Ceres Street Faire 2019 by 209 Multimedia Publications

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The Ceres Courier

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Try your luck in the CUSD Foundation Raffle

Contributed to the Courier

Alejandro Romay, branch services officer of the Ceres Westamerica Bank (right) presents to Julie Martin a donation of $1,000 in support of the CUSD Foundation Teacher Mini Grant Program.

Ceres’ 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.

• $1,500 in cash prizes, prize packages worth $500 and up offered s in 2 p.m. Saturday raffle Three cash prizes totaling $1,500 and three 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 12th annual fundraising campaign kicked off in 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 prod-

uct, 100 percent of all proceeds of this raffle are available for Ceres schools. Over the past decade, over $228,000 has been awarded to over 590 Ceres teachers, with tens of thousands of more dollars used to support Sober Grad Night events, field trips, special class activities, and more. The cash prizes and the five prize packages were donated by local businesses and community groups. Cash prizes include: • Three $500 cash prizes, funded by J.L.

Bray & Son, Inc., and United Inspection. 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, California State Railroad Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Gilroy Gardens, John’s Incredible Pizza, Raging Waters and Children’s Museum of Stockton. • Grocery package donated by Cost Less

Foods of Ceres. Other donors include: Westamerica Bank, FF&J Architects, Ceres Lions Club, the Ceres Rotary Club and Dr. Scott Siegel. Raffle tickets will be available at the Ceres Street Faire on Saturday, May 4 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.

Downtown Ceres Street Faire first started in 1988 • Event has 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 2019, 31 years later, Faire goers will be treated arts & crafts booths; commercial booths; food vendors by Ceres non-profit groups; two stages of entertainment; custom Car Show (Saturday only); an RV show on Sunday and a children’s activity/play area.

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Ceres Street Faire always a ‘rain or shine’ event

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. This year’s event could be warm, however. As of the printing of this guide, weather.com was forecasting sunny to partly sunny skies with temperatures of 85 degrees for both Saturday and Sunday. Downtown Ceres hosts the 31st annual

Ceres Street Faire this weekend, May 4-5. The fun starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, including the Saturday morning car show on Fourth Street between Magnolia and North streets. An RV & Off-Road Vehicle Show will take its place on Sunday. 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.

A message from Kim Chapman-Johnson, the chairperson of the 2019 Street Faire Committee I am deeply honored to serve as the 2019 chair for our 31st Annual Ceres Street Faire. This festival is so steeped in tradition and I am grateful to our community and particularly the individuals who do such a tremendous amount of work to maintain the integrity of this event through historical preservation and a sense of unity that encompasses exactly who and what Ceres is. The Ceres Street Faire committee is comprised an amazing group of individuals who work tirelessly with the Ceres Lions Club and the Ceres Chamber of Commerce to bring together a fun-filled and exciting event. The Street Faire owes a lot of its success to many individuals who attend with their families and friends and our local businesses who participate and sponsor this community occasion. We started changing the look of the Faire last year to coincide with the beautiful renovations of downtown. With that look came a vintage feel comprised of fence board backdrops, rustic large spool tables for eating or just hanging out, a larger stage area and an expanded car show that encompassed the entire Ceres Community Center parking lot as well as the usual fantastic “car alley” on Fourth Street with Elvis serenading our crowds. Food was available not only on Third Street by the park, but also by the stage on Fourth and Lawrence. The additions created a new look and feel that actually drew us back to the gentler, chuck wagon, entertainment days of yesteryear.

amazing products to make my treasured Street Faire purchases.

Kim ChapmanJohnson is the chair of this year’s Ceres Street Faire Committee but she has a lot of help from the individuals listed at right.

This year we are going even bigger and better by adding more locations and selections of all your favorites including kettle corn, tri-tip, linguica, funnel cake and nachos to name a few. Sit down by the Fourth Street entertainment stage and enjoy a smoked sausage or ribs with a beer, wine, margarita, Bloody Mary or some cotton candy and pretzels for the kids. Again, in the rich history of the Street Faire, all food is provided by and with our local non-profits so that they can support their programs throughout the year or sponsor local youth to participate with their

teams or organizations. We have had the grand openings of several businesses downtown in the last year that complement our established businesses offering great food, spirits and a variety of shopping wares. They will be open and available for your enjoyment during and after this year’s faire so come for the fun and stay for more. We have added so many new talented vendors to our already great line-up down Third, Fourth, North and Lawrence streets that you’ll need to make several trips back and forth just to take them all in. I can hardly wait to look through their

