209 Magazine Issue 23

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ISSUE 23 $4.95

PAULO

MACHADO PERFECT Pumpkins

PUMPKIN ARTIST

HOLIDAY

GIFT GUIDE THE WESTSIDE’S BIGGEST LOSERS $4.95US

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FEATURES Whether used for decorating, carving or rolled down a hill, cut, roasted and put into a stew, or blended and baked in a pie, pumpkins are one of the best things about the harvest season.

Get some new ideas on how to make the most of your pumpkins in this issue of 209 Magazine.

PERFECT PUMPKINS

A TASTE OF PUMPKIN

Looking for the perfect pumpkin for soups or Thanksgiving pie? Or maybe some unique gourds for your fall décor? R.A.M. Farms grows over 40 varieties of pumpkins and has something for everyone.

Pumpkin is a versatile ingredient for both sweet and savory treats and local restaurants are highlighting it in special seasonal dishes.

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47 PAULO MACHADO

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 ISSUE 23 $4.95

PAULO

MACHADO PERFECT Pumpkins

PUMPKIN ARTIST

HOLIDAY

GIFT GUIDE THE WESTSIDE’S BIGGEST LOSERS

Local pumpkin artist Paulo Machado carves works of art from one of the 209’s largest vegetables, and enjoys teaching the skill to others.

50

$4.95US

KNIGHTS FERRY PUMPKIN ROLL Knights Ferry, just a few miles east of Oakdale along Highway 108, is known for its picturesque location along the Stanislaus River and its historic covered bridge. But come fall, pumpkins take center stage.

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ON THE COVER: Paulo Machado, Pumpkin sculptor based out of Turlock, CA Photo by: Paulo Machado

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OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2017  ISSUE 23

DEPARTMENTS

28

IN THE KNOW 12 16 22 24 28 30

Fall activity calendar Cosplayers in the 209 Ranch of Horror Chill Seekers That’s Entertainment Effortless Style

16

FLAVORS 36 38 40

The Boathouse Hey Bartender Perfect Pairings

42

NAVIGATOR 42 44

Big Sur Sierra Splendor

58

PEOPLE IN THE 209 58

The Face of HOPE

CHARITY CORNER 62

62

Interfaith Ministries

BOOK REVIEW 64

Turlock Author Carrie Dugovic

LOOK BACK 68

Merced’s “Old Betsy”

FULL OF LIFE 70 72 74

Fitness and Beyond Football to Finish Line Westside’s Biggest Losers

PLACE CALLED HOME 78 82

Dream Home Patio by Me

MARKETPLACE 86

Holiday Gift Guide

74 209MAGAZINE.COM

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OCOTBER/NOVEMBER 2017

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Vol. 3 No. 23 ■ October/ November 2017 ■ $4.95 PUBLISHER Hank Vander Veen

GENERAL MANAGER Drew Savage

EDITOR Kristina Hacker

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAHERS Kristyn Aredas Jeff Benziger Dennis D. Cruz Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Marg Jackson Matt Johanson Angelina Martin Candy Padilla Paul Roupe Sabra Stafford Virginia Still Frankie Tovar Dennis Wyatt Doane Yawger

ART DIRECTOR Harold L. George

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Sharon Hoffman Jaime Ramirez

ADVERTISING DIRECTORS Chuck Higgs

SALES & MARKETING Chris Castro Beth Flanagan Dawn Hamilton Corey Rogers Cathy Tuxson Melody Wann Charles Webber Jennifer Webber

SPECIAL CONSULTANT Larry Dovichi

To advertise in 209 Magazine, call Manteca • 209.249.3500 • Oakdale • 209.847.3021 Turlock • 209.634.9141 209 Magazine is published 6 times a year 138 S. Center St. • Turlock, CA 95380 Comments: khacker@209magazine.com www.209magazine.com ©Copyright 2017. 209 Magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher of 209 Magazine is strictly prohibited. The opinions expressed in 209 Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of 209 Magazine management or owner. 209 Magazine assumes no responsibility and makes no recommendation for claims made by advertisers and shall not be liable for any damages incurred.

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Fall has finally arrived in the 209 and nothing says harvest season more than pumpkins. Much of this issue pays tribute to the signature fall vegetable, used for both sweet and savory dishes as well as decorating.

Turlock’s R.A.M. Farms grows over 40 varieties of pumpkins, some of which are featured in this issue along with their perfect purpose. The 209 also has a number of festivals celebrating the orange gourd, including the Knights Ferry Pumpkin Roll which brings competitors from around the region and even as far away as the Bay Area to try their hand at rolling a gourd along Main Street.

Those looking for Halloween ideas can learn about 3D pumpkin carving from Paulo Machado and how to dress to impress as your favorite pop culture character like the many cosplayers in the area.

In California, fall is a good time for travel. The breathtaking beauty of California Highway 1 may have been interrupted, but it has not been closed completely. While coastal access is temporarily on hold for visitors coming from the southern part of the state, 209 area residents may find this the ideal time to take advantage of a less busy Big Sur coast.

After spending the month of October taking in everything fall, it will be time to start the inevitable holiday planning.

The wine and cheese aficionados at O’Brien’s Market put together a festive culinary display in the Perfect Pairings page that would impress an intimate gathering or large holiday party.

The holiday shopping guide also features a number of unique items, from a built-in wine cabinet to homemade caramels and personalized tree ornaments, all available at local stores throughout the 209.

However you decide to spend your fall months, we hope that you’ll make 209 Magazine a part of your life.

As always, we welcome your comments, calendar events and stories. We hope you will support the businesses and charities that have chosen to partner with us. We appreciate them and look forward to being the most relevant magazine in your home, a place called 209.

Hank Vander Veen Publisher hvanderveen@209magazine.com

9/28/2017 12:28:42 PM

9STUDIO 209

Notes

By FRANKIE TOVAR

T

en episodes of Studio209 have been produced since the last issue of 209 Magazine was published. Have you watched them yet?

If not, that’s ok. That’s the beauty of the internet. Everything is archived and in order, ready for our many viewers across the Central Valley and beyond to enjoy at a moment’s notice. In our case, Studio209 can be found at both Studio209.TV and 209Magazine.com, making it even easier for you to enjoy episodes you may have missed.

Are you a Raiders or 49ers fan who didn’t catch our training camp coverage? Did you hear about Baconfest but couldn’t attend?

Do you want to add some extra flair to your Halloween decorations but don’t know how?

You can visit either website any time you want to get your behind-the-scenes NFL fix, to see what you missed out on at Dell’Osso Family Farm and to learn some expert pumpkin carving techniques from Paulo Machado.

You can also visit our websites to share your

STUDIO209 STUDIO is a weekly magazine-style video series filmed in the heart of the Central Valley. Join us every Thursday and enjoy a wide range of coverage from community events to personal profiles and more. ftovar ftovar@morrismultimedia.com

SPONSORED BY

opinion with us, be it a positive comment on a segment or a suggestion for an upcoming episode.

Studio209’s roots have been set and we’re here to stay, so we invite you do join in our growth and be a part of the only web series based in the 209.

Episode Guide

49ers Raiders and ea Preview – Ar y Ba FL N 132: ps Training Cam e On The Rang hm 133: Rhyt eview Pr za an ag Extrav 134: Edible p om Preview ras Grape St 135: Calave mily Festival Fa Farm and 136: Denair est 2017 137: Baconf s Mini Acre s at Macedo’ ca pa Al undtable 8: 13 adership Ro Women’s Le rn Maze Co 139: Turlock d pkin Patch an m Pu o ss l’O do 140: Del Paulo Macha Carving with in pk m Pu 141:

STUDIO209.T V

WE’VE GOT THE 209 COVERED 209MAGAZINE.COM

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OCOTBER/NOVEMBER 2017

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Every Week New Inventory and New Sale Items!

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intheknow

FA L L AC T I V I T Y C A L E N DA R OCTOBER

MANTECA PUMPKIN FAIR

The Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis club is hosting the Manteca Pumpkin Fair October 7 and 8 on West Center Street in downtown Manteca.

The free Fair will feature pumpkin-themed activities and events, children’s games, a haunted house, craft and food vendors, and live entertainment. Saturday night will see a free showing of “Night of the Living Dead,” with popcorn and refreshments available. A car show will be the main attraction on Sunday.

The Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.

For more info visit sunrisekiwanis.org.

HARVEST FESTIFALL IN COLUMBIA

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Columbia State Historic Park is hosting the 33rd annual Harvest Festifall October 14.

Attendees will have an opportunity to step back in time to the 1850s at the Festifall, with vendors all donnish attire from that period.

There will be crafts, homemade goods, pottery, jewelry, and wood furniture up for sale, along with demonstrations on homesteading chores from that time, like spinning and weaving.

The event will also have music, children’s activities, and a petting zoo.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Columbia State Historic Park at Main and State streets in Columbia. The Fair is sponsored by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. For more information call 536-1672.

CHEESE AND WINE EXPO

Riverbank will play host to the 41st annual Cheese and Wine Exposition on October 14 and 15.

Ticket holders will be able to sample wines, craft beers, and cheeses from around the region, as well as check out the live music and vendors at the festivities.

For the young and young at heart the event will have a full carnival with rides and games.

The Expo is from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

The Expo has free admission, with tickets for the sampling $20 in advance or $30 at the door.

The event will be at Santa Fe and Third streets.

For more info visit riverbankcheeseandwine.org.

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WILD WEST FEST

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The Mark Twain Wild West Fest is set from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

October 21 on Main Street in historic downtown Angels Camp.

The immersive Mark Twain Wild West Fest promises to be a living interpretation and celebration of the 19th Century Wild West Gold Rush-era of the Sierra Nevada Mother Lode.

Featured are three stages of music, comedy and entertainment; roving street performers, magicians, jugglers, musicians, honky-tonk piano players and dance hall girls; beer, wine and food; gun-slinging cowboys and outlaws and shoot-out reenactments, as well as villains and damsels in distress; gold miners, their encampment and gold panning demonstrations; a flapjack breakfast; over 80 street vendors of all descriptions including arts and crafts, and a custom car show. Admission and parking are free and attendees are encouraged to dress in Gold Rush attire.

For more information visit marktwainwildwestfest.com.

209MAGAZINE.COM

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HALLOWEENTOWN

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For two days Arlene Muñoz Events & Design will turn a part of Patterson into the family-friendly Halloweentown on October 27 and 28.

From 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. October 27, the event will feature vendors and games at the Masonic Hall at 650 N 6th Street. On the following night the event will add Halloween themed decorated tents and trick-or-treating.

The festivities will include games, music, food, spooky stories, facepainting, photo booth, and vendors.

The event has free admission, though some activities have their own costs.

For more information email ArleneMuñozEvents@yahoo.com.

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NOVEMBER

2

9

LIP-SYNC FUNDRAISER

Red carpet, velvet ropes and paparazzi await attendees at the Tracy Police Activities League Lip-Sync Battle Royale set for 8 p.m. November 9 at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy.

A stringed quartet will greet guests while they enjoy adult beverages from Gallo Wine and finger foods from Vita Dolce. Fun entertainment provided by Tracy area youth, with surprise guest appearances on the stage.

