocket destroying it and sending him flying through the air.
Cruz landed on the road and was immediately dragged to a canal to provide cover from enemy fire.
When he came to, his sergeant gave it to him straight.
He had seen similar injuries such as the two holes in Cruz’ leg where they were unable to stop the bleeding in the field.
His only hope of survival was if a medevac helicopter could reach him and transport him to an Army trauma center.
It was far from a given as enemy fire more often than not made such flights too dangerous to make.
He eventual heard the “popping sound” of a medevac helicopter.
It’s a sound that if he hears today, it still sets his heart racing.
“I got lucky,” said Cruz who is now 76 years old.
The enemy had “tricked” the soldiers.
They initially took fire from one side only to be hit by a rocket from the other side, Cruz was a 1965 Manteca High graduated drafted after he had enrolled in college.
“They weren’t supposed to do that,” Cruz noted of drafting college students. “I was none too happy. But I went because I was called to serve.”
Cruz served from 1967 through 1969 with the 9th Infantry Division.
He initially was assigned to the Mekong Delta.
But when the Tet Offensive — the bloodiest stretch of the Vietnam War was launched by North Vietnam and the Viet Cong — he was shifted to the Saigon area.
“We were used to the rice paddies and not the jungle,” said Cruz who was a Specialist 5.
Cruz had three surgeries in Japan.
It was there where a doctor gave him a clear picture of what was ahead in terms of his leg.
The bottom line was basically “use it or lose it.”
It — and a personal revelation that time is important — is what guided his decision to switch from a 20-year retail career to secure a job as a postal carrier.
“It was a job where I walked every day,” Cruz said. “And I worked only five days.”
Cruz noted retail management was much more lucrative. It took him 5½ years to match what he was making when he quit his retail career.
But it also meant working six to seven days a week, taking time away from his family.
“There comes a time in your life when you finally figure it out,” Cruz said. “Time is more important than money.”
Cruz heavily involved in veterans’
mural project
And what is also important to Cruz is community.
“A great man (the late Ken Hafer) told me you needed to give back to the community that has been good to you,” Cruz said.
That led to Cruz joining the Manteca Mural Society more than 20 years ago. He’s been president of the group for the past four years. The society that is responsible for roughly two dozen murals in downtown.
He’s been involved with the East Union Cemetery Association since 2010.
since World War I.
It was Cruz — along with Norm Knodt, another Vietnan veteran — who led the charge for the mural society’s biggest project.
It involves five murals representing World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terror.
The murals on the eastern facing wall of the Manteca Bedquarters at Main Street and Yosemite Avenue are considered the largest such mural project on the West Coast.
IT WAS CRUZ — ALONG WITH NORM KNODT, ANOTHER VIETNAN VETERAN
— WHO LED THE CHARGE FOR THE MURAL SOCIETY’S BIGGEST PROJECT.
Cruz is also a member of VFW Post 6311 and American Legion Post 249.
He also played a role in all of the Memorial Weekend commemorations at Woodward Park that took place under the leadership of Pastor Mike Dillman, who also served in Vietnam.
Cruz, along with Dillman, were the key to establishing May as “Avenue of Heroes” in Manteca.
It involves the placement of banners on downtown street light poles during the month of May that lists the name of the 66 Manteca residents that have died in America’s wars
The second gun truck in the Vietnam War mural depicts a photograph that Cruz was assigned to, right down to the truck number. The mural, among other details, also includes a medevac helicopter flying above.
Cruz actually donned a World War I sergeant’s uniform to lead a group of Manteca teens decked in soldiers’ uniforms “from the war to end all wars” so muralist Dave Gordon could have a photo to work from depicting soldiers charging forward from a trench.
The actual photo was taken using a drainage ditch in Manteca with “Sergeant Cruz” leading the way.
Cruz shared a story from years ago when he was having a spa installed at his home.
After a company representative knocked on his door he asked if the pickup truck in front of the house with the Purple Heart license plate was his.
When he replied in the affirmative, Cruz was then asked what branch of service. Cruz’s reply of the Army prompted the man to say in jest that he guessed that was OK even though he was a Marine.
“Welcome home,” the Marine then told Cruz.
That stands in stark contrast to the America that greeted Cruz and others when they returned from fighting
in Vietnam.
Cruz was sent to Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco to recover and to learn how to walk again.
When patients eventually made their way outside the hospital for walks in The City that was the hotbed of the war protest movement, they were denounced, screamed at and treated poorly.
The experience of Cruz mirrors that of many of the 2,594,000 Americans that served in the Vietnam War and came home to a nation that based on their reception seemed downright hostile.
Cruz was one of 303,704 injured including 153,329 that required hospital care.
But he considers himself lucky.
Some 58,202 didn’t make it home. Eighteen of those casualties were from Manteca including Cruz’ buddy Bruce Soares.
After high school, Cruz went to work part-time at Hater’s Furniture while going to college.
George Terry — a fellow 1965 Manteca High graduated — worked at the Defense Depot in Tracy.
Both got their draft notices within weeks of each other.
They both also went to basic training together. And both ended up in Vietnam at the same time — Cruz with a tank unit and Terry with a support unit.
Cruz’ sister brought the Selective Service letter to him at Hafer’s. “We lived a block from the store,” Cruz said related in an interview in 2016.
“I remember her walking into the backroom with the letter.” There was little doubt that Cruz would serve.
“My mother came from Mexico to the United States,” Cruz said, noting she was proud of the opportunities
the United States allowed her to pursue as an immigrant.
During the two months Cruz spent in Vietnam, his skills as a machine gunner reflected in setting a record for most hits during training at Fort Knox came in handy.
He also learned other skills such as how lit cigarettes were effective for getting leeches off your legs after they attacked you when you had to wade into rice paddies to get tanks unstuck.
Cruz — who is known for having a positive outlook on life — said one of his ongoing goals is to help people understand the price of protecting freedom.
“People need to appreciate patriots who serve,” Cruz said. “They keep our nation secure.”
Quilts of Valor’s founding & purpose Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 literally with a dream.
Roberts, whose son was serving in the Gulf War at the time recalls on the
organization’s website a dream she had.
