Ceres Street Faire
GUIDE May 6 - 7, 2017
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2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Catch the Faire Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday • Equestrian entries will reign supreme in this year’s parade B y JEF F B ENZIG ER Editor of the
Ceres (Calif.) Courier
“I love a parade, The tramping of feet, I love ev’ry beat I hear of a drum. I love a parade, When I hear a band I just want to stand and cheer as they come.”
Those partial lyrics from the 1931 song popularized in American culture may be old but the love of parades is timeless. Saturday morning at 10 a.m. is Ceres’ next chance to partake in the biggest – and only – community parade, the Ceres Street Faire Parade. The parade was reinstated as a tradition last year following a hiatus that extended from 2005 to 2016. All are invited to grab a lawn chair or a blanket and head down to Whitmore Avenue to catch the Ceres Street Faire Parade at 10 a.m. It’s expected to last approximately an hour. “We’re real excited about the parade this year and want everyone to come,” said Angie Smith, who is cochairing the parade with Helen Condit. The parade will kick start the 29th annual Ceres Street Faire at 10 a.m. Sid Long, a long-
time Ceres resident and farmer, will serve as the grand marshal. The parade carries the theme, “Ceres: The Goddess of Agriculture.” “He’s perfect for our theme,” said Smith. Long inherited the operation of the Superior Fruit Ranch from his grandfather, Fred Moffet, in 1955. Long was elected to the Ceres School Board in 1959 and served for eight years. He also sat on the Ceres Planning Commission. He also served 16 years on the Turlock Irrigation District board of trustees starting in 1985. The parade will feature many equestrian entries since it has been included in the California State Horsemen’s Association state championship series. Entries are expected from as far away as Southern California, said Smith. The MidValley Unit of the Back Country Horsemen of California, which appeared in the Rose Parade, will be in the parade as will the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Posse. Judges from California State Horsemen’s Association will be on hand. Also to be on hand will be the
Merced County Sheriff’s Posse which in January marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. for President Donald Trump’s Inaugural Parade. Entries for the parade have been coming from all over Stanislaus County. Stanislaus County Supervisor Jim DeMartini has signed up to ride and he usually comes riding in style with one of his collector cars. Other entries include 4-H groups, several baseball and softball teams including Ceres Youth Baseball, Ceres Seahawks, Ceres Cowboys and Ceres Junior Bulldogs. The Ceres post of the American Legion Color Guard will be leading off the parade with colors. Grace Com-
munity Christian Church has also entered. The parade will assemble at Smyrna Park and march southbound on Moffet Road, and turn onto westbound Whitmore Avenue. The judges’ stand – the event is sanctioned by the Pacific Coast Judges Association – and VIP seating area will be at the northwest corner of Whitmore and Moffet. Announcers for the parade will be Ceres native Jim Wells, known as “Jungle Jim” on Kat Country radio station, and Channce Condit. The parade will finish on Fourth Street with some of the cars being entered into the Street Faire Car Show. About 150 volunteers will be helping to make sure the parade goes smoothly. The parade is expected to attract more than 75 entries with entries being taken until April 29.
entries will cost $20 while politicians and office holders pay $75. Persons or groups interested in entering the parade should email ceressfparade@gmail.com.
“If there’s somebody who thinks they want to be in the parade but can’t get their application in in time, if they could just contact us or put a message on Facebook or email us just to let us know they’re interested, that way we could save a spot for them and we could speak with them and go from there as far as getting them in the parade.” Sponsors for the parade are Diamond Bar Arena, Casey’s Moving Systems, American Pet Clinic and the Ceres Street Faire Committee.
“Of course, if there’s any local organizations that want to be in the parade, we won’t deny them. We just will not take any entries the day of the parade.” Entry into the parade is free for non-profit organizations, churches and schools. Equestrian and business
Ceres Police Department SWAT team officer Hector Pulido and Keith Griebel rode aboard the SWAT armoured truck in last year’s parade with children. JEFF BENZIGER / Courier file photo
2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Rain or shine, here it comes
Anyone who’s been to the Ceres Street Faire knows that the biggest unknown is weather. Since organizers can’t do a thing about the skies, the Faire is billed as a “rain or shine” event. As of the printing of this guide, there was some outlets forecasting possible rain into the weekend. Downtown Ceres hosts the 29th annual Ceres Street Faire this weekend, May 6-7. Hoping for sunny skies, organizers have ordered up the 2017 Street Faire to be pretty much the same as past events. The 10 a.m. Saturday parade is back, which follows Whitmore Avenue from Smyrna Park and leading to the Saturday morning car show on Fourth Street between Magnolia and North streets. The Faire includes arts & crafts booths, commercial booths, food booths operated by non-profit Ceres groups, local entertainment and fun things for kids to do
in the park. An army of service clubs and other groups will be selling food items along Third Street. A highlight of the Street Faire will be Saturday’s 2 p.m. raffle sponsored by the Ceres Unified School District Foundation. Four cash prizes totaling $2,000 and five prize packages valued at $500 or more are up for raffle. Tickets will be sold at the Foundation’s Street Faire booth until 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The raffle prize drawing will take place at 2 p.m in Whitmore Park in the entertainment area. The Ceres Lions Club and Ceres Chamber of Commerce members founded the Ceres Street Faire in October 1988. The event was previously offered as the Peach Harvest Festival at Smyrna Park. For information, contact the Chamber at 537-2601.