Tickets are $49 and are available at atthegrand.org/ event/Lip-Sync-Battle-Royale-298.

PUNKIN CHUNKIN

Don’t toss out those postHalloween pumpkins or let them waste away on your porch. Instead bring them to the Punkin Chunkin event at the World of Wonders Science Museum in Lodi.

With the power of simple machine science like levers, wheels & axles, and pulleys, visitors can load them into the various trebuchets and launch them down Sacramento Street.

It’s only $1 to launch, and extra pumpkins will be available for purchase.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. November 2 at the Museum at 2 N. Sacramento Street in Lodi.

For more information email jen@ wowsciencemuseum.org.

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TROUT BOUT

San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation and the Delta Fly Fishers will host the 33rd annual Trout Bout on November 19 beginning at 6:15 a.m. at Oak Grove Regional Park in Stockton. Over 2,500 pounds of trout will be planted prior to the tournament, which is open to everyone. Prizes will be awarded in youth and adult categories.

Kids age 15 years and younger fish for catfish free at Oak Grove’s 10-acre lake during the event. There is no registration fee, however, a $5 fishing permit fee and valid California fishing license are required for those 16 years of age or over. A $6 vehicle-parking fee will also apply.

All State Fish and Game laws apply. Participants must supply their own fishing equipment.

Park gates will be open at 6:15 a.m., derby registration closes at 10 a.m. and the last weighin is at 12:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded shortly thereafter.

Oak Grove Regional Park is located on Eight Mile Road and Interstate 5 in Stockton. For more information, call (209) 331-2050 or log onto sjparks.com.

HOLIDAY WREATH WORKSHOP

Attendees at this event are invited to leave the hustle and bustle of shopping for a few hours and learn how to make a holiday wreath.

The two-hour class will be held in a charming century-old barn at 17693 Enterprise Road in Escalon off Highway 120.

The workshop will be from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

November 24.

Tickets are $45 per person and include materials and delicious hot apple cider from Apple Hill. For tickets visit bit.ly/HolidayWreathWorkshop

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DECEMBER

intheknow

DICKENS FAIRE

The McHenry Mansion in Modesto is looking to take visitors back to the Victorian Era during their holiday Dickens Faire on December 2.

There will be Free walk through tours from 9 a.m. until closing at 4 p.m.

Mansion Docents will be on hand in each room and carolers will sing on the front porch beginning at noon.

Horse-drawn wagon rides will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a cost of $3 for adults and $2 for children.

Food and craft vendors will be on 15th Street and McClatchy Square from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information visit mchenrymansion.org

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HOLIDAY PLAYDAY

Retreat Yourself Workshops is hosting a Holiday Playday for All from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. December 9 in Pioneer.

The day will begin with a breakfast of hot baked scones, fresh seasonal fruit, homemade yogurt and granola, juice, coffee and tea.

Attendees will learn to make scones and take home a pan of scones to freeze or bake. Then spend some time learning to make stamps to use in cardmaking, journals, scrapbooks and gift wrap.

An afternoon tea and luncheon will be served, with instructions and recipes for all the offerings.

After lunch, attendees will move to the craft tables once more to create greeting cards to take home.

The workshop will be at Pioneer Community Veterans Hall at 25115 Buckhorn Ridge Road in Pioneer. Tickets are $125 and limited to the first 30 people.

For tickets visit bit.ly/HolidayPLAYday

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1 HAUNTED HOUSE - Not recommended for young children.

2 SCARECROW RIDE - Vote for your favorite scarecrow 3 PUMPKIN BLASTERS - Shoot mini pumpkins 100 miles per hour $6 per bucket 4 CORN MAZES - 3 Mazes 5 DELL 0ss0 EXPRESS TRAIN -1863 CP Huntington replica train with a mile long track 6 U-PICK PUMPkiNS - Find your favorite! .35lb for orange / .40lb specialty 7 FIRST AID - During the weekends, available for medical assistance.

PKIN New GIANT PUM S R CE RA BALL

8 WOW BALL RACES 9 LAWN GAMES 10 SOUVENIR BOOTH - Bring home some memories from the farm 11 SUPER SLIDE 12 FACE PAINTING - Face painting and hair paint. (additional cost) 13 WALK THE PLANK (Weight Limits Apply) 14 MORSE STABLES 15 PONY RIDES - Ride ponies or horses. (additional cost) 16 PETTING ZOO - Get up close to the animals. Feed them too (additional cost).

17 FOOD AND PICNIC AREA - Roasted corn, shaved ice, cheeseburgers, and more.

18 LOST AND FOUND 19 PUMPKIN CASHIER - Buy FARM FRESH pumpkins for $.35lb. / $.40Ib specialty 20 SPEEDWAY - Great for kids of all ages.

[Max Weight Limit 125lbs] 21 INFORMATION BOOTH - For all your questions.

22 COUNTRY STORE - Buy fudge, pumpkin pie, gifts and souvenirs and get a cup of coffee.

23 TIRE PYRAMID 24 WHEEL BARROWS 25 BATHROOMS

26 PIG RACES ICE SKATING 27 MYSTERY TOUR RWE Learn curious facts of the past.

28 ZIP LINES - Must weigh between 60 and 265 pounds. $8 per ride / $12 for two rides-(same person) 29 SNOW TUBING - Open Dec. 16 - Jan. 6th with 90 Minute tubing sessions 30 HAY RIDE 31 PARTY CENTRAL 32 FESTIVAL GROUNDS 33 COMMUNITY STAGE

All Day Admission Includes $13.95 on Weekdays & $17.95 on Weekends

Giant Pumpkin Ball Racers • Corn Mazes 5,000 sq. ft. Spooktacular Haunted Castle Dell’Osso Express Train, Hay Ride, Mystery Tour, Scarecrow Ride, Tire Pyramid, Dell’Osso Speedway, Petting Zoo, Ball Shoot Arena, Lawn Games, Walk the Plank, Super Slide, Kiddie Play Land, Kiddie Wheel, Kiddie Coaster, Kiddie Swings, Spinning Pumpkins & Pillow Jumping Bonus Attractions not included with General Admission; Tickets available at specific attraction Gem Mining • Pumpkin Blasters • Ziplines • Pony Rides • Pumpkin Painting

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F

or most, the month of October and dressing up in other-worldly costumes go hand in hand. But, if you’re a cosplayer in the 209, every day is Halloween.

Cosplay, a combination of the words costume and play, is a hobby that has become a worldwide phenomenon. Participants, known as cosplayers, painstakingly recreate the costumes of their favorite pop culture characters in order to

AVERY KLEMM AKA “RICK GRIMES” GRIMES209

resemble them, and oftentimes, the results are frighteningly accurate.

Cosplayers show off their costume-creating skills at Comic Cons all over the nation, and chances are, you’ve seen Avery Klemm, Stephanie Maynard, Ron Mullins or Julie Guerrero dressed up as some of your favorite characters at conventions around the 209, where the local cosplayers are treated like the celebrities and characters they’re portraying.

PHOTO BY PIO BUENAVENTURA

By ANGELINA MARTIN

intheknow

“I had nothing in my life making me go out and do things, other than going to work, so this changed my world.”

Avery Klemm claims he never thought he “looked like the dude” – the dude being “Rick Grimes” of “The Walking Dead” fame – but after some encouragement from his friends, he gave cosplaying as his zombie-shooting lookalike a try.

Since then, he’s been featured on AMC’s “The Talking Dead” for his shocking resemblance to the character, and the hobby has enriched his life.

“I had nothing in my life making me go out and do things, other than going to work, so this changed my world,” said Klemm. “I’m an extrovert now. I do things now, I go place, I meet people. It’s completely different.”

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— Avery Klemm 16

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STEPHANIE MAYNARD AKA “GWENOM,” “ARIEL,” “JEDI SAILOR MOON,” “AELA THE HUNTRESS,” “POISON IVY” AND “QUEEN SERENITY” JEDI.MOON

PHOTO BY EDGAR GEE

PHOTO BY PIO DAVID NGO

PHOTO BY PIO CARLOS G PHOTOS

Stephanie Maynard’s first cosplay experience was in 2014 at StocktonCon, where she hesitantly donned a “Black Widow” costume on the weekend of her birthday.

Since then, she has become a self-proclaimed “con-hopper,” traveling to at least one convention a month – sometimes, two or three.

“It’s a constant part of my life,” said Maynard. “I’m almost always working on a new costume or planning for the next event.”

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“I’m almost always working on a new costume or planning for the next event.”

— Stephanie Maynard

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intheknow

RON MULLINS AKA “LUKE SKYWALKER,” “ALBUS DUMBLEDORE,” “GANDALF” AND “MAESTER” MAESTER_JEDI_WIZARD

PHOTOS BY PERRY LOUIE

There are lookalikes, then there are “Luke-alikes,” as cosplayer Ron Mullins likes to call it. His resemblance to the bearded heroes of pop culture like “Luke Skywalker” and “Albus Dumbledore” has earned him a star status at conventions throughout the 209, which he tries to attend monthly. This summer alone, Mullins awakened the force for guests at 10 cosplay events.

“If they’re fans of ‘Star Wars’ or ‘Harry Potter,’ they get very excited, sometimes even nervous,” said Mullins.

“I like to make jokes with the fans as Luke. I tell the photographer to capture my ‘light side’ and say, ‘Hashtag that Luke-alike!’”

“If they’re fans of ‘Star Wars’ or ‘Harry Potter,’ they get very excited, sometimes even nervous.”

— Ron Mullins 209MAGAZINE.COM

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JULIE SEYMOUR AKA “WONDER WOMAN” RAYGUNNZ

Measuring in at six feet tall, being called ‘Amazon’ was a constant for Julie Guerrero when she was young. Now, she takes conventions by storm as the world’s most famous Amazonian hero: Wonder Woman. She feels like her true self when cosplaying as Diana Prince, she said.

“I know it sounds silly, but it makes me feel strong,” said Guerrero. “I grew up reading about these magnificent heroes and wanting to be like them. It shows that it’s okay to have a sense of wonder.” ■

“I grew up reading about these magnificent heroes and wanting to be like them. It shows that it’s okay to have a sense of wonder.”

— Julie Seymour 19

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9/28/2017 1:40:23 PM

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OCOTBER/NOVEMBER 2017

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D. NNIS

E

By D

Z

CRU

T

urlock will be much creepier this October as the Ranch of Horror is moving in to the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds.

Owner Heather May and her crew have worked hard for the last several months to bring this horrifying experience to the Central Valley.

Ranch of Horror offers many attractions and experiences including a haunted hayride, headless horseman, jail break escape room, House of Dystopia, free movie nights, virtual roller coaster, stuff a zombie activity and more.

One of their more extreme attractions is the Zombie Escape.

Zombie Escape is a mix of a thrilling escape room and paintball.

Without giving out too much information, teams are sent out into the compound and must fight off the zombie attackers while trying to save all mankind.

“Nolan Goss is our head zombie and he does such an amazing job.

The Zombie Escape is one of our main attractions and we believe it will be a big draw for our more mature attendees,” May said.

Their newest attraction is Ranchers Revenge where guests help the infected animals on the ranch that were bitten by the zombies. Oakdale’s SpecOps Live Play is a sponsor of these laser gun attractions.

