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Library offers reading recommendations, story time kits

in Education

Stanislaus County Library staff have always offered reading recommendations and help finding materials of interest for customers, but COVID-19 has created a need to find creative new ways to highlight library materials.

Customers can now request personalized reading recommendations by completing a form on the library website. After answering a few questions about preferences, interests, and books and authors they’ve enjoyed, the form is sent to librarians for suggestions. Each request is forwarded to librarians with expertise in the areas requested by the customer.

“In recent months, fewer customers are asking for recommendations, but we still want to make people aware of the great collection the library offers,” said Reference Librarian Vicki Salinas, who created the Reading Recommendations Form. “Because people are unable to browse right now, this is also a way to highlight new materials.”

Continue Reading on West Side Connect

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Library to expand its hours

For the first time in two years, the Turlock library will be open on Fridays after the Stanislaus County Board

2020-10-23: New Salon, Firefighter Fundraising, Lulu’s Ice Cream Parlor

in Podcast

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From serving only 10 customers in each day in its first year to now over 150 per day, Coyotes Cup of Kindness still serving through pandemic. Upcoming event, The City of Turlock is offering a free paper shredding event from 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 7.

Up next, by the early months of 2021, the Center for Human Services will have a new facility to better serve homeless teens and young adults. Modesto’s Gallo looks to wine country to launch its new premium brandy tasting room.

And finally, After 13 and a half years of planning, environmental studies, countless public hearings, numerous legal challenges and court hearings, the Mitchell Ranch Shopping Center and its anchor tenant of a Walmart Supercenter passed its final hurdle at Monday Ceres City Council Meeting. Show some support to our local businesses especially during this pandemic as I give you 2 business highlights 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.

Coyotes Cup of Kindness still serving through pandemic

After two successful years serving coffee, tea and more to the Denair Unified School District campus community and beyond, the 2020-2021 school year looks a little bit different for Coyotes Cup of Kindness. While the students in the DHS Project Life program are able to come to campus for class in small cohorts, safety measures in place due to the coronavirus pandemic have kept them from working at the cart — something they’ve done for the past two years, which has provided them with invaluable social skills and job experience they can use in the real world after graduating.

That means Silva, the owner, has been busy, since Coyotes Cup of Kindness has grown from serving just 10 customers each day in its first year to now over 150 per day. The kindness of the students working the cart, who normally sell drinks during the week and at most home sporting events, have created a brand for Cup of Kindness that sees customers travel from Turlock, Hughson, Los Banos and even Stockton to support the cause. Students from the DHS intervention class, who may be experiencing behavioral problems or slipping grades, also are able to work at the cart and learn valuable life lessons. All proceeds from coffee sold at Coyotes Cup of Kindness are used to replenish supplies for the cart and to support the Project Life program.

  • Location: 3460 Lester Rd, Denair
  • Open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday

Free paper shred event

The City of Turlock is offering a free paper shredding event from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 7 at the Water Quality Control Plant, 901 S. Walnut Rd., Turlock. This is a contactless service event for the safety of staff and the shredding company. Customers are to place their own paper in provided shredding totes. Masks are required. Residents can bring up to five grocery bags or small boxes of material to be shredded. No businesses or binders will be allowed.

This event is open to residents of Turlock and unincorporated areas of Stanislaus County. For more information contact Municipal Services at (209) 668-5590 or HHW (209) 525-6700 or visit the City of Turlock website at: www.CityofTurlock.org.

Center for Human Services to reach, help more homeless youth in Stanislaus County

By the early months of 2021, the Center for Human Services will have a new facility to better serve homeless teens and young adults. The Center for Human Services is building a Youth Navigation Center that will engage, stabilize and prepare homeless youth in Stanislaus County. The Youth Navigation Center will house several programs and resources under one roof. The 2019 Stanislaus County Point-In-Time count showed that 387 youth and young adults (ages 0 – 24) were homeless and of those, 118 were unsheltered. The Center will be located in a 14,300 square foot site located next door to the Center for Human Services at 2000 W. Briggsmore Ave., in Modesto. The Center is launching a capital campaign to raise $1.5 million to support the buildout cost. The campaign is structured so that the community can contribute to one or more specific target areas of their choice through naming and recognition opportunities. To donate visit the Center for Human Services.

Modesto’s Gallo looks to wine country to launch its new premium brandy tasting room

You already know this Modesto-based company as the largest wine seller in the world, but now Gallo has its sights on conquering luxury brandy.

E.&J. Gallo Winery is set to open the California Brandy House, a tasting room for the company’s premium artisan brands of the wine-based spirit made in the state. The new tasting room will be opened in downtown Napa on Nov. 6. The new tasting room is opening in First Street Napa, a shopping complex with high-end retail and dining on First Street in downtown Napa.