“The dream was as vivid as real life,” Roberts writes. “I saw a young man sitting on the side of his bed in the middle of the night, hunched over.”
“The permeating feeling was one of utter despair. I could see his war demons clustered around, dragging him down into an emotional gutter. Then, as if viewing a movie, I saw him in the next scene wrapped in a quilt.”
“His whole demeanor changed from one of despair to one of hope and well-being. The quilt had made this dramatic change. The message of my dream was: Quilts = Healing.”
Volunteer teams across the country donate their time and materials to make a quilt.
The quilts, according to the group’s website, convey a message: “Thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor in serving our nation.”
For more information on Quilts of Valor go to qofv.org ●
By SABRA STAFFORD
The circus is coming to Ione. A very creepy circus. Preston Castle will be the locale of a very unique haunted house experience for those looking to have a frighteningly good time this Halloween season. For those brave enough to venture in, the Haunt at Preston Castle is bringing the sinister world of a 1920s haunted traveling circus to the castle. In this circus the malevolent Ringmaster is looking for recruits from the haunted halls of the Preston School of Industry to join his macabre parade.
The organizers are going all out for this haunted experience. There’s a cast of more than 100 volunteers, who have all taken acting classes for their roles that will be located on all three floors of the castle and on the grounds. There will also be holograms and animatronics and one room that will be set up to mimic a three-ring circus, said Preston Castle Foundation administrative Assistant Sybil Griffith.
Griffith said guests should expect an experience that is less about jump scares and more about the frights that might linger a bit longer. For that reason, the Haunt at Preston Castle is not recommended for children younger than 12 years of age, though it is left to parents’ discretion.
“I just tell them that once you see something you can’t unsee it,’ Griffith said.
The tales of paranormal visitors roaming the halls of the castle only serve to heighten the Halloween experience, Griffith said.
“Sometimes you might feel a touch and when you turn around there is no one there,” Griffith said. “I’ve experienced it myself. It adds an eeriness that will have you wondering if it was part of the show or not.”
In 1890, the 230-acre parcel of land atop a lonely mountain in Ione where the Preston Castle stands was purchased from the Ione Coal & Iron Company for $30 per acre with 100 acres donated. The land was purchased to house the Preston School of Industry, which was originally envisioned as a reform school for troubled boys. Over the decades, tragedies, violence and escape attempts left the facility with a reputation it couldn’t shake.
The Preston School of Industry remained
open until 1960 when new facilities for the school were completed. The building remained vacant and fading into disrepair until September 10, 2001 when The Preston Castle Foundation received a fifty-year lease for the property. The Preston Castle has also been named a California State Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Preston Castle Foundation received ownership of the Preston Castle and surrounding 12.91 acres on November 7, 2014.
For the Haunt at Preston Castle, visitors should expect the walk-through to last about 30 minutes. The event will run Oct. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26. Gates open at 6:45 p.m., with the first walk-throughs starting at 7 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m. The second walkthroughs will start at 8:30 p.m. and end about 10 p.m.
This is the 14th year the Foundation has had a Halloween-themed event. It typically attracts about 1,500 visitors each night, Griffith said. The funds are used for the ongoing preservation of the castle.
Tickets are $35 for general admission and $50 for the VIP pass, which allows for a shorter line. Tickets should be purchased in advance. Food vendors and merchandise will also be on site. Guests can come in costume but the Foundation asks that no prop weapons come into the castle.
All parking is free for the Haunt but do not park in the surrounding residential neighborhoods. If you are parked in the lower parking lot, please wait at the shuttle station for a complimentary ride to the gate.
For tickets and more information visit prestoncastle.org/events/the-haunt. ●
By CHRISTOPHER CORREA
Three years after ‘American Idol’ stardom, Turlock native prepares to release debut single and album
Since appearing on Season 19 of “American Idol” and advancing to the show’s “Hollywood Week” in the spring of 2021, the life of Turlock native Ash Ruder has drastically changed.
Ruder and husband Dylan moved from Los Angeles, where she had been studying music and business at Azusa Pacific University, to the country capital of the world, Nashville, Tennessee. There, the couple had their first child. Aside from navigating life as a new mother, Ruder has been finding her footing in the sometimes-hectic music industry, writing songs for artists like Mackenzie Porter and pitching for the likes of Morgan Wallen and Lauren Alaina.
Admittedly, many of the steps Ruder has taken in her life have involved taking risks, whether it was singing in front of her family and friends growing up, applying for the hit TV show, singing an original song telling the story of her father’s life and his battle with addiction in front of the superstar judging panel of Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, or traveling across the country to pursue her dreams.
As she prepares for another major milestone of her career, Ruder hopes to encourage others to take similar leaps of faith as it pertains to their own lives and goals.
At midnight on Aug. 2, Ruder will release her first single, titled “The Valley.” She shared with the Turlock Journal that the song, which will also be accompanied by a music video, will serve as the title track of her debut album, slated to come out this spring.
“Obviously there’s some literal connection to the Central Valley, a place that made me who I am today,” Ruder said. “But for me, as someone who wanted to pursue a crazy big career in music and ‘making it,’ I had to leave. I needed to leave my home and chase this thing. It’s not because it’s not accessible here, but also just as a statement of being daring and trying new things.
“I think what’s also super interesting to me about this song and the majority of the project is that the arc of the whole
thing is kind of a contradiction of what the world says. Usually people are running to LA or California to chase their dreams. For me, it was leaving California. This title track, and it’s the first track of the entire album, talks about me leaving this place, and the songs to come after that reflect on me missing it. It’s just a big nostalgia bomb of what California is, from the coastal life and living by the water, to being able to go to the mountains and see all these beautiful things, to me growing up in the Valley. I think it’s all encapsulated into this song and into the entire project.”
For Ruder, who attended Turlock Christian and Pitman high schools, after all she has experienced in the past three years, the time simply felt right for her to begin recording and releasing her own songs.
“I think I just finally found my voice,” she said. This song is me. It’s straight up being like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s do this music thing.’”
Ruder and her husband moved to Nashville just a few months after the “American Idol” appearance as a result of them having to fly back-and-forth between there and Los Angeles to meet with producers and songwriters constantly asking to collaborate.