There is no admission fee into the Ranch of Horror, however, each attraction does have its own cost ranging from $5 to $25. This event runs from Oct. 5-31, Thursdays through Sundays, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. It will also be open on Oct. 30 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

On Oct. 28 the Ranch of Horror will also be hosting a Trunk-or-Treat event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock. ■

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feature

By Jeff Benziger

My theory is you’re only a non-believer until something happens to you.

—Dana Walters

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C

emeteries and creaky hotels aren’t places that typically capture the interest of young people.

But if it has a reputation for being haunted, Ceres couple Keith Weldon and Clarissa Simpson, and friends Andrew Gonzales and Christopher Gates, will try to make connections there with spirits from the past.

For five years, the Chill Seekers paranormal investigation team has explored so-called haunted locations — such as the O.K. Corral in Tombstone — in an attempt to communicate with disembodied spirits through electronic devices. Their exploits are featured on their YouTube show, “Chillseekers,” which has viewership as high as 83,000.

The paranormal hunting team also put their selfproclaimed ghost box to the test at the Queen Mary in Long Beach with ghost hunter Nick Groff of the cable TV show, “Paranormal Lockdown.”

Believers of paranormal activity accept the mysterious noises emanating from the team’s electronic gadgets as proof – Keith calls it “evidence” – that disembodied spirits haunt burial grounds and other locations.

During their episodes, Carissa interviews employees of haunted businesses or residents of homes to delve into creepy occurrences such as breaking glass sounds, temperature fluctuations, tapping sounds and items inexplicably dropping off the counter at places. The team has investigated the Mackay Mansion in Virginia City, the Banta Inn, the Knights Ferry flour mill and a Rocklin antique store. They have also visited various “haunted” houses where inexplicable things have happened. In the episode featuring historic Allensworth, a ranger lends an air of credibility to ghost tales by saying visitors report “bed sheets moving up and down, almost breathing.”

The couple’s endeavor started out in 2011 after watching paranormal TV shows. Their first paranormal investigation occurred at the National Hotel in Jamestown during an anniversary getaway.

Last year the team visited the historic Murphys Hotel, where employees have reported inexplicable smells of rose perfume in Room 11 (supposedly from spirit Eleanor).

Both Carissa and Keith report having been spooked during their hunts. While investigating one home in Modesto, Keith says he saw a “shadow of a man walking down the hallway that just disappeared.”

“I don’t know what it is I saw but it was the shape of a man,” reported Weldon, 33, a soft-spoken Ceres High graduate who works nights at Cost Less Foods in Ceres.

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while recording at the Ryde Hotel in Walnut Grove. In their Virginia City episode, Carissa reported full-blown goose bumps after the recitation of the Lord’s prayer sent the investigation into a religious direction and they clearly heard “the church … it’s the center of God” coming from the ghost box.

Weldon had no background in electronics when he developed the Weldon Video Ghost Box (WVGB), a device which he says spirits can manipulate audio and video feed to manifest visually or audibly.

“A ghost box will scan through radio frequencies and it’ll create raw audio, which is like a picture of sound,” said Weldon. “The idea is that spirits can manipulate sound frequencies … and they basically can create speech through that. A lot of that is not really heard in real time. You have to record it. You don’t hear EVPs when you’re using your recorder but when you play it back you hear this voice.”

EVP is short for Electronic Voice Phenomenon.

“It all kind of revolves around the theory of Instrumental trans-communication,” explained Simpson. “What we found is that spirits aren’t necessarily manipulating the device as much as they’re able to manipulate the sound wave itself. You will get responses to your questions.”

Welson lets others get in on the hunt for paranormal activity by selling the Spiritus Ghost Box App for use on Android or iOS devices which he claims allows spirits to communicate audibly or visually. The app costs $12.99.

The team uses the Modesto costume shop Daydreams and Nightmares at 1219 Seventh Street as its home base.

Store owner Dana Walters, who is a firm believer in paranormal activity, says strange occurrences are common in her shop.

“What I like about them is they are very professional,” said Walters of Weldon and Simpson. “If something happens in here they double check and make sure their evidence is correct.”

In 2014 Walters’ store surveillance video camera recorded brochures sliding out of a plastic holder and fanning themselves on the floor in an orderly line. Images of spots and ghost like movements have been videoed and recently the shop received a bizarre voicemail “from the dead.”

“My theory is you’re only a non-believer until something happens to you,” said Walters, who is comforted by the thoughts of ghosts as evidence that humans live on after death.

To check out Chill Seekers episodes, visit Youtube. com or visit chillseekers.com. ■ OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2017

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intheknow

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he 209 area has a number of options for those looking to take in a show or concert this fall. Here are a few options to experience in November.

SINBAD

Laughter will flow at the Gallo Center for the Arts on Nov. 3 with a stand-up comedy performance by Sinbad. With a long résumé that includes television shows, voice overs, movies, music and of course comedy, Sinbad has been entertaining audiences since the early 1980s. Influenced by comics like Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Red Skelton, Jonathan Winters, Robin Williams, Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and Flip Wilson, Sinbad is sure to have the audience laughing. He is a mix of old school and new school, which he explained keeps him competitive in the business. He has all social media sites and will be hosting an entertainment podcast.

MOMIX

For those Monday blues, the masses can be entertained by Momix on Nov. 6, also at the Gallo Center. They are an internationally known company of dancers and illusionists under the direction of Moses Pendleton that will be performing “Opus Cactus,” bringing the landscape of the American Southwest alive. Pendleton was a dairy farmer in Northern Vermont and got involved with skiing, which included time skiing with an Austrian team. He was an English major at Dartmouth where he formed his first company of performers. He then created Momix, which has been in existence for 37 years and is a visual theatre company. The performance will have imagery with music, lights, and dance that paints a picture of a fantasy world.

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ALABAMA

Alabama will perform at the Stockton Arena on Nov. 10, bringing fans country favorites like “Dixieland Delight,” “Song of the South,” “Angels Among Us” and “Mountain Music.” They have had 21 number one singles over the years.

Easton Corbin will be opening the show with his traditional country sound.

BRIAN REGAN

Comedy will hit the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton on Nov. 19 with stand-up comedian Brian Regan. He had a cameo in Chris Rock’s film “Top Five” and Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”

“WHITE CHRISTMAS”

Fallon House Theater in Columbia will present Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” starting on Nov. 3 through Dec. 17. The show is set in a rustic Vermont Inn and will be filled with music, dancing and laughter.

THE CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC

The Champions of Magic will perform at the Grand Theatre in Tracy on Nov. 17. The cast of Britain’s top magicians will entertain audiences with their close-up magic, illusions and mind reading. ■ 209MAGAZINE.COM

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intheknow

By SABRA STAFFORD

W

hat does it take to be that woman who walks into a room looking chic and confident? Is it merely the outfit, or the attitude of the woman?

Pulling off a look that appears both effortless and stylish isn’t a superhuman feat. It’s all about finding the clothes that bring together the sense of individuality without coming across as too fussy or overworked. Find that ideal combination and you have found effortless style.

PHOTO BY KRISTYN AREDAS PHOTOGRAPHY

JESSICA CHANG IRISH Public Speaking Consultant, Jessica Chang Consulting; Communications and Brand Manager, Center for Human Services Jessica is wearing a black and white polka dot dress

by Milly, Stuart Weitzman shoes, and Chan Luu pearl earrings.

“This dress is so fun and flirty. It’s not my typical style with the flowy, below-the-knee skirt and I’m happy it worked for me because I need to step outside my fashion comfort zone. And I love the bow on the left shoulder — adds some extra flair!”

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Kaylyn is wearing a boho dress by Chan Luu, Stuart Weitzman shoes, and a tie scarf necklace from Chan Luu.

KAYLYN E. PADLO Professional cosmetologist at A Beautiful Reflection and Day Spa in Turlock “To me the dress is a mixture of vintage and boho style — my two favorite styles. It is a very stylish yet classy dress, which is why I like it, because classy never goes out of style. Definitely a timeless work of art!”

All clothing from The Boutique Modesto in McHenry Village Furniture available at Dezignz in McHenry Village 209MAGAZINE.COM

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intheknow

DREW FLEMATE Freelance makeup artist “The dress was so soft and lightweight. Even in the heat it felt breezy and comfortable. You could wear it on a day out and change it to an evening attire so easily. It could work for me and also my other friends and we’re all different shapes and sizes.”

Drew is wearing a velvet tie-dye dress, Vince suede gray booties, and jewelry by Chan Luu.

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ALYSSON AREDAS Associate Producer for Good Day Sacramento/ CBS 13 “My favorite thing about fashion is trying new things and I think this gorgeous outfit is a perfect example of that! I love the billowy look of the high-neck blouse, and the way it shows just a little bit of midriff makes it a perfect match for the corduroy pants. Add a pair of cute, low heels like these and beaded gold hoops and you’re sure to make an impression!”

Alysson is wearing velvet jeans and a white blouse, both

by Frame, Chan Luu earrings, and Callen Cordero handcrafted shoes.

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9/28/2017 12:29:14 PM

flavors

By VIRGINIA STILL

T

ucked away in Lathrop, nestled in the River Islands community, is a restaurant on the water called The Boathouse.

Not only does this restaurant offer a variety of culinary delights and a full bar, but also a number of recreational and water activities.

The restaurant originally opened in February 2016 and went through some changes and eventually closed. The Boathouse reopened in July 2017 under new owners, Marcus and Shelly Shahen, who also own the Ripon Roadhouse and have been in the restaurant industry for many years.

“We call The Boathouse the ‘Cheers’ of the 209 Valley,” said Marcus. “We instruct our staff that guests are not a table number, they are a family’s last name. We have the opportunity every day to create a memory in somebody’s life and a reaction in their life that we don’t

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take for granted.”

The couple made some renovations prior to opening with new tables, chairs and bar equipment including a state of the art draft beer system that pours draft beer at 30 degrees. They also spent approximately $100,000 on a new kitchen package to support the new menu with fresh recipes made from scratch. The City of Lathrop has not approved a fryer at the restaurant yet, but they may have one next year.

“So we really geared the restaurant around fresh,” added Marcus.

“The goal of this was to take some of what made the Roadhouse famous but also pay respect to the diversity within the community.

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is something for everyone at The Boathouse. Guests can also enjoy an assortment of appetizers, salads, burgers and dinner items.

Event Coordinator Linsey Moses Smith is excited to be part of the management team and welcomes the community to experience the restaurant, which she said could be an option for a celebration. They have many future endeavors on the horizon like creating a bocce league, opening the boat shack to rent boats and other water crafts.

The venue has hosted a number of celebrations for small groups and larger groups of over 100 people.

“I am very excited to be a part of their (Marcus and Shelly) team,” stated Smith. “They are such grounded business owners and

“I mean we have a Thai Asian lettuce wrap, an Asian salad that’s amazing and we really just wanted to build this concept because of the water around and make it a little bit more healthy living.”

The inviting atmosphere and large deck at The Boathouse has been a perfect place for family gatherings, parties and weddings.

“Truly, we have an outstanding staff,” expressed Marcus. “My wife Shelly, Justin, Tracy, and Linsey really operate the core of our business.”

