209 Magazine - Issue 8 by 209 Multimedia Publications

THE CLOSEST COURSE IS THE ONE RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR FRONT DOOR.

When golf is your passion, the more time you can spend on the course the better. And when you live in Saddle Creek Resort, the course is right outside your front door. Saddle Creek Resort is located in Copperopolis and offers a stunning collection of new Castle & Cooke homes surrounded by 18 holes of some of the best golf in northern California. To learn more, call or visit Saddle Creek Resort today.

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F E AT U R E S Many of life’s greatest memories are made during the summer months, where long days allow for time spent on the lake, river or mountain campground with family and friends. Summer is also when backyard barbecues are at their peak, and communities gather to celebrate our nation’s independence.

Camping means different things to different people. Some enjoy pitching a tent and then getting a roaring campfire going to roast a marshmallow or two. Others find the comfort of a luxury hotel in the midst of aweinspiring natural beauty the way to go.

Take time this summer to relax and savor the good life...

PAGE 48 Get out your red, white and blue and prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July amidst patriotic parades and spectacular fireworks displays.

When he isn’t in the classroom teaching, Elias Ruiz can be found at a nearby river or reservoir on his very own award-winning invention, the Feather Raft.

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As American as apple pie... although it’s not clear exactly why apple pies are so patriotic, there are definitely local apple growers and expert pie bakers who would agree with the old saying.

Summertime fishing within the 209 area code is special, especially if you’re an angler that’s willing to fish for a variety of different species.

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With or without peanuts and Cracker Jack, catching a baseball game at one of the 209’s minor league fields is still a great way to spend a summer day or night.

PAGE 58 209MAGAZINE

JUNE/JULY 2015

JUNE/JULY 2015 – ISSUE 8

DEPARTMENTS CHARITY CORNER

8 Welcome Page

70 Miracle League

IN THE KNOW 10 12 14 16 18

BOOK REVIEW

American Graffiti Festival Father’s Day Fly-In Delicato Photography Show Delta College fashion program Fair concert line-up

74 Kimberly Van Meter

PLACE CALLED HOME 76 Dream garage 80 Drought gardening

FLAVORS 22 24 28 30

Original A&W Rootbeer Barkin’ Dog Grill Main Street Footers Summer recipes

NAVIGATOR

MARKETPLACE

34 Rafting on the Tuolumne 38 Pinnacles National Park

82 Dust Bowl Brewery 84 Bass Pro Shops 87 Local Industry Survey

LOOK BACK

60 The Preston Castle

FULL OF LIFE 64 Fitness and Beyond 66 Silver Sneakers

84 209MAGAZINE

JUNE/JULY 2015

Vol. 2 No. 8 ■ June/ July 2015 ■ $4.95 PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

GENERAL MANAGER Drew Savage

EDITOR Kristina Hacker

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAHERS Alysson Aredas Elizabeth Arakelian Jarod Ballardo Jason Campbell Dennis D. Cruz Marg Jackson Matt Johanson Teresa Hammond

Melissa Hutsell Richard Paloma Virginia Still Claudia Newcorn Michael Shelton Jon Michael Terry Frankie Tovar Doane Yawger

ART DIREC TOR Harold L. George

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mackenzie Alameda Jaime Ramirez

ADVERTISING DIREC TORS Chuck Higgs Taylor Phillips

SALES & MARKETING Beth Flanagan Maureen Jerner Tara Levy Krista Messer Vicky Norman-Eddy Corey Rogers Melody Wann Doreen Wynn

SPECIAL CONSULTANT Larry Dovichi

To advertise in 209 Magazine, call Manteca • 209.249.3500 • Oakdale • 209.847.3021 Turlock • 209.634.9141 209 Magazine is published 6 times a year 138 S. Center St. •Turlock, CA 95380 Comments: khacker@209magazine.com www.209magazine.com ©Copyright 2015. 209 Magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher of 209 Magazine is strictly prohibited. The opinions expressed in 209 Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of 209 Magazine mangament or owner. 209 Magazine assumes no responsibnility and makes no recommendation for claims made by advertisers and shall not be liable for any damages incurred.

Thank you for checking out another edition of 209 Magazine. I just got back from our annual California Newspaper Publisher Association conference in San Diego where we were awarded First Place for Best Niche Product – Magazine. We are excited about the award, but even more excited about what the magazine has evolved into over the past year. Our topics, readership and visibility in the region have all grown. I get calls or emails almost daily with story ideas, subscription and additional drop location requests. We appreciate all the support from readers and advertisers. As we head into summer this magazine has a distinct focus on what this area has to offer for outdoor enthusiasts. We highlight great fishing and camping spots, as well as festivals and events that kick off the summer season. Who doesn’t want to go on a journey looking for the perfect apple pie? We venture out a bit into the foothills where we have a feature on the Preston Castle in Ione. It’s a fascinating story about what it has been and what a group of people are doing to maintain its historical significance. We also have a story about the progress of the Miracle League Network effort in Modesto. It will be the first Miracle League field to be established in the Northern San Joaquin Valley and the only recreation facility in Modesto fully devoted to the disabled. Through this and every other product we publish we continue to maintain our focus on the communities in which we live, work and play. 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 Publisher hvanderveen@209magazine.com

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209MAGAZINE

JUNE/JULY 2015

MODESTO HERITAGE LIVES on with

By DOANE YAWGER

or many years Central Valley residents have loved their old cars and one of the biggest celebrations of that affection takes place in June in Modesto. It’s the Modesto American Graffiti Car Show and Festival which begins June 12 with a parade in downtown Modesto and then runs June 13-14 at a new venue, the Modesto Municipal Golf Course on Tuolumne Road. The event is conducted by the North Modesto Kiwanis Club, whose 100 members all are involved in running the events. All proceeds go to support 60 charities. This will be the 17th such celebration and General Chairman John Sanders is expecting 1,300 vintage vehicles manufactured up to 1979. He has been the chairman off and on for all those years and remembers the early days of hot rodding immortalized in George Lucas’ film “American Graffiti” which portrays life in Modesto. What’s the charm of the American Graffiti Festival? Sanders said it’s a chance for people to relive their youth. Visitors’ thoughts typically revolve around their parents having cars like that or they wanted one themselves when they were growing up decades ago. Organizers have never counted the number of American Graffiti Festival spectators but Sanders concedes it’s probably around 15,000 to 20,000 people whose lives revolve around old cars and trucks. A majority of the participants live within a 100-mile radius of Modesto but some come from five states as far away as Texas. Cecil Russell is the chief executive officer of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce as well as a car enthusiast. He will be bringing his 1966 Ford Mustang hardtop to the Graffiti events. “What is there not to like about it?” Russell wonders. 209MAGAZINE

He said the Graffiti celebration is part of Modesto’s heritage. The veneration of vehicles goes back to the 1950s, Russell believes. He has been participating in Graffiti events since they began 17 years ago. Don Wood of Modesto will be bringing his 1937 Ford street rod, a four-door flatback sedan. He said the whole town turns out for Graffiti events. He’s the president of the 200-member Mid-Valley Chevy Car Club which puts on daily events in the week leading up to the festival. Wood recalls he and Sanders started the Concours d’Elegance which preceded the Graffiti festival. Until this year the events were held at the Modesto Junior College West Campus. Back a couple decades ago, Wood was hoping to get 50 cars at the first concours. Now the events easily draw more than a thousand vehicles. Sanders said the Graffiti Events are put on entirely by volunteers and nobody is paid to put on the show. At the new golf course venue, there will be four times the available space compared to the MJC campus. “Our show is definitely the biggest car event in the San Joaquin Valley,” Sanders said. “The parade begins at 7 p.m. and runs a three-mile loop along McHenry Avenue to Orangeburg. There is no ending time but it usually lasts a couple hours.” There are no formal awards given out at the Graffiti Festival, Sanders said, but 25 awards are given by area celebrities picking their favorite vehicle. The parade is free for spectators. Saturday and Sunday events cost $10 with children under 12 admitted free. Parking is free. About 70 vendors will be selling food and auto-related souvenirs on the grounds. — Doane Yawger of Merced is a retired newspaper reporter and editor. ■ JUNE/JULY 2015

intheknow

By MELISSA HUTSELL

PHOTOS BY CLARENCE TEEM

al Fire pilot Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt, who died last year flying for the Dog Rock Fire in Yosemite, will be honored at the 49th Annual Father’s Day Fly-In at the Columbia Airport. A small dedication for Hunt will precede the National Anthem at 11:30 a.m. at the opening ceremony of the three-day event set for June 19-21. The event, sponsored by the airport, will celebrate the holiday weekend with live music, airplane rides, and family-friendly activities. What began with a handful of people in 1966, now attracts thousands from all over the region, said Tuolumne County Airports Manager Benny Stuth. “It began as a relatively simple fly-in where a bunch of pilots would meet up and camp out at the airport for the Father’s Day weekend. It grew from there," said Stuth. This year, attendance is expected to reach more than 1,200 people as the weekend will expand to include entertainment, food, contests and airplane rides. Friday night will kick off with free admission, an evening BBQ hosted by the Columbia Fire Department, and an outdoor movie at the airport’s campground. A traditional Father’s Day dinner will follow on Saturday night. Among the plethora of local food vendors, the Fly-In will introduce its first annual chili cook-off from noon to 3 p.m. Guests can also expect the ever-popular pancake breakfast, hosted by the by the Boy Scouts on both Saturday and Sunday morning.

209MAGAZINE

The festivities that accompany the food will impress the entire family. “We have six cars ranging from a Ferrari to soupedup Camaros and Corvettes that will be racing a TBM aircraft,” adds Stuth. In addition to an airplane and car race down the runway, guests can also expect to see two T-28s, A Beech 18, 4 WWII Yaks, and a B-25, among other Warbirds and antique aircraft….even a chance to take a ride in some of them! “Most of the airplane rides entail takeoff, a quick flight around the pattern and a low pass down the runway, after which they will be taken around the mountain area that can range from points in Calaveras and as far south as Groveland/Yosemite area. The B-25 ride will be a great option for flights as people flying in the B-25 will be able to move around the aircraft during flight, including being able to look out the rear entrance as the plane flies around,” said Stuth. Also new to this year’s Father’s Day weekend celebration, an expanded kids tent titled the “Kids' Hangar” which offers jump houses, arts and crafts and opportunities to hear from pilots. You don’t have to be an aviation enthusiast to enjoy Father’s Day like this. “It sure beats a simple brunch,” added Stuth, “I mean, how much better than this can it get?” For more information, including ticket and ride fees, visit FathersDayFlyIn.org. ■

JUNE/JULY 2015

• During the event’s height in popularity, more than 6,000 guests attended the fly-in.

• The airport, originally known as Ralph Field, was dedicated on June 15 and 16 in 1935. The airport became known as Columbia Airport in 1944.

• Parking this year will not be on the airfield as it has been in past years, but instead, at the Columbia Elementary for $2 per car.

• The movie, “Radio Flyer,” was filmed at the Columbia Airport.

209MAGAZINE

JUNE/JULY 2015

intheknow

By VIRGINIA STILL

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

ine may not be the taste to satisfy everyone’s palette, however, that is not the only reason to visit Delicato Family Vineyards in Manteca. Among many other events like the symphony and fine art show held at the winery, the 19th Annual Photography Show is sure to delight photographers and guests alike through June 27. The public is invited to savor a glass of wine while strolling through the tasting room viewing images that were accepted and submitted for the competition that may have received best of show, first, second or third place as well as honorable mentions, depending on what the judge decides. There will be a visitors' award that will be awarded to the photographer that receives the most votes from the guests that visit the tasting room and cast a ballot during the photography show. The competition was open to amateur and professional photographers who submitted a limit of five pieces of art per photographer between May 16-28 in the following categories: landscape/nature, people/ portrait, travel/architecture, animals, and photographs taken before 1950 that were made new. For the past 19 years, Dorothy Indelicato has organized this event and selected a different judge every year for the competition. Norma Mastin from Madera will be the judge this year; she has been active in the Madera Camera Club since 1973. As an active member in the Nature Division of the Photographic Society of America and as a past chair person, Mastin has participated in the San Joaquin Valley Camera Club Council and the Gold Rush Chapter of the PSA. She received a Master Photographic Society of America award in September 2012, along with many other plaques, medals and ribbons. Judging and entering many international exhibitions, Mastin has a very extensive background in photography that goes as far back as the 1950s. 209MAGAZINE

There were hundreds of entries submitted and only 125 were accepted to be displayed. Only a few of those will receive awards. All entries are for sale, priced at the photographer's discretion. The Awards Reception will be held on June 27 with hors d’oeuvres served at 3 p.m. and the award presentation at 4 p.m. Indelicato is part of the family, a partial owner, serves as corporate treasurer and is on the Board of Directors and has been involved in the wine business since 1958. “I am semi-retired and I get to do fun things now,” said Dorothy. “I am currently working on the third edition of our family cookbook, which has a lot of history woven into the sidebars of the recipes. “It's a fun place to be in this phase of my life.” Her father-in-law Gaspare Indelicato immigrated to California from the small village of Campobello, Italy. When he arrived here he planted the first grapes for the Delicato Family Vineyards in 1924. “This is a family-owned company and we have made this a family-friendly environment,” stated Dorothy. “We tell everyone to bring their children. “We want to encourage families to come out to the winery, it really is for everyone.” View some art and sip some wine (21 and over only can sip) at the Delicato tasting room where visitors can enjoy a variety of wines from Noble Vines, Gnarly Head, Brazin, 337, Irony, Fog Head, Black Stallion Estate Winery, Massimo, and many more. Everyone is welcome to view the photography show. The show is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There is no cost to view the photographs and everyone is welcome. Delicato Vineyards is on Highway 99, four miles North of Manteca. For more information on the event or the winery, e-mail info@delicato.com or visit the website at www. dfvtastingroom.com. ■ JUNE/JULY 2015