Message from Randy Moore, Street Faire Committee chairman I am very pleased to be serving as the 2017 Chair for the 29th Annual Ceres Street Faire. The Ceres Street Faire committee is a tremendous group of individuals who work year round in conjunction with the Ceres Lions Club and the Ceres Chamber of Commerce to put together a great event for our community. The Street Faire is successful due to the many individuals who attend and the support we have from our city leaders. This year’s Street Faire is sure to be a huge success! Saturday morning starts off with our fabulous car show. The cars are beautiful and their owners work really hard to have them ready for the show. There is so much delicious food to sample that includes linguica sandwiches, tri tip, French fries, funnel cakes, kettle corn to name a few. I know my family can’t get enough of the food that is sold on Street Faire weekend. The non-profit community groups really work hard to bring top rate food choices for us.
We have so many vendors showing and selling their products that you can travel back and forth several times and still not see all of them. I can hardly wait to stroll down 4th Street and see what they have this year. The kids play area is always a very exciting place with so much to do! The Street Faire also gives a chance for our community to see our local performers showcased by the dancers and karate students throughout our town. We even have some really good bands including Greg Scudder and the Beer:30 who have won acclaim for their performances. The Ceres Street Faire parade is such a fantastic opportunity for our community to celebrate. The parade is the best way to kick off the Street Faire. As this year’s Chair, I am very proud of our Street Faire and the traditions we have given to our community. The 2017 Street Faire is going to be great. Plan your weekend so you can come out and enjoy what Ceres has to offer. We look forward to seeing you!
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Chamber president welcomes all to Faire!
Faire is a longstanding tradition for our community. It is our largest event that Ceres Chamber of Commerce offers so much fun for everyone. From a wide variety of food options to great The Ceres Chamber of Commerce is so entertainment and exhibitions featuring proud to be a partner of the 29th Annual local, talented individuals and groups. If Ceres Street Faire. I want to you enjoy shopping you can open this message by once find some great deals on arts, again thanking the Ceres crafts and other collectibles. Street Faire Committee for all Most importantly, this event of the work they do to bring allows us to come together this annual event to fruition. with family and friends and This year’s event is going enjoy a weekend of fun in our to be so exciting with the home town. Ceres Parade opening the Make sure to stop by the event on Saturday morning. Information Booth and purWe encourage local residents chase your Ceres Street Faire and visitors to bring their T-shirts and get information chairs out along the parade on other upcoming events route and join in all the fun. including the Chamber’s AgriThe parade starts at 10 a.m. at Renee Ledbetter business Awards Luncheon the corner of Fowler and Moffett and will in May, the Summer Concert Series and run south to Whitmore Avenue. From Farmers Market in June and July, and the there, the parade will head west to Fourth Ceres Bands, Brews & BBQ Throwdown Street where the cars from our Car Show in August. will take their positions for viewing. SEE LEDBETTER, PAGE 12 As you may know, the Ceres Street By RE N E E LE D BE T T E R President of the
MAYOR WELCOMES ALL! As mayor of the City of Ceres, and on behalf of the City Council, I want to welcome you to the 29th annual Ceres Street Faire! The Ceres Street Faire is a great opportunity to spend time with family, friends and neighbors. I encourage you to visit all of the booths and enjoy the delicious food provided by each of our vendors. This year’s event will include a Saturday parade, live entertainment, a classic car and truck show and much more. We sincerely hope everyone has a wonderful time at this year’s event and we are confident the 2016 Ceres Street Faire will be the best one yet! ~Chris Vierra, Mayor
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2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
A map of Street Faire 2017 action Saturday, May 6 & Sunday, May 7 - RAIN OR SHINE North Street
CHS Boosters Linguica sandwich Ceres Cowboys Polish dogs, hot links Ceres Lions Club Tri-tip sandwiches, beer Ceres Firefighters
Chili cheese fries, corn dogs, nachos, garlic fries, lemonade Ceres Chamber of Commerce Margaritas, Bloody Marys
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Grace Community Christian Church Funnel cake, water
City of Ceres Ceres Youth Soccer Organization sign-ups Ceres Cowboys football sign-ups Ceres Junior Bulldogs sign-ups Ceres Garden Club CUSD Foundation Ceres Women’s Club Ceres Centennial Committtee
PARK • Entertainment Stage •Petting Zoo • Children’s activities
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CVHS Boosters Lumpia rice, chicken adobo
Commercial booths
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CVHS Band Pork tacos, burritos, quesadillas
WHITMORE
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Ceres Junior Bulldogs Fruit cups, agua fresca
Car Show Saturday
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Street Faire food vendors
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F i f t h
ARTS AND CRAFTS LINING BOTH SIDES OF FOURTH STREET BETWEEN NORTH AND LAWRENCE STREETS
Lawrence Street
Beer Booth
Downtown Stage
International Gospel Assembly Kettlecorn Ceres High School Sober Grad Night Comm. Mochas, smoothies, specialty coffee & snowcones Ceres Jr. Bulldogs Chicken wings, onion rings Ceres Pups Wrestling Cotton candy & pretzels
Ceres Police Chief Brent Smith pours on the ketchup after purchasing a hot dog from a nonprofit organization food booth on Third Street during the 2015 Ceres Street Faire. JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo
2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
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Entertainment Schedule All performances are subject to change without notice!