With a bocce ball court, horseshoes, volleyball, and an assortment of water activities like paddleboards, and foot -powered kayak rentals that will be rented out through the fall, there

such generous people, it is awesome. It has been exciting to see how far people are coming from and not just locals from Lathrop and Manteca. People come from Tracy, Ripon, Modesto and Stockton.

“I would encourage people to come out and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that is timeless with a beautiful meal in a beautiful venue.”

Chef Justin Hacker has brought many of the top sellers he created for the Ripon Roadhouse menu to The Boathouse and has added some seafood options fitting for the location on the water. With approximately 15 years of cooking experience, Hacker’s specialty is comfort food.

“We call The Boathouse the ‘Cheers’ of the 209 Valley. We instruct our staff that guests are not a table number, they are a family’s last name. We have the opportunity every day to create a memory in somebody’s life and a reaction in their life that we don’t take for granted.” — Marcus Shahen “The menu here we kind of took about 60 percent from the Roadhouse,” added Hacker. “People enjoy the variety that we have.

When I originally wrote the menu I thought about what people like: burgers, steaks, chicken and now since we are next to the water I added more seafood.”

One of the top sellers on the menu at The Boathouse is the nachos. The plate is filled with vegetarian refried beans, cheese, chili verde, three meats to choose from and several other toppings with chips on the side.

“The owner’s wife always said that she doesn’t like her chips soggy so it is like a giant bean

dip,” explained Hacker. “They enjoy it because they are not constantly breaking chips or have soggy chips. There is a lot going on there but it is really awesome and we sell the hell out of them.”

Since the restaurant currently does not have a fryer Hacker has had to get creative with his side dishes, like the potato salad and the steamed broccolini that are guest favorites. The steamed clams and mussels made with a saffron broth and the Ahi Poke with avocado, a Sashimi grade A Ahi tuna, a soy ginger marinade with a wasabi cream sauce topped with green onions and sesame seeds are some of the options on

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the menu.

With his love for comfort food, Hacker will be serving up specialties this fall like a savory shepherd’s pie and a hearty Guinness stew.

The Boathouse is now offering Sunday brunch with omelets, different style eggs, breakfast potatoes and all the fixings.

Whether you are looking for a calming evening or a fun filled day on the water The Boathouse may be just the place for you.

For more information visit the new website at http://riverislandsboathouse.com/, call (209) 932-9986 or stop by 980 Lakeside Drive in Lathrop. ■

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flavors

eer may be a thirst quencher for those hot summer days but for craft beer lovers, beer satisfies the taste buds year ‘round. Craft beer has gained popularity over the years, which has prompted new craft breweries to have success throughout the 209, including Five Window Beer Company. This small, independent brewery has been open for a few months and already seems to have a following for their custom brews and their family- and dogfriendly environment. The family chemistry of owners Charlie Lippert and Joseph Ehlers – cousins who consider themselves more like brothers – gives the new brewery in Lodi a relaxing home feel that includes a logo of an old truck with five windows belonging to the great grandfather and the cousins’ two dogs Izzy and Riley riding in the back to tie that family vibe in. Some of the custom brews offered are the New England hazy IPA, the cream ale, watermelon blonde, double IPA, coffee stout, mosaic Citra pale, and the prominent blonde ale that is always on tap.

The hazy IPA is made with Simcoe and Citra hops, which has been a very popular brew for customers. Beer lovers can enjoy the assortment of juicy flavors like the ale with the fruity after taste, the creamy ale with a smooth finish or heavier barrel aged darker beers. The brewery has a variety of games for people to enjoy like oversized Jenga, shuffle board, board games and an outdoor beer garden.

For more information visit www.fivewindow.com or visit the brewery at 9 W. Locust St. in Lodi. ■ 209MAGAZINE.COM

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GETTING THERE: FIVE WINDOWS BEER COMPANY 9 W. Locust St. Lodi, CA 95240 CONTACT: (209) 712-2336

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

B

By VIRGINIA STILL

HOURS: Thursday 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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HILMARCHEESE.COM

OCOTBER/NOVEMBER 2017

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flavors O’Brien’s Market wine buyer Tom Bender and cheese aficionado Joe Baird have put together the perfect holiday cheese board and wine pairing — all sourced from the 209 area!

When putting together a cheese board, Baird recommends choosing at least five cheeses from different categories such as soft, ripened, semi-firm, hard, and made from a variety of milks. Make sure to round out the board with seasonal fruits and nuts or chocolate.

It’s important to select wines that will complement the cheeses, said Bender, such as a dry, white wine with an aged, firm cheese and a spicy, dry red for a fuller flavor cheese.

For more information, visit O’Brien’s Market at 4120 Dale Rd., Modesto, 839 W. Roseburg, Modesto or 6331 Oakdale Rd, Riverbank; or go to: obriensmarket.com

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O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 22017 017 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

9/28/2017 1:55:12 PM

Silkwood Alicante Bouschet 2012 — Modesto Nicolau Farms Black Truffle Casiago — Modesto

St. Amant Tempranillo 2015 — Lodi Fiscalini Farmstead Purple Moon Wine Soaked Cheddar — Modesto Stuyt Dairy Mild Gouda Cheese — Escalon

Gianelli Vineyards Vermentino 2016 — Jamestown Fiscalini Farmstead Bandage Wrapped Cheddar — Modesto

McManis Family Vineyards Rose of Pinot Noir 2016 — Ripon Oakdale Cheese Mediterranean Gouda — Oakdale Nicolau Farms Apricot Chill Chevre — Modesto

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navigator

GOING

By TERESA HAMMOND

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It remains one of the under developed parts of the California coast, making its beauty and natural landscape all the more enjoyable.

T

he breathtaking beauty of California Highway 1 may have been interrupted, but it has not been closed completely.

While coastal access is temporarily on hold for visitors coming from the southern part of the state, 209 area residents may find this the ideal time to take advantage of a less busy Big Sur coast.

In early spring of this year, torrential rains wreaked havoc on the California coastline, causing significant damage to its roadways and bridges. To date, areas south from Mud Creek to Salmon Creek are inaccessible to through traffic inhibiting visits to San Simeon, Hearst Castle and area resorts. Caltrans announced a plan to rebuild the stretch of road affected by massive mudslides in early September. It’s an endeavor which Caltrans officials estimate will take over a year to complete and comes in at a price tag of $40 million.

Despite its recent troubles ... it’s hard to beat the beauty of Big Sur. Be it a hiker, beach bum or one ready to sit on a bench in serenity, Big Sur has a little of everything to offer those looking to get outside and escape.

Situated 150 miles west of the Central Valley, Big Sur offers everything from hiking trails, access beaches, beautiful redwoods, as

well as campsites and cabins for those wishing to extend their stay.

Customary with coastal temps, one is well advised to bring layers as the weather may vary on any given day.

Big Sur extends through a 90mile stretch of diverse coastline from south of Carmel to just north of San Simeon. It remains one of the under developed parts of the California coast, making its beauty and natural landscape all the more enjoyable.

For those in a hurry to see and do it all in a fast fashion, Big Sur would not be an ideal stop. Historic Highway 1 stretches the outer most region of California, offering breathtaking views, as well as vantage points overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

While beach access isn’t in abundance as one drives scenic Highway 1, Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Beach and Sand Dollar Beach make it well worth the effort.

For those taking more pleasure from lush landscape versus sand, the Ventana Wilderness offers over 240,000 acres of unique rugged terrain. Straddling the Santa Lucia Mountains the beautiful hardscape is part of the Los Padres National Forest and is managed by the United States Forest Service.

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Limekiln Trails and Tanbark Trail and Tin House. McWay Waterfall Trail offers the coastal experience with the least amount of distance at just .64 miles round trip. The well maintained trail takes hikers to a viewing area of the falls.

Of the five, Tanbark Trail and Tin House is the longest and perhaps most rugged at 5.6 miles round trip.

Beginning in a redwood forest, hikers are advised to take their time on this hike to truly appreciate the landscape and the 1,600 foot climb through the trees. On the descent, breathtaking coastal views may take one’s mind off the distance of the hike.

Campers and the like should make overnight plans well in advance, as the coastal destination is always popular. Among the varying places to stay, The Ripplewood Resort offers quaint cabins, a market to serve basic needs, as well as lawn areas for day time picnics.

Indoor and outdoor dining are also an option at an adjacent café. All this offers visitors a true mountain life experience. Surrounded by large redwoods and a variety of flowers and vegetation, the locale can leave one feeling as if they are a million miles away from their troubles.

For additional information on Big Sur hiking, accommodations and special events visit www.bigsurcalifornia.org. ■

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navigator

By MATT JOHANSON

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W

e reached the foot of the mountain early, which should have tipped us off; climbing trips never go ahead of schedule. But the summit looked inviting and achievable, so the three of us eagerly hiked up towards it.

Reynolds Peak was our goal and we approached the 9,679-foot peak from Ebbetts Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail. My friends Bob and Polly and I climbed laboriously but steadily. Only after we reached the summit did we see a surprising view: crowning the landscape of the Mokelumne Wilderness was the higher summit of the real Reynolds Peak about a mile to the north. I had read the map incorrectly, and we had climbed the wrong mountain!

“Fool’s gold” was once a nemesis of miners in these parts. Today the term might describe the wrong turns and unexpected finds of many outdoors enthusiasts; if you’ve ever struck it, you’re in good company. Our wayward effort to climb Reynolds Peak was not the only time I’ve felt the plight of unlucky 49ers in these mountains.

Panoramic Point boasts an unparalleled view of high Sierra peaks in Kings Canyon National Park and beyond. Spectacular in summer, the 7,520-foot vista becomes even grander in winter, or so I imagined. I planned to ski about 2.5 miles to reach it in February and I was glad to find that a snowcat had broken a trail leading to it, making my travel faster and easier, or so I thought.

An hour and then two passed while I delved deeper into the forest. Puzzled that I hadn’t reached my peak, I realized the snowcat had detoured around it, leading me instead toward a destination unknown. Eventually I reached Park Ridge Lookout, miles away from where I had planned to go. Miners found precious little gold this far south, yet I had managed to find “fool’s gold” once again.

But Park Ridge offered its own grand perspective and I didn’t regret the detour. It gave me a longer, more rewarding day on my skis and led me to return another time that winter to reach Panoramic Point. That second trip introduced me to other winter trails beside ancient giant sequoias and to rewarding 209MAGAZINE.COM

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mountain summits which I otherwise wouldn’t have discovered.

As this year’s epic snows receded, I attempted another peak with my cousin Andy and our friend Scott. This time our goal was 10,641-foot summit of Night Cap Peak in the Emigrant Wilderness near Sonora Pass. I’ve spent a good amount of time in these parts, and Andy knows these mountains better than anyone. But that didn’t stop us from missing a turnoff, misinterpreting a trail sign and ultimately summiting a different peak than the one we had planned to climb.

No one seemed upset at missing Night Cap Peak as we had a night cap at the Kennedy Meadows bar that evening. The summit we did reach was nearly as high and had a grand view of its own. Besides, the outing involved eight hours of hard work and we couldn’t bring ourselves to regret doing no more. Similarly, Bob, Polly and I were probably better off climbing the mountain we did rather than hiking hours longer to ascend its similar neighbor.