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intheknow

By MELISSA HUTSELL

tockton’s San Joaquin Delta College gives students much more than a chance to study fashion, but the opportunity to create it. Each year, the college’s advanced Fashion and Design students watch their dreams become a reality on the runway. The students craft their own original designs to showcase at the annual event each May. The show, titled “Story of Fashion,” is completely orchestrated based on the inspiration of students in the college’s Fashion Event Production and Collection Design classes. This year’s fashion show featured 14 different spring and fall collections on two runways, from nine emerging designers. The show takes its name after the story the students take over the period of 12 weeks, in which they dedicate hundreds of hours of hard work. Stone Creek Village, located on Pacific Avenue in Stockton, set the stage for an array of outfits, models and hair and make-up artists. Trends on the run209MAGAZINE

way included a paper dress made from Winco bags, glistening gowns and menswear. Styles from a span of decades featured whimsical dresses, enhanced fabrics, and bohemian-inspired pieces. Talent and hard work come together to produce original designs that individually reflect their own elegance and innovation that take audiences out of the Central Valley to the world’s top fashion scenes. “All students put their classroom knowledge into play,” said Leslie Asfour, professor and program director of the Fashion Program. “They draft their patterns, source their fabrics and construct their garments to fit the model who will be wearing them. They seek out venue options, source materials needed, find sponsors and partners, create media kits and engage the media, create the invitations, develop the swag bags, conduct model casting calls and workshops, and attend to every detail of the event.” Asfour has been in the fashion industry since she 16

JUNE/JULY 2015

Designer Mike Tim's collection. Models (left to right): Briana Melendez, Krista Hibert, Brooklyn Mullen, Rawda Shehadeh, James Jackson, Julian Martin.

was 16. After a career in the Bay Area where she spent most of her time in visual merchandising and retail management for a total of 25 years, she came to Delta College in 1992. “I view teaching as training a new generation of fashion designers, merchandisers, marketers and retailers,” she said. Many department graduates have gone on to work in San Francisco, New York and Milan. Asfour describes the fashion show as the chance for students to learn what it is really like to create a collection and put it in front of an audience, building confidence and dedication. “They also get a real-world understanding of time management and working with other partners like models and stylists,” she said. “The experiences are absolutely invaluable.” ■

—Leslie Asfour of San Joaquin Delta College

JUNE/JULY 2015

PHOTOS BY MIKE TIM

209MAGAZINE

“I VIEW TEACHING AS TRAINING A NEW GENERATION OF FASHION DESIGNERS, MERCHANDISERS, MARKETERS AND RETAILERS.”

intheknow

ummertime typically brings hot weather to the 209 along with great outdoor events and nothing is hotter than the line-up of musical entertainment booked for multiple county fairs around the region. Some of the upcoming county fairs in the 209 are the Stanislaus County Fair, Merced County Fair, Amador County Fair and the Mother Lode Fair, which will have a variety of entertainment and exhilarating live acts. With a theme of “5 Best Days of Summer,” the 2015 Merced County Fair will be held from June 10-14. Table Mountain Free Concert Series is presented by Modelo Especial. All Outdoor Theatre concerts are at 8:30 p.m. and are included with the price of admission. All Grandstand shows are at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 for 6 years and up; five and under get in free.

Performing in the fairgrounds’ Outdoor Theatre opening day, June 10, is Christian rock band 7eventh Time Down performing their latest hits like “The One I’m Running To,” from their second album, “Just Say Jesus.” The up tempo song spent 28 weeks on the Christian music charts, including Billboard. One-of-a-kind rhythm and blues artists, Tower of Power will perform on June 11 bringing fans hits like “You’re Still A Young Man,” “Down To The Nightclub,” “So Very Hard To Go” and “What Is Hip?” John Lee Hooker, Jr., son of the late blues icon, John Lee Hooker, performs on June 12. Hooker, Jr’s. albums include “Blues With A Vengeance,” which won him a Grammy in 2004, “Cold As Ice,” “All Odds Against Me,” “All Hooked Up” and “Live In Istanbul.” Country artist Aaron Tippin performs on June 13. He is cel209MAGAZINE

ebrating 25 years as a recording artist, with hits including: “That’s As Close As I’ll Get To Loving You,” and “You’ve Got To Stand For Something.” Latin Rhythm & Blues band, Tierra wraps up the concert series on Sunday, June 14 which is Family Day and Rancho San Miguel Markets Day presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts. Known for hits including: “Together,” “Gonna Find Her,” “Memories” and “Zoot Suit Boogie,” Tierra is the first Latino band to have four songs on the national music charts and two hits simultaneously in the Top 100. Los Amigos will play at 7 p.m. at the Coors Light Stage on June 14. If you’re in the mood for dancing, this is where you want to be. Most of Los Amigos’ eight-member group hails from Merced County and they’ll be playing traditional and old school dance tunes that will keep folks dancing. Entertainment at both venues is free with the price of admission. For more information go to www.MercedCountyFair.com or call the fairgrounds office, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (209) 722-1507. The Stanislaus County Fair will run from July 10-19 at 900 N. Broadway in Turlock

JUNE/JULY 2015

7eventh Time Down Jerrod Niemann

3ballmty

and will host a mixture of musical entertainment on the Bud Light Variety Free Stage. All concerts will begin at 8:30 p.m. and are free with the price of admission into the Fair. Kicking off the 10-day run on July 10, Kat Country 103 presents Colt Ford in concert, bringing a distinctive blend of country music and hip-hop rhythms. “Colt Ford will bring a different country edge to the Fair and we are thrilled to have him,” said Adrenna Alkhas, spokesperson for the Stanislaus County Fair. “His high energy performance will make for the perfect opening night of Fair.” On July 12, La Favorita presents 3Ballmty, a Mexican pop DJ trio from San Nicolas de los Garza. A Latin pop trio from Monterrey, Mexico, 3BALLMTY, is known for their tribal guarachero style of music. “Intentalo” is the name of their first single and it has been nominated for a Gold Disc in Mexico, and a platinum disc in the United States

Bret Michaels

and Central America. “Intentalo” has been able to hold up for 52 consecutive weeks on the Regional Mexicano de Billboard, and 40 consecutive weeks as #1 on the Billboard Latin Chart. The Hawk 104.1 presents rock legend Eddie Money on July 13. Money has recorded over a dozen albums and has done numerous projects in television and film. Performing 150 or more shows every year, he is always touring somewhere. “Eddie Money will take his fans down memory lane,” said Alkhas. “We are thrilled to have such a legendary rocker ‘shakin’ up the stage at the Stanislaus County Fair.” On July 14 Kat Country 103 presents Martina McBride, who has had 20 Top 10 hits and six No. 1 smashes. As a result, McBride is ranked as the most played woman vocalist on country radio between 1999 and 2010 and was honored with an induction into the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1995. The Country Music Associa209MAGAZINE

Martina McBride

tion (CMA) has named her Female Vocalist of the Year four times. The Academy of Country Music (ACM) presented her with its Top Female honor three times and the Recording Academy has nominated her for 14 Grammy Awards. The release of her latest album “Everlasting” comes during a time of numerous career highlights for her. America will hit the stage on July 15 hosted by Sunny 102.3 performing hits from their long-standing music career. Their best known hits, which include “I Need You,” “Tin Man,” and “Sister Golden Hair,” were the foundations of 1970s Top 40 and FM rock radio. From their formative years, America has been a band capable of surpassing borders with its uplifting music and positive messages. Embracing a range of differing cultures, America’s audiences continue to grow displaying evidence to the group’s lasting appeal. Bret Michaels performs on July 16 and is hosted by the Hawk. Michaels

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 

intheknow

Colt Ford Tower of Power

John Lee Hooker Jr., Africa the blues

is a multi-platinum global superstar who has turned his passion for music into a versatile brand that includes record breaking tour sales, reality TV stardom, legendary songs that have sold over 32 million records, product endorsements, and being a devoted philanthropist. Kat Country 103 brings country back to the stage on July 17 with a performance by Jerrod Niemann. He recently followed his Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) gold certified multi-week No. 1 smash, “Drink to That All Night,” with his High Noon album’s second Top 40 single, “Buzz Back Girl.” Niemann’s chart-topping major-label debut, 2010’s Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury, produced the No. 1 hit and RIAA certi-

Grand Funk Railroad

Aaron Tippin

fied platinum digital single, “Lover, Lover,” and the Top 5 and RIAA certified gold digital single, “What Do You Want.” His sophomore release, Free The Music, hit shelves last year and featured the Top 15 single “Shinin’ On Me” and the emotional ballad “Only God Could Love You More.” On July 18 Grand Funk Railroad presented by The Hawk will rock the Variety Free Stage. Grand Funk Railroad is extremely excited to be touring in 2015, marking a 46 year milestone. Known as “The American Band,” the high-energy five-piece group will play 40 shows all over the United States this year. After playing to millions of fan tours from 1996 to 2011, Grand Funk Railroad’s 2015 tour will continue to reach 209MAGAZINE

both new and longtime fans. Banda Machos presented by La Favorita will perform on the final day of the fair, July 19. Banda Machos have recorded over 24 record label productions, selling millions of CD’s and have had many performances all over the world. The group has transcended in time and distance and has managed to stay relevant to their fans. Their music can be heard all through Mexico and the United States. “Hispanic acts are one of the most popular attractions we have at the Fair,” added Alkhas. “Their performances never disappoint and we are very excited to have them all performing at Fair.” For more information about the awardwinning Stanislaus County Fair, visit www. stancofair.com. The Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora will host a variety of events and performances July 10-12 including concerts on the main stage by Doobie Rock on July 10, Flying Blind on July 11, Tom Drinnon on July 12, Uplands Drive on July 13, and Chains Required on July 13. The Lava Cats will be performing on the Sierra Stage nightly from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information visit motherlodefair.org. The Amador County Fair will run from July 23-26 and offer a variety of events like the hot rod truck and tractor pull, CCPRA Rodeo, Destruction Derby, and more. Performing at the fairgrounds are Ranell Carpenter Band on opening day at 6:30 p.m.; and Kool Shifters on July 24 at 6:30 p.m. On July 25, enjoy the Slade Rivers Band at 11:30 a.m.; Bayou Boys at 6:30 p.m.; and on July 26, Hannah Jane Kile wraps up the shows on the Budweiser Stage at 11:30 a.m. On the Biagi Family Stage, enjoy the Whiz Kids on July 24 at 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.; Mr. Pinstripe at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on July 25 and Cripple Creek Band at 9 p.m. July 26 sees the group Gold Cadillacs take the stage for three shows, 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. For more information visit amadorcountyfair.com. ■

JUNE/JULY 2015

flavors

PHOTOS BY RICHARD PALOMA/ 209 Magazine

By RICHARD PALOMA

Founder Roy Allen

209MAGAZINE

JUNE/JULY 2015

flavors

brings flavor to downtown Modesto

By RICHARD PALOMA

W Modesto needed a good burger place that served organic burgers...

ithout “the perfect” burger in the area, Hanibal and Evin Yadegar opened the Barkin’ Dog Grill in downtown Modesto on 11th Street over 10 years ago after, as they put it, growing tired of driving to the Bay Area in search of a terrific burger. “Modesto needed a good burger place that served organic burgers and that got us going in that direction,” said Yadegar. “I was committed to serving dry-aged organic beef.” Yadegar said all ingredients are fresh and the patties are hand formed each day. The gorgonzola burger, which features gorgonzola cheese mingled with onions, provolone, and chipotle mayo, is popular with the regular customers. Other fan favorites include the halfpound Barkin’ Dog burger accented with bleu cheese, Montmorency cherries served with maple-infused bacon and slivered red onions or the Steakhouse BBQ Burger with grilled onions smothered in organic barbeque sauce, fried onions, baby greens and horseradish. In addition to organic beef for the burgers, Yadegar said he uses Caspers Hot Dogs for the hot dog dishes. Caspers is known to generations of hot dog lovers for its tasty, old-fashioned street vendor recipe with its signature “SNAP” at first bite. “The Caspers quality is superb and I find them tastier than others offered to restaurants,” said Yadegar. One of the popular dogs is the Chicago Dog with chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish, dill pickle spear, tomato slices, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt. 209MAGAZINE

Barkin’ Dog is more than a “burger and dog joint” offering a relaxed atmosphere with its stylish brick wall displaying works by local artists and hanging chandeliers reminiscent of “little hole-in-the-wall joints” that can be found on the East Coast. The restaurant also offers two dinner entrées: New York strip or seared salmon served with garlic mashed potatoes, and pesto spinach. Along with soft drinks and thick milkshakes, bar drinks include wine, tap beers and six local craft beers such as 805 and Dust Bowl from Turlock. Outdoor dining is also available to enjoy warm Valley nights or just watch the sidewalk traffic. Yadegar credits his wife Evin with the menu selections and making Barkin’ Dog what it is today. “She’s the brains of the outfit,” Yadegar joked. “I’m just the cook.” Both are passionate about the business and cater to their customers, supporting local musicians, visual artists, and poets, offering live musical entertainment Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and poetry readings on the second Tuesday of the month. Yadegar said Thursday nights are strictly jazz while Friday and Saturday nights rotate on the type of music. “We’re pretty busy on those nights,” Yadegar said. “It’s becoming a popular place.” All the burger and hot dog selections seem to offer something delicious and worth the trip if you want to flirt with flavors beyond what you’ll find at a traditional burger place. ■