Saturday, May 6 Park Stage
11:00 a.m. – City of Ceres Parks & Rec. Dept. 11:30 a.m. – Steps Dance Studio 12:00 p.m. – Footnotes Dance Studio 12:30 p.m. – Ceres Karate 1:00 p.m. – Ceres cheer group 1:30 p.m. – Perpetual Motion Dance Team 2:00 p.m. – Ceres Foundation Raffle drawing & Parade Winner Announcements 2:30 p.m. – Mae Hensley’s Local Motion 3:00 p.m. – Ceres Karate demonstrations 3:30 p.m. – Me & You duo 4:30 p.m. – CHS wrestling demonstrations
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Downtown Stage 12:00 p.m. – River Rising 1:30 p.m. – Ceres Karate demo 2:30 p.m. – Patty Castillo Davis 4:00 p.m. – Ceres Karate demonstration 4:30 p.m. – Emerson Biggins
Local Talent for all!
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Sunday, May 6
Park Stage
1:00 p.m. – Steps Dance Studio 1:30 p.m. – Ceres Karate demonstration 2:00 p.m. – Patty Castillo Davis 3:00 p.m. – Casting Out Sins
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Downtown Stage
12:00 p.m. – Ceres Karate demo 12:30 p.m. – “California Outlaws” 2:00 p.m. – Ceres Karate demo 2:30 p.m. – Greg Scudder and the Beer:30 Patty Castillo Davis performs both Saturday and Sunday.
Greg Scudder, a Ceres homegrown product, performs Sunday downtown with his popular Beer:30 band.
Car Show Acts - Saturday, May 6
2:00 p.m. – Elvis Tribute artist Mike Enos 3:00 p.m. – Car Show Awards
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2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
JEFF BENZIGER/Courier file photo
Kids like Khloe Santos, then 2 at the 2014 event, find plenty to smile and laugh about when on kiddie rides. She gave aunt Erin Vergara a ride in the back seat. The same ride will be offered in Whitmore Park this weekend. Parents like Anthony Gonzalez often get a thrill watching their little ones (Alberto Tapia) ride a real pony (at right).
Park offers lots of fun stuff for kids
• Rides, activities, animals spell fun in the park Whitmore Park will be filled with fun things for the children during the 29th annual Ceres Street Faire this weekend. A petting zoo and B&B Pony Rides for the little ones will be offered at the southern end of the park. A variety of fun games will be available including: • A Bounce House sponsored by Steps Dance Arts Center. The 15-foot-high inflatable bounce house is for children. It’s a great way for parents to let their children get all their wiggles out. • 24-foot Double Lane Slide, also presented by the Central Valley High School Starkeepers. This slide offers awesome fun for little ones.
Yes, parents, it is safe for your youngster to try climbing the rock wall that will be set up inside Whitmore Park during the Street Faire. Children are safely harnessed as they grab for “rocks” and place their feet in strategic locations.
The Ferris Wheel will return to Ceres Street Faire.
• J&J Speedball. Throw and guess the throwing speed as clocked by radar. The event is open to all ages. • Mobile Climbing Wall. Presented by Mobile Rock,
Inc., this 24-foot-high climbing wall, offers Faire goers to experience the thrill of rock climbing in a controlled environment. Race against others SEE FUN, PAGE 11
JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo
2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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Lions Club members always seeking to serving Ceres B y C H A R L ES B LA NKS President of the
Ceres Lions Club
On behalf of the Ceres Lions Club, I want to welcome you to the 29th Annual Ceres Street Faire. Founded in 1947, the Ceres Lions Club represents individuals from every sector of the community, including city and county government, public safety officials, agriculture, health-care, business, education, and many other civic-minded citizens from the private sector. The Ceres Lions Club, like all Lions clubs, are governed by a board of directors who manage and facilitate the funding of many worthy groups and activities in Ceres. These include the Boy Scouts, Sober Grad Night at both Ceres and Central Valley High Schools, several youth recreational sports teams and
many other community donations. The Ceres Lions Club also provides high school scholarships for graduating seniors, have volunteered to cook at numerous community fundraising events, and have collected hundreds of pairs of used eyeglasses for those in need in other countries. We also provide local children in need with eye exams, glasses and Medic Alert bracelets through a partnership with the Ceres Unified School District. We continue to partner with the Ceres Chamber of Commerce, Ceres Street Faire Committee and the City of Ceres to bring this wonderful Street Faire to the community. We hope you enjoy this weekend and experience the variety of booths, food and entertainment that make this Street Faire so successful.