Customers can try guided tasting flights, and sample limited and single-barrel offerings not available at other locations. To experience the tasting room and to allow for proper social distancing, reservations are strongly recommended in advance. The tasting room will have a gift shop where the full line of Germain-Robin and Argonaut brandies, as well as exclusive releases, will be available for purchase. California Brandy House is located at 1300 First St., Suite 309, in downtown Napa.

Supercenter clears last hurdle

After 13 and a half years of planning, environmental studies, countless public hearings, numerous legal challenges and court hearings, the Mitchell Ranch Shopping Center and its anchor tenant of a Walmart Supercenter passed its final hurdle with quiet approval of a consent agenda item at Monday’s Ceres City Council meeting. Walmart is now free to start construction.

It’s unknown if there will be a groundbreaking ceremony. The Mitchell Ranch Shopping Center project has taken the longest to develop in the city’s history, largely in part to an organized effort to halt its development using the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The shopping center includes plans for 10 other retail shops totaling 114,162 square feet, including three other major tenants and four smaller shops as well as a stand-alone retail building and two to three new restaurants.

It’s believed that the new store will incorporate its new store design which was inspired by airport wayfinding systems to direct large groups of people through the store more quickly. The new layout is supposed to be more efficient for shopping and emphasizes the use of a smartphone and the Walmart app to make the experience more streamlined.

Coronavirus update, Oct. 29: Stanislaus posts worst daily positive rate in 5 weeks

Stanislaus County had its highest daily positive rate in five weeks Wednesday, an unwelcome number at a time when business owners hope for looser rules. The county also reported another death, bringing the total to 399 residents since the pandemic began. Wednesday’s positive rate of 14.47% was the highest since the Sept. 22 figure of 15.02%. And it more than tripled the 4.34% on Tuesday.

The 46 new cases Wednesday brought the county’s total to 17,760, according to its Health Services Agency. It reported that 102,194 residents have tested negative and 17,033 are presumed recovered. Tuesday’s weekly update on how Stanislaus is meeting state measures for reopening brought mixed news. The county barely met the criteria for staying in the red tier, rather than slipping back into purple, the most restrictive.

The county must stay in the red tier for at least two more weeks. Geographically: Modesto has 6,461 positive cases, Turlock has 2,322 and Ceres with 2,160 cases

Business Spotlight: Crostini Restaurant

A Brand New Restaurant! Crostini is an Italian Restaurant in Turlock serving Peet’s coffee, baked goods, and authentic Italian dishes. They have a full service Bar and extensive menu and that perfect summer time aesthetic. Looking for a pick-me-up? Crostini proudly pours Peet’s Coffee at our full service Barista Bar. Visit them today.

  • Location: 811 W Hawkeye Ave, Turlock, CA 95382
  • Phone Number: (209) 632-3665
  • Operational Hours: Open Fri thru Sat 7:00AM – 12:00AM Midnight
  • Sun thru Thurs 7:00AM – 10:00PM

Business Spotlight: Village Donuts

Great customer and the drive to provide delicious daily-made donuts are the two specialties of Village Donuts. Always trying to achieve a greater level of perfection with their donuts, from the little donut hole to more popular apple fritter. All while making sure the customers are greeted with a friendly smile and readily helped.

  • Location: 343 S Golden State Blvd, Turlock
  • Phone Number: (209) 634-9262
  • Operational Hours: Monday to Saturday 4:30 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday 4:30 am to 2:00 pm

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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Local animal shelter lowering ‘kill’ rate

in Animals

The Stanislaus Animal Services Agency (SASA) has made great strides to reducing the euthanization of pets that come into its shelter, its executive director told members of the Ceres City Council on Monday, but unwanted pets continue to be a problem.

Annette Patton delivered her annual report, which also contained mostly good news about declining euthanasia rates. The city Ceres is a member of the agency’s Joint Powers Authority (JPA), along with Stanislaus County and the cities of Hughson, Modesto, Waterford and Patterson. The cities of Turlock, Oakdale, Newman and Riverbank have their own animal control services.

“This report brings the highest live release rate in all of Stanislaus Animal Services history,” said Patton. “I’ve said that for four years straight now but it’s true.”

Continue Reading on Ceres Courier

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Council OKs gap funding for water plant

in technology

Sitting as the Ceres Financing Authority, members of the Ceres City Council last week unanimously approved the sale of $22 million in bonds to finance the surface water project as an interim measure.

The cities of Ceres and Turlock have formed a joint powers authority, called the Stanislaus Regional Water Authority (SRWA), with the Turlock Irrigation District to build and run a plant to siphon water out of the Tuolumne River, filter it and pipe it to homes. The water will be stored in a large above ground tank at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park and comingled with groundwater.