NEW THIS YEAR….After Saturday’s fabulous car show we will reset Fourth Street between North and Magnolia for a fantastic RV/Boat/Outdoor vehicle show on Sunday. We will have some great vehicles brought in for you to marvel at, tour through or even purchase. Entertainment is in full force this year with the special one show only return of our very own Greg Scudder & the Beer:30 on Sunday and we feel so lucky to have the award winning, always incredible Patty Castillo Davis at the park both days. We also offer a variety of youth performers that will be showcased including our local dance studios, karate masters and students throughout our town. Our car show is shaping up to break entry records again this year and we are looking forward to seeing the artist design incorporating the 2018 winning car on our new shirts. I’ve seen the artwork and it’s fantastic – they won’t last long. I can remember bringing my children Brandon and Ashleigh to this event each year and watching their faces as they experienced all the fun, food and laughter this community event provides. I’ve been blessed to now watch my own grandchildren’s faces as they light up seeing the petting zoo, having their faces painted, eating a corndog, riding down the jumbo slide or looking up in wonder at the

Street Faire Committee Members Kim ChapmanJohnson (Chair) Herman Bhatti Shellie Coutrakis Angela & Bret Durossette Rocky Fisher Eric Ingwerson Dave Johnson Shella Joiner Ken & Yvette Lane Renee Ledbetter Brandy Meyer Lisa Mantarro Moore Randy Moore Shane Parson Jarrad Sitton Dovie Wilson Ferris wheel. All brought together in one location by talented and hardworking vendors, local youth groups, churches and businesses for this great two days in May. I look forward to another great year at the Faire and can’t wait to see you all out there!

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

A map of Street Faire 2019 action Saturday, May 3 & Sunday, May 5 - RAIN OR SHINE North Street

Commercial booths 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

CVHS Band Beef & pork tacos, burritos, quesadillas

International Gospel Assembly Kettlecorn, pretzels & lemon shakers

Grace Community Christian Church Funnel cake, water

Ceres Pups Wrestling/ Lockeford Meats Bratwurst (Saturday only)

CHS Boosters Linguica sandwich

Ceres Chamber of Commerce Margaritas, Bloody Marys

Ceres Seahawks Hamburgers, cheeseburgers & snow cones CVHS Boosters Polish dog, hot links

Rusty Nail Wine & craft cocktails Soroptimists Water

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Ceres Firefighters French & Chili cheese fries, garlic fries Corn dogs & nachos

Ceres Lions Club Tri-tip sandwiches & beer ribs (Sunday only)

Ceres Diamond Cheer Waffles on a stick & caramel apples

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Ceres Junior Bulldogs Fresh fruit cups, agua fresca Duro, corn on the cob Chicken Wings, Onion Rings Potato Tornados

Car Show Saturday

Street Faire food vendors

T h i r d

F o u r t h

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

Scott Smith of the Ceres High Athletic Boosters barbecues dogs and linguica at the 2014 Ceres Street Faire. Plenty of food is available for purchase at Whitmore Park. JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Entertainment Schedule Saturday, May 4

Park Stage

10:15 a.m. – Ceres High Perpetual Motion Dance Team 10:30 a.m. – CVHS Dance Team/ Mae Hensley Local Motion 11:00 a.m. – Ceres Dept of Parks and Rec 12:00 p.m. – Steps Dance Studio 12:30 p.m. – Footnotes Dance Studio 1:30 p.m. – Ceres Karate demonstrations 2:00 p.m. – Ceres Foundation Raffle drawing 2:00 p.m. – Ceres Cheer groups (Cowboys, Jr. Bulldogs & Seahawks) 3:00 p.m. – Ceres Karate demonstrations 3:30 p.m. – Patti Castillo Davis 4:30 p.m. – Ceres wrestling

Sunday, May 5 Park Stage

12 noon – Patty Castillo Davis 1:00 p.m. – Steps Dance Studio 1:30 p.m. – Ceres Karate 3:00 p.m. – Johnny and the Classics

Downtown Stage Local Talent for all!

12:00 p.m. – Ceres Karate demo 12:30 p.m. – Unleashed 2:30 p.m. – Cover 5 4:30 p.m. – Johnny Rocket and the Thrust

Downtown Stage 12:00 p.m. – Ceres Karate demo 12:30 p.m. – California Outlaws 2:30 p.m. – Greg Scudder & the Beer:30

Greg Scudder, a Ceres homegrown product, performs Sunday downtown with his popular Beer:30 band.