“It was that August where I really started songwriting and began learning how to hone my craft. Like two years into living in Nashville is when this song came about, and it was the first song that really struck me and had [me] saying, ‘Hey, there’s a whole project that could fall from under this song,’” Ruder explained. “In some ways, the song is what told me that it’s finally the time. It’s finally time to take risks, really chase this dream and do this music thing.”
Though the song starts out slow, describing Ruder filling her coffee cup and preparing to leave California, the vibe quickly shifts to a faster tune as she imagines what’s to come as she embarks on chasing her “American Dream.” She makes mention of the Golden State’s natural beauty, whether it’s the rivers, the mountains or the exceptional
weather.
It’s all encapsulated in the music video, filmed at Middleton Movie Ranch in Los Angeles. In the four-minute video that will be released at a later date, Ruder is shown in one scene at a gas station and inside a convenience store and diner getting set to take off on her road trip out of the state. In others, she is driving a 1994 Porsche 911 through the winding mountain roads. The video
I think I just finally found my voice,” she said. This song is me. It’s straight up being like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s do this music thing.’
shifts again to Ruder becoming happier and more playful as she realizes that, although leaving her home is intimidating and there is very much a fear of the unknown, everything will turn out fine.
Ruder described the music video as an “endless 1970s West Coast road trip: sun kissed skin, top down, a winding canyon, the coastal breeze, sunny and 75 degrees.”
“It’s like a lucid journey,” she said. “I wanted it to be open for interpretation, for it to be whatever people want it to be. I want it to be this big metaphor that people can relate to and find themselves in. But as far as like, logistically speaking, I always knew that I wanted it to feel like some sort of fun, road trip experience.”
“The Valley” is available on all streaming platforms. To pre-save the song, head to unitedmasters.com/m/ thevalley. Ruder, who can be found on Instagram at @AshRuder, will provide updates on the album and its release date in the near future. Information on live shows across the Central Valley in 2025 will also be announced at later dates. ●
The first time I went to Heirloom Kitchen was when I talked to Mathew Ortiz.
That was a few years ago. He and his wife Tori had just renovated the old Payters Grill, a Stockton destination for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 41 years.
“Everything local,” he said of his restaurant that opened in July 2021. As in local farmers, vendors, and even coffee that’s served up daily.
No surprise that Heirloom Kitchen – located in Lincoln Center, an outdoor mall with plenty of independent shops and restaurants – quickly became a favorite brunch place.
My initial visit there was with my sister and her family from the Bay Area. My niece, Troy, ordered Angelica’s Chilaquiles, which did not disappoint.
The tortilla chips were house made. It was served up with ranchero sauce and shredded chicken (braised pork shoulder is optional), topped off with a fried egg.
Mathew and his wife learned to cook from their respective Mexican and Lebanese families.
Since it was closer to lunch, I had to
Heirloom Kitchen is a place where “culinary heritage meets contemporary innovation.”
light – which was made with grilled chicken thigh, Manteca’s Sunnyvalley applewood bacon, cremini mushrooms, and white American cheese. Heirloom Kitchen, according to the website, is a place where “culinary heritage meets contemporary innovation.”
Mat and Tori are the driving force behind this shared love for food and community.
They continue to shape this restaurant into a haven for food enthusiasts. ●
try Tori’s Burger, which consisted of Podesto’s – that’s the family-owned market and deli located across the way in the same parking lot – chuck patty, brie, bacon, fried egg, arugula, and shallot, served on a brioche bun and topped with green Goddess aioli sauce.
That, too, was flavorful.
I’ve been back a few times since, including my last two birthdays to kick off those special days, with friends and family.
On one occasion, I had Mat’s Chicken Omelet – much to my de-
GETTING THERE:
61 Lincoln Center, Stockton
HOURS:
Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
INFORMATION: heirloomkitchen209.com
RESERVATIONS: (209) 477-9513
courtesy of California
INGREDIENTS
1 small or 1/2 large apple, shredded
1 cup shredded sweetpotatoes (about 3 ounces)
2/3 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, whatever you like)
Milk or milk alternative, for serving Sweetener, for serving (honey, maple syrup, agave, whatever you like)
Set aside about 2 tablespoons of the shredded apple.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the remaining apple, sweetpotatoes, oats, cinnamon, salt, and 11/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a low simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until done to your liking, 5 to 10 minutes depending on the brand (use package instructions as a guide). (Alternatively, combine the ingredients in a large microwaveable bowl and microwave on high 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the brand.)
Divide the mixture between two bowls and top with the nuts and reserved apple. Serve with milk and sweetener alongside.
Note: If you have some cooked grains on hand— quinoa, farro, or barley, for example—toss in up to 1/2 cup during the last few minutes of cooking. You can also add chopped dried fruit, coconut, or both!
Luxury Construction can provide everything you need for that dream back or front yard. Full custom designs to basic pool concepts.
Most of our backyard projects can be completed in 45 days. Luxury Construction can provide full service from Pool and Spa Design, Landscaping, Concrete, Landscape Lighting, Luxury Backyard BBQ, Fire Pits, Arbors, and full front and backyard demolition renovations.
Luxury Construction only does 30 pool project a year. This is how we are able to maintain our schedule and quality, and keep our clients happy.
From its beginnings in 1976 feeding the senior citizens of San Joaquin County to today, with 93 pantry sites across San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, the Second Harvest Food Bank is truly ‘sharing the harvest’ to feed those in need.
Second Harvest Food Bank, based in Manteca, has a significant impact on food pantry and feeding programs across the area, providing more than 19.9 million pounds of food to seven counties.
We are distributing 19.6 million pounds of food annually to the
the food bank is witnessing a larger influx of families seeking assistance.
“Additionally, SB1383 opened new doors for partnerships as retailers and food providers are now required to redirect usable food instead of discarding it. This legislation has further strengthened our relationships with food donors and agency partners,” she said.
“We are incredibly thankful for the unwavering support from our community. Second Harvest is able to continue our work each day thanks to the generosity we receive—not only through donations but also through the time people give as volunteers. Your contributions make a real difference in the lives of those we serve,” said Second Harvest CEO Jessica Vaughan.