Ceres Lions Club members are busy on both days of the Ceres Street Faire cooking and serving up tri-tip sandwiches and beer. JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo
The Ceres Courier wishes all a successful Street Faire!
Your Ceres hometown news connection since 1910! The Ceres Courier •138 S. Center Street • Turlock CA 95380 (209) 537-5032 Fax: (209) 632-8813 • www.cerescourier.com
2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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Don’t miss Saturday’s car show • Show runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. By J EF F B E N Z IG ER Editor of the
Ceres (Calif.) Courier
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OURTH STREET north of North Street will be lined with two- and fourwheeled eye candy this Saturday for the 29th annual Ceres Street Faire Car Show. The show typically attracts 50 to 75 entries and runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday only. At the end of the car show at 3 p.m. the Street Faire Committee will be handing out 10 awards. Show organizers say anyone may show off their car by turning out from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the sign-up booth at Fourth and Magnolia. The entry fee for the show is $25. All entries will receive a Street
Faire specialty T-shirt to commemorate the 2011 Car Show, and a dash plaque. This year’s event will feature an Elvis tribute by Mike Enos at 2 p.m. Many people wait until the day of the show to enter their vehicle. But owners also have the option of going online at www.ceresstreetfaire.com to download an entry form. Entry forms are also available at the Ceres Chamber of Commerce office at the northeast corner of Lawrence and Sixth streets. Any car that is special enough to show off – whether a lifted truck, restored classic Model A, or a cherried out muscle car – is welcome at the show. The show is expecting to attract customized cars and SEE CAR SHOW, PAGE 13
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transfer station “Bring Your garBage to us” YOUR ALTERNATIVE TO THE COUNTY DUMP N E
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537-4147 231 FLAMINGO DR. • MODESTO - Ceres street faire sponsor -
Larry O’Brien’s1965 Shelby Cobra won stares and the Grand Champion Award at the 2015 Ceres Street Faire car show. The car show is offered only on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. so don’t expect to come on Sunday and catch this automotive eye candy. JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo
2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Sponsors of the 2017 Ceres Street Faire Presenting Level Food 4 Less & Ranch San Miguel Markets Diamond Level Delta Brands Platinum Level Bertolotti Disposal Save Mart Supermarkets Valley First Credit
Union
Bronze Level Nathan Dabulewicz Insurance Agency Special Mention The Ceres Courier Ceres Police Dept. City of Ceres GDR Engineering
Faire dates back to 1988
• Evolved from the early-day Ceres Peach Festival Ceres Lions Club and Ceres Chamber of Commerce members founded the Ceres Street Faire in October 1988. It was an effort to combine an antiques and collectibles show, that then Ceres vice mayorRichard McBride was attempting to put together as a fund raiser for the Ceres Lions Club, with the effort of the Ceres Chamber of Commerce to move the historic Peach Harvest Festival from Smyrna Park to the streets of downtown Ceres. The main goal was to create a fundraiser for not only the Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce, but to also offer fundraising opportunities to other Ceres nonprofit organizations. Envisioned were food booths, an antique and collectibles show, and entertainment. The special committee of Lions Club and Chamber members dubbed the celebration the Ceres Street Faire. Others who assisted McBride were Don Goudeau, Allan Graham, Paul Caruso, and Cheryl Winter, who was the Chamber Executive Vice President in 1988). Eldon Frost of Denair created a logo for the event. It consists of a plane carrying a
banner reading Ceres Street Faire – Rain or Shine. His logo is still used occasionally on T-shirts and other forms of advertising. To boost attendance, it was decided no admission fee would be charged. The success of the first Ceres Street Faire exceeded all expectations for everyone involved, and its popularity has continued throughout the years. The success of the first Street Faire can best be summed up with the story of the Lions Club food booth. The Lions’ offered barbecued chicken and beef rib dinners during both days – Saturday and Sunday. Things were so successful for the Lions Club during that first year that 1,000 barbecue chicken dinners were sold. They ran out of chicken on Saturday, and after purchasing more, nearly ran out on Sunday. In 2017, 29 years later, Faire goers will be treated to: • A Street Faire Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday; • Arts & crafts booths; • Commercial booths; • Food vendors by Ceres non-profit SEE HISTORY, PAGE 10