All performances are subject to change without notice!

Patty Castillo Davis performs both Saturday and Sunday.

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Rides on real ponies are a popular attraction in the shade of Whitmore Park. Look for them in the corral at the southern end of the park.

JEFF BENZIGER/Courier file photo

Park offers lots of fun stuff for kids • Rides, activities, animals spell fun in the park

JEFF BENZIGER/Courier file photo

The Ferris Wheel remains a favorite among young and old alike. These two girls rode last year during the 2017 Ceres Street Faire.

Whitmore Park will be filled with fun things for the children during the 31st 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. • J&J Speed Pitch. Throw and guess the throwing speed as clocked by radar. The event is open to 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. • A Boomers attraction by Teaco. • A new attraction yet to be announced.

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Lions Club members always seeking to serving Ceres B y M I KE KLIN E President of the

Ceres Lions Club

On behalf of the Ceres Lions Club, I want to welcome you to the 30th 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, is 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 eye-glasses 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.

Lions Club member and former City Councilman Jeff McKay pulls the tap on a draft beer at the 2014 Ceres Street Faire. The booth was located on North Street between Third and Fourth streets. JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo

RAFFLE DRAWING *2:00pm @ Whitmore Park *Saturday, May 4th Three $500 Cash Prizes Plus 3 Prize Packages VALUED AT $500 or more:

Gas Grill Barbeque • Entertainment Package • Grocery Package In partnership with Ceres schools, the

Ceres Unified School District Foundation is conducting a raffle ticket fundraising campaign to support school activities and events. 100% of funds remain in Ceres.

Thank You Raffle Donors! *J.L. Bray & Son, Inc. *WestAmerica Bank *F F & J Architects, Inc. *United Inspection *Ceres Host Lions Club *Ceres Rotary *Black Oak Casino *Cost Less Foods * Lowe's Home Improvement of Modesto *Raging Waters of San Jose *Johns Incredible Pizza *Califorina Academy of Sciences *Gilroy Gardens *Children's Museum of Stockton *California State Railroad Museum

Raffle tickets also available for a $5 donation at the CUSD Foundation booth on May 4th Thank you to Ceres Host Lions Club member, Scott Smith for serving as the raffle emcee.

––– ENJOY RESPONSIBLY –––

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Classic cars on Saturday, RVs on Sunday • New Sunday show offers boats, cycles , RVs

Faire specialty T-shirt to commemorate the 2019 Car Show, and a dash plaque. Entry forms are also available at the Ceres Chamber of Commerce office at the northeast corner of Fourth and North 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. Classic and modified automobiles – with their colors and designs – have always pulled an audience at the Street Faire. New this year is Sunday’s first-ever RV, Bike & Boat Show which will be displayed on Fourth Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show will feature bass fishing boats and off-road vehicles, motorcycles and travel trailers. The show is sponsored by Don’s RV Center of Ceres, Cycle Specialties of Modesto, Mitchell’s Harley-Davidson dealer and Team C&C Marine of South Modesto.

B y JEFF B ENZIG ER Editor of the

Classic cars like this beautiful roadster attract lots of attention on Fourth Street during the 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.

Ceres (Calif.) Courier

OURTH STREET north of North Street will be lined with twoand four-wheeled eye candy this Saturday for the 31st annual Ceres Street Faire Car Show, sponsored by Nathan Dabulewicz Insurance. Last year the show attracted 120 entries and as many are expected this year. The show 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 awards in 10 categories. An Elvis impersonator will also perform. Anyone may show off their car by turning out from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the sign-up booth at Fourth and Magnolia. Space is limited so early registration is urged. To pre-register a vehicle costs $25, or $35 on the morning of the show. All entries will receive a Street

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Dr. Mital Patel, DDS

• Fellow Academy of General Den�stry • Fellow Interna�onal Congress of Oral Implantologists

Dr. Soﬁa Arevalo, DMD • Pediatric Den�st – Board Cer�ﬁed

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(209) 498-9286 2561 3rd St., Suite B Ceres, CA 95307 www.ceresden�st.com

537-4147 231 FLAMINGO DR. • MODESTO - Ceres street faire sponsor -

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2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Ceres Street Faire sponsors Presenting Sponsor Food 4 Less & Ranch San Miguel Markets Host Sponsor Michelob Ultra Diamond Level Diamond Bar Arena 3 Amigos Auto/Rusty Nail Kase Manufacturing Valley First Credit Union 5 Star Auto Sales Platinum Level Mital Patel DDS Save Mart Bertolotti Disposal