According to Vaughan, Second Harvest has undergone significant changes over the last five years, particularly in response to the pandemic and the evolving landscape of hunger in the community.
“We’ve seen tremendous growth in
the amount of food we provide, and this expansion continues year over year. Our programs have also evolved to better meet community needs, such as our Fresh Food 4 Kids Program and school pantries,” said Vaughan.
“Our school site partners now have the flexibility to choose how they support their families. Many opt for onsite pantries that allow for continuous service throughout the month, while others prefer a bi-weekly model that provides food for several days at a time.
Currently, we are distributing 19.6 million pounds of food annually to the community, nearing our highest distribution levels during the pandemic.”
As the cost of living continues to rise,
Second Harvest is currently piloting medical pantries in Stanislaus County. These pantries are strategically located on the campuses of medical facilities, placing food directly where it’s needed most. Neighbors who visit these pantries receive a prescription from their medical team, allowing them to access nutritious food without the need to go elsewhere—effectively removing barriers to access.
“The feedback from this program has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting improvements in their overall health and well-being,” said Vaughan.
Vaughan said that people may be surprised to learn about the food bank’s partnership with Amazon.
“Over the past year, Amazon has played a crucial role in restructuring
our home delivery program, enabling us to serve more people than ever before. While we managed the program on our own in the past, we couldn’t achieve the growth we envisioned. Thanks to Amazon’s logistics expertise and the use of their flex drivers, we’ve been able to expand the program to reach neighbors in both counties twice a month. Additionally, Amazon supports deliveries to some of our medical pantries in Stanislaus County, freeing up our vehicles for other deliveries and pickups throughout the week, reducing stress on our fleet,” she said.
The food bank’s greatest needs throughout the fall and winter are donations and volunteers.
“The most impactful way to support our mission is through monetary donations, which help us keep our operations running smoothly and allow us to purchase essential food items for our community. During the holiday season, the number of people relying on us increases significantly, and we want to ensure we can continue meeting this growing
need,” said Vaughan.
“In addition to donations, we face a strong demand for volunteers—not just for our own operations but also for our agency partners across San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Many of our agency partners are run by volunteers, and they could always use extra hands, especially during the holidays, but also throughout the year.”
To learn more about volunteering or donating, visit: https://localfoodbank.org ●
We face a strong demand for volunteers—not just for our own operations but also for our agency partners across San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.
By DENNIS WYATT
BIG SUR — There is a reason why the rugged Big Sur coastline drive is book ended by the eclectic and sometimes garish Hearst Castle, surrounded by a herd of zebras in San Simeon, and the whimsical arts colony with architectural influences of ye olde England that morphed into the Village of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
The 90-mile stretch of the rugged Central California coastline is the embodiment of the inspiration nature has blessed much of the 163,690 square miles that were carved out by man to create the Golden State.
It is not by accident that those inclined to create art with their mind and hands have not only been drawn here but have been able to reach new heights once they walked among its rugged grandeur.
A drive down windy California 1 perched precariously often 1,000 or feet more above some of the most pristine beaches on the West Coast — which many as you travel fur-
ther south are rarely explored due to the difficulty access — in itself is an experience.
There are very few places even in the Mojave Desert or the stark portion of the Great Basin that pushes against the soaring Eastern Sierra where simply from the comfort of traveling in a car on a state highway that you can get such an overwhelming feeling of remoteness, stunning beauty, and even solitude.
It is a 2 hour and 30 minute drive going the speed limit and without stopping (assuming you have such willpower not to step onto the rugged soil) to pass through the Big Sur coastline.
You can’t help but feel a tinge of sinful bliss knowing you are essentially lollygagging if you incorporated the route into a trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
That’s because dozens of miles to the east over the rugged Santa Lucia Mountains, Highway 101 runs its course with traffic speeding at 65 mph while even farther to the east is the internal combustion answer to high speed rail — Interstate 5.
WINTER IS ALSO WHEN THE BIG SUR COASTLINE COMES ALIVE WITH WHALES, SEA OTTERS, AND ELEPHANT SEALS.
California 1 is a road trip where what you see from the pavement traveling 45 mph punctured by endless tight curves marked 30 mph and 35 mph is devoid of visual litter.
You will quickly understand the sheer lunacy of an early 1960s plan by Caltrans that called for ringing the state with significantly more freeways than scar the landscape today and included making this stretch of California 1 a four-lane freeway.
Give engineers carte blanche in terms of how they can try and harness the landscape along with a blank check and they can do anything. But as Caltrans has learned over the 65 years after such a desecration was pondered in a “what if” exercise and quickly abandoned with howls that would have made John Muir proud, nature in Big Sur country is restless.
It is the wild mustang that you can make some progress with but you can never tame.
That has been proven time and time again as massive slides triggered either by weather, the relentless pounding force of the sea, or primeval thrusts of tectonic plates miles below the surface have helped nature temporarily regain segments of the highway.
In summer, California 1 is overtaken to a degree by those seeking to get away from it all, especially the northern part nearest the enclave of Big Sur that boasts some of the most stunning beaches of the coastline shaped by tidal pools along with enormous rock formations wedded with stately redwoods soaring skyward.
But be forewarned.
Cell service — the curse of 21st century living for those seeking solitude —
is limited although for some not limited enough.
Gas is pricey while lodging — save for state campgrounds — will require the removal of a substantial chunk of money from your wallet.
While the costs and limited access to the umbilical cords to the rat race provided by AT&T, Verizon et al are still in place when winter rolls around, the legions of tourists dwindle to more of a drip.
This is when you can soak in the quintessential California experience that nature created.
Winter is also when the Big Sur coastline comes alive with whales, sea otters, and elephant seals.
Monarch butterflies, just like the aquatic creatures, travel thousands of miles to flutter among redwoods. Higher up in the mountains, creatures
seem to stir more than in summer. including mountain lions.
It is here in the heavens above you can see bald eagles and peregrine falcons take flight.
If you’re lucky, you’ll spy one of the world’s largest and rarest birds — the California condor — soaring on thermals with wingspans up to 9 feet.