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2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Feeling lucky? Try CUSD Foundation raffle • Cash, prizes offered in CUSD Foundation raffle at 2 p.m. on Saturday Four cash prizes totaling $2,000 and five prize packages valued at $500 or more are up for raffle at this year’s Ceres Street Faire! The Ceres Unified School District Foundation’s 10th annual Fundraising Campaign kicked off this past January in an effort to raise money to support a wide variety of school activities and events at every school. Proceeds from each ticket stay in the Ceres community. Unlike other fundraising activities, in which up to 50 percent of the proceeds are returned to the vendor providing the product, 100 percent of all proceeds of this raffle are available for Ceres schools. School activities that will be supported by raffle proceeds include; sober grad night, field trips, teacher mini grants and much more. The cash prizes and the five prize packages were donated by local businesses and community groups. Cash prizes include: • Four $500 cash prizes, funded by Bank of West. Prize packages valued at $500 or more are as
follows: • Outdoor gas barbeque grill donated by Lowe’s of Modesto; • Entertainment package donated by Black Oak Casino, Yosemite Lanes, California Academy of Sciences and Gallo Center for the Arts; • Grocery package donated by Cost Less Foods of Ceres; • Grocery package donated by Cost Less Foods; • Merchandise gift card funded by John Hill of United Inspection; • Gas Package funded by FF&J Architects of Turlock; Other donors include: West America Bank, Embroidery Plus, Ceres Rotary, Ceres Lions Club and Dr. Scott Siegel. Raffle tickets will be available at the Ceres Street Faire on Saturday, May 76 at the Ceres Unified School District Foundation booth until 1:30 p.m. The raffle prize drawing will take place at approximately 2 p.m., on the main stage of Whitmore Park. Each $5 raffle ticket donation is tax-deductible.
STREET FAIRE CHAIRPERSONS THROUGH THE YEARS Allan Graham Allan Graham Max Garcia Steve Vilas Eric Ingwerson Linny Goodrich Fred Randle Linny Goodrich DeLinda Moore Charlie Fernandes Jim Lawson Richard McKay Albert Avila Harry Herbert Lisa Mantarro Moore Randy Moore Albert Avila Randy Moore Brenda Herbert Randy Moore Shane Parson Dave Chapman Lisa Mantarro Moore Mike Borges Shane Parson Eric Ingwerson Renee Ledbetter Randy Moore
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
HISTORY
FROM PAGE 9 groups;
• Two stages of entertainment; • Custom Car Show (Saturday only); • Children’s play activity area.
West America Bank’s Stacey Hance of the Mitchell Road location presents to Julie Martin a donation of $1,000 in support of the CUSD Foundation Teacher Mini Grant Program.
Cost Less Foods manager Del Ambris hands Julie Martin, a representative of the CUSD Foundation, a donation of $500 of grocery certificates to be used as prize giveaways at Saturday’s raffle.
Currently, the Ceres Street Faire has a committee of over 20 individuals. This includes representatives from both Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce, a City of Ceres representative and citizen volunteers.
2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
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FUN
FROM PAGE 7 to the top or take your time on a journey alone. • Carnival ride Turbo Tubs, presented by Mobile Rock, Inc. • Interactive Bull-riding experience presented by Mobile Rock Inc. Fun for all ages. • A giant slide presented by Teaco Amusements of Patterson. Adults and kids are invited to climb up this giant fiberglas slide with a sack and slide down the 100 feet for smiles and laughs. Then do it again! • A Ferris Wheel brought to Ceres by Teaco Slides.
Lauren Ormonde, then 3, wore a pleasant smile as she rode a pony at the ring in Whitmore Park last year.
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Fun from carnival type rides and prizes are available at Whitmore Park both Saturday and Sunday during the Street Faire. The activities are located near the freeway side.
RAFFLE DRAWING Four $500 Cash Prizes *2:00pm @ Whitmore Park *Saturday, May 6th
Plus 5 Prize Packages VALUED AT $500 or more: Gas Grill Barbeque Gas Card Merchandise Gift Card Entertainment Package Grocery Package In partnership with Ceres schools, the
Ceres Unified School District Foundation is conducting a raffle ticket fund raising campaign to support school site activities and events. 100% of funds remain in Ceres.
Thank You Raffle Donors!
