RIDGE
JOE & ANN SWAIN
MONDAY - FRIDAY 11AM - 4PM
FEATURES
While baseball earned the title of “America’s pastime” over 160 years ago, the game is still a part of the nation’s cultural fabric today. Those in the 209 can enjoy a trip to the ballgame — with or without peanuts and Cracker Jack —in Modesto and Stockton. True baseball fans can also support local athletes now playing in the big leagues — or Banana league, as it may be.
26 Having a Ball
Former Oakdale High pitcher is suiting up for the Indianapolis Clowns, one of six teams in the entertaining, fan-focused Banana Ball Championship League.
30 Stockton Ports
One of the benefts for Athletics fans in the 209 is they can see future players coming up through the minor leagues right in San Joaquin County with the Stockton Ports.
32 Modesto Roadsters
When the Nuts Minor League baseball team left Modesto, it left a hole for baseball fans. That hole has been flled by the Modesto Roadsters, a new Pioneer Baseball League expansion team.
PUBLISHER/OWNER
Hank Vander Veen
Kelly Vander Veen
EDITOR
Kristina Hacker
MANAGING EDITOR
Sabra Staford
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Harold L. George
WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
Mike Bush
Christopher Correa
Joe Cortez
Renee Edwards
Marg Jackson
Claudia Newcorn
Zachery Ramos
Dennis Wyatt
ADVERTISING & PARTNERSHIPS
Chris Castro
Beth Flanagan
Melody Wann
Charles Webber
MARKETING
Rich Matheson
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Welcome to the June/July issue of 209 Magazine. Summer has arrived in California’s Central Valley and Foothills region, bringing endless blue skies, sun-drenched afernoons and the unmistakable energy of a community in full bloom.
As the days grow longer, our region truly comes alive with local traditions, outdoor adventures and new favors waiting to be discovered. Tis season, we invite you to step outside, celebrate our local culture, and make this a summer to remember.
In This Issue
• Get Ready for a Memorable Fair Season: Your ultimate guide to the classic rides, livestock shows, and deep-fried treats making their return to the valley.
• Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom: A special look ahead to our nation’s historic semiquincentennial and how the 209 is honoring American independence.
• Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival: Step back in time with live, toetapping syncopated jazz and historic charm in the Sierra Foothills.
• Rivers of the 209: Dive into the critical waterways that sustain our agriculture, ofer scenic escapes, and defne our local geography.
• Vista Ranch Winery: Sip local favors and enjoy the rolling beauty of this premier vineyard destination right in our backyard.
Whether you are sipping locally produced wine, listening to ragtime music, or planning your next family trip to the county fair, there is no shortage of ways to explore the 209 this summer.
Tank you for making us a part of your summer routine and allowing us to showcase the people and places that make our home so extraordinary.
Enjoy the sunshine,
Hank Vander Veen Publisher/Owner hvanderveen@209magazine.com
Get ready for a
memorable fair season
By KRISTINA HACKER
Nothing says summer more than a trip to the county fair. Te 209 area is lucky to host several amazing county fairs that ofer families a place to make lasting memories.
County fairs are the ultimate gathering place — sitting in the stands at the demolition derby, browsing the exhibitions, standing in line for carnival rides and rocking out to your favorite band.
Multi-generational love of the fair is not uncommon here in the 209. Take a look around during your next visit to the fair and you are sure to see happy families making life-long memories.
Here is a list of local fairs happening tis summer:
Merced Fair
JUNE 10-14
“Our Roots Run Deep” at the 2026 Merced County Fair presented by Valley Children’s Healthcare. The Merced Fair will feature live music, action-packed grandstand entertainment, tasty fair food, exhibits plus so much more.
Grandstand events include two nights of Monster Truck action and two nights of rodeo (PRCA and Jaripeo).
The Merced Fair concert lineup includes Vive Mana & The Outlaw Mariachi (June 10), Just Jayne & Colin Stough (June 11), Tag Team & Color Me Badd (June 12), Bayker Blankenship (June 13) and Tiranos Del Norte & Banda Troyana (June 14).
For more information about all the entertainment, Grandstand Shows and ticket prices, visit mercedcountyfair.com
MoterLode Fair
JULY 2-5
This year’s Mother Lode Fair theme, “Heritage, Honor and Hometown Fun,” pays tribute to two historic milestones — America’s 250th birthday and California’s 175th anniversary. The fair invites the entire community to come together to honor our shared past while creating new hometown memories.
Arena events include CCPRA Rodeo action (July 3), Truck & Tractor Pulls (July 4) and Destruction Derby (July 5).
Musical performances will feature Serena Karise (July 2), Tiffany Rose and The Outlaw Hearts (July 3), Denise Choate and The Not Just Jazz Trio (July 4) and Blue Neon Serenade and Mitch Polzak & The Royal Deuces (July 5).
For more information, visit motherlodefair.org.
Stanislaus County Fair
JULY 10-19
The 113th Stanislaus County Fair is set to open on July 10 for its 10 days and nights of arena events, entertainment, fair food, amusement rides and games and new and fan-favorite exhibits and attractions.
The 2026 Fair will feature 10-nights of free celebrity concerts included with Fair admission, a total of three stages of live entertainment, upwards of 30,000 local exhibits and over 1,750 animals.
The Stanislaus County Fair has already confirmed a majority of the acts booked for the Variety Free Stage. Coming to the Fair are Clint Black (July 10), Mi Banda El Mexicano De German Roman (July 12), Diamond Rio (July 13), Twist on Taylor (July 14), 3OH!3 (July 15) Ashanti (July 16), Mayday Parade (July 17), Ying Yang Twins (July 18) and Banda Carnival (July 19).
The Foodmaxx Arena will showcase a variety of action-packed events including truck and tractor pulls (July 10 and 11), bloodless bullfights (July 12), destruction derby (July 13 and 14), monster trucks (July 15 and 16), PRCA rodeo (July 17), Motocross (July 18) and Hispanic rodeo (July 19).
Learn more about all of the bands, arena events and attractions planned for this year’s Fair at stancofair.com
Amador County Fair
JULY 30 TO AUG. 2
The 2026 Amador County Fair theme is “More Cowbell”, and the fairgrounds in Plymouth are set to host horse and livestock shows, exhibits and a tractor rodeo.
For more information and a list of scheduled events, visit amadorcountyfair.com
COMMUNITY EVENTS
JEWISH FOOD FAIR RETURNS TO STOCKTON
Temple Israel will host its annual Jewish Food Fair on June 7, offering a community celebration featuring brunch, a bake shop, traditional dishes, music, games and guided tours of the historic synagogue.
The event highlights Jewish culture through food and family‑friendly activities. More information is available at templeisraelstockton.com or by calling 209-477-9306.
JUN7 2026 JUN7 2026 JUN12 - JUL 5 2026 scan to
FESTA ITALIANA AT LODI GRAPE FESTIVAL GROUNDS
Festa Italiana will return June 7, bringing a full day of Italian food, music and cultural activities to the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event features performances by Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito on the Morada Produce Main Stage, along with Nino d’Italiano, The Trucco Band and the Balliamo! Italian Folk Dancers. Additional entertainment, including the Stockton Garage Band, will appear on the Benevenuti Stage.
Families can explore the Bambini Zone with clowns, dancers and children’s activities, while stilt walkers roam the grounds. Attendees can sample dishes from local Italian chefs, enjoy wine and olive oil tastings, shop the Mercato Marketplace, watch cooking demonstrations and take part in bocce, a salami toss and the “Boss of the Sauce” contest.
Tickets are $15 at the door, with free admission for children 12 and under. Parking is free. More information is available at festa-italiana. com.
MURPHYS CREEK THEATRE TO STAGE MODERN ‘HENRY V’
Murphys Creek Theatre will present a contemporary staging of Shakespeare’s Henry V, exploring Prince Hal’s transformation from wayward youth to wartime leader in one of the Bard’s most gripping history plays. The play will run from June 12 to July 5.
Set against a modern backdrop, the production is directed by Todd Thomas and presented in partnership with MCT’s youth program, Summer on Stage: The Mirror Project. The show is recommended for ages 9 and older and includes depictions of war and battlefield tension. All performances are offered on a pay‑what‑you‑can basis. Ticket details and performance information are available at murphyscreektheatre.org/ henry-v.
JUN13 2026 JUN16 - AUG 15 2026 JUN26 -28 2026
THE REAL SARAHS TO PERFORM IN FIDDLETOWN
The Real Sarahs will bring their signature harmonies and Americana sound to Fiddletown on June 13, performing at 14445 Fiddletown Road. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 7.
Known for their evocative songwriting and seamless vocal blend, the trio draws from folk, jazz, blues, bluegrass and country influences. Their performances highlight original music rooted in personal stories and life experiences.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. More information and ticket sales are available at zeffy.com.
GUIDED MEADOW WALKS OFFERED AT CALAVERAS BIG TREES
Calaveras Big Trees State Park will host guided meadow walks twice weekly this summer, giving visitors a chance to explore the North Grove’s plants, wildlife and giant sequoia ecosystem.
The free, half‑mile walks take place Tuesdays and Saturdays from June 16 through Aug. 15, running from 10 to about 11 a.m. Participants should meet at North Grove Campsite No. 16, marked by a black sandwich board. The easy stroll highlights wildflowers, meadow habitats and the animals that live there, making it suitable for all ages. The walks begin at the park on Highway 4 in Arnold.
JUL11-12 2026
STOCKTON‑CON SUMMER SET FOR JULY
Stockton‑con Summer returns July 11–12, bringing two days of comics, anime, manga, gaming, toys, science fiction and pop‑culture fandom to the Stockton Arena while raising money for local charities and community organizations. The annual convention features celebrity guests, vendors, artists and interactive activities for fans of all ages. Details are available at stocktoncon. com.