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BURGERS & DOGS GORGONZOLA BURGER Gorgonzola cheese mingled with onions, provolone, and chipotle mayo 1/2 LB BARKIN’ DOG BURGER Accented with bleu cheese, Montmorency cherries served with maple-infused bacon and slivered red onions STEAKHOUSE BBQ BURGER Grilled onions smothered in organic barbeque sauce, fried onions, baby greens and horseradish

IF YOU GO

CHICAGO DOG Chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish, dill pickle spear, tomato slices, pickled sport peppers and a dash of celery salt

GETTING THERE: Barkin’ Dog Grill 940 11th St. Modesto, CA 95354 PHONE: 209.572.2341 HOURS: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

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JUST AN AVERAGE HOT DOG By ALYSSON AREDAS

ust ask anyone in Turlock where they can find the best hotdog in the 209 and odds are they’ll say Main Street Footers. “Footers is an old-fashioned, hometown eatery where people can come and get the same thing every time: good quality food and friendship,” said owner Glenn Newsum. The idea behind the highly successful hot dog joint emanated from original owner Dennis Rodgers in 1983 after he traveled to the Bay Area to try out different hot dog eateries. Specifically recognizing the presentation and success of Caspers Famous Hot Dogs, Rodgers was inspired to open Footers on Main Street. When Rodgers made the decision to relocate to the Bay Area and consequently sell the business in 1997, he turned to Newsum, who he had befriended over 20 years earlier at a Kiwanis meeting, to discuss the value of the business and potential sale. “After weeks of discussion, I thought it would be a good idea to buy Footers,” said Newsum. “I talked this over with Lisa Wilson, Dennis’ daughter, about partnering up and buying Footers.” Wilson, who worked at Footers since she was 16 and was running it at the time, loved the business and thus thought it would be a good investment to partner with Newsum. The partners officially purchased Footers in August 1997. “Footers has changed over the years with many items added to the menu and additional seating outside,” said Newsum. “Footers is not only known

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for its array of sausages, but also its deli sandwiches, homemade salads, soups, shakes, drinks and chips.” Since its inception over 30 years ago, Footers has been serving customer favorites, including the Avocado Footer, which is a delicious combination of freshly sliced avocado, Thousand Island dressing, onions, tomato and cheese, and the Western Bacon Cheese Footer, which tantalizes customers with barbeque sauce, onions, tomato, bacon and cheese. According to Footers employee Molly Amant, these customer favorites have been joined most recently by another menu item, the CK7 Kaepernick Footer, which as a tribute to hometown hero and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is dressed in a special sauce made at Footers, coleslaw, chili and jalapenos. Footers was also recently inspired to expand their menu thanks to their downtown neighbor Dust Bowl Brewing Company when an employee ventured to try the restaurant’s PB&J Burger. “She tried the burger and she liked it, so she thought why not put it on a hotdog?” said Amant. As a result, customers can send their taste buds on another peanut butter and jelly filled adventure with the Peanut Butter and Jelly Footer, which is a hot dog topped with grape jelly, peanut butter, bacon and cheese. “It’s pretty popular as crazy as it sounds,” said Amant. Although most customers arguably come in to

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Partners Glenn Newsum and Lisa Wilson have owned and operated Main Street Footers for the past 17 years.

Footers for the locally acclaimed hot dogs, the business’s menu also boasts a wide array of salads, sandwiches, soups, ice cream, and other specialty items. “There are a lot of people who do not like hot dogs,” said Amant, “so this definitely brings more people in.” Amant reported that the eatery’s salads and sandwiches even rival the hot dogs in popularity with favorites like the Chicken Taco Salad, which is a robust pile of lettuce, onion, tomato, chicken, cheese, sour cream, green sauce, salsa, avocado, jalapenos, and tortilla chips, and the Reuben Sub, which delights customers with pastrami, Swiss cheese, onion, thousand island dressing, and sauerkraut. “We have something for everyone,” said Amant. “This is great place to come enjoy a meal with just about anybody.”

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For those looking to quench their thirst or for the perfect beverage to accompany their hot dog, Footers does not stop at typical soft drinks, as it also offers innovative Red Bull Frozen Infusion Creations, Italian sodas, shakes, and malts. According to Amant, the average amount a customer can expect to pay for a their food at Footers is anywhere from $10 to $12, a price which most times encompasses an entire meal. “All of our sandwiches come with a side,” added Amant. “Customers can get chips or they can choose macaroni, pasta, or potato salad—all three of which we make in-store.” Main Street Footers is located at 425 East Main Street. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 667-8383 or visit mainstreetfooters.com. ■

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flavors

Pork and Watermelon Kabobs Servings: 8 Ingredients: 6 tablespoons brown sugar 6 tablespoons soy sauce 6 tablespoons diced red onion 3 garlic cloves, minced 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme Pepper to taste 1pound boned, lean pork chop, cut into 1-inch cubes (approximately 38-40 pieces) 32 cubes watermelon (1 inch each), plus extra for garnish if desired 16-24 zucchini rounds (1/2 inch) 16 pineapple chunks, fresh or canned (1 inch each)

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24 yellow or orange peppers chunks (1 inch each, approximately 3-4 peppers total) Cooking spray Sesame seeds for garnish Directions: Combine sugar, soy sauce, onion, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, thyme and pepper in mixing bowl. Pour into resealable bag and add pork pieces. Seal bag, mix thoroughly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, turning bag periodically. Remove pork from bag and reserve marinade. Thread 5 pork pieces, 4 watermelon cubes, 2-3 zucchini rounds, 2 pineapple chunks and 3 peppers on each of 8 skewers, alternating the order. Spray cooking surface on heated grill and place kebobs on grill. Grill for 12-15 minutes, or until done, turning and basting frequently with reserved marinade. Garnish with sesame seeds and chunks of watermelon.

JUNE/JULY 2015

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Banquet and Catering Available 1801 Colorado Avenue, #190, Turlock, CA

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 am - 10:00 pm Friday 8:00 am - 11:00 pm • Saturday 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm

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flavors Baja Fish Tacos with Watermelon Guacamole Directions: For guacamole, mash avocados to mix of smooth and chunky in medium bowl. Add lime, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic and chilies and mix thoroughly. Add 1 1/2 cups diced watermelon and salt (if desired) and toss. Cover and refrigerate to let flavors blend. Heat oven to 350째F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Place cod on sheet and sprinkle with chili powder and salt. Bake for 12-20 minutes (depending on thickness of fish) or until cooked through. Remove from oven and cut into pieces. Heat tortillas on grill or griddle. Top each with few pieces of fish, 1/4 cup coleslaw mix, heaping spoonful of guacamole, tablespoon of salsa and few pieces of remaining diced watermelon.

Servings: 12-16 tacos Ingredients: 2 teaspoons diced jalapeno pepper (or to taste) 1/3 cup chopped cilantro 2 medium garlic cloves, minced 1 can (4 ounces) diced green chilies, drained 2 1/2 cups diced watermelon, divided Salt, to taste Cooking spray 1 1/2 pounds cod Chili powder 12-16 corn tortillas 3-4 cups commercial coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots) 1/2-1 cup commercial salsa

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Creamy Chicken Taquitos Serves 4 to 6 Directions: Preheat oven to 425Â°F degrees and line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick liner. In large non-stick skillet over medium heat, add cream cheese, diced green chiles, salsa, green onions, garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika and chipotle chile powder. Stir frequently until cream cheese is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove mixture from heat and stir in chicken, pepper jack cheese and cilantro. Add about 2 tablespoons chicken mixture to each tortilla, placing slightly off center and keeping mixture about 1 inch away from edge. Roll up tortilla and place seam side down onto prepared baking dish. Gently mist taquitos with olive oil and bake for about 15 minutes, until lightly golden brown and edges are crisp.

Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese 4 ounces diced green chiles 1/2 cup Sabra Southwest Salsa 3 green onions, diced (green and white parts) 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese 1/3 cup minced cilantro 10-12 small flour tortillas (6-inch) Spray olive oil

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navigator

By MATT JOHANSON

209MAGAZINE

s we headed towards a raging Clavey Falls, I took a deep breath and gripped my paddle with white knuckles. During the biggest runoff in a decade on the Tuolumne, the steepest drop on the state’s wildest river looked like the watery end of the world. But it was definitely too late to go back. “Forward, forward, forward!” screamed our guide over the water’s roar. We pulled our paddles furiously even though obeying the order ruled out hanging onto the raft for dear life. Hearts pounding, we dropped off the edge. The boat rocked about madly and one paddler nearly swam before the crew pulled him back from the brink. Terror turned to triumph moments later as we reached the safety of a calm eddy, the roughest rapid of the trip behind us. “All right, woo-hoo, huzzah!” cried my shipmates. I shared the sentiment but was too winded to join in.

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Though far from an expert, I’ve enjoyed rafting perhaps a dozen runs on Sierra Nevada rivers over the years. My trips along the Tuolumne always took a different form, though. I had climbed atop Yosemite’s Lyell Glacier where the river originates and hiked beside the Tuolumne for dozens of miles. Yet I always knew I’d have to raft “The T” someday. That occasion finally arrived when friends and I joined Sierra Mac River Rafting Trips for a two-day, 18-mile run on the main segment of the Tuolumne, from Meral’s Pool to Ward’s Ferry. The outing began with multiple Class 4 (challenging) rapids including Rock Garden, Nemesis, Sunderland’s Chute and Hackamack Hole. Like many rafters, we spent a night camping beside a sandy beach near Clavey Falls. Those who go with a guided group may enjoy a decadent meal of steak, salmon, potatoes, hot green veggies, beer and wine, as we did. We rafted rough water but hardly roughed it. The river sang us to sleep. After an equally hearty breakfast, the main event awaited. Clavey Falls, the run’s only Class 5 (experts only) rapid, tends to lodge in boaters’ memories and not just because of the adrenaline rush it produces. The confluence of the Clavey and Tuolumne rivers embody nature’s power which shaped this beautiful canyon. It’s also a special setting to Marty McDonnell, Sierra Mac’s owner and Tuolumne rafting pioneer. “The Clavey River/Tuolumne River confluence for me is my place to worship, play, call home and enjoy a display of nature’s Michelangelo’s stone carvings,” McDonnell said. “Rock, gravity and water create one of the world’s greatest navigable rapids… Each visit here changes your life forever.” The second half of the journey features Class 3 (moderate) and more Class 4 rapids like Gray’s Grindstone and Hell’s Kitchen, providing boaters with thrills and also a chance to take in the canyon’s scenery and wildlife. Cedars, alders, willows, oaks, pines and plenty of Manzanita make for pleasant viewing. Black bears, coyote, hawks and even mountain lions show themselves occasionally. Everyone was sorry to reach the take out at Ward’s Ferry Bridge. “If you liked the Main T, you’ll love the Upper T,” another rafter commented. Just like that, I knew I had to go back, and a month later I did. With nine miles of continuous Class 4 and CONTINUED ON PAGE 36  209MAGAZINE

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IF YOU GO FITNESS: Most people in good health will enjoy rafting the Main Tuolumne. Outfitters suggest a minimum age of 13. A higher level of fitness and strong swimming skills are required for the Cherry Creek/Upper Tuolumne run. SEASON: Rafting conditions generally run from mid-spring until mid-fall, depending on the year. OUTFITTERS: Rafting the Tuolumne independently requires a high degree of expertise, thousands of dollars worth of gear and a Forest Service permit. Those lacking any of these should consider these guide companies. Expect to pay around $250 per day on the Main T, and around $300 for a day on the Upper T. FOR MORE INFORMATION: All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting in Walnut Creek (www.aorafting.com) ARTA River Trips in Groveland (www.arta.org) O.A.R.S in Angels Camp (www.oars.com) Sierra Mac River Rafting Trips in Groveland (www.sierramac.com) Whitewater Voyages in El Sobrante (www.whitevoyages.com) Zephyr Whitewater Expeditions in Columbia (www.zrafting.com)

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EACH VISIT HERE CHANGES YOUR LIFE FOREVER.