STANISLAUS ANIMAL SERVICES AGENCY 3647 Cornucopia Way, Modesto www.stanislausanimalservices.com
*Bank of the West *West America Bank *Ceres Rotary *Cost Less Foods * F F & J Architects, Inc. *Black Oak Casino *Yosemite Lanes *United Inspection *Lowe’s Home Improvement of Modesto * Ceres Lions * Smart & Final * Gallo Center for the Arts * California Academy of Sciences *Floral Cottage
Raffle tickets also available for a $5 donation at the CUSD Foundation booth
Thank you to Eric Ingwerson from Ceres PMZ for serving as the raffle emcee
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017
SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP Street Faire vendors often offer unique products and services. During the 2015 event this young girl was trying out the colorful parasols offered by a vendor on Fourth Street. JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo
2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
LEDBETTER
FROM PAGE 5
Make sure to stop by the margarita booth, at the corner of Fourth and Lawrence streets, for some delicious tequila margaritas or a glass of wine featuring a selection from Classic Wines of California (Bronco Winery). For those early shoppers and visitors to the Faire, we will also be featuring Bloody Marys. As always, we will feature non-alcoholic margaritas for the kiddos. Please be advised that the Chamber is only operating one margarita booth this year. If you are interested in getting more involved in our Ceres community, make sure to inquire about our Highway 99 Clean-Up program, our various committees and programs. Volunteers are always needed and appreciated. Ceres is an outstanding community filled with amazing people. We hope you are as excited about this year’s event as we are. We’ll see you at the Faire! Sincerely, Renee Ledbetter Chamber President
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2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
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CAR SHOW
FROM PAGE 8
trucks, street rods, race cars, motorcycles, and any car that has been raised, lowered, feature special paint, older or newer. Classic and modified automobiles - with their elaborate colors and rare designs - have always pulled an audience at the Street Faire. Attracting a lot of attention at the 2016 show were entriesAdolf and Diana Mauksch’s 1940 Custom Chevy won the Grand Champion award. Alisa Guzman’s 1969 Chevy Camaro took the People’s Choice award. The City Council Award was given to Gary and Eileen Castillo for their 1968 Ford Mustang. The Fire Chief’s Award was given to Tim Orr for his 1927 Dodge Coupe. The 1957 Chevy Bel-Air owned by Bud and Joanne Nielson garnered the Mayor’s Choice. Joe Rose’s 1930 Ford Model A pickup earned the Police Chief’s Choice Award. The Elvis’ Award went to Bob Moss and his 1931 Ford Coupe. John and Peggy Kearney’s 1950 Ford Woody won the Most Unique award. Rocky Bentley’s 1947 Chevrolet half-ton pickup was awarded Best in Show Truck. Best in Show Car award went to Bob and Vivian Eisen’s 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe. John Vega’s1967 Chevelle was given the Competitor’s Award.
JEFF BENZIGER/ the Courier
John Kearney’s 1950 classic Woody, complete with rooftop surf board, drew a lot of attention at the 2016 Ceres Street Faire Parade and car show.
V ALLEY F IRST CREDIT
UN I O N
Delta Sierra Beverage
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2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
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CERES STREET FAIRE PARADE
GRAND MARSHAL Sid Long stands outside of the Superior Fruit Ranch between Ceres and Hughson. JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo
• Sid Long: Fitting choice for ‘Ceres: Goddess of Agriculture’ theme B y J EF F B ENZIG ER Editor of the
Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Sidney Moffet Long of Superior Fruit Ranch will be the grand marshal for the annual Ceres Street Faire Parade which will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 6. Long, who is a longtime Ceres farmer, was chosen around this year’s theme, “Ceres – Goddess of Agricultural.” This is the 111th year his family has been farming in Ceres. Along the parade route, nostalgic memories of the 1940’s may flood his mind for Sidney grew up in a home that was located at the corner of Moffett and Whitmore Avenue; on the site of the Richland Shop-
ping Center. The Moffet-Long home was moved from its original location to Mitchell Road where it is the La Cascada Mexican Restaurant. Long recently had a serious health scare. The long-time Ceres resident and overseer of the Superior Fruit Ranch blacked out at a recent gathering and fortunately someone was there to catch his fall. The 80-yearold went to the hospital where he learned that the upper and lower chambers of his heart were not in sync. In no time, Sid Long was his usual self and back on the job. As we talk, it’s obvious that health issues – of his grandparents – have played critical roles in the way Sid’s life turned out.
Health problems of his paternal grandmother are what brought the Long family to California for Sid’s eventual birth in San Francisco on May 18, 1936. His father Sidney C. Long, born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in New York, “had to move west with my grandmother because she had respiratory issues and living on the coast was beneficial for her health,” explained Long. Sid’s father was a journalism major who worked for newspapers in Marin County and in Santa Cruz around the time of Sid’s birth and the birth of his brother Steven. Mr. Long had also worked in the publicity department of the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios in the early 1930s.