TUOLUMNE LUMBER JUBILEE RETURNS
The Tuolumne Lumber Jubilee, one of the county’s longest‑running community traditions, will return June 26–28 at West Side Memorial Park.
Founded in 1935, the event is billed as the “Biggest Little event in Tuolumne County” and takes place annually the weekend after Father’s Day. The three‑day festival features family‑friendly activities, competitions and entertainment, all free to attend thanks to community donations and sponsors.
Event times vary throughout the weekend. More information is available at lumberjubilee.org.
JUL18 2026
MUSTACHE HARBOR BRINGS YACHT‑ROCK DANCE PARTY TO BEAR VALLEY
The Bear Valley Music Festival will host a high‑energy yacht‑rock dance party on July 18, featuring Mustache Harbor and its lineup of smooth, feel‑good hits from artists such as Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, The Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins, Toto and Michael McDonald.
The show begins at 7 p.m. under the Bear Valley Music Festival tent, where the band is expected to pack the dance floor with harmonies and upbeat grooves.
More information is available from the Bear Valley Music Festival at 209‑813‑0554 or bearvalleymusicfestival.org.
JUL24 - AUG 9 2026
‘GREAT BALLS OF FIRE’ IGNITES EAST SONORA STAGE
Sierra Repertory Theatre will present Great Balls of Fire from July 24 through Aug. 9 at the East Sonora Theatre, offering a high‑energy tribute to the early days of rock ’n’ roll.
Created by Jason Cohen and Michael Schiralli, the production blends music, humor and storytelling in a fast‑paced celebration of rock’s raw beginnings. The show invites audiences to dance, clap and sing along as it channels the spirit of the genre’s pioneers.
Performances run Wednesdays through Sundays, with times varying. The production is ticketed. More information is available at sierrarep.org or by calling 209‑532‑3120.
As you watch the colors bursting in the nighttime sky, think about those ‘bombs bursting in air.
Celebrating years of 250 FREEDOM
By JOE CORTEZ
America’s last big milestone birthday happened in 1976.
And if you’re old enough to remember the bicentennial celebration, well, the odds are slim that you’ll make it to the tricentennial.
But you’re in luck! Te nation’s semiquincentennial – its 250th birthday – is just weeks away. And 250 is just as cool – if not cooler – than 300.
But whether it’s a milestone celebration or not, each additional candle on Uncle Sam’s birthday cake is a testament to the courage and fortitude of our Founding Fathers and this great democratic experiment of ours. Remember: if the British had won, the Founding Fathers wouldn’t be who they are today; they’d just be a bunch of rebels who were hung for treason. Yikes!
Indeed, every Fourth of July is special, but this one seems particularly so.
So why not take in one of several local freworks displays and as you watch the colors bursting in the nighttime sky, think about those “bombs burst-
ing in air” and imagine what Francis Scott Key must’ve felt as he watched the British siege at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814.
Here’s a list of some freworks displays throughout the 209: Turlock – Te annual downtown parade will take place at 6:30 p.m. on July 3, followed by a freworks show. Te Friday parade will begin with opening ceremonies honoring local veterans and active-duty military, followed by a patriotic procession of foats and bands down Main Street. Parade attendees can then head to the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds for a festival and freworks show, also on July 3. A car show that will feature restored classic cars will be held on July 4 in downtown Turlock, alongside the Turlock Certifed Farmers Market and the maker’s market on either side of the Union Pacifc Railroad tracks.
Each additional candle on Uncle Sam’s birthday cake is a testament to the courage and
fortitude of our FathersFounding and this great experimentdemocratic of ours.
Modesto – Just as they do every Friday night home game, the Modesto Roadsters will host a freworks display on July 4, following the conclusion of their Pioneer League game against the Oakland Ballers at Modern Woodmen Field (former John Turman Field). Gates open at 6 p.m. and frst
pitch is at 7:11.
Don Pedro – Turlock Irrigation District is one of the sponsors for the 2026 Fireworks on the Water show that will begin 9:30 p.m. on July 4. Parking is limited so plan to arrive early: $40 per vehicle or $20 per vessel.
Gustine — Tis westside community will host its annual parade down Main Street and North Avenue starting at 10:30 a.m. July 4. Fireworks afer dusk with folks admitted into the high school campus. Tere will be food trucks. Gates open at 6 p.m. at Gustine High School Stadium. It’s a little bigger and a little bit better.
Atwater – For over 60 years the Atwater 4th of July Festival has brought together tens of thousands of people to celebrate independence. Te celebration begins at 7:30 a.m. July 4 with the Run for Independence at Ralston Park in Atwater. To register, visit: mercedrunningclub.com. Te run will be followed by the Annual Fourth of July Parade at 9
a.m. A festival will be held in Ralston Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the concert and freworks show is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Castle Commerce Center.
Blaker Brewing and Te Tarmac Venue will host the Red, White & Brews event from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. July 4 at the Atwater location. Te event will include craf beer, fantastic food and phenomenal freworks. Te event is family friendly with plenty for all to experience, complete with games, entertainment and family-
friendly food. Tickets are $23.18. Youth under 16 are free with a ticketed adult.
Oakdale — Head out to Woodward Reservoir, 14528 26-Mile Road, north of Oakdale, for a July 4 show. Te freworks traditionally begin about 9:30 p.m., so plan to get there early and settle in for the display. Cost is $25 per vehicle and the freworks are presented over the water at Woodward. More information is available at stancountyparks. com ●
FIVE MOVIES
ABEFORE (OR AFTER) SETTING OF FIREWORKS
“THE PATRIOT” (2000
–Mel Gibson plays the titular character, an American patriot named Benjamin Martin who is a widower and the father of seven children. A veteran of the French and Indian War, Martin wants nothing more than live out his days in peace. But when his oldest son is swept up in the Revolutionary fervor and joins the Continental Army, Martin also takes up the cause against the Redcoats.
“THE CROSSING” (2000)
–Jeff Daniels gives an underrated performance as George Washington during the Battle of Trenton and the crossing of the Delaware River. Fun fact: Two future presidents took part in the crossing of the Delaware. Gen. George Washington, of course, and a young lieutenant in the Continental Army named James Monroe, who would serve as Washington’s ambassador to France and later become the nation’s fifth president.
“1776” (1972)
–This adaptation of the Tony Awardwinning Broadway musical focuses on the summer of 1776 and the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Just don’t be shocked when you see Benjamin Franklin burst into song … it’s a musical.
“YANKEE DOODLE DANDY” (1942)
–OK, so George M. Cohan was actually born on July 3, and told a little fib about being a “real live nephew of his Uncle Sam” who was “born on the Fourth of July.” The great James Cagney, in an Oscarwinning performance, portrays Cohan, the actor, singer, dancer, composer, playwright, and theatrical producer who was one of America’s greatest all-around entertainers.
“JOHNNY TREMAIN” (1957)
–This one’s for the kids. Based on the Esther Forbes novel, “Johnny Tremain” is the story of a young silversmith apprentice who joins the colonies’ cause and joins the fight for independence.
Are you a or a
MINUTE MAN REDCOAT
Want to test your knowledge of American Revolution era trivia? Find out where you rank: 0-7 questions answered correctly? Uh, maybe the Redcoats are hiring. 8-13 answered correctly? We’ll give you a musket, but we’re sending you to Valley Forge. 14-19 correct? You’re a Founding Father and should definitely be wearing a powdered wig and writing with a quill. 20-25? Let’s carve your face into the side of a mountain!
1. Who was the ruler of Great Britan when the rumblings of independence first began in the American colonies?
2. What famous line did Patrick Henry deliver at the Second Virginia Convention?
3. What was dumped into Boston Harbor on Dec. 16, 1773, to protest Britain taxing the colonies?
4. Which revolutionary group responsible for the Boston Tea Party was founded by Samuel Adams?
5. What is the name of the man who made a midnight ride to warn Massachusetts residents the British were coming?
6. Revere was informed that the British were coming by a code in the steeple of Old North Church in Boston. What was the code?
7. What was the start date of the Revolutionary War?
8. Who led the Continental Army during the war?
9. What was the slang term used for British soldiers during the Revolution?
10. The Declaration of Independence was finalized on July 4, 1776, but on which date did the Continental Congress actually vote to declare themselves independent of Great Britain?
11. On which day was the Declaration of Independence actually signed?
12. How many signatures are on the Declaration of Independence?
13. Who is largely credited as the author the Declaration of Independence?
14. Which river did George Washington and his soldiers in the Continental Army cross on Christmas night of 1776, in a surprise attack against the British?
15. Where did the Continental Army stay during the brutal winter of 1777–1778?
16. During which battle did the British surrender to the Continental Army on October 19, 1781?
17. Which six men are considered the core Founding Fathers of America?
18. Which Founding Father believed that July 2 was the correct day on which to celebrate America’s independence and refused to appear at Fourth of July events?
19. James Madison was a major contributor to which critical U.S. document?
20. Who was the last of the Founding Fathers to be president?
21. How many times does the Liber ty Bell ring on each Independence Day?
22. Which state was the first to declare the Fourth of July a state holiday?
23. How many U.S. presidents died on the Fourth of July?
24. Which U.S. president was born on the Fourth of July?
25. What is the largest Fourth of July fireworks display in the U.S.?
ANSWERS
25. The Mac y’s Fourth of July Fireworks celebration in New York City.
24. Calvin Coolidge ( July 4, 1872).
23. Three: John damsA (July 4, 1826), Thomas Jefferson (July 4, 1826) and James Monroe (July 4, 1831).
22. Massachusetts.
21. 13 times.
20. James ,Monroe our nation’s fifth president.
19. The Constitution.
18. John Adams.
17. geGeor Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
16. The Battle of Yorktown.
15. Valley ge.For
14. The wareDela River.
13. Thomas Jefferson.
12. 56.
