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Hey everyone! You are listening to the Local Turlock Podcast for the week of November 13th giving you some of the latest scoops, news, stories, and business spotlight for the week. Let’s start with our first story, looking for a spot for gifts, home decor and furniture? Grandma’s Treasures in Denair is the place to be. Next one on our list, Jessica’s House is coordinating a virtual recognition to honor grieving children by inviting the community to color ‘HOPE the Butterfly’. Moving on, Bulldogs of Ceres High School’s football program are 100 percent committed to wanting to get better as they continue the grind this past week. Meanwhile, let’s take a look at what's the status of Modesto-area holiday parades. Next, craving for Italian dishes? Pasta 209 offers home delivery of freshly-cooked traditional Italian dishes. In another story, let’s get to know how former inmates are getting a fresh start on life through the Stan State program. Now, it’s time to show our support to our local businesses especially during this pandemic as I give you 2 business spotlights this week. Also sharing the latest updates about COVID 19 in Stanislaus County. All that and more today in this week's Local Turlock podcast.
Home decor treasures to be found at Denair shop
Since acquiring the quaint downtown business from his sister just over two years ago, James Shehan and his partner Junniver Shehan have transformed Grandma’s Treasures in Denair from a small consignment shop into a home decor destination. They are just a spot for gifts, home decor and furniture. The store has seen a boost in sales since The Coffee House opened up inside, with coffee lovers stopping by to grab coffee then staying to shop. Currently, Grandma’s Treasures is featuring “Everything Christmas” and recently hosted their Christmas Open House to show off all of the holiday decor.
Location: 4616 Main St., Denair Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday Contact information: 209-656-8778
Community invited to color in blue to honor grieving children
Jessica’s House is leading local efforts to recognize a national awareness campaign to educate, equip and honor grieving children and their loved ones who have died. Children’s Grief Awareness Day will be observed across the country on Nov. 19. Locally, Jessica’s House is coordinating a virtual recognition by inviting the community to color ‘HOPE the Butterfly’ and wear blue on the nationally designated day. In observation of Children’s Grief Awareness Day, the community is invited to show their support by coloring and sharing ‘HOPE the Butterfly.’ This complimentary coloring page can be downloaded at https://www.jessicashouse.org/events. The coloring page can be dedicated in memory of a person who died or in honor of a child or adult who is grieving. Individuals are also encouraged to join Jessica’s House staff and others across the country in wearing blue on Nov. 19. “Then post a photo of you in blue and tag @JessicasHouse with the hashtag #ChildGriefDay.” To learn more about grief support for children, teens, young adults and their families, visit jessicashouse.org.
Bulldogs striving to be better
The grind continued for members of Ceres High School’s football program this past week. Verlis Smith and the Bulldogs dedicated time to weight training, conditioning and football-specific skills on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. They also ran offensive plays. Smith and Co. are 100 percent committed to wanting to get better. They worked out, from 6-8 a.m., last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Student-athletes from Ceres Unified School District’s two public high schools were given the green light to resume conditioning workouts on campus on Sept. 21. Extracurricular activities, including sports, had been suspended until further notice on July 13 due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Stanislaus County. The start of the 2019 high school football campaign was moved from Aug. 21 to Jan. 8 due to the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 benchmarks must be met prior to the season getting underway. Social distancing is being practiced to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Bulldog players sanitize weight-room equipment before and after use.
What’s the status of Modesto-area holiday parades? Here’s a look
Holiday parades in at least two Modesto region cities will go on this year, but with a twist due to the coronavirus pandemic. Modesto and Turlock will hold what could be called reverse parades, with the public doing the driving. The city of Modesto announced on its parks and recreation department Facebook page that the annual Celebration of Lights will be a Downtown Drive-Through Holiday Cruise this year. Set for Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the event will feature displays of lights and decorations on stationary floats set up along the route, as well as storefront displays and Rockin’ Holidays on Tenth Street Plaza.The Rockin’ Holidays portion of the event will have cars cruising along the street through Tenth Street Plaza, where decorations, manufactured snow and a tree lighting are planned. People can drive past the festive displays beginning on I Street, turning on 10th Street and ending along Tenth Street Plaza, according to the Facebook post. The page does warn that the event is subject to COVID-19 restrictions, precautions and potential cancellation. Turlock will hold a similar event, but at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds rather than along city streets, according to its parks and recreation Facebook page. The event is Friday, Dec. 4, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock. Meanwhile, in the Mother Lode city of Sonora, the public holiday parade has been canceled this year. But the city will offer residents only a chance to see a few decorated vehicles from their homes. A handful of decorated vehicles will drive through Sonora neighborhoods, including one with Santa on board. The event on Nov. 27 is not for people to attend, she said, and a route has not been finalized. Riverbank’s parade, normally held with its annual Christmas Festival, has been canceled, according to a call to the city.