Class 5 rapids, the Cherry Creek/Upper Tuolumne route is the most challenging guided raft run in the United States. Wetsuits and life vests are mandatory, as are swimming tests across the icy, fast flowing river and back. The exercise will kick-start your heart for the workout that awaits downstream. The Guillotine, Jawbone, Unknown Soldier and Coffin Rock rapids bear fearful names but the more innocuous-sounding Mushroom, Flat Rock Falls and Lewis’ Leap are actually more hazardous. Many parties disembark and walk to avoid these and especially Lumsden Falls, a Class 6 rapid (potentially deadly even for experts) and the river’s most dangerous spot. Still, that leaves plenty of whitewater and this run felt like a non-stop thrill ride with more exciting rapids than all my previous rafting trips combined. The Upper T averages an amazing 100foot drop per mile but a middle section known as the Miracle Mile drops a phenomenal 200 feet. By this point, guide Jeff Hall had our two-man, two-woman crew working well in sync, thankfully. Only a miracle could get a raft with less-than-expert guidance through this mile, a slalom course of raging rapids and countless rocky obstacles. The memorable outing ended with a welldeserved lunch and a congratulatory champagne toast the rafters and guides shared. I was surprised to learn that guides who’ve completed this challenge hundreds of times still consider every run a special occasion. “Cherry Creek is tops: steep, absurdly difficult and relentless,” said Adam Crom, a guide since 1982. “It’s simply the best guided whitewater trip I’ve ever seen. This run demands your best every minute of every day. If you are inattentive or unfocused, bad things will happen, and soon! It is a rare thing to work in a place that demands so much and rewards you so beautifully if you do it right.” As a frequent Yosemite visitor, I drove beside the Tuolumne on Highway 120 for nearly 20 years before finally rafting this gem. I’m not going to wait nearly so long to take the plunge again. ■ 209MAGAZINE

— Marty McDonnell

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NOW THAT OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR YOUR HEALTH COVERAGE IS OVER

IT’S TIME FOR

VISION DENTAL

Phone: (209) 634-8911 | Toll-Free: (800) 400-0930 Fax: (209) 634-8848 | 132 S. Center St., Turlock, CA 95380

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IAmerica’s newest national park By CLAUDIA NEWCORN

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ith all the national parks in California, it’s surprising how many people don’t know about Pinnacles. Located just south of Hollister, in 2013, this century-old national monument became our 59th national park. It’s a hidden gem, home to the endangered California condor, where rock formations drip down canyons like molten wax, stone spires soar to form a saw tooth pattern against the sky, wildflowers freckle the slopes, and bizarre talus caves beckon the curious.

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looks like petrified wood, and pink breccia. Gold moss drapes a sparkling mica boulder. Gnarled gray oaks arch over the trail; a condor may spiral overhead. Mega-boulder caves Bear Gulch Caves and Balconies Caves surprise visitors. They are not caves in the true sense, but “talus” caves, canyons with a “ceiling” comprised of a jumble of multi-thousand ton mega-boulders (known as talus). It‘s believed that the massive volcanic boulders slid down the steep narrow canyons and became wedged between the walls to create a roof. Their cool interiors have been popular with visitors since the 1800s. Pinnacles has east and west entrances that give access to different parts of the park. The east entrance is open year ‘round, and features the Visitors Center, Bear Gulch CONTINUED ON PAGE 40 

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PHOTOS BY CLAUDIA NEWCORN/209 Magazine

26,000 acres wild Pinnacles is nestled in the heart of a 23 million-year old volcano, originally 15 miles long, five miles wide and 8,000 feet high. Erosion and tectonic plate movements have produced a dramatic landscape. Carving through the many-colored volcanic layers, water has sculpted bizarre monoliths before gathering into creeks that sliced exits through the crater’s walls. Early settlers named the place Palisades due to the rock spires, and it was a popular destination by the 1860s. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed 14,080 acres of San Benito and Monterey counties to be Pinnacles National Forest Reserve. Here, you step back into an ancient California, before agriculture and people redefined the landscape. Multiple ecosystems coexist in small spaces. Riparian (streamside) habitat, foothill woodlands and chaparral mingle with warped stone to create a colorful panorama. There are greenish granite boulders, banded rhyolite that

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Nature Center and Bear Gulch Caves. Balconies Caves are accessible from the west entrance, which is open 7:30AM8PM. Be advised that the caves have “controlled” access, because they are inhabited by the protected Townsend’s big-eared bats; you should check the park website when planning your trip to make sure the caves are open. And bring a flashlight.

PHOTOS BY CLAUDIA NEWCORN/209 Magazine

Hikes galore There are 30 miles of maintained trails ranging from easy to strenuous. Detailed profiles of each trail can be reviewed on the park website. I enjoyed the moderate High Peaks Trail which reveals a good cross section of the park’s eco-diversity, zigzagging up through woods towards spires and canyons that edge the volcano’s rim. It actually can get warmer the higher you go, because of the lack of trees and increasing sun exposure, so wear a hat and carry plenty of water. Want more to do? There is rock climbing, wildlife viewing, bird watching, and interpretive programs. Spring is popular for wildflower walks. Pinnacles’ parking lot inside the volcano fills quickly. There is overflow parking with shuttle service up into the east side Visitors Center. It’s a great ride, providing a nice overview of the area. You can also hike from the parking lot to the Center or hike back. With everything else to do inside the crater, I recommend doing the easier downhill return hike. The route accompanies the lovely Bear Creek through old growth trees and brush, then follows a sandy flat river plain. ■ 209MAGAZINE

IF YOU GO Pinnacles is the perfect day trip for families and individuals who enjoy the outdoors. A pleasant 1.5 hour drive, head over Pacheco Pass, then south on Highway 25, and take a right on Highway 146 into the park to the east side entry (note: Hwy 146 does not cut through the park). The park is open to day use all year. Entrance fees are $10 per vehicle. Pinnacles Campground, on the park’s east side, offers tent, RV, and group campsites. Hours of operation for the Visitors and Nature Centers vary during the year, so check nps.gov/pinn for current times and other information.

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feature

Elias Ruiz TEACHER, INVENTOR,

OUTDOORSMAN

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL SHELTON/ 209 Magazine

By ELIZABETH ARAKELIAN

hen Elias Ruiz was a kid his grandfather taught him the values of living off the land, setting the foundation of what would be Ruiz’s lifelong love of fishing and hunting. “I always enjoyed being outside and looking for that next adventure,” said Ruiz. While his day job is teaching at Dutcher Middle School in Turlock, when he isn’t in the classroom Ruiz is probably at a nearby river or reservoir. Due to its proximity, Ruiz frequents the Tuolumne River year-round on his Feather Raft, a lightweight structure he designed to float steadily on water that won him a $2,500 prize in the Stanislaus County Innovation Challenge in 2014. At that same river Ruiz saved a man’s life when he pulled him from the cold waters of the Tuolumne River in December 2014. Ruiz was out on the raft around 6:30 a.m. on that Sunday morning in December duck hunting when he first heard a strange noise. “I could hear a sloshing sound,” Ruiz said. “I thought maybe it was a cow or some wildlife coming to get something to drink, but the more I heard it, the stranger it sounded.” As the dawn started to break on the river, Ruiz said he could see a shape forming about 15 yards from where he was on his raft. “I could see something dark in the water, and eventually I could see a jacket and pant line and knew it was a person,” Ruiz said. “I had already been out there for about 45 minutes by this time.” Ruiz immediately called 911 and then set to work getting the man out of the water. He was able to pull the man ashore. “About 95 percent of his body was in the water,” Ruiz said. “I think his left shoulder was on a submerged piece of concrete and that had kept him from drowning.” When emergency crews arrived, the man was conscious but just barely, according to Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department Battalion Chief Rick Bussell.

Bussell estimated the man was in the water for at least two hours or more. The outside temperature was in the 40s and the water was around 50 degrees. The man was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and was treated for hypothermia. “Had they (Ruiz and his friend) not seen him out there, he probably would have passed from hypothermia or drowning,” Bussell said. “It was just amazing that we were out there at the right time,” Ruiz said. Ruiz said his interest in wilderness survival began growing in high school when he would check out books to learn survival skills before he became a medic in the military to learn emergency medicine. Since then, fishing and hunting have become hobbies he pursues year-round. While hunting is namely a winter activity, during the summer Ruiz is often on one of the many nearby rivers in his free time, such as the Tuolumne River, San Joaquin River, Modesto Reservoir, Turlock Lake, Lake McClure, Lake McSwain and the Don Pedro Reservoir. “As far as fishing, typically I’ll go anywhere within a one to two hour radius,” said Ruiz. “I try to stay pretty close because I have a wife and two kids.” While he is well versed in the types of fish at each location, Ruiz is not likely to share his favorite fishing spots. “Fisherman are real good about sharing their bait, but they won’t tell you where their hotspots are,” laughed Ruiz. Ruiz can often be found bow fishing from his raft, and fishes from the banks as well. No matter new fishers’ interests, Ruiz said his advice for those breaking into the sport for the first time includes getting informed. “Make sure they know the regulations to start off with and get your fishing license. The rivers have certain times of year that you can fish, so educate yourself with the local laws,” said Ruiz. “Also, it never hurts to talk with someone who knows how to fish.” ■

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“I ALWAYS ENJOYED BEING OUTSIDE AND LOOKING FOR THAT NEXT ADVENTURE.”

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209 IS THE PLACE TO BE By JAROD BALLARDO

hen I think about fishing during the summer months while staying within the 209 area code, my options seem endless. What excites me most about fishing the summer months, is the early morning sunrise, and the late evening sunsets. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned that some of the best fishing

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in the summer usually occurs before the sun is fully up, or while the sun is going down. Over the years Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve developed my own approach to fishing several of our local lakes or bodies of water during the summer months. Like a lot of anglers, I have my favorite lakes and favorite species to fish for.

The Delta:

Of all the places to fish in the 209 area code during the summer, the Delta is hands down one of my favorites for a lot of reasons. It expands across the 209 area code making it one of the most accessible bodies of water for area residents. A friend of mine used to say that somewhere on the Delta someone is always catching fish. He’s right, there are fish to be caught year round on the Delta. The biggest challenge to fishing the Delta during the summer months is the boat traffic. Of course, there are areas where an angler can get away from all the boat traffic but he or she would be forced to vacate some of the best places to fish. The greatest advice that I can give anyone that plans on fishing the Delta during the summer months

is to fish the off hours. Not only will you be able to beat the heat but I’ve personally had some of my best fishing on the Delta during the summer months while everyone else was still sleeping. The launch ramps are clear, the waterways are calm, and I’m able to get off the water before the crowds come to stir everything up. If you’re a top water bass fisherman, there’s something about fishing the Delta right as the sun is going down. If you’ve never fished passed 8pm on the Delta, give it a try sometime. Most anglers focus more on fishing the Delta early in the day. As a result the fish I believe have been programmed to let their guard down a little more during the later hours of the day, making the evening bite on the Delta one of my favorites.

Lake Pardee:

Lake Pardee is a great summertime fishing location for several reasons. It’s a fishing lake, plain and simple. They don’t allow any body contact with the water which makes it the perfect place to get away from boat traffic. The only negative about fishing Lake Pardee is the cost. It doesn’t cost any more than the other local lakes but at around $25 for a day of fishing for two people on a boat there are less expensive alternatives. Unfortunately, this summer the lake will be closing due to renovations of their RV Park on July 10.

“I’ve learned that some of the best fishing in the summer usually occurs before the sun is fully up, or while the sun is going down.”

New Hogan Lake:

New Hogan Lake is one of the biggest sleepers of all the places to fish during the summertime. It only cost $4 a day to fish the lake from the bank or from a boat, it provides some of the cleanest facilities around, and all four species of bass can be caught. If there’s any negative, it’s usually packed with people during the peak hours of the summer. Fortunately, there are large areas on the lake that are restricted to 5mph making it nice for anglers looking to avoid all of the boat traffic found in the main lake. Unlike neighboring Lake Pardee, you can have your boat on the water through the night making the lake a great early morning or late evening destination.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 46  209MAGAZINE

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feature New Melones:

New Melones is probably one of the most popular of all the lakes within the 209 area code. Both launching and day use fees are $10 or less per day, its facilities are excellent, the lake is one of the biggest in the 209 area, and it provides great fishing. When I think of fishing New Melones during the summertime I can’t help to not think about fishing for Spotted Bass and Kokanee. Both species are very active during the summer, making them prime targets for many anglers including myself. The key to relatively easy limits of

Kokanee is being on the water as early as possible. The best Kokanee fishing usually takes place before the sun is even up. I don’t know of anyone that catches Kokanee from the bank. Making a boat that can be used for trolling lures at low speeds is a must. For Spotted Bass you just can’t go wrong while fishing with a top water lure during the low light hours and a green pumpkin Zoom Trick Worm attached to a Shaky Head during the day. For Kokanee I suggest fishing the main lake and for Spotted Bass I suggest fishing the many lake islands and points.

Lake Amador:

Don Pedro Lake:

Don Pedro Lake is very similar to New Melones. The difference in the two lakes to me is that Don Pedro is a little less fished than Melones making it a semi sleeper lake for anglers looking to avoid the fishing traffic. Like New Melones, it’s a very popular lake for recreational boaters, jet skis, and boaters in general. Fishing wise, it has incredible potential. During the summer months, a large majority of anglers troll for Kokanee. Bass fisherman also do well while fishing main lake points for spotted bass. At night anglers usually choose to soak cut bait for catfish or fish around submerged lights for trout. Don Pedro Lake is one of the places that I’ve put on my own radar this summer, especially since Lake Pardee is having a shortened season.