One n)(lanter if by land, two (lanterns) if by sea. 7. April 19, 1775. 8. George ashington.W 9. The oats.Redc 10. July 2, 1776. 11. Aug. 2, 1776.
Paul ere.Rev
The Sons of Liber ty.
Tea.
“Give me liber ty or give me death!”
King George III.
STROLLING DOWN MEMORY LANE
Decades after its debut, the American Grafti Festival remains the signature event of Gafti Summer
By SABRA STAFFORD
The engines will fre up across Modesto as the 2026 American Grafti Festival & Car Show rolls into town June 12–14, bringing with it the chrome, rumble and summertime energy that have defned Grafti Sum mer for decades. Te event, organized by the Kiwanis Club of North Modesto, remains the city’s largest and oldest Grafti celebration, drawing more than a thousand classic cars and thousands of spectators while raising money for youth pro grams throughout the region.
Te weekend begins Friday, June 12, with the ofcial Classic Car Parade and Cruise from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Only the frst 1,000 registered show vehicles are allowed on the route, which winds through downtown Modesto and up McHenry Avenue to Briggsmore. Street closures start around 3:30 p.m. and continue until cleanup wraps up around 9 p.m. For many, the cruise is the heart of the festival, a rolling tribute to the era that inspired George Lucas’ American Grafti and cemented Modesto’s place in car‑culture history.
Te main festival opens Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and continues Sunday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Modesto Junior College’s West Campus at 2201 Blue Gum Ave. Between 1,200 and 1,400 classic vehicles typi cally fll the grounds, creating a sprawling outdoor museum of polished fenders, custom paint, vintage engines and the unmis takable nostalgia of the cruising era. Spectator admission is $10, with kids 12 and under free with an adult. Tickets can be purchased at the gate with cash
or card or in advance online.
Te festival atmosphere stretches well beyond the cars. Nearly 100 vendors will ofer everything from food and drinks to crafs, car gear and collectibles. A Kid Zone gives younger visitors a place to play while parents explore the show. Live music runs through out the weekend, beginning Saturday morning with the Modesto Valley Music Institute, followed by No Way Back performing classic rock hits from the ’60s through the ’80s. Tird Sol closes out Saturday with high‑energy funk, soul, Latin and R&B. On Sunday, Chicago the Tribute brings the horn‑driven sound of the legendary band to the festival stage.
While the event is a celebra tion of Modesto’s cruising heritage, its purpose is rooted in service. Te North Modesto Kiwanis Club uses the festival as its major annual fundraiser, supporting scholarships, a large Christmas basket program for local families and grants to dozens of youth‑focused nonprofts. Every ticket, reg istration and vendor fee helps the club continue its mission of helping children and teens across the community.
Decades afer its debut, the American Grafti Festival remains the signature event of Grafti Summer, drawing car owners from across Califor nia and the West Coast. For many, it’s a bucket‑list show. For locals, it’s a weekend that feels like home — engines rumbling down McHenry, neon refecting of chrome, and a community gathering to celebrate the culture that shaped a generation. ●
Baseball season in the 209.
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FORMER OAKDALE HIGH PITCHER SUITS UP FOR INDIANAPOLIS CLOWNS
By MARG JACKSON
Afer losing out on the opportunity to play baseball his senior year at Oakdale High School due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brett Maddock never envisioned he would be standing on the mound at a Major League ballpark in Anaheim, staring down a hitter.
Especially if that hitter was armed with a light saber and Maddock received the game ball from Darth Vader.
But that has been just one of the unique experiences for the 2020 OHS graduate, who now plays for the Indianapolis Clowns, one of six teams in the entertaining, fan-focused and wildly popular Banana Ball Championship League.
Banana Ball founder Jesse Cole makes sure the fans are always frst, Maddock said, which means he spends as much – or more – time meeting and greeting fans than actually playing the game.
Te Savannah Bananas were the original team in the league and have since been joined by the Party Animals, Firefghters, Texas Tailgaters, Loco Beach Coconuts and the Indianapolis Clowns. Both the Coconuts and Clowns are new to the league this season.
A pitcher for Indianapolis, Maddock was invited to the try outs – along with about 2,500 other invitees – and was one of those that made it through to the draf day. Tere, he was selected
by the Indianapolis Clowns and is in his frst season with the team.
“I tried out in May of 2025, so a long time ago, but the draf wasn’t until November,” explained Maddock, who was drafed in November 2025 and started training and preparing for the 2026 Banana Ball season shortly thereafer.
During the period from when he tried out to when he was drafed, Maddock continued with his ‘day job’ – working as a nurse in the emergency department
at a hospital in Wichita, Kansas. He earned his nursing degree from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas and played collegiate baseball there.
“Tey liked me at the try outs,” Maddock said of the Banana Ball staf. “I tried out in scrubs.”
Showing that lighthearted approach, Maddock ft in well with the entertainment aspect of Banana Ball. With some 2,500 ball players trying out, only 160 were taken to draf day and, out
I LIKE BONDING WITH MY TEAMMATES AND IT’S AWESOME GETTING TO SEE THE KIDS; THEY LIGHT UP WHEN THEY SEE YOU SO I LOVE JUST THE IMPACT THAT WE CAN HAVE ON THEM.
of those, Maddock was one of just 88 players selected in the draf.
He said that while players do learn choreographed dances and certain routines that are incorporated as part of the game, the baseball itself is real, and each team is trying to win.
Tere are 11 established rules for the Banana Ball teams and the league in general, including those that state there are no bunts; if a fan catches a foul ball, the batter is out; there is a two-hour time limit for the game; and until the fnal inning, there are no ‘runs’ scored, rather, the team that scores more runs than the other in an inning earns a point.
So, he explained, if the Clowns score three runs in an inning and the Bananas score two, the Clowns would receive one point to none for the Bananas. In the fnal inning, however, each run scored is worth a point and the team with the most points wins.
Banana Ball is so popular that people have to enter a lottery to win the chance to buy tickets. Every game is a sellout, said Maddock, and the schedule this summer has the Clowns traveling throughout the country, from Anaheim, California to Charleston, South Carolina; Indianapolis, Indiana to Tulsa,
Oklahoma.
“It’s important that you throw strikes,” he said of taking his work on the mound seriously, with the goal of Banana Ball to keep the game moving at a fast pace.
If the batter does take a ball four, Maddock said it’s considered a “Ball four sprint” and every defensive player has to touch the ball, with throws going from one player to another; the batter runs as far as he can on the base paths until all on defense have touched the ball.
Maddock said the season runs through October and the Clowns will play a 60-game schedule.
Te team travels together; Maddock has a roommate on the road and he said he is learning to balance the baseball and entertainment aspects of his new profession.
“I like bonding with my teammates and it’s awesome getting to see the kids; they light up when they see you so I love just the impact that we can have on them,” he explained.
It is a rigorous schedule, as the ballplayers typically get to the ballpark several hours prior to a game, as they work on the dance routines they will use in that day’s game, then take some time to sign autographs and meet with fans on the feld.
Tere is also ‘Banana Ball Backstage’ following that, to meet with VIB’s, Very Important Bananas, who get a little more interaction with the players prior to the contest.
Maddock said there’s also something happening on the feld in between innings, as the entertainment value is ramped up with such
activities as the world’s slowest race – featuring crawling babies trying to beat each other to the fnish line – along with various in game promotions.
Te pitcher said he is usually used in the later innings so he starts most games in the crowd, taking photos, signing autographs, and tossing beads to those in attendance.
When Maddock had the opportunity to play at Anaheim, in Angel Stadium, it was the frst professional park he played in. Many games are at Minor League parks but the Clowns also have games this season scheduled at the Major League parks for the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians.
Te nurse-turned-pitcher shared that he can hit 90 miles an hour from the mound and his repertoire includes a fast ball, curve, slider and change-up.
And while it’s hard to get tickets to games, Maddock
WE GET TO TRAVEL THE COUNTRY AND IT’S A GREAT FEELING. WE GET TO CONNECT WITH SO MANY KIDS; WE GET TO IMPACT SO MANY PEOPLE IN A POSITIVE WAY.
said Banana Ball founder Cole wants to provide access for fans, again putting them frst, by streaming the games on YouTube. Te rules of Banana Ball can also be found there and the players typically ofer a strong social media presence as well.
“People ask if the games are scripted; they’re not,” added Maddock. “Tere is the entertainment aspect of it because we want to put on a good show for all the fans but there still is the baseball side of it.”
It’s too soon to tell whether this will be Maddock’s only season with the Banana Ball organization. Tere will be another draf in the fall but for now, he is just enjoying the experience and the opportunity being an Indianapolis Clown has given him.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “We get to travel the country and it’s a great feeling. We get to connect with so many kids; we get to impact so many people in a positive way … there’s no better feeling. Honestly, I always compare it to nursing, without the tragedy. I get all the positives of nursing without having to deal with the harsh outcomes.” ●
Ports standing test of time
By MIKE BUSH
One of the benefts for Athletics fans in the Central Valley is they can see future players coming up through the minor leagues right in San Joaquin County.
Te Stockton Ports are a Minor League Baseball team, a Single-A afliate with the A’s. Te Ports are members of the California League.
Tis year’s team, entering the middle of May, has a record of 15-15 for third place in the California League North Division in the MiLB, short for Minor League Baseball. Te California League was established in 1941.
Te Ports have been playing their home games at Banner Island Ballpark since 2005 when the stadium opened its doors. Te stadium has 4,200 fxed seats and can accommodate 5,200 fans.
Darryl Kennedy serves as the manager of the Ports. Kennedy has three players who are batting over .300 as of early May; shortstop Ali Camarillo at .346, catcher Logan Sauve at .324 and another catcher in Owen Carapellotti at .302. Carapellotti leads the Ports in home runs with seven.
On the mound, pitchers Sam Stuhr and Jay Dill each have a record of 3-0 for the Ports.