No one sets out to find “fool’s gold,” and not every wrong turn turns into a positive experience, but outdoors types may discover that unplanned detours and discoveries can lead to a mother lode of golden memories. ■

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Perfect PUMPKINS

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Perfect FOR DECORATING Warty Winged Gourd Decorative Gourds

Casperita Pumpkin Pump-ke-mon Pumpkin Warty Goblin

PHOTOS BY CANDY PADILLA/ 209 Magazine

Sunlight Pumpkin

Pink Porcelain Doll Pumpkin

Turk’s Turbin 209MAGAZINE.COM

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Perfect FOR EATING Delicata Squash

Long Island Cheese Pumpkin

This winter squash is good for baking, frying, braising or steaming.

This pumpkin is very versatile and most parts of the plant are edible - shell, flesh, seeds, and flowers. Ripe flesh can be boiled, baked, steamed, pickled, or roasted, and enjoyed in soups, purees, desserts, preserves, pasta, and stews.

Fairytale Pumpkin You can serve roasted pumpkin slices, or use in soups and stews or desserts.

Kakai

* This is Karen Macedo from RAM Farms’ pick for the perfect pumpkin pie.

The large, hullless seeds of this pumpkin are delicious roasted.

But do not use the flesh for cooking.

Jarrahdale Pumpkin This is a great pumpkin for cooking and baking. They also make for a great puree or just eating raw.

Uchiki Kuri This butter-colored flesh squash has a distinctive chestnut flavor and is good in soups and stir fry.

Perfect FOR CARVING Captain Jack Pumpkin This extra-large pumpkin boasts a classic tall, barrel shape. Weighing up to 45 pounds apiece, these pumpkins make splendid jack o’ lanterns or canvasses for 3D carvings.

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All these pumpkins were grown at Turlock’s RAM Farms. Check out the 40 varieties of pumpkins grown by RAM Farms at 716 N. Daubenberger Rd., Turlock, throughout the month of October. For more information on the farm’s October events, visit www.ramfarms.com.

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feature

PAULO MACHADO PUMPKIN ARTIST

By KRISTINA HACKER

Check out Studio209’s coverage of Paulo Machado at studio209.tv

P

aulo Machado has been fascinated with pumpkin carving ever since he visited the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival as a young man recently arrived from the Azores. Watching the professionals transform a large vegetable into a work of art spoke to him and he’s been carving ever since.

The Turlock resident is now following in the footsteps of his carving idol, Ray Villafane, by using a 3D method, rather than the traditional jack o’ lantern style.

Machado is known for his “goofy-faced” pumpkins, with features so life-like it’s spooky.

“I look at a pumpkin and I kind of see a face in it and I go for it.

The fun part about it is that if I try for something and it comes out something else, it’s all good because it really doesn’t make a difference,” he said.

It takes up to four hours for Machado to create one of his unique carvings. Machado said he’s not upset that his works of art will only last for a short time before coming pumpkin mush.

“I take a picture of each pumpkin and that’s how I keep them,” he said.

209 Magazine reporter Angelina Martin had a personal carving lesson from Machado and Studio

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209 captured their efforts — and Machado’s first carving of the season. Check it out at: 209magazine.com.

While Martin struggled to make her first pumpkin carving ever turn out the way she intended, Machado said his best advice for beginners is to “Keep doing it and just have fun with it.”

Check out more of Machado’s creations and tips for beginning carvers at: paulomachadopumpkins.com.

Machado will also be carving live weekends throughout October at R.A.M. Farms in Turlock. Find out when he will be at the farm at: ramfarms.com. ■

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By DOANE YAWGER

P

umpkin is a traditional fall-winter staple and several Merced restaurants have added it to their menus — and not just dessert.

Pumpkin fanciers can treat themselves to different twists on pumpkins at The Bar B-Q Pit and Toni's Courtyard Café and Bakery in Merced and at Jantz Bakery locations in Merced, Atwater and Mariposa.

THE BAR B-Q PIT Owner Roy Mercado said pumpkins remind him of Indian food.

"I like to be creative, whatever the theme," Mercado says. "It's heavy; you have to love it. You can use all kinds of spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. It has a good smell to it."

Last year Mercado added pumpkin fettucine to the menu for the fall which is popular as a dinner dish on weekends. He said people like to try new things and pumpkin is different.

For the fettucine, he adds half a gallon of heavy cream to garlic sautéed with four ounces of white wine, salt and pepper. He adds four drops of tobasco, corn starch to thicken and 14

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ounces of pumpkin puree.

Bar B-Q Pit diners also can try pumpkin waffles and pancakes along with pumpkin rolls.

The Bar B-Q Pit is located at 1720 G St., Merced.

TONI'S COURTYARD CAFE Toni's Courtyard Café owner Toni Fiorenza loves pumpkin. Its scents remind her of childhood memories, going to her grandmother's house and helping her cook holiday meals.

"Fall is my favorite season of the year," Fiorenza said. "I love pumpkin and make pumpkin bread every day and serve it with breakfast all year round. If I go somewhere, I will eat pumpkin. I love the smell of pumpkin; it lends itself to the fall flavors."

At the end of October and early November, Fiorenza offers a grilled pumpkin salad. It features spring greens, tomatoes, cubed and grilled pumpkins and pumpkin seeds, along with buttered carrots and an apple cider vinaigrette.

Fiorena, who celebrated 15 years in business last June, also serves pumpkin soup. Served hot, the soup has sautéed onions, sage, chicken broth, roasted pumpkin, and thyme. She has been serving this for about three years.

Pumpkin also shows up in the Courtyard's pumpkin cookies, some which include chocolate chips or oatmeal. Besides traditional pumpkin pie with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, the restaurant also offers a pumpkin cheesecake, with real cream and a ginger snap crust.

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“People like pumpkin because of all the spices that go with the recipes.

It’s trending very hard and the concept just gets bigger and bigger.“ — Julia Siler Toni' Courtyard patrons also can enjoy a pumpkin-spice latte from October to February or March. During November, every Wednesday features a pumpkin cake with cinnamon-nutmeg glaze, with a free slice for each customer. The eggs, sour cream and flour are blended together with the sour cream giving a richer flavor, she says.

"We go through pounds of pumpkin," Fiorenza says. "We average 10 pounds a week and during the holidays will go through 40 pounds a week."

Toni’s Courtyard Café & Bakery is located at 516 W. 18th St., Merced.

JANTZ BAKERY In the fall, pumpkin is prominent on the menu of Jantz Bakery restaurants in Merced, Atwater and Mariposa. Pumpkin-derived dishes start in October and some extend through December.

Julia Siler, Atwater-based bakery manager, said pumpkin tastes similar to sweet potatoes. It has a very mild taste and definitely is popular with customers, who have already made pre-orders.

"Fall is my favorite season," Siler says.

"People like pumpkin because of all the spices that go with the recipes. It's trending very hard and the concept just gets bigger and bigger."

In her fifth year with Jantz, Siler can't remember pumpkin being this popular when she started. She suspects social media is helping feed the pumpkin frenzy.

One of the benefits of pumpkin is you can literally make "pumpkin anything," she jokes.

One of the more popular offerings is their pumpkin cream cheese bars, comprised of soft pumpkin bread, a light layer of cream cheese and a frosting on top.

Pumpkin cream cheese rolls are made to order during Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin cookies also are a big hit, Siler says, with white chocolate chips.

In October, pumpkin bread takes center stage. Jantz also offers traditional pumpkin pies which she thinks are much better than the chain stores, due to their homemade taste.

A pretty popular item is the pumpkin cheesecake, along with pumpkin scones, which are great with coffee.

Jantz uses quite a bit of pumpkin, especially during Thanksgiving week.

The bakery goes through 10 to 15 cases of five-pound cans of pumpkins.

Jantz Café and Bakery is located at 3361 G St., Merced. ■ Doane Yawger of Merced is a semiretired newspaper reporter and editor.

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feature

By MARG JACKSON

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W

hat are you doing the first Sunday in November?

If you lived in Knights Ferry, that question would be answered for you every year with a few simple words … the Annual Pumpkin Roll.

Going strong for more than 50 years, the Knights Ferry Pumpkin Roll brings competitors from around the region and even as far away as the Bay Area to try their hand at rolling a gourd along Main Street. Closest to the line wins.

Knights Ferry, just a few miles east of Oakdale along Highway 108, is known for its picturesque location along the Stanislaus River and its historic covered bridge.

But come fall, pumpkins take center stage.

“I helped start it,” said longtime Knights Ferry resident Lee Shearer of the Pumpkin Roll.

He served as the self-proclaimed “Grand Poohbah” of the event for decades.

“I had a party; in another life with another wife and about 4 a.m. a couple of inebriated cowboys decided to throw pumpkins around in the Community Clubhouse,” Shearer explained. “I said let’s see how far we can roll ‘em and the next day we decided we would have a contest.”

Getting the inebriated cowboys onto the street helped save the clubhouse from potential harm from smashing pumpkins and ultimately gave birth to a unique ritual of fall in the 209.

“It just kept growing from there,” Shearer said of continuing the tradition. “Everybody had a good time.”

Shearer explained that he and Lucille Ulrich combined forces to draw up the ‘rules’ of the contest and the first Sunday in November was chosen as the official date. That also happens to be the 209MAGAZINE.COM

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Sunday after Halloween, so pumpkins are still readily available.

For many years, the pumpkins for the competition have been provided by Manteca-based George Perry and Sons. The 2016 Pumpkin Roll, according to the trophies presented, was the 53rd annual, making the 2017 edition the 54th time rollers will gather to send the pumpkins down the street.

Two competition sites are offered, with the younger set taking to the tennis courts adjacent to the hamlet’s Community Clubhouse on Main Street for their ‘roll off ’ that starts at noon.

After the tiny tots have gone, the competition moves to Main Street, where the senior rollers, 65 and older, start the pumpkins on their way. Then, by age group and with both male and female divisions for each, rollers are from 6 to 12; 13 to 18; and 19 and older.

“We had about 400 rollers last year,” Shearer said of the 2016 competition.

Based on the age divisions, there are ‘finish lines’ marked out at various distances from the starting point; the roller in each age division that gets closest to the line wins.

Some choose to stand in the middle of the roadway, aiming their pumpkin down the double solid yellow line; others go one side or the other and there can be as many delivery styles as there are rollers – the only rule is to send the pumpkin on its way and hope it stops close to the line.

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over to the Community Club for expenses in keeping the local clubhouse open for residents to enjoy, helping with insurance, maintenance and the like.

In addition, the first Sunday of each month is known as ‘Breakfast Sunday in the Ferry,’ when the Odd Fellows Hall is the site for a hearty breakfast at a nominal charge.

Many people fortify themselves for the roll by first stopping to eat. Also on sale during the day are pumpkin rolls – the kind with cream cheese and fluffy cake – to take home from the event.

There’s a craft fair set up in the Community Clubhouse as well, with a few booths spilling out onto the adjacent tennis courts.

Though Shearer has officially ‘retired’ from overseeing the annual roll, he said it is a well-attended event every year, and typically makes for a great day of family fun.