Lake Amador is one of the most expensive of all the lakes to fish. It can also be one of the most rewarding places to fish. It’s one of the smallest of the lakes, making it relatively safer to fish at night than the larger lakes. During the summer, I usually plan at least one overnight fishing trip to Lake Amador. The gates close at 9pm for incoming vehicles, so if you plan on fishing the night, make sure to get there before the

Summertime fishing within the 209 area code is special, especially if you’re an angler that’s willing to fish for a variety of different species. I don’t know of too many other places that provide as many fishing options as the 209 area code does. Of course there are many of

gates close. As the sun is going down the lake usually becomes alive as the bass bring the shad to the surface providing for some of the most exciting top water action. Once the sun is fully down, I prefer to toss a black spinner bait, or drag a large Texas Rigged worm through the night. As the sun starts to come up once again, the bass bring the shad back to the surface providing another hour or so of top water action.

those options not mentioned in this article. There’s honestly too many for me to list, and many more that I’ve yet to discover in my 35 years of fishing within the 209 area code. If you’re a freshwater fisherman, the 209 area code is the place you want to be. ■

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How the other half lives in Yosemite

Camp 4 regulars

visit the Ahwahnee

W “Our fun foray into high society taught us something about how the other half lives.”

hen my wife and I carried our bags down the red carpet into the plush lobby, I could still hardly believe it. In all the years we had visited Yosemite, we had never stayed at the lavish hotel that houses royalty, presidents and the well-to-do. I figured we never would, yet there we were. “Welcome to the Ahwahnee,” a smiling registration clerk greeted us. Camp 4, home to climbing royalty, the perpetually broke and the little-to-do, was our usual abode. I figured it always would be. But after many years of writing about Yosemite experiences led to an invitation to visit the historic hotel, Karen and I jumped at the chance. Our enjoyable visit showed us a fascinating contrast between the two communities just a few miles distant yet worlds apart. At the Ahwahnee, guests reserve their rooms months in advance. At Camp 4, which has no reservations, campers line up hours before dawn outside the registration booth. The Ahwahnee has six floors of rooms and suites like ours start at $600. Camp 209MAGAZINE

By MATT JOHANSON

4 crams six campers into each site and charges them $6 apiece. At Camp 4, each site has a small fire ring. The Ahwahnee's grand lounge has a giant fireplace nearly as big as Camp 4 sites. Guests at the Ahwahnee sleep on comfortable feather beds. Campers at Camp 4 get by with sleeping bags and air mattresses (and sometimes bouldering pads). Each morning at the Ahwahnee, the staff delivers complimentary newspapers to the doorsteps and guests enjoy gourmet espresso. Every morning at Camp 4, a ranger checks the tents' registration tags to make sure everyone paid and campers drink instant coffee. Ahwahnee rooms have private bathrooms with hot water and showers. Camp 4 has a community bathroom with cold water and no showers, which is too bad because most campers could really use one. The Ahwahnee has Steinway pianos, ornate chandeliers and a pricy bar. Camp 4 sites have guitars, headlamps and bear lockers full of cheap booze. Revelry at both venues lasts late into the night. In the Ahwahnee dining room, guests

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enjoy world-class meals for a pretty penny and a dress code requires collared shirts for men. At Camp 4 picnic tables, neighbors enjoy worldclass company while cooking their own meals for pennies and no one owns collared shirts. Ahwahnee guest rooms boast views of Half Dome, the Royal Arches and Glacier Point. Camp 4 folks get to look at climbers attempting Midnight Lightning, a world-class bouldering challenge. Ahwahnee guests drive expensive, shiny cars. Camp 4 campers drive cheap used vans and pick-ups full of expensive, shiny climbing gear. Ahwahnee types, mostly 30 and older, have discretionary income. Camp 4 folks, mostly twenty-somethings, have discretionary leisure time.

But for all the differences between them, people from the two destinations have more in common than we expected. Members of both groups are friendly and outgoing. Both crowds come from varied, interesting backgrounds. And while Ahwahnee types often fly in from distant states or countries and Camp 4 folks more likely just rappeled down from El Capitan, they all love Yosemite. Our fun foray into high society taught us something about how the other half lives, and I think Ahwahnee guests would also learn something from spending a little time at Camp 4. — Matt Johanson authored “Yosemite Adventures,” a new guide to 50 hikes, climbs and treks. His writing can be found at www. mattjohanson.com. ■

209 Has You Covered By DENNIS D. CRUZ As we enter the summer season, there is no better time to pack up for the weekend and relax outdoors. Whether you and your family want to hit the lake, go on a hike, or enjoy the peace and quiet of the wilderness, all this can be accomplished on a camping trip. Camping has evolved into more than just a sleeping bag and tent. For some campers, they prefer the comfort of showers, electricity, Wi-Fi internet connectivity and a comfy bed instead. This is called “glamping.” Glamping is where you stay in your recreational vehicle where you have downsized versions of the comfort of your own home and bring it to the camping destination instead of roughing it in a tent and sleeping bag. Many campsites in the area offer the best of both worlds. Lake Amador Resort in Ione opened to the public in 1972 and offers something for everyone in the family. The beautiful resort offers both tent and RV hookups along with family activities

including a lake on the shoreline, a swimming pond that features a 70 foot slide, two 18-basket disc golf courses and fenced off fishing area. Lake Amador Resort was founded by Robert Lockhart and has stayed in the Lockhart family ever since. “My father and mother packed up their life in Los Angeles and relocated in Ione to open the resort. The key element is that we thrive on keeping our resort a family based environment,” said Laurie Lockhart, the daughter of Robert, who now runs the resort. Lake Amador Resort offers 72 full hookups for RV users and 15 spaces for tent users. In the 15 traditional tent sites, you’re secluded from other campers and can relax under the resort’s tall oak trees for shade. It also includes a barbeque pit and tables for cooking and eating. For those who glamp, the 72 hookup RV site is known as “The Social Park” where campers are known to have nightly get togethers. For more information on Lake Amador Resort call 209-245-6981. 209MAGAZINE

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Another popular campsite in the area is Angels Camp RV and Camping. Located in the heart of the foothills, this resort features approximately 60 to 65 full RV hookups. For those who enjoy luxury but don’t have an RV, this resort also features cabins and lodges, described as a one bedroom apartment by manager Stephanie Bettner. There are two lodges and five cabins along with eight regular tent sites. This resort attracts many tourists who visit the foothills who attend the annual Calaveras County Frog Jumping Jubilee contest and fairgrounds and is just minutes from the popular Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys. Ironstone has many concerts and special events during the summer season as well. Angels Camp RV and Camping Resort has a playground, volleyball nets, horseshoe pits, pool, dog park and an outdoor pavilion that features multiple stove top burners and barbeque pits. For more information on Angels Camp RV and Camping, call 209-736-0404. ■

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THE 209 LETS FREEDOM RING By KRISTINA HACKER

he Fourth of July highlights the best of America — communities coming together to celebrate a shared love of country with food, parades and awe-inspiring fireworks displays. Communities in the 209 will be putting their patriotism on display this holiday with a number of parades, festivals and even a few old-fashioned watermelon eating contests. The community of Atwater in Merced County has been hosting a Fourth of July celebration since 1959. Although volunteer organizer Greg McDaniel characterized the event as a "peaceful, old town kind of day...neighbors meeting up with neighbors," the town more than doubles its population every July 4. "There were about 10,000 people 20 years ago, and now it's common for us to hit 50,000," said McDaniel. After a five year hiatus, a Fourth of July fireworks show will once again be welcomed at California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock, thanks to a collaborative partnership between the Turlock

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Chamber of Commerce, the university and the City of Turlock. “We’re really excited to partner with the university because it’s such a wonderful venue,” said Sharon Silva, president and CEO of the Chamber. “It’s great to bring the event back to campus, where it started decades ago.” CSU Stanislaus President Joseph F. Sheley is not only excited to welcome back the longstanding fireworks show to campus, but to continue building an enduring relationship between the university and its community. “We’re very happy to be partnering with the Chamber to bring this tradition back to campus,” Sheley said. “We’ll be celebrating our nation’s history while at the same time providing the community a great place to have fun. In the past we’ve referred to ourselves as a hidden gem. With this event and others like it, I think you can get rid of ‘hidden.’ In still challenging budget times, we are committed to showing the community that this is their university.”

Other Fourth of July festivities include:

MODESTO: Since 1874, the

MANTECA: Manteca's Independence Day Parade, with the theme of "Faith, Freedom & Family," will start at 10 a.m. on July 4 at Jason and N. Main streets. The parade will head south on Main Street to Center and on to Poplar Street. Old-fashioned family fun, including a watermelon eating contest, softball tournament rides and children activities will be offered from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. July 4 at Big League Dreams, 1077 Milo Candini Dr., in Manteca. The evening of fun will end with a fireworks show at dark. Admission is $2 for those ages 13 and up and free for all ages 12 and under.

RIPON: The community of Ripon will host a 4th of July Firework Extravaganza and Carnival July 3-5. The Midway of Carnival Fun will be held from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. July 3; noon to 11 p.m. July 4; and noon to 9 p.m. July 5 at Mistlin Sports Park, 1201 W. River Rd., in Ripon. Pre-sale ride tickets are available at the Ripon Police and Fire Departments, Ripon Chamber of Commerce and Ripon City Hall. The Firework Extravaganza will begin at dusk on July 4, also at Mistlin Sports Park. For more information, visit ripon4thofjuly.com. 209MAGAZINE

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city of Modesto has celebrated the 4th of July with a parade through downtown. The 141st annual Fourth of July parade theme is "Let Freedom Ring" and it will kick off at 9:30 a.m. on July 4 at the corner of F and 10th streets. The parade will follow 10th street north to J Street, make a short jag down 11 Street and then head east on I Street before ending at 17st Street. The parade is organized by the Modesto Kiwanis Club. Grand marshals for this year's parade are the Stanislaus County Police Activities League, Sierra Vista Child and Family Services and YES Company. Anyone who was born on the 4th of July is invited to join the 22nd annual float by emailing Sarah Griffin at july4thbabies@gmail.com or call (209)247-5441. ď&#x20AC;¸CONTINUED ON PAGE 52 ď&#x20AC;¸

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COLUMBIA: Columbia State Historic Park will celebrate the 4th of July like the 49ers did way back when, including a glorious parade up Main Street at noon. Folks in Columbia began the 4th of July parade tradition in 1852. After the parade, listen to the Great Mother Lode Brass & Reed Band concert, dance in the street, and try your skill at the many contests popular in the early days of Columbia. The kids will enjoy trying to climb the greased pole, and participating in the bucket brigade and the cake walk. Other contests for kids of all ages include nail pounding, watermelon and pie eating, egg relay race and egg toss, and a five-way tug-of-war. The parade and concert are free, and entering the contests only costs a buck. A tri tip barbecue lunch will be served following the parade (fundraiser for Columbia Chamber). Barbecue tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10. Come early for the best parking and bring lawn chairs. The festivities will begin with a flag raising and firing of the muskets at 11 a.m. For more information, call 209-536-1672

TURLOCK: Turlock's Independence Day Celebration will begin with a Street Fair and Market in Central Park at 8 a.m. in downtown Turlock, followed by a Patriotic Parade at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at Thor and E. Main streets and head west down Main to Broadway. The parade will then go north on Broadway, ending at Broadway Park. For more information about the street fair and parade, visit turlockdowntown.com. A fireworks show will be held on the campus of California State University, Stanislaus on the evening of July 4. The event will start at 4 p.m. with music and children's activities, with fireworks at dark. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic dinner, however, this is an alcoholfree event. 209MAGAZINE

ATWATER: Atwater 4th of July activities willbegin with a Run for Independence at 7:30 a.m. at Ralston Park. An Independence Day Parade will follow at 9 a.m. on Winton Way. The parade turns onto Broadway from Winton, and left onto 3rd Street, ending at Ralston Park. A festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ralston Park with live entertainment, food and children's activities. Castle Air Base will open at 6 p.m. with food, music and bounce houses for the kids. A fireworks show will be held at the air base at dark. Entry to Castle Air Base is $5 a car; no walkins will be allowed. Lawn chairs and blankets suggested. Castle is located at 5050 Santa Fe Dr., in Atwater. For more information about events, visit atwater4thofjuly.com. â&#x2013;

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Search for the perfect

APPLE PIE By KRISTINA HACKER

“A

I decided it was time for my own house to be filled with the mouth-watering smells of cooked apples and my most favorite spice, cinnamon. Dubyak has been sponsoring an apple pie contest at the Stanislaus County Fair for over 12 years now. Although he is fond of pie, the main reason for his continued support of this event is philanthropic. Each contest entrant must submit two pies, one for judging and one to be donated to the United Samaritans Foundation for their daily lunch program. As a reporter, I’ve covered the apple pie contest in the past and to me it harkens back to a time when families gathered at the fair to see who can bake the best pie in the county. So with visions of blue ribbons dancing in my head, I decided the contest would be the perfect time to make my first attempt at baking an apple pie from scratch. You might think it’s a little odd to begin my apple pie baking career with a publicly viewed judging, but that’s just how I roll! Or that’s what I told myself so I wouldn’t give up at 1 a.m. when I was on my third batch of pie dough. If you’ve never baked a pie from scratch, let me tell you — it’s hard. Most baking is just following the directions. But with pie crust, it’s almost like you have to check the atmospheric conditions, cleanse the kitchen of bad juju and then say a prayer to the baking gods,

s American as apple pie.” What exactly does that mean? Although the United States is the world’s second largest producer of apples, at 248.6 million bushels worth more than $2.7 billion each year, apples and pies in general did not originate in North America. Both the fruit and dessert were brought over from Europe with the New World’s first colonists. I think John Lehndorff of the American Pie Council said it best: “When you say that something is ‘as American as apple pie,’ what you’re really saying is that the item came to this country from elsewhere and was transformed into a distinctly American experience.” No matter its origins, apple pie is sure to be a star player in back yard barbecues and Independence Day celebrations this summer, as a 2014 survey commissioned by the American Pie Council found that pie is the preferred dessert of Americans with apple pie ranked as the top flavor. I completely agree with the results of the pie survey, as apple has always been my personal favorite. I can trace those origins back to my fondest olfactory memories of childhood being of when my mom would bake cinnamon and sugar stuffed apples — yum! So when Turlock chiropractor Dave Dubyak put out a desperate call for apple pie contest entries last summer, 209MAGAZINE

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just to get a decent crust. Because I’m a newbie at pie baking, I did a lot of recipe browsing. In the end, I took ingredients and baking techniques from a variety of sources to make up my own recipe. Of course, my pies also had a secret ingredient — cinnamon. Okay, so that’s not very secret or unusual in an apple pie, but I tripled the amount of cinnamon most recipes call for because you just can’t have too much cinnamon (at least I can’t). Once I made it to the fairgrounds with my pies intact —one of my biggest fears was dropping them while walking to the judging table —all I had to do was wait for the judging to start. Luckily (or not) my pie was the first one the judges graded. Now, at each of Dubyak’s pie contests, the judges are asked to rate each entry on five categories: overall look, texture of the crust, texture of the filling, taste of the crust and taste of the filling. When the judges started rating my pie, I got very excited because they ranked the overall look very high. I did have the one and only lattice crust pie, so that may have been a factor.