To give you an idea of how precious of a habitat the region, Big Sur is, the California sea otter once sought to be extinct made its comeback from a single colony found 1938 near the world famous Bixby Bridge — the reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch bridge.
Today, Big Sur offers two sea otter refugees — one near the Point Sur Lighthouse and the other in Julia Pfeiffer State Park.
For those seeking elephant seal heaven, there’s a spot seven miles north of San Simeon near a lookout point known as Piedras Blanca overlooking a beach. This is the best vantage point of an area where 17,000 elephant seals live year round.
The males are massive packing a much as 6,000 pounds — the combined weight of three Mini-Cooper subcompact cars but uglier.
If you are lucky enough to see an American peregrine falcon zeroing in on dinner, you can see why it is considered the fastest creature on earth as it slams into its prey at speeds of up to 200 mph.
This is where the California condor was brought back into the wild, where mountain lions are king in California, and where bald eagles were reintroduced to the coast.
There is a less wild side to Big Sur, but you won’t find it in often epic winter storms that slam the rugged coast releasing penned up fury gathered over
thousands of miles of ocean in the form of powerful winds and thorough drenching.
The conditions are perfect in Big Sur for the unleashing of nature’s fury. That’s due to the abrupt welcome storm systems receive hitting land thanks to the Santa Lucia Mountains.
The highest point in Big Sur is the 5,158-foot Cone Peak with a severe 33 percent gradient. Cone Peak is the tallest peak on the coastline in the Lower 48 States.
Most people will end up spending time in and around the community of Big Sur.
It offers a wide variety of lodging options from the expensive and fancy, bohemian inns, clamping style tents, and rustic cabins to campsites. There are more than a few places where from your lodging is a few feet away on the edge of the property that you can look down 1,200 feet below to the ocean and beaches.
There are dining spots, a general store, and gas. If you’re looking for touristy type of places you will be fortunately disappointed.
Just being in Big Sur with its thick green foliage, inspiring redwoods, rugged terrain and pristine beaches along the steep flank of the Santa Lucia Mountains is reward enough. If you are lucky, the mountains will be shrouded in fog.
Hiking is a year round venture
not just to the beaches but up into the mountains above. The 19.5-mile round trip Sykes Camp Trail has a 2,100 foot gain and takes you to a popular stream and hot springs in the Ventana Wilderness.
There are a lot of short hikes that will rock your senses including the 0.7 round trip hike down to McWay Falls where an 80-foot waterfall mixes with sea water in a lagoon. In the spring wildflowers grow with abandon.
From December to April you can see migrating whales off the coast.
Other do-able trails for almost all skill levels take you into the redwoods and along Big Sur River as well as down to beaches.
Then there are my favorites that cover upwards of 8 miles that take you into the mountains.
Once you see and experience Big Sur, you will understand how it inspired artists such as writers Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac to musicians as varied as Alanis Morissette to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
It goes without saying if you plan a stay in Big Sur the sooner you book the better even during the winter “off season”.
The go to place for connections to sites for lodging as well as activities such as hiking, whale watching, events and much more is the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce website at bigsurcalifornia.org. ●
By MATT JOHANSON
Falls and surrounding geography bear a curious resemblance to Yosemite Valley landmarks.
Missing the mountains?
Once autumn brings colder temperatures to the High Sierra, those yearning for happy trails could stick to the lowlands or wait until spring to lace up their boots. Consider a third option, though: a medium-Sierra destination like Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy.
Hetch Hetchy’s name and reservoir evoke thoughts of the century-old struggle over the dam that floods this valley, a great loss for John Muir and environmentalists. Decades earlier, Paiute and Miwok lost more here when European Americans evicted them from their treasured home of millennia. The area’s name derives from their word “hatchhatchie” which means “edible grasses.”
Hikers today, though, might rightly regard Hetch Hetchy as an overlooked gem. The area attracts just a fraction of Yosemite’s visitors despite prime hiking options for day trips and backpacking. At 3,900 feet, Hetch Hetchy remains open nearly year-round, and enjoys fine fall days as its leaves turn golden brown. Consider these options for an autumn outing.
A moderate hike, five miles round trip, leads to this powerful waterfall named by the Miwok. Park in a lot beside O’Shaughnessy Dam. Cross the dam and walk through the stone tunnel beyond it. Continue east along the reservoir’s shoreline over rolling climbs and drops.
To some observers, Hetch Hetchy Valley bears an uncanny resemblance to its more popular neighbor Yosemite Valley. With a little imagination, landmarks like Hetch Hetchy Dome, Wapama Falls and Kolana Rock seem to correspond with El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and Sentinel Dome. See for yourself as you hike north of the reservoir.
Early-season hikers will first see Tueeulala Falls. Next follows Wapama Falls which tumbles more than 1,000 feet and flows almost year-round. The out-and-back hike takes three or four hours.
A short but challenging hike leads to Poopenaut Valley. Hikers willing to descend and then climb a steep trail can visit Tuolumne River to cool their feet, swim or fish.
Find the signed trailhead on Hetch Hetchy Road, four miles past the entrance station. A dirt pullout on the east side of the road offers parking and bear-proof food lockers.
The out-and-back hike drops and then climbs about 1,230 feet over 2.4 miles round trip, taking most people around two hours. Prepare for the steep grade because those who don’t will not enjoy themselves. Wear good hiking shoes and use trekking poles. Watch out for poison oak.
The trail delivers hikers to the grassy floor of a river-carved valley about two miles downstream from O’Shaughnessy Dam. The Tuolumne flows through a granite gorge.
Spring visitors will spot wildflowers, including lupin, buttercups and monkey flowers. Summer hikers will experience warm temperatures
that will encourage a dip in the river. Those who trek in fall will most likely get the valley all to themselves.
If you’re looking for a backpacking fix before winter, Lake Vernon may fit the bill. A 25-mile loop leads along the north shore of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and through Tiltill Valley on the way to a picturesque lake. Most will enjoy this best as a three-day trip.
Walk across O’Shaughnessy Dam and through the tunnel. Continue east along the shoreline, passing Tueeulala Falls and Wapama Falls. Later you’ll reach Rancheria Falls. The campground here is a good place to spend a night.