“We get people from Modesto, Oakdale, Sonora, Stockton, the

Going strong for more than 50 years, the Knights Ferry Pumpkin Roll brings competitors from around the region and even as far away as the Bay Area to try their hand at rolling a gourd along Main Street.

Bay Area,” Shearer reported. “They come to win a genuine simulated gold trophy.”

That, and bragging rights for the year before the next group of rollers tries to take them down.

“We’ve had some rolls that have been within inches of the line,” said Shearer.

With competition taking over Main Street, locals and visitors alike are focused solely on the Pumpkin Roll that first Sunday in November.

“It’s just a community fun thing,” Shearer added. “It’s fun, intense nonsense.” ■ 209MAGAZINE.COM

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peopleinthe209

The face of

By DENNIS WYATT

PHOTOS BY HIME ROMERO/ 209 Magazine

M

ichelle Whitaker is a happy, high octane 38-year-old.

Being dynamic is almost a prerequisite for a single mother like Whitaker who is juggling a job, school, volunteer work and raising three children.

Daughter Dakota, 18, graduated high school earlier this year with high honors. Daughter Kailee, 16, is carrying a 4.5 grade point average.

Son Melvin, 8, is in elementary school.

Whittaker, while she’d prefer to be in a traditional college campus setting, is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Psychology via the Internet through Grand Canyon University.

All in all, Whitaker comes across as someone who has her life together.

An old friend thought so when he greeted her for the first time in years this summer congratulating Whitaker for her successes and given her a hug.

It’s a far cry from their last meeting.

“He tried to kill me,” Whitaker offers nonchalantly.

Whitaker isn’t joking. She was on the streets of Manteca at the time thanks to getting swallowed up in drugs.

“The only thing you’re worrying about is where am I going to sleep tonight. Can I get into a shelter — a vacant building? If I can’t find a place I need to sleep on the street and worry about who is around me, worry if they are going to abuse me or steal my things.”

— Michelle Whitaker For 7½ years between drug induced highs her worries were about the fundamentals.

“The only thing you’re worrying about is where am I going to sleep tonight,” Whitaker said. “Can I get into a shelter — a vacant building?

If I can’t find a place I need to sleep on the street and worry about who is around me, worry if they are going to abuse me or steal my things.”

Now five years and four months removed from the street — she keeps tally daily on how long she 209MAGAZINE.COM

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has been sober — Whitaker is employed as a case worker at the Manteca HOPE Family Shelters.

She is also part of the Manteca Police Department’s effort to address homelessness. She accompanies Manteca Police Community Resource Officer Mike Kelly to homeless encampments in a bid to offer resources to help get people off the streets. Since July 2016, more than 150 homeless men and women in Manteca have either gotten into treatment programs, been reunited with relatives who are often out of state, or have found a job. Of those, 100 have not returned to the streets.

Growing up Whitaker said she had all of the advantages — an intact family, loving parents including a father who is a pastor, a nice home in Manteca’s Shasta Park neighborhood, two brothers, cats and a dog.

She was involved with agriculture her freshman and sophomore years at Manteca High and had a FFA pig project. She also dabbled in high school rodeo. After high school she enlisted in the Army.

She had a medical discharge after being injured in basic training.

Several years after that she became a drug addict.

At age 25, Whitaker traded her

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family’s 1970s Brady Bunch style home for abandoned warehouses and a boarded up county agricultural services office along Moffat Boulevard. When those weren’t available, “home” for the night became Library Park, a deteriorating trailer park, and even the notorious “Tweaker Towers” — a second floor collection of old-style single room apartments in downtown Manteca.

Showers were no longer a daily occurrence.

“You wait until a homeowner leaves and then you go up and use their garden hose to shower,” Whitaker said of efforts to try and stay clean on the streets.

She became well versed in the often invisible world of the homeless. She learned to stay away from certain homeless territories such as Northgate Park in north Manteca where a tougher crowd of homeless hang out. She learned to Dumpster dive.

But first and foremost she knew

what she was.

“I was an addict,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker — who is a volunteer member of the San Joaquin County Homeless Task Force — has been fairly effective at helping steer homeless individuals into recovery programs. It’s not as much that she is persistent without being pushy, as the fact she has street cred in Manteca.

When she asks a homeless person, “dude, aren’t you getting tired of this?” Whitaker hits a nerve because she’s been there and is no longer homeless.

Those who roamed the streets when Whitaker did — and are still on them — typically react in shock and disbelief when they encounter her now.

The fact she holds herself up as an example that it’s possible, Manteca Police were able to get two individuals off the streets who they thought would never happen as they had been homeless for more than 20 years.

Whitaker — who is also part of the Celebrate Recovery effort — notes many homeless who are still on the streets have started attending the weekly gatherings.

“They address hurts, habits, and hang-ups,” she noted.

She said the homeless effort by Manteca is appreciated by many on the streets who now believe people care about them.

Whitaker credits Manteca Police who she dealt with when addiction controlled her life and the help she received from HOPE Ministries six years ago for ”talking her back” into living and allowing her to get her life and children back.

“I’d be in prison or dead,” Whitaker said if it wasn’t for the police and HOPE Ministries.

Whitaker said that she hopes people who come across homeless “would think this person has a tragic story and not think they are a dirt bag.”

“Talk to them,” Whitaker said.

“They’re human just like you.” ■

Michelle Whitaker is shown outside of the HOPE Family Shelter — one of three shelters operated by HOEP Ministries in Manteca for families, single moms with kids, and transitional housing.

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charitycorner

A HEALTHY HAND UP

By TERESA HAMMOND

B

ig things are happening in the Airport District of Modesto.

While its small and unassuming location of 120 Kerr Ave., Modesto may seem contrary to this, Interfaith Ministries is mixing things up and impacting lives.

Serving the community for close to five decades, the Modesto based non-profit has seen a shift in focus the past four years thanks largely in part to the leadership of Elizabeth Greenlee-Wight.

Greenlee-Wight first joined the Interfaith Ministries in 2013, as a single mom, looking for a way to make ends meet without juggling multiple jobs.

“It changed my life,” she said of her employment with Interfaith. “It was life changing for me and opened a whole new world for me. There was no escaping my life at that time, working two jobs at $10 an hour.”

“When I took it,” she continued of her initial position as marketing

coordinator, “I had experienced hunger. Hunger in America doesn’t look like hunger oddly enough, because there’s food available most of the time, but not healthy.”

The mother of two shared stories of trying to make ends meet shortly after leaving her husband. Short of resources herself, she had the means to feed her children and would then eat what they could not.

“When that wasn’t enough I would eat at my parents,” she shared. “That’s how I lived for the first six months.”

Greenlee-Wight ultimately made the choice to return home to her parents to create stability for herself and her children. Five months after joining the Interfaith team she was named to the position of CEO by the Board of Directors.

Within the first five months of her employment she recognized a void which concerned her.

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the food being offered from the Interfaith pantry at the time. “Underprivileged does not necessarily equal desire to eat unhealthy.”

Interfaith Ministries offers its programs and services to those Greenlee-Wight describes as the working poor. The average household income of recipients is $1,200 per month. The not-for-profit is funded largely by private donors and churches of all denominations.

“I felt sick about it,” she said of the food being offered to clients. “I felt like I was feeding over 20,000 children a year food I wouldn’t feed my own kids.”

That thought in itself presented a personal challenge.

“I can do better,” she noted of the expectation she put on herself and presented to the Board of Directors.

The change has been effective.

Interfaith now maintains a focus of providing clients with dry beans, rice, fresh produce, frozen meats like turkey and chicken, eggs, as

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The need is much bigger than we can even imagine.

Twenty-four percent of families are living at risk of food insecurity in Stanislaus County.”

— Interfaith Ministries CEO Elizabeth Greenlee-Wight

well as canned vegetables and proteins. All products now must meet criteria of less than 500 mg of sodium and 10 grams of sugar for cereal.

“They’re really no-nonsense guidelines,” she stated. “This is not diet food or whole foods. It’s just food you would feed your family.”

The overall reception of the clientele has been well received.

Recipients of the Food Pantry are able to visit once a month and are provided with five days’ worth of food, bagged by volunteers and carried out to their cars. There is also a Community Clothes Closet which clients are invited to take up to 20 items per month from, per family member.

According to the CEO, while the Clothes Closet may not have the same regular traffic as the Food Pantry, it is a valuable entity all the same.

Keeping her focus set on the overall health and accessibility of

the underserved, over two years ago Greenlee-Wight began the Free Mobile Farmers Market. The grant-funded project offers fresh fruits and vegetables to areas known as Food Deserts, a term referring to areas with low access to fresh food, as well as low income.

“I wanted to build a cultural capital for children,” Greenlee-Wight stated. A vibrant trailer hosting rolling shelves is towed to varying locations for locals to visit and access its bounty at zero cost.

“It’s really important to me that it’s beautiful,” she said of the trailer’s exterior as well as the high-quality shelves used. “That it’s a dignified experience.”

In the first year, the Free Mobile Farmers Market served 10,000 at its three stops. The second year that number grew to 15,000, far surpassing the initial expectations.

“The need is much bigger than we can even imagine,” the healthy food advocate stated. “Twenty-four 209MAGAZINE.COM

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percent of families are living at risk of food insecurity in Stanislaus County.”

It doesn’t end with food and clothing for Interfaith’s CEO as she looks to the overall health and well-being of their clients. She recently partnered with The Body Positive to bring health education classes, as well as movement classes to her clientele.

“Primarily our idea would be to present this to people who are out of work, because while they’re out of work they can be improving their body and improving their confidence,” she said.

“I’m not sure what it’s going to look like,” she added of the program prior to it being rolled out, “but we’re committed to bringing movement to the Airport District.”

Interfaith Ministries is open to the community Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional information and services can be found at www.interfaithmodesto. org or call (209) 572-3117. ■

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9/28/2017 2:11:01 PM

bookreview

The Lens of God

By ANGELINA MARTIN

I

n 2002, Turlock resident Carrie Dugovic began an endeavor she never could have predicted: authoring her own novel. It wasn’t entirely unexpected – after all, she could often be found at her children’s bedsides throughout the years, responding to the ever-present request of, “Mommy, tell me a story.” But, with a job as a full-time database administrator at Stanislaus State and three school-aged kids, pressing pen to paper as she wrote her book, “The Lens of God,” was both a challenge and an accomplishment in itself.

“Stories have always easily flowed from me, and it was a wonderful way to spend time with my children,” said Dugovic.

“The Lens of God” is a Christian fiction novel that takes aspects of Dugovic’s everyday life, like her love for photography and the states of Colorado and Washington, where she was raised, and places them into the story of Tasha McCleary and Stephen Banks – two photographers who cross paths as adults and experience tragedy, forgiveness and healing through God’s truths.

The book begins with the pair meeting in Stephen’s photography studio, where she coincidentally discovers her own photographs hanging on the walls, then dives into the two characters’ backstories, weaving the story together until they meet again as adults. Though

the story is not a romance novel, said Dugovic, there is a romance involved.

“The most enjoyable part about writing my book was finding out what was going to happen next to my characters,” she said.

“Along with my reader, I also laughed and cried while writing.