Silver Level Embroidery Plus Pasta Pronto Bronze Level Cocina Azteca River Oaks Golf Course & Event Center Meyer CPR & First Aid Nathan Dabulewicz Insurance Special Mention The Ceres Courier Ceres Police Dept. City of Ceres GDR Engineering

Mayor welcomes all! As mayor of the City of Ceres, and on behalf of the Ceres City Council, I want to welcome you to the 31st 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 2019 Ceres Street Faire will be the best one yet! ~Chris Vierra, Mayor of Ceres

PACK UP... AND HEAD TO THE FAIRE! PROUD TO PRESENT THE 2019 CERES STREET FAIRE

myfood4less.com • ranchosanmiguelmarkets.com

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Downtown Ceres facing brighter future • Renovation spurs private investment B y J EF F B ENZIG ER Editor of the

Ceres (Calif.) Courier

HERE IS NO DISPUTING the fact that downtown Ceres looks vastly more improved and busier than two years ago. After the city invested $3.1 million in rehabilitating the street and streetscape of Fourth Street, downtown – Ground Zero for the Ceres Street Faire – positive changes have been occurring. Enthusiasm for downtown revved up in 2018 after the city revamped two blocks of Fourth Street with brick pavers, new asphalt, landscaping bulbs, new light poles, architectural pillars and an overhead Ceres entry features delineating the downtown shopping district. Improvements also included a new storm drainage and water system. The face-

lift project was intended to be a catalyst for downtown building owners to improve facades and to encourage new investments for new buildings. It’s working. Three Fourth Street buildings owned by Jim Delhart are in the process of receiving façade makeovers, a sign that the city’s recent downtown rehabilitation is spurring private investment to dress up downtown. Delhart’s buildings at the southern end of Fourth Street houses Selfish Salon, a Hispanic church (Iglesia Santuario De Jesucristo) and a space earmarked for a coffee shop. Another space is occupied by a recovery group named Grupo Liberacion. The new facades will feature an earth-toned surface mixture of stucco, tiles and stone SEE CHANGE, PAGE 13

Courier file photo

Pennu Style dress shop was welcomed to downtown Ceres by the Ceres Chamber of Commerce on March 29.

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

SAY ‘HI’ TO CERES WOMAN’S CLUB MEMBERS When you’re out at the Ceres Street Faire, be sure to stop by the Ceres Women’s Club booth where they’ll be selling goodies such as here in 2016. JEFF BENZIGER/Courier file photo

PAST EVENT CHAIRS 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 Lisa Mantarro Moore

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2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

UNIQUE ITEMS MAY BE FOUND AT THE STREET FAIRE

JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo

Ceres Street Faire vendors often offer unique products and services that run the gamut for young and old. During the 2017 event these youngsters were checking out the toys being sold by vendors on Lawrence Street. At times the event draw a personalized sign creator.

Valley Proud Since 1952 Come in today! 2920 E. Whitmore Ave.

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Wheat growers developed Ceres B y JEFF B EN Z IG ER Editor of the

Ceres (Calif.) Courier

F A MODERN-DAY JOURNALIST could have access to a time machine and set the dial back to 1870, the following report might be filed about Ceres as it existed then: “There is nothing but fields of wildflowers and grasses stretching as far as the eye can see with intermittent splashes of green of oaks, poplars and eucalyptus trees. There is one building going up – a two-story home, along a dirt road which runs within an arm’s throw of the railroad tracks. Every once in a while the builder, a small man with a thick beard, stops pounding his hammer and looks across the land, this 9,000 acres that he owns. As the shrill sound of a steam train whistle comes closer, the man looks as though he is thoughtfully planning out a new town, possibly the beginning of a great home

for many.” One hundred and fortyeight years ago, Daniel Whitmore probably only had an inkling of what he was starting at this desolate spot several miles from the swift and untamed Tuolumne River, which was used as a mighty water highway for all of the wheat crops shipped to the Delta. It is doubtful that he would have known that with the construction of his simple Victorian style home – which still stands on Fifth Street – would have led to a city of 48,000 a cen- Daniel Whitmore (1816-1893) is credited as the father of Ceres. tury and a half later.