Roberto Urdaneta leads the Ports in strikeouts
with 15. Jackson Phipps and Alex Barr each have struck out 12 batters and teammates Richard Fernandez and Felix Castro follow at 11 each.
A little bit of history on the Ports.
Tey were known as the Flyers in 1941. Te Flyers were charter members of the California League.
Te Flyers, however, did not play in 1942 due to World War II. But the team rechristened as the Ports in 1946 afer the team resumed action afer the United States won the war.
From 2000 to 2001, in homage to the team in the Ernest Tayer poem, the Ports were renamed the Mudville Nine. But the team returned to the name Ports entering the 2002 season.
Tere have been famous MLB players, coaches and managers who have been a part of the Ports’ enriched history dating back to the 1960s. Tey are Joe Altobelli, in
1969, who would later become the manager of the Baltimore Orioles who won the 1983 World Series.
Other recognizable names are Don Baylor, 1968 All-Star who would later become the 1995 National League Manager of the Year, running the Colorado Rockies; Dave Henderson in 1978 and had a lengthy career that included stops with the Boston Red Sox, Oakland A’s, San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees; Coco Crisp, who was the 2011 American League stolen base champion; and Sonny Gray (2017), who was a three-time MLB All-Star.
Henderson, who died of a heart attack in 2015, was born in Merced and grew up in Dos Palos where he played baseball and football.
For upcoming home games, ticket prices and more, visit www.mlb. com/milb/stockton. ●
“Some of baseball’s biggest names once wore a Stockton Ports jersey before the rest of the world knew them.”
NEW RIDE Modesto’s
ROADSTERS BRING NEW ERA OF BASEBALL TO MODESTO
By CHRISTOPHER CORREA
While the sun was shining bright on John Turman Field in Modesto on Aug. 31, a cloud of uncertainty and sadness lingered over the heads of local baseball fans.
Te day marked the fnal home game for the Modesto Nuts organization following 77 seasons as a minor league afliate. In December of 2024, the Seattle Mariners — the parent club of the Nuts — sold the organization to Diamond Baseball Holdings. As a result, the club relocated to southern California
Te question of whether professional baseball would continue to exist in Stanislaus County was answered roughly a week later, when the Modesto City Council approved an agreement with management company Main Street Baseball for the city and its iconic ballfeld to host a Pioneer Baseball League expansion team. It was then that the Modesto Roadsters were on their way to continue the region’s rich baseball history.
Te club played its frst ofcial game in Modesto on May 19 in front of a large crowd that experienced frst-hand the newest era of baseball.
Behind THE BRAND
Te Roadster name was announced in November, drawing inspiration from the American Grafti era and the city’s connection to classic cars and cruising. Te club’s mascot, Cruiser, is a San Joaquin kit fox that is native to the region. Te team’s primary logos and visual identity, which include Cruiser rocking a leather jacket, slicked back hair and riding around in a convertible, were created by Modesto-based creatives Greg Gallup and Andie Kat of Slightly Obsessed Studios, in close collaboration with team owner Dave Heller. Te brand identity is described as “a celebration of Modesto’s cruising culture, bright spirit and local pride.”
Te stadium, built in 1955, has also received a makeover, with the grandstands, press box and outfeld walls painted by Denair’s Lancaster Painting with the team’s primary colors
of neon diner blue and candy apple red.
Leading the club in his frst professional managerial role is J.T. Snow, a 16year major league veteran best known for his years with the San Francisco Giants from 1997 to 2005. Te frst baseman won six straight Gold Gloves during his time in the Bay Area.
The Roadsters exist to give Modesto a team that feels like home. A team that looks like this city. A team that sounds like this city. A team that belongs to this city. Baseball is the game, but the bigger mission is connection, pride, and unforgettable summer nights in Modesto.
“I love the new name and the bright, colorful logo,” said Snow. “My dad (Jack) drove a candy apple red Corvette in the late ‘60s when he played for the Los Angeles Rams, and we always loved that car. We always felt so cool riding in it. Te Roadsters name and logo conveys that same sense of pride. Te colors are also especially meaningful to me because every team I played on as a child, from Little League through college all the way to the Angels, had red, white and blue as their colors.”
Te John Turman Field name itself
was also dropped, renamed to Modern Woodmen Field as part of a 10-year, multi-million-dollar naming rights partnership with the fraternal fnancial services company, a deal that will provide free parking for fans at all games.
“Te Roadsters exist to give Modesto a team that feels like home. A team that looks like this city. A team that sounds like this city. A team that belongs to this city,” reads the organization’s mission statement. “Baseball is the game, but the bigger mission is connection, pride, and unforgettable summer nights in Modesto.”
About THE TEAM AND THE PBL
Te Roadsters will play 96 regular season games this year, which includes 51 home games.
Serving as Snow’s pitching coach is Mike Leach, the current skipper at Modesto Junior College.
Tere is another local tie on the roster in Treven Crowley, a former standout for Hilmar High School. Crowley, a right-
handed pitcher who played a season at Fresno State, was one of four players who were signed following an open tryout this spring.
As an expansion team, the Roadsters also had the frst overall pick in the PBL Draf. Tey used it to select right-hander Joey Mazzetti of Corona, who played collegiately at the University of Northern Colorado and Colorado Mesa University.
Tis year will mark the frst since 1948 that Modesto’s professional baseball team will not be afliated with a major league club. Teams in the Pioneer Baseball League are independent, though there is an agreement in place with Major League Baseball to have players who have been scouted and signed to easily transfer to MLB farm systems.
While the teams are not directly owned or managed by MLB, they operate under an agreement with MLB and can easily transfer players to MLB organizations when scouts show interest.
Since the partnership in 2021, 60 players have signed contracts with MLB organizations, and two made it all the way to big leagues. Of the 60 players who have earned minor league
contracts was Turlock native Coleton Horner in 2022, inking a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks following a strong stint with the PBL’s Ogden Raptors.
A YearOF PROMOTIONS
Most night games will begin at 7:11 p.m. with Saturday games in May and June slated to get underway at 5:30 p.m. Sunday games will start at 11 a.m. so that folks can beat the heat.
“I could not be more excited to christen a new era of baseball in Modesto,” said Roadsters owner Dave Heller. “We’re not only ofering lower ticket prices than what people in the Central Valley have seen before, we’re cutting food and drink prices dramatically and we’re combining that with the single biggest lineup of giveaways, discounts and freworks this region has ever seen. Te Roadsters are going full throttle to make John Turman Field the center of afordable fun all summer long.”
Te Roadsters have a full weekly promotional schedule. Every Tuesday will feature “$2 Tune-Up Tuesdays”, with $2 hot dogs, $2 pretzel bites, $2 sodas and a free pennant giveaway.
Fans are encouraged to collect all nine pennants to win a prize at the end of the season.
Fans will have another opportunity to collect a full set of Roadsters merchandise on “Wear It Wednesdays,” as the team gives away a diferent t-shirt before each Wednesday game. As with the pennants, anyone who collects all nine T-shirts will be highlighted with a special on-feld experience at the end of the season.
Ten there are “$3 Full Trottle Tursdays,” highlighted by $3 beers and $3 General Admission seats.
Fireworks follow every Friday home game, bringing baseball and freworks together 10 times throughout the season. Tere will also be extended freworks shows on both July 3 and 4.
This is a big milestone for us, and we are ready to have some serious fun at the ballpark.
Each Saturday night game will be topped of with an extraordinary post-game performance from Girls Smash Guitars in partnership with Rockit Production. Te concert will feature guitar giveaways, exclusive gear and custom sticker drops. Premium giveaways will also take place on Saturdays, highlighted by nine giveaways, including a Hawaiian shirt, a handheld fan, a cowboy hat and four bobbleheads of former Giants stars Rich Aurelia, Rob Nenn, Hall of Famer Jef Kent and, of course, Snow.
Te fun concludes on Sundays for “Brunch with the Roadsters,” when all family members (including those on four legs) are welcomed to “Bark in the Park Family Sundays.” In addition to free admission for dogs, Sunday games will feature pre-game player autograph sessions, and kids can run the bases afer the game.
“Tis is a big milestone for us, and we are ready to have some serious fun at the ballpark,” said general manager Michael Neis.
“We can’t wait to show this community what we have done to welcome Roadsters fans in our frst season. From the time you park your car until the last frework has been fred, it’s going to be a blast.” ●
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
To view the full 2026 schedule or purchase tickets, head to www.modestoroadsters.com or call the box office at (209) -572-4487.
Season tickets, groups and hospitality experiences are also available. Fans are encouraged to follow the Roadsters on social media at @ModRoadsters on Instagram and X, as well as at Modesto Roadsters on Facebook, to keep up with full promotional calendar releases, in addition to individual game giveaways and special offers.
GOLD COUNTRY RAGTIME
By SABRA STAFFORD
in the
THREE DAYS, SEVEN VENUES, WORLD CLASS PERFORMERS AND A WHOLE TOWN READY TO WELCOME MUSIC LOVERS FOR THE 2026 HISTORIC SUTTER CREEK RAGTINE FESTIVAL
Three days, seven venues, world‑class performers and a whole town ready to welcome music lovers for the 2026 Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival
Sutter Creek doesn’t just host a festival — it transforms. For one long summer weekend, August 7–9, the Gold Rush town becomes a living soundtrack of syncopation, stride, boogie‑woogie and early jazz. Afer 27 years, the Historic Sutter Creek Ragtime Festival has become a signature expe‑ rience in the Mother Lode: intimate, unhurried and steeped in the charm of a place where time seems to loosen its grip.
Tis is ragtime without velvet ropes. Performers stroll Main Street, chat with fans, and settle in for afer‑hours jams that spill out of hotel lobbies and into the warm night air. Te festival’s small‑town setting is part of its magic — antique shops, tasting rooms and cafés line the walkable downtown, giving visitors plenty of places to wander be‑ tween sets. Friendly merchants, relaxed pacing and the hum of piano music drifing from open doors make the weekend feel like a step back into a gentler era.