It’s hard to type while you’re crying!”

The idea for “The Lens of God,” came to Dugovic in a wildly vivid dream – something that happens frequently, she said, but this time, the dream was begging to be shared with a larger audience.

“One day, I awoke from a nap with this story so strong in my head, I felt compelled to write it down,” said Dugovic.

So, she wrote. Despite having written around 200 pages of “The Lens of God” as she first began her novel in 2002, difficulties in her personal life caused Dugovic to step away from writing – until now.

“I put the book aside, though the book kept calling to me over the years,” she said. “The characters were unfinished, waiting impatiently for their story to be told until last year when I finished it.”

Today, the three children who inspired Dugovic to start her journey as a storyteller are grown up, but the small trio who used to beg for stories at bedtime would be proud of their mother. She finally finished writing “The Lens of God” and the book was published in July, with her daughter’s 1965 Volkswagen gracing the front cover.

“I’ve had many people tell me that they feel like they’ve entered in and ‘were part of the story,’” said Dugovic. “The characters were very real, and even after putting the book down,

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“My characters go through some very tough situations, similar to many that people go through every day. Yet, they persevere and have the courage to pursue their ambitions.”

Though she expects to write more novels in the future, it won’t be a sequel to “The Lens of God,” said Dugovic. She plans to retire from Stanislaus State next year, giving her plenty of time to pursue her other hobbies like making red wine with her husband, creating masterful mugs from clay or tending to her backyard chickens.

Perhaps in her next book, she said, another one of her interests will take center stage, as photography did in “The Lens of God.” For now, Dugovic hopes that her first novel keeps readers thinking about it, even after they’ve turned the last page.

“My characters go through some very tough situations, similar to many that people go through every day. Yet, they persevere and have the courage to pursue their ambitions,” she said. “Many of us would like to try something new or get back to a hobby or activity we once enjoyed, but life circumstances or our insecurities hold us back. Perhaps this book will inspire them to give it a try.” ■

they kept thinking about them and couldn’t wait to start reading again to see what would happen.”

Dugovic’s college-aged son was among the first to read the book, and during a car ride, the story toyed with his emotions.

“At one point while he was reading, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, ‘Mom, how could you?’” she said. “I told him that not everything in stories is always happy.”

Reviews on Amazon.com, where “The Lens of God” is available for purchase, have come pouring in for the novel, which has earned a four-and-a-half-star rating on the website.

“Regardless of your religious beliefs, this story touches on the kindness and compassion we all have for each other,” wrote one reader.

Another fan of Dugovic’s book described it as a “beautiful novel,” adding that she felt “as much a part of the lives of the characters as if you were right there with them.”

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lookback

“Old Betsy” in action around the turn of the century.

Merced’s Old Betsy

I

t bears little resemblance to today's sophisticated apparatus but Merced's first fire engine still holds a place of honor in the Old County Courthouse. "Old Betsy" came to Merced from Stockton in 1874 and served the community until 1906 when more modern equipment arrived.

The Philadelphia-style pumper has a shiny brass pumping unit in the center and sits on a 6-foot tall wooden body, with four large wooden-spoke steel wheels. It took 14 firefighters to maneuver the two 15-foot folding arms that were used to pump the water through the brass holder. It could shoot a stream of water 190 feet into the air.

Sarah Lim, Courthouse Museum executive director, said Old Betsy is the most popular exhibit at the his-

‘Old Betsy’ came to Merced from Stockton in 1874 and served the community until 1906 when more modern equipment arrived.

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By DOANE YAWGER

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central part of the historic museum. Old Betsy has been on permanent display at the museum since 1983.

Engineer Keith Albrecht said Old Betsy is an example of how far firefighting equipment has evolved. One of the department's newest computercontrolled engines was delivered in 2016 and cost $600,000, not including extra equipment. The new engine pumps 1,500 gallons of water a minute and can store 500 gallons of water. It seats six firefighters and has air-ride suspension.

Evans says firefighting efforts were much more labor-intensive in the 1800s; fire engines were

first devised a century earlier. The job of firefighting now is much more complex and involves many more duties, such as responding to medical emergencies.

Firefighting efforts in the 1800s were much more defensive, mostly trying to keep fires from spreading to other buildings.

Evans points out Old Betsy is still featured on department patches, belt buckles and its logo. Old Betsy still has its original hoses which would draft water from cisterns or a creek to fight fires. ■

PHOTO BY CANDY PADILLA/ 209 Magazine

toric courthouse, revered by people of all ages.

Sporting 1,500 feet of 2 1/2-inch hose, Old Betsy was bought from the Stockton Fire Department for $1,800; it required 30 to 40 men to pull it and operate it before horses were later acquired to pull it. The publisher of the Merced Express newspaper is credited with naming the engine.

Capt. Jim Evans of the Merced Fire Department's Station 53 on Loughborough Drive said Old Betsy was built in 1859 by the W.M. Jeffers Fire Engine Co. in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and could shoot water higher than the Courthouse dome which is now a

Doane Yawger of Merced is a semi-retired newspaper reporter and editor.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MERCED COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND COURTHOUSE MUSEUM

“Old Betsy” was built by William Jeffers & Co. of Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

It required 30 to 40 men to pull it to a fire and operate it. The engine could shoot a stream of water 190 feet. Keg of beer on sidewalk was in accordance with custom of providing refreshments for volunteers.

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9/28/2017 2:13:42 PM

fulloflife

By TERESA HAMMOND

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

A

s a society we are losing our way.

Catch your attention? Good. That was the hope.

Truth be told, this topic is a bit redundant for me in this space. Just one year ago, I penned a piece sharing recognition of a need to unplug.

So, at the risk of sounding trite or a bit Debbie Downer, I’ll expand a bit. Before doing so I’d like to share my ‘why?’

Why I see this as important, why revisit a topic covered and most important why in this space?

The answer is really quite simple. If my thoughts, insight and words cause five readers of the 15,000 magazines printed to pause and adjust, it’s worth it. My additional hope would be those five would inspire five more and so on and so forth.

My fear, rather, observation, as of late has been that as a society we have somehow forgotten how to exercise patience. Smartphones now serve as permanent pieces of our beings and in so being, we expect the same of others. No longer do we exercise the patience of pause when sending an e-mail or making a call and leaving a message.

We (globally speaking) have become so selfcentered and impatient that we leave voicemails to follow-up e-mails we sent an hour ago or vice versa. Admittedly, I’m not one of these people. I do however possess the tendency to overthink if I don’t see a text reply within an hour of sending it, that’s a problem too.

My fear and primary reason for bringing this up has mostly to do with the ‘little’ eyes. My children and I have experienced our own growing pains, 209MAGAZINE.COM

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so to speak, as mom began enforcing the ‘it can wait’ philosophy. Three words I heard often as a child, yet somehow found myself abandoning with my own two.

When they were about ages four and seven, I began to recognize a pattern in my own behavior. When either would ask for something or needed help with a toy, a jacket, simply anything I would interrupt what I was doing to tend to them. While this may not seem a big deal, the problem lies in that they were not being taught to wait.

They were both figuratively and literally being taught that their need comes first. That’s not real life. Whether I tied their shoe in that moment or did it after completing loading the laundry their life would remain intact. The shoe tying was not life threatening. It was urgent to them, but isn’t everything with a four and seven-year-old?

Therein lies the problem, we have largely become a society of grown adults behaving as four- and seven-year-olds in the way of communication and immediate response. We have abandoned the notion that the receiver may have something more pressing. They may need to consult with another before returning a call or sending back a reply. Goodness, they may even be on vacation and failed to set up auto reply or reset voicemail.

As we head into this holiday season, let’s take some time to be more aware of our patience and tolerance. Let’s not overwhelm one another with our needs, which we feel may be more pressing than another’s. Instead let’s consciously try, really try to exercise patience with one another. The e-mail was received, the voicemail has been heard and now it’s your turn to – wait. ■ 70

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fulloflife

TO

By TERESA HAMMOND

S

teve Cooper is not one to shy away from challenge.

As luck would have it for many, however, Cooper sees challenge as opportunity waiting to happen and he’s more than happy to help. The outdoor enthusiast has kayaked, hiked, climbed and ran countless terrains both solo as well as to aid others. He has also hiked Half Dome a minimum of three times a year for the past 20 years.

“That’s been my passion for many years,” he said of the 18-mile round trip hike to the summit of the Yosemite landmark.

“I’m a coach at heart,” the former college football player said. “I love helping people set goals and achieve those goals.”

As a result of his passion, Cooper has accompanied individuals, as well as families and even a group of 60 people – complete with barbecue at the top – for those interested in a “Do the Dome” experience.

One hike he has only done once, however, was a journey to the top of the Dome that took over 18 hours to complete. He took that hike with lifelong friend Steve Gokey.

Gokey is visually impaired.

The two men first became friends in the early 1970s at Modesto Junior College. Cooper played for the school football team and Gokey assisted with the team.

“I liked all sports,” Gokey said

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of his early love for team athletics. “I like the camaraderie that it brings.”

Cooper shared an appreciation for his friend’s keen knowledge of the sport back in their college days and from that a friendship was born.

Close to 30 years later, the two men once again crossed paths at an area grocery store. With his enthusiasm for the Dome at its prime, Cooper invited Gokey to go with him.

Gokey agreed to join his friend on one condition; if he hiked the Dome then Cooper would join him in his passion – marathon running. Cooper agreed.

“I ran one 25 years earlier as a dare,” Cooper said of accepting the 26.2 mile challenge. “My 50th birthday was coming up, so that seemed like a neat thing to do.”

“I just like the challenge,” Gokey said of marathon running. “I like doing it. I like just pushing it to the max. I like to just push and push and push.”

Born two and a half months premature, the marathon runner has never had sight. He trains on a treadmill and runs courses with the help of guides. Thirteen years ago, after the duo completed Half Dome, they took on the California International Marathon in Sacramento and Cooper served as Gokey’s guide.

“I had run close to 10 (marathons) before partnering with Coop,” Gokey said.

To date the men have completed eight marathons together and close to 40 other races of varying distances.

When the two men began running

together they used a tether, which affected Gokey’s form and did not keep him in an upright position.

“His mechanics were terrible,” Cooper said of Gokey’s form.

Two years later, under the guidance of a friend they began using PVC poles, five feet in length, to aid with guiding Gokey through the course.

“The five foot length was very scientific,” Cooper said of the guiding tool. “We took one 10-foot PVC pole and cut it in half.”

The two chuckled at the discovery, which has now served them well for over 11 years of racing.

“It is critical though,” Cooper said of the spacing. “You get it too short and you kick each other.”

While it would seem the dark glasses and white PVC poles might make Gokey’s visual impairment obvious, the two men shared numerous stories of snarky comments, as well as accusations of cheating by other runners.

As testament to their light-heartedness and zest for adventure, such interactions are taken in stride and simply added to the story book of adventures.

“What a great thrill,” Gokey explained of crossing a marathon finish line. “Just that whole finish and having accomplished that. The blindness has nothing to do with that. It’s just a tremendous accomplishment.”

Now a well-accomplished marathoner himself, Cooper agreed with his friend on the thrill of crossing the finish line and the spirit of the crowd

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upon seeing Gokey come through the chute.