Pasta 209 delivering authentic Italian fare
When the coronavirus pandemic shut down his court reporter agency almost overnight earlier this year, Newman resident Jason Buktenica parlayed his passion for food - authentic Italian dishes, in particular - into his new livelihood. Buktenica, who goes by “Chef Buck,” rolled out Pasta 209 in July to offer home delivery of freshly-cooked traditional Italian dishes. Pasta 209 serves up a variety of Italian fare, freshly prepared from scratch in a shared commercial kitchen in Turlock and delivered weekdays to the doorsteps of patrons in Gustine, Newman, Patterson, Crows Landing, Stevinson and the surrounding areas just in time for dinner. Four traditional dishes can always be found on the menu - lasagna, spaghetti carbonara, spaghetti with meat sauce and fettuccini Alfredo. Special dishes are also offered to add variety to the menu. Meals, which include a pasta dish, fresh bread and house salad for four, start at $49. Soups and desserts are also available. Orders may be placed on the Pasta 209 website. Patrons may also text Buktenica at (209) 600-4200. Orders should be placed at least one day in advance. Same-day orders placed by early afternoon will be subject to the availability of the dishes requested. The dinner-only service is offered Monday through Friday, with customers stipulating either a 5:30-6:15 p.m. or 6:15-7 p.m. delivery window. Pasta 209 also caters large special events on weekends.
How former inmates are getting a fresh start on life through Stan State program
A series of burglaries landed Henry Romero in prison for three years, at an age when many people are going to college. Eight years later, the Turlock resident has redirected his life with help from a program at California State University, Stanislaus. Project Rebound works with current and former inmates seeking to earn degrees. Coordinator Danica Bravo helps them assemble transcripts, apply for financial aid and take other steps toward success. The 29-year-old enrolled this fall as a junior majoring in communications with a concentration in mass media, following two years at Modesto Junior College. He is a full-time student and has not decided on a career. Project Rebound operates at 14 of the 23 campuses in the CSU system. It began at San Francisco State University in 1967 and reached Stan State just last year. Stan State launched its version with a $113,000 grant from the CSU Consortium of Project Rebound. The application deadline is Dec. 1 for people hoping to be part of Project Rebound in fall 2021. Project Rebound connects ex-felons with internships and volunteer work that can help them explore careers. It points them to the Warrior Food Pantry and other help for students short of cash. They also can get help with addiction and other mental health issues. More information about Project Rebound is at 209-667-3039 or www.csustan.edu/project-rebound.
Business Spotlight:
Turlock Recycling
Turlock Recycling Company offers three-can-automated pickup services. It specializes in the recycling of various commodities, such as aluminum cans, scrap containers, nonferrous metals, glasses, plastic bottles, newspapers, magazines, cardboards and radiators. The company offers weighing, separating, processing and shipping services throughout California.
Location: 1020 S Walnut Rd Turlock, CA 95380
Phone Number: (209) 668-6060
Operational Hours: Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm Saturday 8 am to 1 pm Sunday: Closed
Downtown Mobile
Downtown Mobile is a mobile phone shop, striving for customers’ satisfaction!! They sell phone accessories, speakers, and much more. They also do mobile phone repair, new line activations, unlock phone service and much more. You are guaranteed that you will be pleased with their low prices.
Location: 520 E Main St Ste B Turlock, CA 95380
Phone Number: (209) 585-1104
Operational Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm Sat 12pm to 4pm Sunday Closed
Coronavirus update, Nov.12: Daily case count blows past desired level for Stanislaus
Stanislaus County’s latest daily case count is nearly triple the level that officials say is needed to avoid another business contraction. The state reported 110 new COVID-19 cases in the county Tuesday, blowing past the goal of no more than 40 on an average day. Stanislaus runs the risk of slipping back into the purple tier, the most restrictive of the four on the state rating system. It advanced last month to red, which eased rules on dining, worship and other activities. The state, which offers fuller data on the number of total tests, reported that the single-day infection rate was 12.35%, based on 890 tests. That was by far the highest rate over the past three weeks. The county Health Services Agency reports that 18,711 residents have tested positive as of Wednesday. Another 109,340 tested negative, and 17,689 are presumed recovered. Deaths in the county increased by one to 410 on Wednesday. Geographically: Modesto has 6,906 positive cases, Turlock has 2,613 and Ceres has 2,301.
Thank you for tuning in to this week’s episode. Don’t forget to visit our website, localturlock.com, to stay up-to-date on our local news. You can always email me at turlock@localturlock.com and visit our Facebook at Facebook.com/localturlock and leave us some comments! Stay tuned for next week’s exciting episode! Have a great weekend and always stay safe!
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