Tis year’s roster brings together some of the most respected names in ragtime and early jazz — along with a slate of additional performers who round out a remarkably rich musical weekend.
Richard Dowling, hailed by Te New York Times as “an especially impressive fne pianist,” brings his unmatched command of Scott Joplin’s repertoire — the same mastery that led him to perform Joplin’s complete works from memory at Carnegie Hall. His performances are known for their clarity, warmth and emotional depth.
Frederick Hodges, one of the world’s premier concert pianists, returns with his signature blend of classical polish, stride brilliance and silent‑flm accompaniment fair. His stage presence and technical command make him a perennial festival favorite.
Paul Orsi adds high‑energy sparkle shaped by decades of performing everywhere from Disney‑ land’s Coke Corner to ragtime festivals across the country. A three‑time World Championship Old‑Time Piano Playing Contest winner, Orsi blends formal training with the lived wisdom of ragtime legends.
Carl Sonny Leyland brings the blues‑rich, boogie‑woogie side of the tradition — spontane‑ ous, soulful and steeped in early American roots music. His performances are unpredictable in the best way, full of surprises and rhythmic fre.
Jef Barnhart — pianist, vocalist, arranger and bandleader — adds his internationally acclaimed versatility. Whether performing solo or with his duo Ivory & Gold®, Barn‑ hart delivers classic jazz and ragtime with warmth, humor and impeccable musician‑ ship.
Adding local color is the Amador Clarinet Quartet — Sophia Rechel, Kate Storm, Claire Lillie and Lori McIntyre — whose bright, woodwind‑rich arrangements bring ragtime classics to life in a fresh way. Teir roots in Amador County’s music community make them a natural ft for the festival’s hometown spirit.
The festival’s small-town setting is par of its magic.”
And this is only part of the lineup — the festival features many more performers, each bringing their own style, history and musical spark.
Te festival opens Friday at 4 p.m. and continues through Sunday’s fnale concert, with music fowing through seven venues along Main Street. Two spe‑ cial concerts anchor the weekend, and the beloved silent‑movie program returns to the Hotel Sutter with live piano accompaniment.
Late‑night jam sessions, open piano times and impromptu gatherings keep the music going long afer the ofcial schedule winds down.
Festival badges, T‑shirts, CDs and information will be available at the table in front of the Auditori‑ um/City Hall. Once you’re set, the town is yours — wine tasting, antique browsing, boutique shopping and plenty of chances to follow the sound of a piano to your next stop.
Full details on venues, lodging and pricing are available at HistoricSutterCreekRagtimeFestival. com. For questions, organizers can be reached at historicsuttercreekragtime@gmail.com or (209) 304‑0835. ●
Zalata Kitchen
WHERE ART MEETS FOOD
By CHRISTOPHER CORREA
This was my canvas. I have such a passion for art, and I wanted to express it in the food and in the atmosphere here. There were countless 11- to 15-hour days spent drafting, designing and refning every detail, from the walls and paint tones.
Romeo Esho did it again, combining culinary and visual arts for his next trendy business in Turlock.
Esho held a grand opening this spring for Zalata Kitchen, a place he describes as an “aesthetic Mediterranean kitchen” that specializes in salads, bowls, sandwiches, wraps, cold-pressed juices, matcha, protein shakes, cold brews and more.
Fittingly, Zalata means “salad” in the Assyrian language.
It’s a healthy twist to Esho’s business portfolio which already includes the Xhale Ultra Hookah Lounge in downtown, the founding of the original Cafe Rome location in 2016 and the opening of space-themed Corn’d Korean Corndogs in 2024.
Zalata Kitchen is located at 2679 Geer Road within University Plaza, in the business space directly to the right of Corn’d that Esho used for storage for more than a year. Eshoexplained that while operating Corn’d, he had heard customers longing for healthier food options in the city.
“A lot of businesses opening up are fast food chains, and I learned that there is very much a desire to have healthier restaurants,” Esho said. “And the Mediterranean diet (emphasizing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds) is hot right now. Te location is also really great, because you can indulge in your comfort food at Corn’d while you or others also have the healthier option right next door. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Everything at Zalatais made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients, including the produce. Te dressings are batched fresh daily without preservatives or unnecessary additives. Te meats are antibiotic-free and many are prepared using “sous vide” methods. Even each water source within the building has its own dedicated fltration system.
Te technology implemented
throughout the building is also a point of pride for Esho. Zalatais fully cashless, emphasizing cleanliness. Customers can order on kiosks, on zalatakitchen.com and on their personal mobile devices through the Zalata application that took nearly three months for Esho to develop. On the ordering platforms, you can customize every order down to almost every ingredient.
“We wanted to bring our community something thoughtful — made with mostly organic, fresh ingredients rather than preservatives or unnecessary additives, crafed with intention, and served in a space where art and nourishment meet,” Esho said. “Tat meant honoring every detail.”
Te interior design included.
Interior design is a subject Esho is incredibly passionate about, as seen in his previous business ventures. For Zalata, Esho did all the work himself. First, he spent six months drawing his ideas. Te last six months were spent completing the extensive hands-on renovation.
Esho’s afnity for Greek architecture is evident everywhere, such as the recessed wall shelves featuring his favorite schemes of sage green and sand colors. Te space is furnished with stone tables and chairs, all of which were imported from London. On the walls are original paintings from Europe, made with limewash — without chemicals and with the ability to change colors over time and based on lighting. Succulents, cactus and accents of yellow grass and rock are also found throughout.
When guests frst walk into the space, they are met with a raised ceiling that Esho took advantage of by curating a high-chair seating area complimented with a neon sign reading “the pretty edit,” a phrase he uses to describe someone choosing to do what makes themselves feel good, cared for and more like themselves.
“It means not changing who you
are — just editing your habits, your energy and what you pour into your body.”
“Tis was my canvas,” Esho said. “I have such a passion for art, and I wanted to express it in the food and in the atmosphere here. Tere were countless 11- to 15-hour days spent drafing, designing and refning every detail, from the walls and paint tones.” Zalata Kitchen’s hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Tursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. ●
A Taste of Vista Ranch
By RENEE EDWARDS
Vista Ranch Blends Agriculture, Wine and Community on the Road to Yosemite
You should be able to smell the fruit immediately, with a middle that carries the favor through to a peppery fnish.
On a sun‑drenched afer‑ noon along Highway 140, the gateway route to Yosemite, I sat down with Tom Jackson — the welcoming face of the Vista Ranch informa‑ tion center and the steady hand behind its tasting bar — to learn how a working farm became one of the region’s most distinctive stops. Jackson, who jokingly calls himself “the wine poorer,” greeted visitors with an easy intuition and the kind of friendliness that makes
strangers feel like regulars. Inside the tasting room, the smell of paninis and crushed grapes drifed through the air.
Vista Ranch began not as a winery but as a practical search for an event space. Owners Stephanie and Jef Marchini, third‑generation farmers, pur‑ chased the 20‑acre property in late 2010. Afer months of clearing and preparation, they transformed the land into a destination that highlights the agricultural heritage
of the Central Valley.
Te Marchini family’s connection to the land stretches back decades. Teir earliest venture was a modest pumpkin patch at another location, a tradition that now thrives at the ranch. Each October, more than 3,000 children visit the patch, where every pumpkin is grown on‑site. Te ranch also produces fruit, grapes and seasonal crops, creating a diverse agricultural footprint that has attracted Harvest Hosts, which ofers RV travelers a chance to stay overnight among the vines.
Vista Ranch operates with a boutique approach to winemaking, partnering with a small winery in Madera. “We don’t distribute to anyone,” Jackson said. “Tis is the only place these wines are sold — right across this bar.” Te crisp whites come from nearby regions, while the estate’s robust reds are grown just steps from the tasting room.
For frst‑time visitors, Jackson insists there is one essential pour: the House Zinfandel. Because the grapes are grown on the property, the team monitors sugar levels and fruit health daily. “Ours isn’t pink or white; it’s a true, deep California red,” he said. “You should be able to smell the fruit immediately, with a middle that carries the favor through to a peppery fnish.”
For those looking for something diferent, the ranch ofers the 140 Series — bottles named for the highway leading into Yosemite. Labels such as El Capitan, Poppies and Big Trees have become quiet favorites among regulars.
Te tasting experience is intentionally relaxed. Jackson, who works the bar Wednesday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m., approaches each pour with the heart of an educator. Visitors ofen ask about tannins, grape varieties and, surprisingly, wildlife. “Te most common question I get isn’t about the wine,” he said with a laugh. “It’s ‘Are there really bears in Yosemite?’”
Vista Ranch has grown into what many locals call the community’s living room. Te property hosts everything from Teacher Appreciation events for Le Grand schools to UC Merced galas and high school proms in its main event center. Guests looking for a food pairing are encouraged to skip the crackers and order a toasted panini, which complements the estate reds.
Located at 7326 E. Highway 140 in Merced, Vista Ranch welcomes visitors traveling to and from Yosemite. Te tasting room is open Wednes‑ day through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. ●
CUCUMBER SERRANO MARGARITA
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces Teremana Blanco or Reposado
1 ounce fresh cucumber juice
3 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce agave nectar
3 thin slices serrano pepper, divided ice cucumber slice, for garnish salt, for rim tajin, for rim
DIRECTIONS
1. In cocktail shaker, combine tequila, cucumber juice, lime juice, agave nectar and two slices serrano pepper; shake with ice. Strain over fresh ice into rocks glass.