Sid’s mother was Margaret Moffet Long, daughter of Fred Moffet who helped founded the Superior Fruit Ranch. Coming to Ceres Their time in the Bay Area was short but Sid remembers riding an elephant at age three at the 1939 World’s Fair on Treasure Island. He also remembers coming to Ceres when his maternal grandmother, Byrdelia Hall Moffet, started having health issues. Sid doesn’t remember what her specific health problems were, only that she passed away in 1949. Byrdelia was the offspring of Merrit J. and Rhoda Hall who came west in the 1850’s and met and married in Columbia in Tuolumne County. The Halls moved to Ceres
to grow wheat. Byrdelia eventually married Fred Moffet and gave birth to Margaret Moffet Long, Sid’s mother. When the Longs moved to Ceres they were living with her parents in the two-story Moffet home where the present-day My Garden Café sits. The house was moved in the 1960s to make room for the Richland Shopping Center. The old house is on Mitchell Road and now home of La Cascada Mexican Bar & Grill. “In high school my ag project was the eight acres (behind the Moffet home) in almond and walnut trees so I rented that from my grandfather,” said Long. The ranch was about the size of the current SEE LONG, PAGE 15
2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
LONG
FROM PAGE 14 shopping center. The Gondrings lived right next door, approximately where the Modern Urgent Care facility sits. The Gondrings were an influential Ceres family. The Ceres library was named after one of the daughters, Florence. Their dad was Judge John Gondring but Sid doesn’t remember him as he died in 1933. A son, John M. Gondring Jr. was a Ceres postmaster in the 1930s. “They had a dry yard right next door to us. The Berryhills had the dry yard right across the street.” The Berryhill’s Ceres Dehydrator employed just about half of Ceres back then, Sid said. “During World War II, half the town worked here where these buildings are, cutting sheds,” said Long, pointing outside of his cinderblock office at the ranch on Whitmore Avenue. Dried fruit and cutting sheds ended around the war time. Now the ranch’s peaches are grown for canneries. “We had a labor camp here that housed 300 people barracks style.” Superior Fruit Ranch gave most people their first jobs before there was an influx of Japanese workers in the 1920s. Problems brewed on the ranch when the Japanese laborers were harassed by Americans. Moffet had to hire security guards. “They were Japanese and they were ‘enemies.’” School years Sid attended school at the brick school house on Lawrence Avenue, now the site of the Ceres Unified School District headquarters. “In my seventh and eighth grade is when they built the buildings on Sixth Street.” He’s referring to the junior high that is now Walter White Elementary School. Some of the classmates Sid remembers include Elvis Lane, the Welborn brothers (who had a plumbing company in Modesto), Andy Cipponeri, Bob Earl and Myron Anderson. “I think the time that I grew up in Ceres was probably the best time that youth in general will ever experience. You could always get a job. You could do some hellraising to an extent and that was just young guys growing up. There was just opportunity.” He admits that he “probably wasn’t in the group that was most studious.” For example during pheasant hunting season, he said he and a couple of friends would “go to school three days a week and go hunting two days a week.” Hunting opportunities were abound with all of the open ranches in the area. Long remembers slipping down to Yori’s Grove southwest of Ceres on more than one occasion during the fire department or police department balls. “Most of the community was out there
Contributed to the Courier
Sid Long back in the 1960s when he was active in a number of Ceres organizations.
supporting that and they’d buy a drink and set it on the framing of the building and go out to dance. We weren’t old enough to buy anything but we could go along and pick a few off the wall.” Once on the way back to Ceres from Yori’s Grove, Long and friends were stopped by a Ceres police officer. Long remembers the officer asking where they had been and Sid confidently said “Like every good citizen we’ve been out patronizing the dance at Yori’s Grove.” When asked if they had been drinking Long replied, “A little bit.” When asked where they were headed they said they were going to Wendell Keener’s house on Fifth Street just north of Whitmore Avenue. The officer insisted that he follow the boys to the Keeners’ house and ordered “when you get there, you better make sure that that’s where you stay.” The boys did as instructed, honored that he would handle them so generously. “That would never happen today.” For a time Sid’s father was part owner of the Ceres Courier and also sold insurance and industrial real estate. His office was at 2936 Fourth Street, the former home to Carlin’s Plumbing shop for decades. Tight-knit community Sid remembered that Ceres was a solid tight-knit community made of people whose families lived here a long time and were invested in the town’s welfare. “With the growth that we’ve had - and nothing against the people who’ve moved in - a lot of them work out of town. All they do is come home and eat and sleep here and a lot of them don’t have the time or they don’t have the desire to make that commitment to be involved in the community. It was
everybody’s choice but when it was 3,500 to 4,000 people when I was young, the majority of the people were involved.” While attending Ceres High School, Sid played basketball, football and baseball but considered his game “just average.” Sid graduated from Ceres High in 1953 when Dr. Nicholas Koshell was principal. Love of outdoors While a teen he developed a lifelong passion for hunting. Twice to three times a year he continues to travel to Idaho for hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed Alaskan expeditions with Ceres resident Larry Berryhill leading the way. He’s hunted doves on the ranch and participates in a family pheasant hunt near Oroville the weekend before Thanksgiving. Sid liked to travel to the Delta for duck hunting and also down by Hilmar. He’s also hunted pheasant and duck hunting in Iowa. “I love being outdoors. I enjoy seeing the wildlife and in duck hunting I enjoy the challenge of decoying or calling them in. One of the best parts is, if you’ve got a good hunting dog, is watching the hunting dog perform.” Grandpa’s stroke It was the health of his maternal grandfather, the late Fred W. Moffet, that guided his decision to take over the 320-acre family ranch, where he has been ever since college days. “He was on the board when the first Don Pedro Dam was constructed,” said Sid. In