My excitement was short-lived, however, as the judges didn’t think too highly of the actual taste of my pie. Let me tell you, I’m pretty thickskinned when it comes to criticism, but watching five people publicly say my pie sucks was pretty humiliating.

I don’t know what it says about my character, but I felt a little better when some other pies were rated below mine. In the end, it was Marianne Foglia of Ceres and her apple pie the judges liked best. When the results were announced she jumped up and down and shouted, “I feel like I’m on ‘The Price is Right!’” I asked Foglia what the secret was to her award-win-

APPLE PIE CONTEST Those looking to put their baking skills to the taste test, while also helping to feed the hungry, are encouraged to enter the 13th annual Apple Pie Contest at the Stanislaus County Fair. There is no entry fee for the contest, but each contestant must submit two pies — one for judging and one that will be donated to the United Samaritans Foundation for their Daily Bread Lunch service. The contest will be judged by a group of local dignitaries on the opening day of the fair, July 10. Each pie will be graded on a scale of zero to five for the following categories: taste and texture of the crust, taste and texture of the filling, and overall appearance. First prize is $100, with the second place finisher receiving $50. Although there is no fee to compete, preregistration is required. For more information about the pie contest, or to register, call the Stanislaus County Fair at 6681333, visit stancofair.com or call Dubyak Family Chiropractic at 668-1944.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 56  209MAGAZINE

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ning pie. She said, “You have to make it pop.” She also said that she used a pinch of almond extract for extra flavor. Although I didn’t win, I was glad that the best pie honors went to someone who obviously put a lot of heart and soul into her baking. As my first (public) attempt at baking the perfect apple pie didn’t work out very well, I called an apple expert for advice. Lois Cover has been the proud co-owner of Cover’s Apple Ranch in Tuolumne since 1998. Although she’s only been an apple farmer for 17 years, there have been apples growing at Cover’s Ranch since the turn of the century when Frank Ralph planted 26 acres of apple trees between the towns of Tuolumne and Soulsbyville. Along with a working apple farm that is open for school and family tours, the ranch features a gift shop, restaurant — and bakery. “We make all our pies by hand,” said Cover. “A crew of four or five of us come in once a week and bake them.” Cover said she couldn’t estimate exactly how many pies she bakes over a year, but during Thanksgiving week alone 300 to 400 pies go out the door for families to enjoy. The bakery makes a traditional double crust apple pie, a Dutch apple and then a mile high pie with twice the number of apples. The secret to baking the perfect apple pie? “It’s a combination of everything,” said Cover. “If the crust isn’t good, it’s no good. If the filling is off, it’s no good.” They always use tart apples for the filling, Granny Smith or Winesap if they have a good crop on the farm, and plenty of spice, she said. Although Cover wouldn’t give up the ranch’s apple pie recipes, anyone can come take a pie home from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Cover’s Apple Ranch is located at 19211 Cherokee Rd., in Tuolumne. I think I will devote this summer to finding the perfect apple pie through some serious taste testing before I attempt my own apple pie creation again. ■

209MAGAZINE

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‘Take me out…’

cals that are here year-round. “In the front office, we can control a fan’s experience, we can control how much fun they have and we work hard to make sure when fans leave they had the best experience they possibly could.” In his 11th year with the Nuts, Richardson started with the organization after getting his business degree from Stanislaus State. “I started looking at what I wanted to do, post college, and working in sports seemed like it would be cool, the next best thing to playing sports,” he explained. “My first year was a great experience, I got to do a little bit of everything, rotated between departments; I did everything from stadium operations to ticket sales to concessions.” Working his way up through the ranks, Richardson said having worked in all those departments gave him a better understanding of the entire organization and he has a good grasp of how important every staff member is to making a day at the park the best experience for fans, one that will keep them coming back. “You learn early on you have to appreciate everyone, everyone has a role in making this happen,” said Richardson, who was named general manager in 2013. And while there is a staff that works throughout the year, everything ramps up during the time the Nuts are here to play ball. “In minor league baseball, we get to have fun, from April through the end of August, we have 70 home games, we have fireworks every Friday and Saturday home game, we offer catch on the field Sundays for parents and kids before

affordable family fun By MARG JACKSON

hile the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants and American League West contenders Oakland Athletics are within relatively easy driving range for locals, there’s some professional baseball that’s even more centrally located to the 209. You don’t have to drive any farther than Modesto or Stockton to take in a pro game, the minor league teams showcasing great talent – not to mention some future Major Leaguers. Both the Stockton Ports and the Modesto Nuts teams are Class A Advanced in the minor league system, the Modesto Nuts are an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, the Stockton Ports are an Oakland Athletics affiliate. They compete in the North Division of the California League and face each other multiple times during the season. The Modesto Nuts play their home games at John Thurman Field, 601 Neece Drive in Modesto. The ballpark first opened in 1955 but was renovated and updated in 1997. It can host up to 5000 fans. The Modesto Nuts is a privately run organization, which has a partnership agreement with Major League baseball’s Colorado Rockies. “I think we place an emphasis on family fun, we want to make sure when families come to a game they have a great customer service experience and a great experience from an entertainment perspective,” explained Nuts general manager Tyler Richardson. He said that while the Colorado Rockies organization controls the “player development and player movement” the rest of what the ball club has to offer falls on the lo209MAGAZINE

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claimed a total of 11 California League championships in its history, the most recent coming in 2008. The ballpark is at 404 W. Fremont St., Stockton and the team features Splash as its mascot, representing the port city. More information is available on the team’s website, stocktonports.com. Like most Minor League teams, the focus is as much on family fun as the game on the field, with plenty of in-between inning promotions, fan interaction, lots of special theme nights and more. It’s not uncommon to enjoy a fireworks show after the game or dollar hot dogs during – making the minor league games a great way to spend a summer evening without breaking the bank. And considering ticket prices are a mere pittance compared to big league park prices, the entire family can enjoy several games during the season. That’s what officials from both teams are hoping and, considering the likes of Dallas Braden and Mike Piazza (Ports) along with Jose Canseco and Troy Tulowitski (Nuts) have taken the field at the Central Valley parks, it’s a perfect way to get to know and support the superstars of the future. ■

the game starts, we have a lot of community nights,” Richardson said. For those looking for information on the various community nights, upcoming special events and more, Richardson advised visiting their website, Modestonuts.com. Well-supported in the region, Modesto earned back-to-back honors as the California League Organization of the Year in 2010 and 2011. The Nuts have captured eight league titles and two division crowns in their history, having been in existence since 1946. The Nuts are also closely identified with their mascots, which include Wally the Walnut, Al the Almond and Shelley the Pistachio. Paying homage to the rich nut production in the Central Valley, the mascots also make routine public appearances at festivals, parades and gatherings throughout the 209. In Stockton, the picturesque Banner Island Ballpark opened in 2005 and can accommodate 5,000 fans. In operation officially since 1941, the Ports were among the founding teams in the California League when it was formed that year. The league shut down in 1942 (fallout from World War II) but started up again in 1946, with the Ports back in action. The team has

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JUNE/JULY 2015

THE PRESTON CASTLE FROM SCHOOL FOR TROUBLED YOUTH TO POPULAR GHOST HAUNT By MELISSA HUTSELL

ince its inception as a state funded facility in June 1894, the Preston Castle has inspired countless historical preservation efforts, TV shows and even ghost stories. Located in Amador County, Ione’s Preston Castle sits atop a mountain where its history continues to unfold. The castle first opened as the Preston School of Industry where it housed, educated and trained California’s troubled youth. Prior to 1894, minors convicted of even the pettiest of crimes were sent to prisons such as San Quentin. It was not until 1889 that Edward Preston introduced a bill to Senate that reformed the juvenile prison system to rehabilitate, instead of imprison, young offenders. Construction began in 1890, and the Preston School of Industry opened five years later as one of the first of many. During their stay, boys would spend half of their day in school and the other half learning trades. The students were trained in fields such as shoe making, baking, becoming a blacksmith, or an electrician, said Karl Knobelauch, president of the Preston Castle Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to preserve and restore the castle. “They would leave with the equiva-

209MAGAZINE

lent to a high school diploma, two trades in case one failed, and an apprenticeship,” said Knobelauch. Part of the building’s historical significance is that it marks the beginning of youth rehabilitation projects. When newer facilities were built, the castle officially closed in 1960 (though the correctional facility still existed until 2011). The castle’s darkest moments, as Knobelauch describes, came between 1960-1968. “The state intended to tear down the castle, and sold everything,” he said. The next 40 years the building remained vacant, vandalized and neglected until 2001 when the Preston Castle Foundation embarked on a mission to restore it. After 13 years, the foundation purchased the castle from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations in November 2014. Today the impressive castle stands as a California State Historical Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places thanks to volunteers, donations, and the foundation’s efforts. Slowly but surely the restoration process has stabilized and repaired parts CONTINUED ON PAGE 62 

JUNE/JULY 2015

Notable students who attended Preston Castle: Rory Calhoun, actor Merle Haggard, country music legend Caryl Chessman, criminal

of the building, but “there is still a great deal of work to be done,” said Knobelauch. The foundation continues to preserve the monument through fundraising efforts, the castle’s museum and documenting moments from the castle’s past, present and future. The Romanesque structure is one of the last remaining buildings of its type in California. “You won’t find anything like this in the Mother Lode,” said Knobelauch. The first three floors of the castle have been restored, including artifacts such as the castle’s original hospital beds, safe and staff

PHOTO BY MELISSA HUTSELL/209 Magazine

IF YOU GO The Castle is open for tours every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Private and overnight paranormal tours are available. Preston Castle has appeared on “Ghost Hunters,” “The Great Escape,” “My Ghost Story,” the Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures,” and many more.

209MAGAZINE

dining room table. Restoration efforts such as these have added to the intriguing history of the property, which include stories that follow previous students, and of course, hauntings. The castle continues to attract international attention and appears on several documentaries, movies and ghost hunting shows. However, it’s most important role remains as 209 icon that has stood the test of time. ■

UPCOMING EVENTS Photographers Day – Murder Mystery Dinner – Amador Arts Concert – Wine Tasting and Tour – Halloween Haunt – Halloween Ball – Older Thyme Christmas –

June 28, Sept. 6 Aug. 14-15 Aug. 21 Sept. 12 Oct. 16, 17,23, 24, 30 Oct. 31 Dec. 12-13

For more information, visit PrestonCastle.com

JUNE/JULY 2015

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fulloflife

Take to the TRAILS By TERESA HAMMOND

Runner extraordinaire Tony Nguyen (aka Endorphin Dude) has approximately 50 Ultra races — any distance of 26 miles or greater — under his fuel belt.

iving a life filled with irreplaceable moments is one of the most favorite challenges I give myself. I’m an ‘inspirational’ quotes kinda girl, always happy to share words which resonate deeply with me. “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” is a personal favorite. I greeted the new year by taking on a running challenge presented by Brazen Racing. The premise, simple: two half marathons five days apart. As a relatively seasoned runner, this seemed like a great way to greet 2015. I’d run my fair share of half marathons and marathon training brings with it many long runs to the tune of 13-plus miles. This would be fun. The fun quickly changed to unnerving and scary when I learned the course I believed would be 70 percent road and 30 percent trail was actually the opposite. These were trail runs. Trail running has and continues to increase in popularity among runners for a variety of reasons. I was not ready for this. Thirteen point one miles of trail around Lake Chabot, not once but twice, was both eye opening and humbling. The first race tore me down, as a runner it broke me. New Year’s Day, however, I took it back. I could not let a race course get the best of me. Runner extraordinaire Tony Nguyen (aka Endorphin Dude) was on that trail with me the first time around. We were even captured in a course photo early on, beaming as we ran into the unknown. Nguyen is no joke in the running world. A story not dissimilar to mine, he one day decided to save his own life through eating right and exercise. Running changed it all and before you knew it, he was widely known and celebrated as ‘Endorphin Dude.’ “Trail running in my opinion is completely differ209MAGAZINE

ent than road racing,” Nguyen said. “I started out as a walker and worked my way up.” To date the avid runner has approximately 50 Ultra races under his fuel belt. Ultra running is defined as any distance of 26 miles or greater. Most Ultra races are of the 50k, 50 mile or 100 mile distances. Nguyen has run all three multiple times. “I like the challenge of trail running,” he said. “I like the climb of the 8,000 feet elevation. The sense of danger. I was a road racer, I still am, I just wanted to challenge myself further. “There’s a definite difference in the culture from trail running to road racing,” he continued. “To me road running is about speed. There’s the elites and the runners focused on PR (personal record) after PR.” Nguyen said trail running also demands focus. “A new trail runner needs to be cognizant of terrain. It’s more technical. One little twig can take you down if you’re not paying attention. A lot of new to trail runners go out fast, thinking that they’re going to run it like a road race. You definitely can’t do that.” As a road racer convert, Nguyen shared the crossover to trail took time yet it was well worth the time and work. “When I first started I talked to God too, but it was more of ‘Oh God!’,” he admitted. “Now I gravitate more toward trail running because for me it is more therapeutic. With trail running there’s tons of serenity, you hear the birds chirping, you hear your thoughts, it’s more peaceful.” Nguyen continues to train and run Ultra races. As for myself, I’ve decided to table my time with trails, unless out hiking with my kids. Someday however I will run an Ultra and Nguyen will be among the first that I call. ■

JUNE/JULY 2015

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fulloflife

A Silver Sneakers class works out at Fitness Plus Gym in Oakdale.