2. Garnish with cucumber slice and remaining serrano pepper slice. Rim half of glass with salt and tajin.
BLOODY MARY
INGREDIENTS
1 teaspoon red pepper sauce
1 bottle (64 ounces) tomato juice
2 cups vodka
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice ice wooden skewers
6 cheese-flled perogies, baked according to package directions
6 slices bacon, cooked until crispy
DIRECTIONS
1. In large pitcher, combine red pepper sauce, tomato juice, vodka, Worcestershire sauce and lime juice; stir well.
2. In glasses, pour over ice.
3. Using wooden skewer, garnish each Bloody Mary with a cheese-flled perogy and bacon slice.
GRILLED CHICKEN BUNDT
Recipe
courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
SERVINGS
4-6
INGREDIENTS
4 potatoes
2 carrots
8 Brussel’s sprouts oil
2 tablespoons garlic powder, divided
2 tablespoons onion powder, divided
2 teaspoons salt, divided
1 whole chicken (4-5 pounds)
1 stick butter, softened
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat grill to 350 F with one burner of for indirect heat.
2. Cut potatoes, carrots and Brussel’s sprouts into bitesized pieces. Drizzle with oil and mix in 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder and 1 teaspoon salt; set aside.
3. Rub chicken with softened butter, remaining garlic powder, remaining onion powder and remaining salt.
4. Place some veggies in bottom of bundt pan. Place chicken on top of chimney or tube of bundt pan. Fill pan with remaining veggies.
SHRIMP PEARL COUSCOUS SALAD
INGREDIENTS
1 bag Success Pearl Couscous
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 can (14 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 English cucumber, diced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 cup red onions, fnely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup feta, crumbled
DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare pearl couscous according to package directions.
2. In medium bowl, toss shrimp with seasoned salt.
3. In large saucepan over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add shrimp and cook 5 minutes. If necessary, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding pan.
4. In another large pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add chickpeas and cook 8 minutes until crispy and golden, tossing often. Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and salt. Toss to fully coat and cook 2 minutes.
5. In large bowl, combine pearl couscous, shrimp, chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, red onion, dill, lemon juice and remaining olive oil. Toss to combine. Garnish with feta.
FIRST FLIGHT
WCOURAGE, CLOTH & COLD
By CLAUDIA NEWCORN
e’ve all heard how the Wright Brothers successfully achieved the frst manned, heavier-than-air powered fight on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk. But not until I visited the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Outer Banks, North Carolina, did I discover how much more there is to the story that we never hear about– the passion, the inspiration, the fights and the failures… and the whimsical child’s toy that fueled a dream to fy.
‘BAT’ FLIGHT
Wilbur (born 1867) and Orville (born 1871) were two of seven siblings. The close-knit family lived in Dayton, Ohio, and shared a love of learning and science. In 1878, their father brought in a curious toy that would inspire their future. Without letting them see what it was, he suddenly tossed it into the air. Instead of falling, it flew across the room, fluttered about, and then slowly sank to the floor: a simple wind-up toy with a propeller powered by a rubber band. Known as a ‘helicoptere’, the mesmerized boys dubbed it ‘the bat’, and played with it until it broke.
BUILDING BLOCKS OF FLIGHT
Many great minds were already experimenting with flight well before the Wright Brothers. George Cayley (1773-1857) is considered the father of aerodynamics. Alphonse Penaud (1850-80) built a rubberband powered model that flew 131 feet, considered the first stable aircraft. Octave
Chanute (1832-1910) shared collected aeronautical knowledge; he encouraged the Wrights, who used his biplane glider design. A famous German experimenter, Otto Lilienthal (1848-96), was the first true glider pilot to achieve multiple extended glides, before dying in a flight crash. Crediting their mechanical ingenuity as coming from their mother, and having taught themselves bicycle repair, in 1892 the Wrights opened a repair shop in Dayton. Later, funds from their successful business would help propel their flight experiments. Fascinated by the adaptive flight of turkey vultures as well as others pursuing controlled flight, and believing they had as good a chance at success as anyone, they decided to focus on aeronautics and human flight in 1899.
KITTY HAWK MYTH
Gliders served as the foundation of flight. And to operate a glider, regular and consistent breezes were needed. With the help of the US Weather Bureau, the brothers set up a temporary camp in Kill Devil Hills in Outer Banks, North Carolina – and it was here that the first successful flight occurred.
In 1900, the Outer Banks were empty shifting sand dunes, without vegetation and with a much-needed steady wind. Kitty Hawk, four miles away, was the only tiny settlement. The Wrights would spend the next three years commuting between Dayton and their two shacks near a huge sand dune, Big Kill Devil Hill. Between 1900 and 1902, they conducted over 1,000 test glider flights, setting a world record. By 1902, they had added a rudder for steering, but control and lift problems persisted. Back home, frustrated by their failures and near to quitting, they instead decided to
build their own wind-tunnel, enabling them to test different shapes and curves for wings.
In 1903, they began to experiment with propellers (just like “the Bat”), and are credited with the first effective airplane propellers, considered one of their most original and purely scientific achievements. The new flyer’s wooden frame wings were covered in a strong tightly woven white cotton muslin cloth. A first-of-its-kind aluminum block water-cooled vertical 12 horsepower gas engine was designed for their flyer.
ON A COLD DECEMBER DAY…
The flyer had been set up to launch off a monorail embedded in the sand to ensure a level and stable footing; it held the flyer in place with a restraining wire. On Monday, December 14th, 1903, Wilbur and Orville flipped a coin – they had agreed to take turns testing that day their new 40-foot, 605-pound flyer with its double tail and double propellers. Wilbur won. He launched and crashed into the sand. Repairs were needed. On a wintry Thursday, Dec. 17, the brothers dressed in suits and ties. They knew it might be their last chance of the season. The roar of the motor prevented any talk, so they shook hands; it was Orville’s turn. He lay down across the middle of the bottom wing at the full-body controls. The stick moved the horizontal elevator to control climb and descent. His hips moved the cradle to warp (flex) the wings and swing the tail, the combination of which turned the flyer. A lever controlled gas flow and the airspeed recorder.
The wind speed was a feisty 27mph. Witnesses and a photographer stood at the ready. At 10:35AM, Orville released the restraining wire, flying 12 seconds, covering 120 feet. At 11:00AM, Wilbur made the second flight, 175 feet in 12 seconds. At 11:40AM, Orville made the third, 200 feet in 15 seconds. The final flight was made by Wilbur, covering a distance of 852 feet in 59 seconds. These were the first manned heavier-than-air powered flights, all 12-14 feet above the
ground.
The glass plate photograph, taken by John T. Daniels, was not developed until they return to Dayton – it captured the very first moments of powered flight – moments that were nicknamed the “Miracle Moment” that forever changed the world.
AFTERMATH
As the docent concluded the story in the Memorial’s historic Mission 66 Visitor Center & Museum where a full-scale replica of the 1903 flyer sits inside a beautifully lit atrium, I asked him what had happened to it. Ironically, at the end of the final flight, it was struck by a gust of wind, flipping it over and over and destroying it beyond repair. He said that, instead of being upset, the brothers and the participants that day laughed, went and pulled out pieces of debris, autographed them and gave them to each other in celebration of the accomplishments.
In 1928, 25 years later, the construction of a massive 60-foot high memorial obelisk was approved in by President Calvin Coolidge 1927 to commemorate the achievement on Big Kill Devil Hill. But there was a problem. Due to the steady winds, the region’s sand dunes constantly migrate – they are actually known as living sand dunes. And between 1903 and 1925, the massive hill had moved 450 feet. Extensive work using vegetation was done to stabilize it. In 1931 construction began; it was dedicated in November 1932, as “a testament to the questing nature of the human spirit.” Only Orville was alive to see the finished monument – Wilbur died of typhoid fever in 1912. The monument consists of 1,200 tons of North Carolina granite standing atop a star-shaped pedestal on the 90-foot hill. Pathways encircle the monument inviting visitors to walk up and see the busts of Wilbur and Orville, gaze over the field of flight, and read inspiring quotes engraved in the stones. There are other features including ornate doors inside the tower, and on the south side below the hill, a life-size bronze sculpture recreating the Miracle Moment – where visitors can take their own ‘first flight’ with the Wright Brothers www.nps.gov/ wrbr/index.htm
MISSION 66
Replete with educational and interactive exhibits, as well as ranger-led tours, the Memorial’s historic Museum is a
must-see. Why is the Center a historic landmark? The National Park Service initiated ‘Mission 66’ in 1956 with a goal was to build much-needed park facilities across the nation’s park system to serve the growing demands of post-war travel. As the 50th anniversary of powered flight grew near, the National Memorial was chosen as one of the sites at which a state-of-the-art modernist visitor center was to be built.
Budget time to read the exhibits – it’s well worth it. There’s a replica of the wind tunnel, a glass case with “the Bat”, the tools they used, and details on the challenges they faced – and how they overcame them. The family story and the challenges faced over 100 years ago are inspirational. www.nps.gov/wrbr/ learn/historyculture/historic-mission66-visitor-center-and-museum.htm.
Outside the Museum, a short walk away, you can check out the reconstructed 1903 Hanger and Workshop, where the brothers lived during their tests, and marvel at the sparse accommodations. Then, a few steps further west, there is a very special place – the First Flight Boulder. It marks the lift-off point for each flight. Look north and you will see Flight Markers – each designating the landing spot of the first four manned flights.
Walk the flight trail and pause at each marker to read the inscription. Turn around and look at the Memorial reaching for the sky. Listen to the soft hiss of the ever-drifting sand in the constant breeze. You are walking among the courageous first steps of flight. ●
ARE YOU IN GOOD HEALTH?
YOU MAY WANT TO THANK SOLID WASTE, SEWER, & WATER WORKERS
Ihad dropped part of my granola bar the size of a dime on the ground.
I reached down, picked it up, brushed of some grains of debris, and was moving it toward my mouth when my then 15 year-old nephew spoke.
“You’re not going to eat that, are you?” he asked.
I held the granola in front of my mouth for a second.