Good soil, good neighbors and a quiet place to live have been attractive qualities that have made Ceres what it is today. Those same qualities were part of Whitmore’s Ceres when the town was laid out in 1874 for the first time. Daniel C. Whitmore was born in Ohio on May 31, 1816 to Daniel and Martha Whitmore. When he was just a little over 12 months of age, the family packed up their belongings to move to Chautauqua County, N.Y. The family remained there until Daniel was three years old. Next they settled in Con-

was home to Ceres Drugs in the 1930s. The building was resurfaced and today is attractive with its modern green color scheme. Mayor Chris Vierra predicts that downtown will become more robust once the new ACE (Altamont Corridor Express) train station two blocks away is completed. The ACE station will be constructed west of Highway 99 near the southbound onramp in downtown Ceres. Parking for 600 vehicles would be offered both west and east of the raised freeway. Negotiations are in the works to create a large parking lot west of 99 while diagonal parking will be offered along El Camino Avenue, from Central Avenue to the southern point of Whitmore Park. To create room for the parking stalls just west of Whitmore Park, a new concrete retaining wall needs to be constructed next to the freeway. Both walls would be painted as part of the station design. Pedestrians coming from east of the freeway will be able to access the train platform via the existing overpass structure.

CHANGE FROM PAGE 10 veneer with new columns, foam pop-outs, sun louvers and awnings. Delhart financed the $165,000 project himself. “It’ll be beautiful,” promises Delhart. “It’s just for the community. I mean, what good is it to me to put on a storefront? Most buildings are rented by the square foot anyway.” Delhart recently reroofed the historic house next to his furniture shop that was once the Ceres Police Station and most recently was Sole Saver Shoe Repair. It will likely be occupied by a thrift store, he said. Elsewhere in downtown, work is taking place to renovate the interior and exterior of the former DeBoard & Govett chiropractic office at 2943 Fourth Street which farther back in the 1960s served as the Ceres Library. The building today owned by Sam Khacho. Natalie Mercado, who moved her Farmers Insurance agency office from Fifth Street to Fourth Street, last year, thinks the Fourth Street improvements are beautiful. “I think we bring in a lot of clientele,” said Mercado. “I have 2,100 people I service.” Shane Parson has perhaps done more to redevelop downtown than any single person in the past decade. He’s been privately snatching up properties and not only given some TLC but filling them with new businesses. As one example, he purchased the former Ceres Courier building vacated in 2012 where his Embroidery Plus business operates. Parson is planning to renovate the front of Embroidery Plus and said he might

neaut, Ohio where he spent his boyhood. In 1831 Daniel’s parents took him to Barnstable County, Mass. For six years he learned to be a sailor. In 1844 Daniel Whitmore married Lucy Jane Lee, a native of New York, in Hudson, Mich. They bore three sons, Clinton N. Whitmore (he was born Aug. 20, 1845 in Hudson, Mich., and was nine during the trip), Leonard H. Whitmore and Eugene E. Whitmore (he died in Stockton). Like many following the California Gold Rush of 1849, the Whitmore decided to head east after hearing about California’s opportunities and mile climate. Their journey, which would eventually bring them to Ceres, started in the spring of 1854 when the Whitmores left Pittsford, Mich. in a wagon train. In those days, wagon trains started in spring, hoping to reach the rugged Sierra Nevada range before the first snowfall of fall SEE ORIGINS, PAGE 14

Shane Parson began buying up properties in downtown Ceres – such as this house on Fifth Street – to fix up and help give Ceres a better image while making investments.

consider moving that business off of Fourth Street in replacement of a business that might accent the newer environs. Parson also purchased 2938 Fourth Street, home to Flawless Hair Salon & Makeup Studio. He bought the former Post Office

building at 2930 Fourth Street and is leasing it to Pastas Pronto Italian restaurant which is drawing more after-hours visitors to downtown. He’s also brought in a new dress shop. Across the street, Parson invested in the flaky facade, two-story building that

Until the huge city investment, downtown Ceres had not kept up with the times. City officials began talking about redevelopment in the late 1980s but enthusiasm never caught on. The introduction of street trees, a centerpiece clock, intersections with stamped red concrete and two roundabouts helped some but private investment was mostly disregarded – with the exception of when Turlock Irrigation District investment $1 million into its new Third Street office opposite Whitmore Park in 2009. Time and neglect had taken their toll on storefronts, especially at the southern end of Fourth Street. But that’s changing.