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fact, Fred Moffet’s name was on the plaque when the dam was dedicated in 1922. The dam was superceded by the larger earthen dam finished in 1970. Moffet suffered a stroke in 1955 as Sid was weeks into ag classes at Modesto Junior College. “Even before then, when I was young, if I didn’t have to go to school he’d let me ride with him. I’d come out here. He was involved in a rose nursery business over in Gustine. I just enjoyed being out.” His grandfather knew that his ranch wasn’t being well managed. “I was six weeks into the second year. He called me in and told me that he knew things weren’t progressing the way they should out here so I had a choice to either quit school and come out here and try to make a go of farming or the ranch was going to be sold. I decided to quit school the next day.” Schooling came in form of real-life onthe-job training. “I always enjoyed farming. It was just something I thoroughly enjoyed. I think when there’s something you thoroughly enjoy you’re a much better student than if you’re pursuing something that maybe your whole interest level isn’t in.” Ranch is a way of life The community and ranch became a total way of life for Sid and family. Traditions formed such as when his neighbors, SEE LONG, PAGE 16
PARADE STREET CLOSURE MAP
The area around Acorn/Moffet, along Moffet and on Whitmore will see a number of street closures to accommodate the Ceres Street Faire Parade, which will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Closures are represented by the blue bars. The red line shows the parade route.
2017 Ceres Street Faire Section
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
LONG
FROM PAGE 15 the Vosses, and Longs got together to host an end-of-harvest barbecue on the second Saturday of October. The tradition ended in 2006 when the ranch celebrated its 100th anniversary. The barbecue ended because Voss had passed away and by then the ranch was growing more almonds that pushed harvest later into the year. Two-thirds of the ranch is now planted in almonds and a third in peaches. The change came about because of stricter pest control laws, pure economics and a greater global demand for almonds. “Peaches are more labor intensive than almonds. In peaches you’ve got to prune and you’ve got to thin and hand harvest. We do have a machine but most canners still prefer to have handpicked. In almonds you’ve got some pruning and everything else is done mechanically.” When Long started farming, he said about 60,000 acres in California were in production, producing about 900,000 tons annually. Now there’s less than 20,000 acres producing approximately 320,000 tons. There was also less regulation to deal with and more time for farming. As an illustration, Scott walks in the office to prepare a new electronic weathervane to insure wind
conditions are right for any future spraying. California used to export its crops overseas but now imports more from nations such as China and Greece. Long got acquainted with the Berryhills when he and Clare Berryhill both served on the Growers Harvesting Committee. The purpose of the panel was to recruit an adequate labor supply during harvest. He was friends and neighbors with the late Henry Voss who was director of the California Department of Food & Agriculture. Sid was elected to the Ceres School Board in 1959 and served for eight years. He also sat on the Ceres Planning Commission. Sid decided to become a director on the Turlock Irrigation District board of trustees – just like grandfather Fred had – at the prompting of childhood classmate Phillip Short as well as Steve Vilas who was stepping off the board. Long served four consecutive terms starting in 1985. Long and Short served on the TID board for 16 years together, laughing about being the “long and short” of things. Having been a part of the farming community which knows the grave importance of water availability, Long said he can’t understand the antipathy that state legislators have in building new water storage projects.
“This year is a classic example. Nothing has been done in 50 years since New Melones and think of who much water was lost just in the events of the last couple of weeks that could have been captures.” He’s also suspicious of the state’s proposal to flush up to 40 percent of flows of the Tuolumne River to the Delta, feeling it’s just a move so that the state can build the twin tunnels to suck up the sacrificed water and pipe it to Southern California for urban uses. “I cannot understand how legally they can override the water rights that we got in the Raker Act. It’s going to end up a welfare project for the attorneys.” A 27-year marriage to Linda, which ended in the 1980s, resulted in three children – Scott Long who helps run the ranch today, Krisi Thornton and Pamela Speed. He has since married Carol Clifton, a former classmate who he previously dated. For now it looks like the three-generation family management of the ranch could be coming to a close when Sid is gone and Scott retires. None of the grandchildren appears to be interested in farming. How long will Superior Fruit Ranch be around? Not even Sid knows but he’s hopeful that the green buffer zones created in talks between Ceres and Hughson city officials means it will always be there for future generations to enjoy the fruits thereof.
LOCAL TALENT
JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo
The Whitmore Park slab will be ground zero for local talent, such as this act and this local cutie who performed in May 2014. See the talent schedule on page 5 of this special section.
Country Ford Trucks
Full Line Truck Specialists
1720 Herndon Road, Ceres, CA 95307 www.countryfordtrucks.com • (209) 541-3673
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