I glanced around at where we were at. We
By DENNIS WYATT
had been hiking for 11 hours and were resting at High Camp at 12,000 feet afer reaching the summit of Mt. Whitney at 14,505 feet.
We had a good four hours of hiking lef before reaching my Ford Escape.
Ten I looked back at Garrison.
“Ten second rule,” I said. “No, make that the 10-minute rule.”
With that, I popped the granola bar chunk in my mouth and chewed a few times and swallowed.
He looked at me as if I was crazy.
Some people do the same thing when they fnd out I eat the skin of an apple, drink water from a garden hose let alone from a tap, or eat yogurt several days past the expiration date.
It’s safe to say I’m not someone who sprays and wipes down a health club’s exercise mat before using it or account for what the experts say is my “fair share” of the $11 billion Americans spend on disinfection cleaning supplies each year.
such as collecting our garbage, overseeing the treatment of our wastewater, and making sure that clean water always fows through the tap.
No one dreams of becoming a wastewater treatment plant technician as some dream of becoming a physician or a nurse.
But given the impact they have on reducing the odds of us getting sick, they are arguably the most efective part of the American healthcare system.
Garbage, not disposed of properly, becomes a breeding ground for rodents and an endless list of insects such as fies, maggots, and even mosquitoes.
They are arguably the most efective part of the American healthcare system.
Tat’s not to say I don’t clean. It’s not an obsession and I certainly don’t clean out of fear of germs.
If you listen to the “experts”, we are one bite of food, one drink of tap water, or one failed swipe of a 409-soaked towel of the kitchen counter away from a cold, serious illness, or meeting our maker.
Such assertions fy in the face of reality.
Americans enjoy the safest tap water in the history of the planet and beneft from modern health care, a sanitation system for wastewater and garbage that is second to none, and other advances that make living healthier today than ever.
You could make a strong case that the people most responsible for us avoiding diseases aren’t those hawking new ways to kill germs but the men and women who don municipal blue collar uniforms for cities like Manteca, Modesto, Tracy, Stockton, Ripon, Lathrop, Ceres, and Turlock.
Tey perform underappreciated jobs
Human waste, by its very nature, is a haven for diseases. Unclean water is perhaps the most efective way for most illnesses to spread.
In our personal quests to fght sickness and disease, we not only give little credit to mundane — yet critical — 20th century developments that gave us a sanitation and water systems second to none but we also overshoot the runway by forgetting how our bodies work.
Nature did an impressive job with giving us the ability to combat diseases.
Consuming food that works in concert with our bodies and striving to “use it or lose it” when it comes to using our muscles, lungs, and heart are just part of it.
Te fact that our bodies — unless you are the boy in the plastic bubble — have immune systems that can only be efective if they are “tested” is the other half of the puzzle.
Tere is growing research that shows the over use of antibiotics to treat relatively mild infections eventually renders them inefective.
At the same time, those antibiotics are setting up bodies up to be more susceptible to attack.
Te premise behind fu shots is using killed viruses interjected in your body to trigger your immune system to repel the invaders.
By essentially queuing up your immune system to battle a specifc strain of fu — albeit one that isn’t potent enough to make you sick — your body is put on a heightened state to repel the real deal when those germs try to make their way into your system.
Te obsession with striving for an environment rivaling a clean room in the silicon chip manufacturing process when it comes our homes and immediate environments can backfre by not giving our bodies the chance to prime themselves to fght an all-out attack by specifc germs.
It’s much like our legs.
If we are perfectly healthy but opted instead to move around using a motorized wheelchair, they will eventually atrophy.
Ten, if afer years of using a wheelchair for no valid reason we stood up and tried to walk, we’d collapse.
Our legs are meant for walking, just like our immune system is designed to fght diseases.
If we don’t use them, they won’t work.
If we limit their use, we get only limited efectiveness.
I’m sure there are things on the food I drop while hiking in the middle of nowhere that are hostile in nature when it comes to my body.
Te same is true of apple skins or water that fowed through a rubber garden hose.
Tat said, they are also making my body work to stay as healthy as possible. ●
Heart-healthy eating
ore than half of adults and about 60% of children in the United States have unhealthy diets, which can contribute to higher rates of health factors such as high blood pressure and obesity, and lead directly to poor health outcomes including death from chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease.
Tese fndings come from the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, which published its “2026 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health” in its peer-reviewed, fagship journal “Circulation” recommending Americans follow a lifelong healthy eating pattern that may reduce cardiovascular disease risk and improve quality of life based on the latest in evidence-based science.
Te statement outlines nine key features of a heart-healthy dietary pattern:
1. Adjust energy intake and expenditure to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight: Try to balance how much you eat with how active you are to reach and maintain a healthy body weight.
2. Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits: Include diferent colors, textures and types of produce. Remember, even canned and frozen can be nutritious and afordable.
3. Choose foods made mostly with whole grains: Foods such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice and oatmeal are typically better choices than refned grains including white bread or rice.
4. Choose healthy sources of protein: Shif from meat to plant-based sources such as legumes, including beans, peas and lentils, along with nuts and seeds; regularly consume fsh and seafood; select low-fat or fat-free dairy products; and, if red meat is desired, choose lean cuts, avoid processed forms and limit portion size.
5. Choose sources of unsaturated fats: Replace saturated fats with healthy unsaturated fats, including those from nuts, seeds, avocados and nontropical plant oils.
6. Choose minimally processed foods: Go with foods close to their natural state, with minimal added commercial ingredients, rather than those that are highly processed with additives.
7. Minimize intake of added sugars: Limit the sugar-sweetened beverages you drink and the foods with added sugar you eat.
8. Choose foods low in sodium and prepare foods with minimal or no salt: Be aware of hidden sources of sodium in prepared and packaged foods, and season food with healthier options such as herbs, spices or lemon instead of salt.
9. If alcohol is not consumed, do not start; if alcohol is consumed, limit intake: Alcohol can increase your risk for high blood pressure and other health conditions, so if you don’t drink, don’t start.
“For healthy eating to be more attainable and sustainable, we recommend people focus on their overall eating pattern rather than specifc nutrients or foods,” said Alice H. Lichtenstein, D.Sc., FAHA, volunteer chair of the scientifc statement writing committee and senior scientist and leader of the Diet and Chronic Disease Prevention Directive at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufs University. “Every time you choose to make a swap for a healthier alternative, you’re making a step toward a healthier life.”
While the updated guidance is specifcally designed to improve cardiovascular health, it’s generally consistent with dietary recommendations for other conditions like Type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, some cancers and brain health as well due to shared risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, excess weight and reduced kidney function.
“A healthy dietary pattern can support lifelong health and well-being beyond cardiovascular health,” Lichtenstein said.
To learn more about eating for heart and brain health, visit heart.org/healthydiet and talk to your health care provider about what will work best for you. ●
RIVERS
the 209 That Shape
By ZACHERY RAMOS
When people picture the 209, they ofen think of orchards, dairy roads, small towns, summer heat and the long golden stretch of the Central Valley. But beyond the almond rows and foothill highways is another side of the region — one powered by cold mountain water, volcanic blufs, historic bridges and rafs bouncing through sunlit rapids.
For people in Stanislaus and Merced counties, rafing is not a far-of vacation postcard. It is a day trip, a frst-time adventure and, for experienced paddlers, a whitewater challenge close to home. Te 209 sits near the Sierra Nevada, giving residents access to some of California’s most scenic river routes while staying rooted in the heart of the valley.
Te Stanislaus River at Knights Ferry is ofen the entry point for beginners. Te popular Knights Ferry-to-Orange Blossom stretch runs about seven miles with Class I and II rapids, making it one of Northern California’s most
approachable rafing routes. Te foat passes volcanic blufs, rolling foothills and quiet stretches that feel far removed from daily trafc. Te route’s popularity comes from its balance of adventure and accessibility. Sunshine Rafing Adventures and River Journey operate self-guided trips that include rafs, paddles, life jackets and shuttle service. Trips usually take between 3.5 and 5 hours, depending on river fow and group pace.
But the Stanislaus is still a river, not a swimming pool. Flow levels matter. Sunshine Rafing says summer fows between 200 and 749 cubic feet per second are generally suitable for beginners. Higher fows require stronger paddlers and better communication, especially for families with children.
For many residents, Knights Ferry becomes the frst chapter in a rafing story — the place where sunscreen, water shoes and a cooler turn into a full day of memories. Te area also ofers walking trails, picnic spots and views near one of the region’s most recognizable covered bridges. For those seeking more intensity, the Merced River delivers. Fed by Yosemite snowmelt, the Merced is one of California’s premier spring
and early-summer rafing rivers. Rafers encounter Class III and IV rapids, canyon scenery, campgrounds and hiking trails along the Merced Wild and Scenic River.
Te Merced is central to Merced County’s identity. It gives the county its name, shapes its landscape and connects the valley foor to Yosemite’s granite walls. For local residents, a Merced trip can feel like following the county’s namesake upstream until it transforms from quiet valley water into roaring whitewater.
Rafting in the 209 isn’t a far-of vacation postcard — it’s a day trip waiting just beyond the foothills.
Commercial outftters such as Zephyr Whitewater Rafing and OARS ofer trips ranging from half-day runs to longer full-day adventures. Because the river depends on snowmelt, the season typically runs from late April through June, sometimes extending into July depending on snowfall.
Te Merced is a strong ft for adventurous frst-timers, teens and adults who want real whitewater without immediately stepping into the demands of the Tuolumne River. Spring wildfowers, canyon walls and cold, clear water add to the experience. But snowmelt-driven rivers can shif quickly, and a calm stretch one week can feel much more powerful the next.
Te Tuolumne River — known simply as “Te T” — is the region’s heavyweight. For serious rafers, it is one of California’s signature whitewater runs. Te Main Tuolumne features challenging Class IV+ rapids packed into an 18-mile stretch through steep canyon scenery.