The design-build contract awarded to CH2M Hill costs $195.4 million with total costs expected to reach $285 million. Each city’s share of the plant’s cost will be based on how much water is being used. Turlock will receive 10 million gallons of water per day and Ceres will receive 5 million gallons per day. The Ceres City Council approved a five-year series of rate increases on water service to help pay off Ceres’ share of $89 million.

Continue Reading on Ceres Courier

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TURLOCK WOMEN’S MARCH

in People

Members of the community gathered at Rotary Park on Saturday to celebrate women and show solidarity in the fight for equal rights at the inaugural Turlock Women’s March. The event, organized by Turlocker Caryn Kyte, saw individuals of all ages and genders march along the sidewalks near Stanislaus State, holding signs such as “Real Men are Feminists” and “Each Time a Woman Stands Up for Herself She Stands Up for All Women.” Local elected officials and others spoke about the history of women’s rights and the need to continue fighting for them.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Local nonprofits struggling in wake of fundraiser cancellations

in People

The Turlock community is known for its tendency to give back to nonprofits in big ways, whether it’s by supporting the city’s “stars” as they sashay on stage or through dashing around an event center with a red kettle in their hand. This year, however, there haven’t been many opportunities for Turlock’s most generous residents to contribute to worthy causes — and local organizations are hurting because of it.

The coronavirus pandemic has put a stop to many fundraisers this year, and quite a few are typically scheduled for the fall and winter months. The Turlock Salvation Army has already lost out on funds they would have received from their August event Moonlight and Margaritas and the September spectacle Dancing with the Turlock Stars, both of which were cancelled, and is now hoping the community will support the new drive-thru format of its annual Kettle Kickoff Luncheon.

According to Turlock Salvation Army Captain Jeffrey Breazeale, the nonprofit that provides services for those in need has lost about $80,000 in revenue this year due to the cancellation of its most significant fundraisers. This year, the organization is campaigning to “Rescue Christmas” and raise $100,000 through the Kettle Klash.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

More power shutoffs probable: some Plumas residents impacted

in Around California

PG&E announced that high fire-risk conditions are expected to arrive Wednesday evening, Oct. 21 in Northern California and continue through Friday morning, Oct. 24, impacting 50,000 people in 19 counties including 353 in Plumas County as of now.

Sheriff Todd Johns said that those customers include residents in the La Porte/Little Grass Valley Reservoir areas, but that could change.

For the outage map visit:
For outage updates from PG&E visit:

According to PG&E, the weather will impact the shutoffs primarily in the following areas:

  • Northern Sacramento Valley and adjacent elevated terrain;
  • The Northern Sierra Nevada generally north of I-80;
  • The North Bay mountains; and
  • Mt. Diablo in the East Bay.

Continue Reading on Plumas News

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Today’s Turlock Eats

in Food

Eating out has been a well-mourned commodity since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down social systems and immune systems alike.  Many small businesses in the area have been severely impacted, and some have gone under due to the temporary shut-down and subsequent lack of indoor eating accommodations. Others have still managed to survive by delivering or offering outdoor seating options. Being that many students are still residing in Turlock, whether on campus or off, they may wish to be informed of the numerous tasty and affordable places to eat.

Willie’s Pizza and Wings + Lulu’s Ice Cream Parlor

Run by the same owner, these two establishments have a variety of foods to offer, and at decent prices as well.

Owner Patricia Ashman says that “Willie’s makes everything from scratch, pizza sauces, wing sauces, everything. We grate our own cheese and slice all of our vegetables. We have a really cool ‘hella hella hot wing’ challenge.” The menu ranges between $7.50 for 6-piece wings and about $27 for a specialty pizza.

Continue Reading on CS Signal

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SCAN Health Plan Earns 4.5-Star Medicare Rating for Fourth Straight Year, Named to U.S. News Best List for Third Straight Year

in Around California

LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — As millions of seniors across California select Medicare Advantage plans for the coming year, SCAN Health Plan®, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans, earned a series of accolades reflecting SCAN’s unending commitment to keeping older adults healthy and independent.

First, SCAN received a 4.5-star rating* from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the fourth consecutive year, making it the only Medicare Advantage plan in California to do so. SCAN was also named to U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 list of Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage in California for the third year in a row. Also for the third year running, 90% of SCAN members gave the plan high marks in the annual CMS Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) survey, which gauges member satisfaction.

Continue Reading on Monterey County Weekly

Cal Football: Healthy Will Craig Solidifies Starting Offensive Line

in Sports

Cal came out of its abbreviated spring workouts with basically four of five offensive line positions set.

Now, it appears, all five starters are pretty well established.

Sophomore Will Craig was listed as the No. 2 left tackle on the post-spring depth chart, but that may have been more a function of him battling back from a season-ending foot injury that limited him to a single game last fall.

Versatile senior Valentino Daltoso was penciled in as the No. 1 left tackle after spring ball, but Craig has come on strong, as expected.

Continue Reading on SI Cal Sports Center

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