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

SENIOR COMMUNITY ENCOURAGED BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO GET MOVING By TERESA HAMMOND

209MAGAZINE

he fitness craze of the 1980s may have met its match. The once popular 1980s fitness craze filling gyms with leg warmers and headbands, will now find a contrast of covered midriffs and maybe a touch of lipstick as a new demographic occupies space. Seniors are not just getting fit; they have become active participants in their health and longevity. On any given day one can enter a host of Valley area fitness centers (both specialized and general) and find a fair number of well-preserved elders. Many are retired, some getting in a workout on their off day or before reporting to their volunteer work but one thing remains constant â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they show up. The participants of the latest fitness wave may even be from the bygone era which had people jumping to music and sweating to oldies. Life and its endless possibilities is not being lost or wasted on this 65 and over crowd. The goal remains the same, stay fit and healthy. As age sets in the focus switches from tighter abs and cut biceps, to range of motion and muscle strength. Many seniors are now offered the opportunity of fitness through their healthcare provider. There is an ever growing enrollment, as well as gym partnership, with Healthways SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The program was founded by Mary Swanson who was inspired by her father who survived a heart attack at the age of 51. He vowed to improve his quality of life with regular physical activity. The program was later adopted by Healthways, Inc. on the premise that health

JUNE/JULY 2015

care be viable, cost-effective and offer preventive benefits to be incorporated. Ironically and perhaps by no accident, Corrine Machado-Ching shares the same passion for seniors and fitness, as Swanson did for her father. MachadoChing, along with her husband Bryan own Fitness Plus Gym in Oakdale. They are one of 13,000 gyms nationwide that has partnered with Healthways SilverSneakers Fitness Program. Since the age of 19, Machado-Ching has dedicated her life to health and fitness. The former body builder turned business owner, wife, mother and grandmother shared teaching the SilverSneakers class is among her top favorite things about her job. “I’ve always had the senior class here,” MachadoChing said. “The SilverSneakers Program approached me about three years ago.” It’s a partnership that has increased senior membership, she stated. The class she teaches each week hosts approximately 20 seniors each Tuesday and Thursday through a low impact, mobility class. “I just know of the benefit this gives the seniors,” she said of the partnership. “I know that they are on fixed incomes and this can benefit them. “I’m so adamant about elderly people and exercising. I had a father who had Lou Gehrig’s and I used to work with him all the time. They couldn’t believe that he had Lou Gehrig’s for as long as he did and how strong he was how much it helped his life.” First-year participant Elaine Van Boven was happy to learn that the local gym partnered with the SilverSneakers Program. “I have always exercised,” Van Boven said, “but now that they have it in Oakdale is very helpful.” According to the Healthways website they “currently partner with dozens of major health plans across the United States to deliver the SilverSneakers Fitness Program to its Medicare group retiree members at little or no additional cost (other than any health plan premium). Much more than just a “free gym membership,” the SilverSneakers Fitness 209MAGAZINE

Program is a unique exercise and socially-oriented program designed to encourage older adults to increase their levels of physical activity and motivate them to continue to exercise.” Elissa Gruenig also attends the class twice weekly. “This is my first year with SilverSneakers,” she said. “I came previously on my own.” She added of the class benefits, “Just moving and keeping moving.” Another member shared her reasons for getting involved. “I first came because I had sciatic nerve problems,” Betty Lederle said. “This has helped me to tone and trim and keep everything in line. It’s a great stretching and firming class and the instructors are wonderful.” “Some of them come 20 minutes earlier and ride the bicycles,” Machado-Ching said of the group. “It’s all part of their plan and some might do some extra weight training out there. “I shouldn’t say this, but this class is my favorite class,” the gym owner said. “Everybody is so happy, everybody is appreciative, nobody complains. It’s just really joyful,” she continued. “Even if I got sick or something happened to me, I would always make sure to do this class.” SilverSneakers is offered at approximately 10,000 fitness and wellness centers across the country (such as YMCAs, 24 Hour Fitness, Curves, Gold’s Gym, Lifestyle Family Fitness and others) as well as community centers, making the program convenient and accessible to enrollees. The SilverSneakers Fitness Program includes unlimited access to any fitness center in a comprehensive network chosen for location, quality, and senior-friendly service at no cost to the member above his/her monthly health insurance. The network of fitness centers provides an environment where all older adults can benefit from quality senior fitness programming. For additional information or to locate participating gyms in your area visit www.silversneakers.com. ■ 67

JUNE/JULY 2015

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209MAGAZINE

JUNE/JULY 2015

charitycorner

By FRANKIE TOVAR

iracles by definition are extraordinary events or actions that create feelings of surprise for those who witness and experience them. Walking on water and cheating death against all odds are examples that tend to foot the bill, but sometimes miracles aren’t as conspicuous. For some, the ability to play a game of baseball is a miracle unto itself. Dalton Battcher is one such example. Born with cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, scoliosis and other disabilities, playing baseball or any other sport didn’t seem to be a viable option. There just seemed to be too many barriers to overcome. But that reality was quickly shattered when Dalton’s father, Terry, discovered the Visalia Miracle League. Played on a field specifically designed for the disabled, the Miracle League proved to be a place free of obstacles

It brings a place where kids with disabilities become praised for their abilities. —Terry Battcher 209MAGAZINE

JUNE/JULY 2015

“We’ve had a lot of interest. Over the last five to seven years I’ve been getting parents calling me asking about how soon we can get the league up and going and how soon they can be a part of it,” Terry said. “We’ve been trying to ask people to be very patient as we try to get the funds raised.” Once the target of $1.7 million is raised, the custom-designed field will begin to take shape on the corner of Pelandale Avenue and Tully Road near Big Valley Grace Church. The field will feature a rubberized surface that will be able to accommodate wheelchairs and other assistive devices that would typically be rendered useless on traditional baseball fields. It will be the first Miracle League field to be established in the northern San Joaquin Valley and the only recreation facility in Modesto fully devoted to the disabled. “What this does is it gives them a place to play. It’s another program that we can offer our disabled citizens,” Interim Director of Modesto’s Parks and Recreation Department Andy Johnson said. “For a lot of these kids, it might be their only recreation opportunity.” “It brings a place where kids with disabilities become praised for their abilities,” Terry said. There’s already been a swell of enthusiasm from

that allowed disabled children to do something once thought impossible — play baseball. “That was my inspiration, to see the other kids remove the barriers,” Terry said. It was only natural then that when the Battchers moved to Denair in 2005 Terry began looking for a similar recreation opportunity in the area, but there were none. That’s when Terry and a group of area residents decided to create the opportunity themselves, establishing the Miracle League of Stanislaus County in 2008, and embarking and what has become a seven-year journey to bring a Miracle League field to Modesto. “I wanted to build a field for him to play on and for other families to be a part of that,” Terry, the current president of the Miracle League of Stanislaus County said. “The plan was to build a field for kids like my son that could be a part of the Miracle League and to also bring families together where they can convene with other families of kids with disabilities.” Partnered with the Society for disABILITIES, the Miracle League of Stanislaus County has already raised more than $1 million and secured a $250,000 matching grant from the City of Modesto to fund the project. That leaves roughly $100,000 of funds left to be raised in order to begin construction on the site this June.

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 72 

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bookreview

Outside the lines

Hard work pays in spades, top sellers By TERESA HAMMOND

rom a very young age Romance author Kimberly Van Meter saw her name in lights. She knew her name would be known, she just had little idea it would be in the way of close to 30 published Harlequin books and 50 short stories and novellas under a second pen name. “Initially I wanted to be an actress,” Van Meter said. “I was obsessed with it. I was the ‘weird’ girl, according to all my friends. “Writing was just something I did,” she continued. “I didn’t see it as a career, however, it’s something I always did.” The published author shared she grew up poor with little means for common things taken for granted. She spent lots of time writing back stories for fun on paper she would recycle and bring home from the trash can in the teacher’s lounge. “My dream was to go to LA with very set goals,” she said. “I was very driven. That has not changed.” Life, however, brings with it circumstance and situations which can often sideline or reroute what one may see as their destiny or purpose. Such would be the case for Van Meter. Giving birth to her first two children at a younger age than she had planned, work became necessity. “My paternal grandparents had a newspaper. I still remember the call to my grandmother crying,” she said of a call made while living in LA. “I told her I need $300 and a job.” That call prompted her into a job as a journalist. A trade which she touts taught her all the ins and outs of a business which was good to her. During this time, she also began her love of writing and began giving consideration to becoming an author. “I started getting serious in 1996,” she said, noting she began studying and researching the craft of being an author and how to go about being published and taken seriously. “I was writing every day on my novel and trying to follow a certain schedule. My first book was 90,000 words and it’s a total mess.” 209MAGAZINE

Kimberly Van Meter

That book she submitted and it was rejected, as were the following two. By the fourth novel she got ‘the call.’ “It was always Harlequin,” she said. “I realized at that point I really enjoyed romance, because that’s what I like to read.” The road to calling this her day job, though, was far from easy. Newspaper work by day, active family and tight financial struggles conspired to keep her from the shelves of bookstores and online literary outlets. “It cost $70 to mail each manuscript,” she said. “Sometimes I would have to steal from our grocery budget or my mom would pay for it. But I wouldn’t give up. I just couldn’t and I’m glad I didn’t because it saved me.” It was an investment in herself which proved fruitful for herself and her family. Van Meter now works full-time as an author. Her Alexx Andria pen name has earned her bragging rights as a USA Today Best Seller and her Harlequin work has given her a spot as a RITA nominated author. She urges readers to view her profile at www. authoralexxandria.com to see the books Amazon hides from the general search and also to subscribe at http:/bit.ly/1D7mH9A if you’d like to be notified of new releases, special sales and get free eBooks. “I always say this,” Van Meter offered for future authors, “write every day; make it a habit. Write your novel start to finish and then put it in a drawer and write the next one, because the first novel is rarely saleable. “Your first novel you put everything in it and it shows. I went back and tried to salvage mine not too long ago. It’s a hot mess, but I love it. That’s what made me.” Author Kimberly Van Meter’s Harlequin work can be found in select Target, Walmart, K-Mart and Barnes and Noble locations as well as on-line everywhere. For more information on Van Meter visit www.kimberlyvanmeter.com. ■ 74

JUNE/JULY 2015

placecalledhome

By DOAN

E YAWGE

PHOTOS BY JON TERRY/ 209 Magazine

t’s important to have a good place to preserve and display a prized old car. Patterson area resident Jim De Martini appears to have solved the dilemma of housing his two dozen vintage vehicles and a wide assortment of antiques. The longtime grower and Stanislaus County supervisor still is making minor tweaks to his 9,000-squarefoot garage which is home to 1960s muscle cars, vintage autos nearly 100 years old and the memorabilia that goes with such a collection. De Martini said he didn’t want just a warehouse for the vehicles he has been acquiring for nearly 30 years. He had ideas for how these things would be displayed, but followed his conviction of hiring an architect and project manager to get the six-month project done. “It came out just like I wanted,” De Martini said. “I have been collecting cars since 1986; once I buy it I will never sell. You’re never done, but I think I did everything right. It’s important to hire an architect to make sure you get what you want.” This architectural oversight means you thought of putting electrical outlets along the length and breadth of the building to accommodate neon signs. It also means thinking about having a large number of compressed air lines along the walls to keep the tires on the vehicles aired up. A sprinkler system also was part of the plan.

209MAGAZINE

Modesto architect Dennis Smith designed De Martini’s complex starting with a prefabricated metal building, which helped hold down the initial square footage costs. Expenses would mount as a 1950s dinner, 1900 office and centuries-old kitchen were incorporated into the project. Smith said designing De Martini’s garage was a fun project, completed nearly five years ago. He hadn’t designed a car collector’s “man cave” before and hasn’t had any similar requests since then. “There aren’t a lot of architectural flourishes other than the diner and the offices,” Smith said. “But he wanted to provide a facility for his car collection that incorporated a Fifties diner and space for his antiques.” De Martini concedes the designer of a vintage automotive garage needs to have specific ideas of what he wants. Some of his inspiration for the diner came from watching reruns of the old television show “Dragnet.” The ideal garage also needs space to work on vehicles. De Martini has a powered hydraulic lift, pressure washer, air compressor, stick welder, workbench and the tools needed to maintain the vehicles. De Martini said his garage is more like a private museum. He holds events for non-profit organizations and throws a Christmas party for his friends.