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Check out what our downtown has to offer

PLAYING POLICEMAN

The Ceres Street Faire, in its 31 years, has stayed true to its roots – the committee’s goals have always been to highlight our downtown, showcase our vendors and provide support to local non-profit organizations. With the evolution of our downtown improvements on Fourth Street, the Street Faire Committee wants to salute downtown businesses which include longstanding businesses such as Alfonso’s Mexican Bar & Grill but also recognize newer downtown businesses like Pastas Pronto and Cocina Azteca. In additon to the local eateries, Ceres has a number of businesses occupying Fourth Street and in the Street Faire the committee has really tried to keep the integrity of downtown and hopefully encourage Faire goers to come to downtown yearround. Again this year, we have the stage on Lawrence Street and have included vendors from El Camino Avenue all the way to North Street where the car show begins. And in an effort to continue to draw more folks to the Faire, our committee is incorporating an RV and Off-road Vehicle Show on Sunday as well. – Lisa Mantarro Moore, Street Faire Commitee

JEFF BENZIGER/ Courier file photo

The Ceres Street Faire gives an opportunity for the Ceres Police Department to show the public some of their vehicles, such as electric-powered motorcycles and the armored SWAT vehicle. This photo was taken in 2015 when Officer Keith Kitcher let this happy youngster sit atop his ride.

ORIGINS

FROM PAGE 13

and winter. According to a published 1881 account of the “History of Stanislaus County,” the Whitmores actually “seemed to enjoy themselves as they gathered around the campfire at night after a day of hard traveling.” About five months later, on Sept. 1, 1854, the Whitmore party arrived in Stockton and settled on what is now the Cherokee Lane area near Stockton. They remained there until 1857. Whitmore brought his family south to what would later become Stanislaus County in 1866. Accounts say he settled on land just north of the Tuolumne River which he farmed. In those days the absence of irrigation in a very dry climate meant growing wheat. He later farmed on 10,000 acres south of the river on what is now present-day Ceres. Following his brother Daniel to California was Richard Keith Whitmore. He arrived in 1856 and found the area near Collegeville east of Stockton as a fertile place to farm. Richard settled in the Ceres area in 1869 after buying land from Levi Carter. Richard married his cousin, H.M. Whitmore in 1843 and had six children – Martha, Mary, Richard K., Henry Havelock, Nellie B. and Alice B. Whitmore.

Richard Whitmore died Oct. 11, 1878 at age 57. One account said Whitmore was “engaged in putting some new seats in the schoolhouse in Ceres when he was struck by death and expired in a few moments.” Eldest son Richard K. Whitmore, affectionately called “the Colonel,” took over his dad’s farming operation. The 1881 historical account gives the following entry for Richard K. Whitmore: “His ranch consists of one thousand, two hundred and eighty acres, favorably located five miles from Modesto and 10 miles from the river. It is only two miles from the village of Ceres, where school, church and railroad advantages are obtained. The average soil is of a sandy character, yielding about ten bushels per acre, average years. He has also farmed on rented land of about the same nature, in tracts of 2,000 acres on D. Whitmore’s ranch for the past ten years. As raising wheat is the chief business, only a few cows are kept for milk, and thirty-five horses for farming purposes.” The Whitmores were intolerant of alcohol and determined that Ceres should be a dry town. When Daniel Whitmore drew up the first town plot in 1875, lots were sold under the condition that occupants would not be involved in the consumption or the manufacture of distilled spirits. That same sentiment was shared by others in the Whitmore family. A Ceres temperance lodge, Ceres Lodge #109, I.O.G.T., met every Tuesday evening at the schoolhouse.

2019 Ceres Street Faire Section

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Ceres Seahawks joins Trans Valley Youth Football and Cheer. 10 regular local games on the season, 5 home / 5 away games. 6-14 year old for football, Unlimited Weight, no xman, no freshman. Only team in Ceres with multiple Super bowl wins. 2014 2016 2017 2017 2018

Undefeted Cen-Cal Peewees Super Bowl Champion, Undefeted Cen-Cal JV SuperBowl Champion, Varsity Hal of Fame Regional Champion, Las Vegas Varsity National Champion, Undefeted JV CVGI Super Bowl Champion.

Come out to one of our free camps for all, starting Sunday May 19th @ Smyrna park from 10am-12. Also June 9th & 23rd and July 7th. We will also have our 13th annual Seahawks Camp (Seahawk players only) Saturday July 20th @ Blaker Kinser from 8am- 2pm BBQ and fun to follow camp. Cheer, 5-14 year old (mascots full) Street Faire is last chance for cheer sign ups! Only Ceres Cheer team to win 2 Jamz National Titles, USA Jr. National Title and multiple State Championships. Come enjoy a Seahawks Snow Cone or Seahawks Super Burger at Ceres Street Faire Follow us on Facebook or Ceresseahawks.net

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