The next leg climbs to lush Tiltill Valley, crossing Tiltill Creek. Then the trail climbs over the flank of Mount Gibson on the way to Lake Vernon, another good overnight spot. The lake’s outlet
forms Falls Creek, which flows down a chute of granite on its way to Wapama Falls.
From the lake, hike southwest over some modest ups and downs. At Beehive Meadow, there’s a spring and a trail junction; stay left. You’ll pass through an area of burned forest and pass a small pond between the next junction; stay left again. Descend on switchbacks over old Lake Eleanor Road. This segment will provide the best views (and pictures) of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Kolana Rock. Turn right to return through the tunnel and across the dam.
While backpackers could hike this loop in either direction, most prefer a counterclockwise route which includes a steep descent at the trip’s end, instead of a steep climb at its start.
Overnight backcountry trips require wilderness permits; get yours at recreation.gov or the Hetch Hetchy entrance
station. Bear cans are required and needed for food storage. Hetch Hetchy has a backpackers campground where wilderness permit holders can spend one night before and after their trips. ●
Don’t skip these words of caution. Hetch Hetchy Road allows traffic during daylight hours, closing in winter as early as 5 p.m. Return late and you get to sleep in your car beside a locked gate. Snow can close the road or make chains necessary for motorists. In addition, heavy storms or snowmelt can swell Falls Creek over Wapama Falls enough to overwhelm the footbridges beneath it, trapping hikers on its east side. So keep an eye on your watch, pick a nice day to visit and cross the bridge with care.
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By DENNIS WYATT
The biggest room in my 960 square-foot home is the living room.
There is no couch. No seats. No television.
There are free weights, medicine balls, weighted poles, and such.
There is also exercise equipment.
A water resistance rowing machine. Two different weight benches. And a treadmill.
Sounds like a home workout room, right? Wrong.
It is a living room in the truest sense. You can’t live unless you move. Exercise, even low-level, can improve your
physical and mental lot in life.
That said, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
So why isn’t there clothes hanging on the treadmill, books stacked on the weight benches, and dust on the free weights?
Well, there is bit of dust.
I’m not exactly going to win the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval when it comes to dusting.
I typically wait for the dust bunnies to multiply like rabbits before taking action.
As for having exercise equipment that I actually use, there are two reasons why that is the case — group exercise classes and multiple health club memberships over the years.
Both dropped out of my daily routine when the pandemic hit.
Then in the reconstituted reality of having more workload due to how COVID-19 rearranged life long after
masks stopped being mandatory, time was more of a premium and class schedules were no longer varied enough to fit in to when I had free time.
For the past 39 years, I haven’t needed to be motivated to exercise.
It is important to note that because “experts” selling $800 machines and those hawking gym memberships claim forking over money to exercise is a way to get motivated.
More important, though, is it gives you a hands on experience, if you will, led by people who usually know what they are doing.
That helps you understand the benefits of specific exercises, how to do them correctly, and determine what works for you.
Most people view the exercise class leader as kind of a drill sergeant.
But if you literally treat it like a class where you learn, you can get a good grasp of basics to build on.
That’s the underlying value of classes like RIPPED, Body Pump, Jazzercise, Pilates, and such.
It’s as much about finding out what works for you as it is challenging yourself.
RIPPED is a perfect example.
I assumed to get my heart rate up, to have a faster recovery, and to get my resting heart into the mid-50s that I had to try to emulate the Tasmanian Devil in aerobics class, jog for 20 minutes a day, or bicycle between 14 and 20 mph a minimum of two hours at a time.
RIPPED drove home the point that light weights with a lot of repetition are aerobic exercises even when not combined with full body movement.
I also was able to grasp the fact you could do a 20 to 30 minute or so work out and get both anaerobic and its benefits.
As for gym membership per se, it is a good way to test out exercise equipment so you don’t end up spending $800 on a treadmill that ends up on clothes hanger.
When I started assembling my workout area, I went with free weights.
They are more versatile and you can spend a boatload of money for other equipment that has limited use. And by adding group exercise classes you might learn the benefits of resistants training — such as an expensive Bowflex offers — can be obtained at a fraction of the price using bands with varying degrees of tightness.
When I decided to add a rowing machine to my workout room, I made it a point to try a guest membership at a rowing machine gym.
I had tried a home rowing machine before and wasn’t happy with it.
That said, I heard instructors say you
A gym membership also will keep you from parting with cash via late night informercials by buying something that in the end doesn’t work for you.
can get an effective aerobic workout with them.
My health club at the time had one style that didn’t do much for me.
I was aware there were three styles of rowing machines - hydraulic resistance, magnetic resistance, and air resistance.
What I didn’t know was there were water resistance rowing machines.
For me, the movements were a lot smoother and definitely more pleasing as the sound of swooshing water that varies based on the resistance level you chose makes you more relaxed as you work toward your endorphin high.
It is by far the best exercise specific “machine” equipment I have and that includes my long-time favorites — a stair stepper and spin cycle — in my home office.
Without the trial membership I didn’t extend, I would never have considered a water resistance rowing machine.
A gym membership - even for an abbreviated time - also will keep you from parting with cash via late night informercials by buying something that in the end doesn’t work for you.
It’s like a treadmill.
I’d rather walk, jog, semi-run, walkjog in the rain or in 105 degree heat than use a treadmill to do the same.
So why, do you ask, is there a treadmill in my workout room?
The answer is simple. I savor hiking up hills and mountains more than anything else including descents.
It wasn’t until a few years ago when I wasn’t able to squeeze in a series of weekend hikes as a tune-up for a week of hiking high Sierra trailheads to passes and summits, that I decided to try to use a gym treadmill at the highest incline.
That is when I discovered the monotonous view I had of treadmills didn’t reflect my preferences or exercise needs was all wrong.
I use my treadmill at the highest incline for an entire 20 minute workouts. It helps mimic the great “burn” feel I get on a hike.
I’m not going to lie.
The social interaction of gyms — at least in group exercise classes — does appeal to me.
I just can’t work in the classes I like with my schedule any more.
That said, the general atmosphere of the rest of a gym working out on treadmills, weight machines, free weights, and such with other people around me leaves me kind of cold.