Commercial outftters such as ARTA and Sierra Mac run trips near Groveland and the Highway 120 corridor. Guides describe the Tuolumne as remote, demanding and packed with nonstop rapids. Clavey Falls, one of the river’s largest rapids, is well known among experienced paddlers.
Cherry Creek — the Upper Tuolumne — is the pinnacle. Outftters describe it as an intense Class V run requiring training, experience and close attention to guide instructions. Tis is not a casual foat. It is a river that demands respect.
For families wanting something calmer but still iconic, Yosemite Valley offers seasonal rafting on the Merced River during the summer months. Depending on water levels, visitors can float through one of the most recognizable landscapes in California while
enjoying a gentler experience.
Te right rafing trip depends on the group. Families with young children and frst-timers will likely feel most comfortable at Knights Ferry. Adventurous beginners may enjoy a guided Merced trip. Experienced paddlers may look toward the Main Tuolumne, while Cherry Creek is best reserved for those prepared for advanced whitewater.
Rafing also comes with responsibility. Local rivers are beautiful but not amusement rides. Cold water, changing fows, submerged branches, private property and shuttle logistics all matter. Te best rafers plan ahead, listen to guides, wear life jackets and leave the river cleaner than they found it.
For the 209, rafing is more than recreation. It is a reminder that the valley is connected to something wild. Te same water that rushes through Yosemite, rolls past foothill towns and supports the agricultural life of the Central Valley also gives families a chance to paddle, splash and see home from a diferent angle.
This summer, the adventure may be closer than many residents realize. It might be waiting in Knights Ferry with a picnic lunch. It might be roaring through the Merced River Canyon. It might be thundering down the Tuolumne for those ready to meet the river on its own terms.
Either way, the 209 has a river story to tell. All that is lef is to grab a paddle and listen. ●
Gather Here
Wendy Glaister Interiors designs dream kitchen for Bella Viva Orchards owners
BY KRISTINA HACKER
When Bella Viva Orchards owners Angela and Victor Martino asked Wendy Glaister of Wendy Glaister Interiors to help them design a dream kitchen and make their new house a home, she readily agreed.
“When we designed the kitchen, she really took it to heart, knowing that we are in agriculture and producers of food and what our dream for the kitchen was. And she took our personalities, plus our needs, plus, I always say, she takes a person’s heart, she takes their brain, and then she adds creativity and comes up with a design that is just amazing, and it fts us,” said Angela Martino about Glaister’s work.
Te Martinos’ main focus for their new house — which was just next door to their old house — was to have a kitchen where they could both entertain family and friends and also use it as a test kitchen for new recipes for their dried fruit and nut company.
Te kitchen felt separated from the living room because of awkward peninsulas and another change in foor elevation. To alleviate that, Glaister had the entire kitchen demolished and re-designed with new solid wood cabinets with dovetail
drawer boxes and sof close glides and cabinet hinges, custom built by VPM Cabinets of Modesto.
“Te kitchen is a test kitchen for the couple’s fancy fruit business, and the appliances had to hold up to the tasks of a professional kitchen on a daily basis. Ron Bordona, from Bordon’s Furniture and Appliances in Oakdale, helped the couple select the perfect Sub-Zero Wolf kitchen appliance package. Te space features a dual fuel range, steam and speed ovens, two Cove dishwashers, two trash pull-outs (one at each sink
location), ambient, task and general lighting, metal mesh and glass front cabinets, and a combination of three paint colors and a custom stain on the island which also boasts an appliance riser with electrical access inside to house their KitchenAid mixer,” said Glaister.
“A spectacular marble and glass mosaic tile from Artistic Tile, San Francisco, perfectly blends all of the elements and colors for a warm take on a luxury kitchen. Te island has a very fancy edge detail on the countertops as a standout artisan feature,
fabricated by Aluna’s. In contrast, the perimeter counters are a simple fat mitered edge.”
When the Martino’s entertain, they gather around their custom farm table in the dining area, so Glaister took advantage of the space typically reserved for the kitchen nook and repurposed it as a wine lounge with four swivel glider club chairs, inviting cozy conversation in the comfort of plush seating. Wines are stored in a temperature-controlled wine cabinet, engineered by Victor Martino himself.
Visiting grandchildren are a constant
presence in the home, so peninsula seating was selected with littles in mind, ready to perch there for an afernoon of snacking or cookie decorating. Te kitchen comfortably seats eight, even without a traditional table.
“My design goal was to create a beautiful, warm, timeless luxury family space that could perform under pressure and provide a backdrop for years of special memories and celebrations,” said Glaister.
While the kitchen was the focus of the redesign, Glaister also renovated other areas of the home.
Formerly, there was very little natural light when entering the home, so Glaister installed more foor to ceiling windows and switched the old, worn wood door to a glass and storefront style pivot door.
Tere was a 14-inch drop to the sunken living room, so the design team raised the foor to be level with the entry.
A large 70’s style brick freplace dominated the room. To make the space feel less heavy, Glaister removed the “wing” walls of the freplace, drywalled and textured over the remaining brick, installed a more tailored mantel and selected a
natural quartzite stone for the frebox surround.
Te original wood beam ceiling was painted and sculptural light fxtures from Phillips Lighting and Home were installed to lif the feeling and lighten the mood of the room.
French Oak foors from House of Carpets, Modesto, were installed throughout the home to bring a sense of design cohesion to the formerly “choppy” spaces.
A custom-built library on the east wall now provides display and storage for treasured family collections, photos, books and games. Concealed lighting within each section provides a warm glow in the evenings. ●
Gardening with Kids Tips for
Gardening is a simple way to bring families together while simultaneously teaching kids hands-on lessons about nature, responsibility and healthy living. Whether you have a backyard garden, a few containers on the patio or are looking for
a starting point, getting your children involved in planting and caring for plants can spark curiosity and create lasting memories. ●
To get started, consider these family-friendly tips:
1. Start Small
Begin with a manageable project, such as a few containers, a small garden bed or a single planter box. This helps keep the experience fun rather than overwhelming and allows children to see progress quickly.
1 2 3 4 5 Gardening
2. Let Kids Choose the Plants
Giving your children a say in what goes into the garden can help build excitement and a sense of ownership. Ask them to pick a few colorful fruits, vegetables or flowers that grow quickly, such as sunflowers, cherry tomatoes, mint, sugar snap peas or marigolds.
3. Give Them Their Own Space
Kids feel proud when they have something that’s their own. Consider assigning each child a small plot, container or row in the garden. Let them be responsible for watering, planting and checking on their plants.
4. Use Kid-Sized Tools
Little hands typically work best with tools designed just for them. Small watering cans, lightweight trowels and childsized gloves help kids participate safely and comfortably.
5. Encourage Creativity
Gardens don’t have to be all work. Add some fun to the process by adding artistic touches. Projects such as decorating pots, painting plant markers or creating a fairy or butterfly garden can keep imaginations engaged as well.
From the first tiny sprout to the final harvest, find more family-friendly gardening advice at eLivingtoday.com
We wanted to create a space that ofered more than just traditional gym workouts — a place centered around movement, wellness and community.
Stretching Into Newman
Reforma Studio expands to Newman with Pilates, barre and growing wellness lineup
By ZACHERY RAMOS
Anew wellness studio has opened in Newman, bring‑ ing Pilates, barre and a wider range of ftness op‑ tions to the Westside as residents seek alternatives to traditional gym workouts.
Te Reforma Studio, which launched its frst location in Los Banos, has expanded into Newman as its second site. Te husband‑and‑wife owners said the idea grew from a need they saw in the Central Valley for a space focused on movement, wellness and community support.
“My husband and I opened Te Reforma Studio in Los Banos afer recognizing a need in our community for a well‑ ness and ftness space that ofered more than just traditional gym workouts,” the owners said. “Health and wellness have always been a big part of our lives and business, as we also own gyms, Te Compound, in Los Banos, Firebaugh and Modesto.”
Reforma became a natural extension of that work, they said — a place designed for Reformer Pilates, yoga, barre and Lagree, a high‑intensity, low‑impact workout the owners say they are proud to be the only studio in the 209 ofering.
Afer fnding success in Los Banos, the owners began looking for another community that could beneft from the same type of studio experience. Newman quickly rose to the top of the list.
“Newman stood out to us because many residents were traveling to larger cities for ftness classes,” they said. “When the opportunity for a studio space became available, we knew New‑ man would be the perfect home for our second location.”
Te studio currently ofers Reformer Pilates — a resistance‑based workout performed on a reformer machine — along with Mat Pilates and barre, which blends ballet, Pilates and strength train‑ ing. Te owners said they hope to add yoga and hot mat Pilates as the Newman location continues to grow.
Beyond the class schedule, the own ers emphasized that Reforma is meant to be a welcoming space where people feel supported from the moment they walk in.
“When someone walks into Re forma, we want them to feel wel comed, comfortable and reminded that there are endless possibilities for themselves,” they said. “More than anything, we want people to feel en couraged, supported and surrounded by a community that genuinely cares for one another.”
Tat sense of community has already
taken root. Te owners said the response from Newman residents has exceeded expectations.
“Te response from the Newman community has truly lef us in awe,” they said. “We have felt so much support, love and appreciation from people who are excited to fnally have something like Reforma in their hometown.”
For newcomers who may feel intimidated, the owners said most people who walk through the doors are beginners, and every class can be modi‑ fed to ft individual comfort levels.
“Our instructors are there to guide and support members every step of the way,” they said. “No one should feel intimidated by the difculty level. Te community we are building is incredibly welcoming and encouraging, and we truly want everyone to feel comfortable and successful.”
Residents interested in trying a class or learning more can message Te Reforma Studio on social media or call/text 209‑261‑2644. ●
More than a workout, Reforma was built to create movement, wellness and community under one roof.