JUNE/JULY 2015

I have been collecting cars since 1986; once I buy it I will never sell. You’re never done, but I think I did everything right. — Jim De Martini

“I like collecting antiques but had no place to put them,” De Martini said. “I have no regrets, but I could have made the building bigger. Everything had to fit. I got all the needed in here but I may have to enlarge because I would like to buy more cars.” De Martini said hiring a project manager to design an old car garage also is essential. This person made sure all of the dozen subcontractors involved in the project did their jobs. “That’s what you need to put something like this together.” De Martini has always had a fascination with mechanical things. He said all of the cars and trucks are in perfect mechanical condition and many of the antiques still work. While he doesn’t have the time anymore to do the hands-on restorations, the light maintenance with such a fleet is his regular task. The 61-year-old collector quips he has cars instead of children. He said all of the cars were purchased CONTINUED ON PAGE 78 

209MAGAZINE

JUNE/JULY 2015

placecalledhome

for specific reasons - some remind him of his days in high school or vehicles he wished he had when he was young. De Martini’s favorite vehicle is a 1970 Pontiac GTO “Judge” which is a potent muscle car that drives nice. He also has a 1970 Plymouth Superbird, 1958 Edsel convertible, 1970 Dodge Super Bee, 1936 Auburn fourdoor phaeton, 1969 Mercury Cougar, 1953 Buick, 1969 Mustang Mach I, 1969 Camaro Z-28 hardtop, along with a 1909 Locomobile,1928 Chevrolet sedan, and a 2013 Ferrari 458 Italia. Keeping a large mental inventory of what’s needed and where to get it also is essential. De Martini and Smith located a Chicago company that make the booths for the 1950s diner and also found the vintage

209MAGAZINE

telephone booth that came out of a Chicago hotel. Having a massive man cave means furnishing it with period pieces. That includes a framed picture of President Ike Eisenhower, a Rockola jukebox, cigarette vending machine, Coca Cola signs and vending machines, accented by checkerboard flooring. Throw in a 1953 pinup calendar, a 1918 mimeograph machine, a wooden wheelchair, drive-in movie speakers, pinball machine and you’ve set the tone for some fun times remembering the past. With a head full of ideas on the ideal vintage garage and the help of an architect and project manager, De Martini was able to achieve his goal. — Doane Yawger of Merced is a retired newspaper reporter and editor. ■

JUNE/JULY 2015

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hese valuable drought tips from Turlock nursery The Greenery can save you money, time and unnecessary gardening headaches. 3 Tips to Conserve Water in Your Yard • Water your plants and lawn only when necessary. In general, people tend to have a bad habit of overwatering their plants and this habit only intensifies during drier months and drought periods. The Tomato King Steve Goto, a recent guest speaker at The Greenery, said people overwater out of “guilt.” It is imperative to avoid this pitfall and maintain a balanced watering cycle. • Invest in mulch and reap the rewards. A three inch organic mulch, such as compost, can retain 30 percent of the water that a plant is fed. Mulch is an important tool in one’s garden not only because it helps keep soil consistently moist, but it deflects heat away from the plant as well. • Check your irrigation and replace malfunctioning features when needed. Drip systems are smart methods to lean on and are exempt from most city watering restrictions. If installed improperly or due to neglect, drip systems will not operate to their full potential. Drip lines should run for hours instead of minutes because they allocate water very slowly and systematically. If interested in replacing your water thirsty plants, The Greenery has a wide assortment of “California friendly” plants that can save a homeowner large amounts of water in the near and long term. Two years ago, The Greenery began purchasing native and “desert adapted” plants from supplier Mountain States Wholesale Nursery in Arizona to provide more drought 209MAGAZINE

tolerant options for customers. The Greenery’s Top Choices in Desert Adapted Plants: • Melampodium: A darling little plant with daisy-like flowers which only grows 18 inches tall. • Desert Museum Palo Verde: A tough tree with yellow flowers through the entire hot season. This variety is thornless, fast growing and stands upright. • Lynn’s Legacy Leucophylum: A sage green bush that grows slowly to be 5 feet tall and wide. This plant is a showstopper when it blooms with masses of lavender flowers in the spring and fall with sporadic blooms in between. • Pink Parade or Brakelights Hesperaloe: Resembling desert plants but with shocking flower spikes. Pink Parade has pink blooms in the spring that last for weeks and dark bronzy foliage in the winter. Brakelights has stoplight red flower spikes that last steadily for weeks. To learn more about gardening during the drought, please visit the “California Friendly” page on The Greenery’s website or drop by the nursery in person. The Greenery hosts over 40 seminars annually featuring topics such as gardening, cooking, preserving and home décor. Reservations are required. For more information, visit www.greenerynsy.com. — The Greenery Nursery and Garden Shop is the premiere nursery centered in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Headquartered in downtown Turlock, the Greenery is locally owned and operated while featuring a large selection of quality plants, shrubs, flowers and trees. Additionally, the gift shop and recently added Gourmet Pantry is a local favorite for gift shopping. ■

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By ELIZABETH ARAKELIAN

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Founder and co-owner Brett Tate, Karen Tate, Camy Honoré and co-owner Brett Honoré participate in the official groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Dust Bowl Brewing Company facility in April.

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owner Brett Tate at the groundbreaking. Founded in 2009, Dust Bowl has been brewing beer at a 3,000 square foot facility in Turlock’s Industrial Park that allows the company to produce roughly 4,000 barrels of beer annually. With the expansion, the company projects that 17,000 barrels of beer a year will fulfill the initial capacity with sales projected to reach 10,000 barrels in the first year. Currently Dust Bowl is selling the maximum amount of beer it can – 5,400 barrels annually – at its present facility on Spengler Way in Turlock. “Right now we only have three brews that are bottled year round available and we’ll take that up to about 15 to 18 in the first year,” said head brewmaster Don Oliver. The company plans to extend its portfolio to produce six year round six-pack brews, four seasonal four-pack brews, four seasonal 22 ounce bombers, as well as packaged specialty releases. “My favorite thing to say is that we haven’t even produced our best beer yet,” said Tate. The company, which presently employs 50 employees, anticipates adding 15 to 25 new positions in the management, production and sales areas of operations and positions will be posted on www. dustbowlbrewing.com. The new Dust Bowl “west” location is slated for completion in December. ■

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PHOTO BY ELIZABETH ARAKELIAN/ 209 Magazine

he empty dirt lot at the intersection of Fulkerth Avenue and Dianne Drive in Turlock will not be empty for long as Dust Bowl Brewing Company has officially begun construction on the brewery’s new site. A downtown Turlock hotspot for years, the taproom and eatery portion of Dust Bowl Brewing Company is just one segment of the brewery’s operation. The new facility at Fulkerth and Dianne will house the company’s brewing, bottling, storage, shipping and business operations which will be open 24 hours a day. However, the project is not all work and no play. There will also be a tasting room, or retail visitor center, with a large patio area and the company intends to allow self-guided tours of the brewing process. “There will be a lot of big windows so you can see the whole brewing process. We’ll have light fare and food,” said co-owner Brett Honoré. “There will be a lot of room to have fun.” The owners, their friends, family and various stakeholders gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the beer company’s expansion in early April. “It’s going to be a place to gather socially. I think you will find anything that you want. Families, couples, friends, it will be for everybody,” added co-

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Gear up for outdoor adventures

at Bass Pro By JASON CAMPBELL

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ou’re going camping for the first time this year. So you reach up into the rafters and much to your surprise, a family of rats has turned what was your mummy bag into a makeshift nest full of insulate and polyester shards. So much for that plan. This feeling of rage only intensifies when you notice that your hiking boot must have been part of this rat plan as well because all of the laces have been chewed out – as has half of the tongue – and it looks like whatever varmint decided to set-up in your garage found the perfect place to have babies. So much for hiking in those again. Fortunately, a store that deals almost exclusively with people looking to appreciate the outdoors dominates the skyline along the Highway 120 Bypass, and it’s an easy drive over to see what they have to replace what you’ve lost. Yes, the Outdoor World on the front of the Bass Pro Shops at the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley in Manteca does signify something specific – like being the place you can get everything you need if you’re hitting the mountains and want to stay comfortable, warm and laced up. A new sleeping bag for that “rugged” camping trip your brother-in-law has been pestering you to indulge in – they’ve got those. They also have the air-pocketed mats that make sleeping on the ground a bearable experience. And when it packs so tightly with all of the rest of your gear on that new backpack you picked up just for that one trip, you’ll be glad that you didn’t have to go to a specialty store – the kind that prides itself on being owned by its employees – and pay twice as much for arguably the exact same thing. But any good backpacking trip into the wilderness requires the knowhow to catch enough food to supplement what’s brought in the pack. And at Bass Pro, outfitting anglers is what they do. Like to bass fish on small farm ponds stocked with hungry and ornery fish looking to take a bite out of your swimbait? You can get that setup here from a 209MAGAZINE

knowledgeable staff that’ll even let you test it out on the lake across the street. Fish have been caught there. But if getting out into the true wilderness – an untouched alpine lake or a stream with more wildlife around it than people – is your thing, maybe a wilderness experience like fly-fishing is what you’re looking for. Once you get the basics down you begin to realize that there are places where fish won’t eat the worms and PowerBait being thrown at them. They’ll only eat flies, and if somebody in the White River Fly Shop can set you up with a few basics and you can figure out which one to throw on at the right time – learning the hatch and what’s flying at that particular moment is what it’s all about – then you could find yourself holding a nice, beautiful native fish in your hands that you caught like a true angler. And nothing tastes better than a natural fish or a plant holdover that survived the winter and now sports bright pink meat. None of that mushy yellow hatchery stuff. Sometimes you need a boat to get to where you’re going – maybe a small inflatable with a trolling motor, or even a kayak or float tube to help you get into deeper water and cast out where you know they’re going to be. Maybe it’s a bass boat you need – something that’ll tell you the depth of the schools you’re passing over while flying around Clear Lake on a tournament weekend. Whatever the choice, you’ll find them at Bass Pro Shops in the marine unit or inside of the Fly Shop. ■

Gear up: ✔ Tent ✔ Sleeping bag ✔ Sleeping mat ✔ Backpack ✔ Hiking boots ✔ Clothes ✔ Food & water ✔ Mess kit ✔ Matches ✔ Fishing pole ✔ Fishing bait ✔ Axe ✔ First aid ✔ Kayak ✔ Kayak paddles

IF YOU GO GETTING THERE: Bass Pro Shops is located at 1356 Bass Pro Dr. in the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley. HOURS: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. FOR MORE INFORMATION: visit www.basspro.com or call 209.825.8400

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Business Alliance releases first annual local industry survey By ELIZABETH ARAKELIAN

tanislaus County employers are looking to grow according to data from the Stanislaus Business Alliance’s first annual Local Industry report. Seventy-six percent of the nearly 200 firms surveyed indicated that they had plans to expand, which is 22 percent higher than the national average of respondents for the same survey. This in turn could mean 1,972 additional jobs added to the economy and an investment of $185,349,000. The Alliance’s interest in administering a synchronistic survey, something that is employed by economic development organizations across the United States, stems from a desire to further understand the climate of the local business community. “First and foremost we want to build relationships of trust with our employers because we want them to call on us for services and recognize us as an organization that can help,” explained Stanislaus Business Alliance CEO David White. The Alliance is a private-public workforce development organization dedicated to assisting businesses with hiring and individuals in pursuit of jobs. Within the Alliance are several key components, including: Corporate Relocation, Business Assistance, Small Business Development Center, Business Resource Center, Enterprise Zone Assistance, Education Foundation and the Alliance Worknet. Businesses from nine communities participated in the survey including Ceres, Hughson, Modesto, Newman, Oakdale, Patterson, Riverbank, Turlock and Waterford. The survey,

aimed in part at ascertaining the successes and challenges of each business, revealed a relatively optimistic image of the Stanislaus County. Eighty-three percent of businesses surveyed recently introduced new products onto the market, compared with the national average of 78 percent. Seventy-six percent also have plans to introduce new products locally and nationwide. Businesses answered questions during the confidential survey that pertained to topics such as their sales, employment projections and their interest in research and development. This in turn allowed the Alliance to ascertain the collective predicted growth for the region. A plot graph with four different quadrants was created to illustrate this information as businesses were plotted as either both low value and low growth; low value and high growth; high value and low growth; or high value and high growth. Of the 193 surveyed, 105 businesses identified as high value and high growth. “It indicates that we’re kind of ahead of the game when you compare our region to other regions across the country that uses the same survey,” said White. While qualities such as the loca-

LOCAL INDUSTRY SURVEY FINDINGS 76% Have plans to expand 83% Recently introduced new products 76% Have plans to introduce new products

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tion and low cost of doing business are considered strengths for Stanislaus County as a place to do business, employers are facing other struggles such as in recruiting skilled and unskilled workers. Skilled positions are those that require technical or professional backgrounds and jobs such as entry-level warehouse production positions are considered to be unskilled. White said there are a number of reasons why employers are struggling to find the ideal employee, and it is not due to a lack of people. Filling the positions may be difficult due to a lack of qualified applicants for skilled or unskilled positions as the minimum requirement is often a GED or high school diploma. Language barriers and not being able to pass necessary measures, like drug tests, can also impede employers’ abilities to find qualified employees. “There is not one simple answer,” he said. While the Local Industry survey aims to dig deeper into some of the complex issues faced by employers in the Stanislaus County, the Alliance’s job is not over said White. The next step is to continue to develop companies’ successes in order to retain them locally while also addressing employers’ challenges so as to improve the local business environment. “Doing the survey is only part of it. It’s what we do after the survey where we can really extend our services that matters,” said White. For more information about the survey or the Stanislaus Business Alliance services, visit stanalliance.com or call 209.567.4985. ■

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