But a gym membership for at least a short period is an ideal way to guide you in assembling your own home workout area.
And if you take advantage of group exercise classes you can learn to get killer workouts even with things around the house such as a kitchen chair or make minimum investments in free weights, bands, ropes, medicine balls, and even workout balls. ●
Between work, family obligations and a constantly changing world, people in the United States are stressed. In fact, U.S. workers are among the most stressed in the world, according to a State of the Global Workplace study. While some stress is unavoidable and can be good for you, constant or chronic stress can have real consequences for your mental and physical health.
Chronic stress can increase your lifetime risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also lead to unhealthy habits like overeating, physical inactivity and smoking while also increasing risk factors, including high blood pressure, depression and anxiety. However, a scientific statement from the American Heart Association shows reducing stress and cultivating a positive mindset can improve health and well-being.
To help people understand the connection between stress and physical health, the American Heart Association offers these science-backed insights to help reduce chronic stress.
Exercise is one of the easiest ways to keep your body healthy and release stress. Physical activity is linked to lower risk of diseases, stronger bones and muscles, improved mental health and cognitive function and lower risk of depression. It can also help increase energy and improve quality of sleep. The American Heart Association recommends adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination.
Incorporate meditation and mindfulness practices into your day to give yourself a few minutes to create some distance from daily stress. Some studies show meditation can reduce blood pressure, improve sleep, support the immune system and increase your ability to process information.
A positive mindset can improve overall health. Studies show a positive mindset can help you live longer, and happy individuals tend to sleep better, exercise more, eat better and not smoke. Practice positive self-talk to help you stay calm. Instead of saying, “everything is going wrong,” re-frame the situation and remind yourself “I can handle this if I take it one step at a time.”
Gratitude – or thankfulness – is a powerful tool that can reduce levels of depression and anxiety and improve sleep. Start by simply writing down three things you’re grateful for each day.
Having a pet may help you get more fit; lower stress, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; and boost overall happiness and well-being. When you see, touch, hear or talk to companion animals, you may feel a sense of goodwill, joy, nurturing and happiness. At the same time, stress hormones are suppressed. Dog ownership is also associated with a lower risk of depression, according to research published by the American Heart Association. Find more stress-management tips at Heart.org/stress.
Understanding stress is an important step in managing and reducing it. Consider these things to know about stress and how it could affect your life:
Today, 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. report being worried or depressed. Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol are linked to increased risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular events like heart disease and stroke.
The top sources of stress are money, work, family responsibilities and health concerns.
Work-related stress is associated with a 40% increased risk of cardiovascular disease like heart attack and stroke.
Local interior designer Wendy Glaister was recently recognized as she received an ASID ANDYZ Award for 2024 Best Outdoor Space. The American Society of Interior Design (ASID) ANDYZ Awards’ is an annual celebration of the year’s Best in Interior Design. Interior designers, architects, design students and showroom design professionals based in Central California - Nevada enter hundreds of projects in 13 total categories. Each project is then judged by a panel of industry professionals before selecting a winning project from each category. The 2024 ANDYZ Awards were sponsored
by Furniture, Lighting & Décor Magazine, Sub Zero Wolf, Brizo, Sherwin Williams, and Thouma Furniture.
“To say that we are blessed to do what we do is an understatement. So many opportunities exist to make a special place for our clients and their families. I am so grateful for the faith that our clients place in our vision. We are extremely grateful that our projects are receiving national attention,” said Wendy Glaister, president and founder of Wendy Glaister Interiors.
Based in the Central Valley, Wendy Glaister Interiors specializes in highend luxury residential and commercial design projects throughout California and in other select markets. Celebrating nearly two decades of success, Glaister has grown her business through hard work, faith and stewardship.
“Designing for our clients is a huge responsibility. In the Central Valley, we have a lot of hard working farming families and I take great pride in our firm’s ability to provide beautiful designs while exercising appropriate stewardship to make each client’s homes work for and look like them,” said Glaister.
Wendy Glaister Interiors’ Outdoor Oasis project that landed the award for Best Outdoor Space features a four seasons design concept and multiple areas for outdoor entertaining. The exquisite outdoor design leaned heavily on Valley Fire Place, a local retailer for their recommendations and expertise in
creating the ultimate outdoor chef’s kitchen package. With a kitchen design that features Blaze outdoor appliances and grills, Plumbing and fixtures by Brizo, and Nature Kast Custom Outdoor Cabinets in a warm neutral to coordinate with massive double kitchen islands. Double 12 foot kitchen islands feature stunning waterfall edge details in Taj Mahal Quartzite honed finish by Stone Company MSI.
To elevate the client’s hosting of family and friends a custom outdoor dining table with seating for 12 was created by metal craftsman Nick Heckendorf, Metal Craft. This custom table delivers a seamless design statement in matching honed Taj Mahal Quartzite and with a beautiful gas fire feature. Through collaboration with lighting designer Carrie Arnold, Phillips Lighting & Home, Glaister was able to create the perfect outdoor space with lighting for day and evening illumination. Outdoor furniture and upholstery was custom designed with manufacturer Lee Industries purchased through Slater’s Home Furnishings.
For everyday engagement the Outdoor Oasis design includes several fire features and seating in three different locations. For added client enjoyment several large Samsung Smart TVs were installed so the client could watch from every angle. The existing pool deck and surrounding landscape was updated, alongside the installation of sports
“So many opportunities exist to make a special place for our clients and their families. I am so grateful for the faith that our clients place in our vision. We are extremely grateful that our projects are receiving national attention.”
courts including a new pickleball court, a putting green, and a bocce ball court that were positioned around the 1.08 acre garden space and to complete the ultimate outdoor oasis design.
“The secret to growing a successful design business and award-winning projects is only possible with the passionate belief for fostering relationships with skilled craftsmen and supporting local businesses,” Glaister said. “Without creative collaboration
and cultivating loyal partnerships with gifted general contractors and subcontractors, none of this would be possible. From the specialty retail showrooms I frequent like Abe’s Discount Plumbing, Phillips Lighting & Home, Stone Company MSI, House of Carpets and Suite 52 Living to the incredibly skilled electricians, fabricators, cabinet builders and tile setterseveryone has a critical role to play. Each member of our team is honestly a gift to me in my life and work. I am blessed to do this work alongside such incredible people. Stephanie Poulsen, my Senior Designer, and I are thankful every day for our life in design and the clients we work with.”
So far this year, Wendy Glaister Interiors has been awarded as a 2024 Finalist - ARTS Awards Interior Designer of the Year; LUX Life - 2024 Best California Residential Design Firm; Best of 209 - 2024 Gold Award Best Interior Design; NKBA’s Person of the Year - Praise Worthy Pick; and 2024 Best of Houzz for Service & Design. ●
While almost all bird seed may look pretty much the same to you, it doesn’t to the birds you’re feeding. Knowing what kinds of seeds different birds like can help you attract a variety of fine feathered friends to your feeders.
Consider these popular seed types and the common backyard birds they attract:
Sunflower - Black sunflower seeds attract blue jays, goldfinches, woodpeckers, purple finches, chickadees, titmice and nuthatches. Striped sunflower seeds appeal to chickadees, doves, grosbeaks, northern cardinals, nuthatches, titmice and woodpeckers. Sunflower hearts (also known as “hulled sunflower” and “sunflower chips”) attract chickadees, common
redpolls, juncos, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, nuthatches, pine siskins, titmice and woodpeckers.
Nyjer - These lightweight, tiny seeds are a favorite of goldfinches. Put nyjer seeds in a hanging feeder with tiny holes so the small seeds won’t get blown away. Nyjer also attracts redpolls, juncos, doves, indigo bunting and pine siskin.
Safflower - These white seeds are slightly smaller than black sunflower seeds. Because they are bitter, grackles, blue jays, starlings - and squirrels - don’t like them. However, they do attract doves, purple finches, chickadees, titmice and downy woodpeckers.
White millet - Good for scattering on the ground, white millet attracts ground feeders such as juncos, spar-
rows, indigo buntings, towhees and mourning doves.
Cracked corn - Popular with ground feeders, cracked corn appeals to doves, crows, jays, sparrows, juncos and towhees. Avoid getting finely cracked corn as it’s vulnerable to rot and can quickly turn to mush. When choosing a bird seed mix, pay attention to the ingredients list on the package. Bird seed is required by law to list ingredients in order of content. Some cheaper mixes have filler seeds such as wheat, red milo, red millet or “assorted grain products.” Most backyard birds won’t eat those, and your seed mix could end up wasted on the ground.
Learn more about making your backyard an oasis for birds of all kinds at eLivingtoday.com. ●
BY DENNIS CRUZ
Hit” is a term in the hobby world used to describe a big value pull from a pack of cards. That’s exactly what The Collector’s Ward is in Oakdale.
The shop, which marked its one-year anniversary in August, is a popular spot and has seen many customers have their fair share of “hits.” Big time cards have left the shop, including multiple 1-of-1 cards.
Owner Chad Ward enjoyed the hobby of card collecting at a young age.
“When I was a kid (late 1980’s early 1990’s) my dad used to bring me baseball cards and that was something that we shared in common. You see, he was a hunter and that is not my thing, but what helped us bond was the love of card collecting,” said Ward.
It was a passion that Ward kept into adulthood and turned it into a successful career.
“In about 2013 I got back into card collecting and pursued it to a career. I was not trying to make a lot of money from it but in about 2017 I was selling on eBay and it turned a profit.”
The Collector’s Ward is the only major source of card and sports memorabilia in town, on the east side of Oakdale. Prior to opening, collectors had to commute to Modesto or further just to get a chance to purchase something.
“Oakdale is a tight knit community. The Foothills (Jamestown, Sonora area) does not have any sports (card) shops. Oakdale loves sports, but I was not sure if they loved sports cards or anything like that. However, on my eBay store, we did notice that a few buyers were from Oakdale. We figured we could give Oakdale a chance and honestly, I am glad we did. Things are coming together. We did not want to overwhelm anyone but as time has gone on things have evolved into a smoother groove.”
The shop offers cards and memorabilia from Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Basketball Association, World Wrestling Entertainment, Ultimate Fighting Championship, soccer and more. They also feature a wide variety of Pokémon, Magic the Gathering, Disney, Star Wars, Funko and more, appealing to a wide range of customers and interests.
“When we first opened, we did not have any Magic and little Pokémon. We saw the demand for it and it has become a staple here in the shop. We have tournaments and other events for them,” added Ward.
Other big items they have include autographs from big stars including Devonte Adams, Cody Rhodes, George Kittle, Tim Brown, Justin Herbert, Shaquille O’Neal and more. Recently the store got their approval for Upper Deck products. That means they can now carry products from Upper Deck like National Hockey League, All Elite Wrestling, Pro Golf Association, Jordan and Marvel.
“It’s a big deal to get approval from
When we first opened, we did not have any Magic and little Pokémon. We saw the demand for it and it has become a staple here in the shop.
them. It’s something we were working on and we got the approval so in the near future we will be adding those items to our shelves,” Ward explained.
The store is run by both Ward and his friend of nearly a decade, Juan Meza.
“Juan is a great dude. He is knowledgeable of the products; he knows a lot about wrestling and pop culture and he is great with customers,” Ward said. “He truly does a great job as a manager here. I am lucky to have him on board. He is a collector at heart and his passion shows.”
The store also offers a grading service for cards.
“Grading cards is a service we offer. That means if someone wants something graded, we can ship it out to PSA (the most reliable source for card grading) and PSA will ship it back to us and we let the customer come back and pick it up at the store.”
The grading system is on a ranking scale of one to 10, with 10 being the best. Cards are returned in a covering that protects the card along with a sticker on top showing information on the card and the grade it received. Cards are much more valuable when they are graded, Ward noted.
The store is in the Oak Ridge Plaza, at 1570 E. F St., Suite G, Oakdale. They are also active online with Instagram (TheCollectorsWard), eBay (CaCardBreaks) and Facebook (The Collector’s Ward and CaCardBreaks-Live Breaks). The phone number is (209) 341-9389. ●