As one would imagine, running as a guide with poles in each hand takes on a completely different life than that of a traditional race.

“It’s a challenge,” Cooper said. “It is a challenge. It’s like driving a bus.

You have to really anticipate ahead of time. I do a lot of talking because I have to.”

“I try to just block out all of the pain as much as possible,” Gokey said of race day and the 26.2 mile distance. “Blind people try and use visualization. Except our visualization is sound. When I’m running on the treadmill (training), I visualize what it’s going to sound like at the end.”

As for the Half Dome adventure, which prompted the start of this partnership, Gokey wasn’t sold.

“I wasn’t impressed by the view,” he said, laughing of the 18-hour journey from start to finish.

Gokey noted that in a marathon, you cross the finish and you’re done; whereas with Half Dome once you get up, you still have to climb back down.

And while Cooper continues to guide his friend through the courses, he remains equally – or more so – committed to taking people up the Dome.

“My proudest moments have been helping others to succeed and find joy,” Cooper said. “Every adventure produced humorous and inspirational memories and my hope would be to share that with others.” ■

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fulloflife

Winning means losing on a large scale

By PAUL ROUPE

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N

ot many contests have the goal of deliberately trying to lose.

But back on June 27, five teams from Newman, Patterson, and Gustine met at the Westside Theatre in Newman to step on a giant scale in a challenge to see who could drop the most weight over the next eight weeks.

Each team consisted of ten participants, and it was up to each team to decide how they would go about trimming off the pounds in order to come out on top.

Unlike the NBC show “The Biggest Loser,” where six-figure grand prizes are routinely handed out, the victors here receive a T-shirt proclaiming the “Biggest Loser Champion,” a certificate of accomplishment, and the satisfaction of achieving a healthier body and mind.

When Stanislaus County Supervisor Jim DeMartini started the competition nine years ago, he knew that communities including Newman, Patterson, and Gustine were seriously lacking in medical providers and services citizens needed to stay healthy.

He began the Westside Healthcare Task Force to expand the amount of care available, and soon he enlisted the help of urgent care specialists and medical professionals to educate people on how to eat right and combat common ailments such as diabetes and hypertension.

The focus for this education encompassed both children and adults, but he found that it was very important for kids to learn about what it takes to avoid heart disease and childhood obesity.

According to kidsdata.org, in 2015 45 percent of 5th graders in Merced County were deemed overweight or obese. In Stanislaus County that number is a nearly identical 44%.

“A lot of these health problems can be prevented,” DeMartini says. “We felt that kids today don’t get enough exercise, eat a lot of junk food, and play too many video games.”

After doing a lot of statistical analysis on what was lacking in the communities, DeMartini eventually had enough information to make presentations at school board meetings on the necessity of children eating right and exercising regularly.

Then he came up with the idea for the adults to compete in a weight loss competition as part of what he calls “the health summit.”

It is here at this summit where the five teams gather to see which one has lost the most weight over the previous eight weeks.

This year it was held at Henry Miller Park in Gustine, and also present were a handful of vendors united with the theme of nutritional awareness.

The Las Palmas Health Center had a representative who offered the services of knowledgeable and available professionals to assist with living an active lifestyle. She also had a small book filled with healthy meal choices such as tuna apple salad, vegetable quesadillas, and apple glazed sweet potatoes.

Right next to her was a table populated with watermelons, cantaloupes, squash, eggplant, figs, grapes, cucumbers, plums, and peppers.

Also present were salespeople pushing honey, bee pollen, and even extra virgin olive oil, which the seller proclaims has been around in some form for about five-thousand years and is full of antioxidants.

While the vendors sit and explain their products to interested passersby, the teams begin to form around the giant scale set up next to the wooden park tables.

First up is Shift Happens from Patterson.

They inch their way onto the small square platform placed directly on the ground, flash grins for the cameras, and once the numbers are recorded, clear out to make way for the Patterson Promontores.

Following them is the City of Newman.

Then the Ladies and the Tramp on a Mission from Patterson crowd on the scale and smile as they pose for pictures. CONTINUED ON PAGE 76 

Unlike the NBC show “The Biggest Loser,” where six-figure grand prizes are routinely handed out, the victors here receive a T-shirt proclaiming the “Biggest Loser Champion,” a certificate of accomplishment, and the satisfaction of achieving a healthier body and mind.

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fulloflife

It takes a minute for them to all get situated, cramming next to each other breathlessly while the man from the Stanislaus County Weights and Measures Division scribbles on his clipboard.

The numbers on the reader fluctuate for several seconds, until it finally settles down enough to get an accurate count.

1,828.5 pounds.

“Ok, you guys can breathe,” he says, and they immediately disperse to make way for the last team, but half of them don’t show up so there is no option other than disqualification.

The figures are tallied up and written with a Sharpie on a large piece of red poster board with the team’s names on it.

There is no formal announcement of the winners, but when Shift Happens from Patterson sees the board, they know that their 35 pounds was just enough to edge out the Promontores by a pound and a half.

They collect their shirts and certificate, and talks of an imminent back-to-school night send them scattering in a hasty exit.

The Promontores head to the table piled high with crates of Arrowhead bottles and to-go plastic trays of ham or turkey and cheese sandwiches, a bag of baby carrots, an apple, and a bag of chips provided by the Gustine Unified School District.

With their meals in hand, a few of them shuffle to a bench, sit, and chat.

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This was their third year in this competition, and Berenice Gercelazo, the Promontore’s captain, says they “didn’t work as hard” these past two months. They cut down on their Zumba, and though they would meet at the park after dropping their kids off at school, it was tough to get the time and energy invested to adhere to a strict and rigorous schedule.

One of her teammates, Fabiola Garcia, joked that they could have knocked off that pound and a half by wearing lighter shoes.

Even in defeat, they admit they had fun and plan on doing it again next year.

But next time, Gercelazo says, “We’re gonna win.” ■

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placecalledhome

By KRISTINA HACKER

I

n 1931, the Cadrett family built a unique Mission Revival home and 86 years later the house and most of its original furnishings are still a part of historic Central Modesto.

John and MaryAnn Cadrett moved into the home 1998, which is a Modesto Landmark Preservation Site, and have maintained the house’s historic origins ever since. ■

PHOTOS BY CANDY PADILLA/209 MAGAZINE

John’s mother, Maggie Cadrett, designed the home and created many of the architectural features and artworks that still adorn its walls. She was a well-known artist and worked in a variety of mediums, including stained glass, copper, watercolor and pottery.

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placecalledhome

The bathroom, including the terra cotta tile floor, vanity, toilet and sink, are all original from 1931.

PHOTOS BY CANDY PADILLA/209 MAGAZINE

The curved doorways are one of the home’s Mission Revival features.

The living room has original floors, iron curtain rods and even a reclining chair from the turn of the century. The built-in shelves feature a Maggie Cadrett stained glass window.

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The dining room is another traditional Mission Revival Style.

The red couch with attached end tables was built for the Cadrett home in 1931 and still offers the weary a comfortable place to sit and relax.

The original wood floors also run into the master bedroom.

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placecalledhome

JEFF BENZIGER 209 MAGAZINE

Always a do-it-yourselfer, I began thinking about installing my own patio in the corner of the yard

L

ike all newer homes built in modern Valley subdivisions, the home we purchased in 2015 came with a cramped backyard.

The previous owner kept the yard in grass, which struggled to stay green due to the poor water penetration of the clay soil.

We figured that entertaining guests on the grass, with trampling feet of family and friends, would do the lawn in. Always a do-ityourselfer, I began thinking about installing my own patio in the corner of the yard, connected by a brick pathway to the back door slider. The more I looked into it, the more the project seemed doable. We decided on a paver brick patio and felt the size of 14 feet by 14 feet was perfect for the yard. The project would take some time, several weekends perhaps.

Since there is a vast choice of types of paver brick, I spent time in local home improvement stores checking out the best looking and best quality brick for the value. I chose Basalite’s tan/brown colored 4” x 8” Holland brick paver, which is 2-3/8” thick and cost about 44 cents apiece. During the project, I had calculated how much brick I would need – along with cost – and had it delivered on pallets to my home.

The patio needed to be slightly higher than the grass so the first task was to excavate the area of the grass as well as the dirt going about 7 to 8 inches deep. The dirt removed from the site was used to fill in low spots on the property. A steel rake was essential to level the spot. To ensure the ground was level, I rested a 2” x 4” stud on the ground and set a plumber’s level atop of it. If spots weren’t level I’d shave more ground with a flat shovel.

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For me, the satisfaction of sitting back on the patio with a cold brew in the evening is increased tenfold knowing it was personal design, muscle and hard work that put it there.

Because the plan was to run a brick sidewalk to the patio, I needed to carefully sledge-hammer the small cement slab the builder poured at the slider. To prevent breakage of the glass slider, I propped up a piece of plywood against it for protection.

After doing some internet research and consulting with a Ceres landscape supply, I learned that I needed to order several yards of paver base – essentially a mixture of rock, dirt, sand and recycled concrete.

It was recommended that the base be at least four inches thick. The material was delivered outside the yard, which meant hauling it into the backyard by wheelbarrow. For hours I got a good workout lifting, shoveling and raking out the base as level as possible.

With the paver base raked into relative levelness, the next step was compaction. The last thing you want a finished paver brick patio to do is settle with bricks becoming dislodged or have the surface become 209MAGAZINE.COM

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uneven. I rented a compactor from the local building materials store for several hours. The machine is powered by a gas engine, and isn’t hard to operate for a person of average strength. It is, however, heavy to offload from a pickup. A relative came over to assist as well as keeping the surface watered to keep down the dust and help settle the rock base. Before use of the compactor, the paver base was a bed of sharp rocks was jagged and uneven. I was impressed how the compactor vibrated and flattened the paver base into a solid surface. Bricks, however, are not set on paver base but on a flat and level bed of sand. Math skills came in handy as I calculated how much sand I would need delivered to lay it at a depth of 1-1/2 to 2 inches. A helper and I laid down two parallel PVC pipes on the flattened base and wheelbarrowed in the sand. We then used a long 2x4 to level off and screed the sand, CONTINUED ON PAGE 84  83

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placecalledhome

by moving it back and forth motion atop the pipes, pulling the excess sand toward us. Any low spots were filled in with more sand and another screed.

Until this point this project was hard work but the actual laying of the brick was definitely the most fun and rewarding part of the project. I was surprised how fast the placing of pavers occurred. They fit in perfectly but occasionally a light tap from a rubber mallet set them firmly in place.

Because I used thicker and larger landscaping blocks as my border for a bold perimeter, some cutting of brick with a masonry blade was required for a fit. This was the most challenging part of the project.

It’s recommended – and I followed suit – to use plastic rails to be staked into the ground along the patio perimeter to keep the bricks from becoming displaced in time.

The final step was to sweep a polymeric sand to fill in the cracks between bricks. Once the sand is wet, 209MAGAZINE.COM

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it hardens like “cement” to keep weeds from poppop ping up. Application can be a meticulous exercise since you don’t want any of the sand and polymers to bond to the brick surface. Thus, thorough sweeping of the bricks will ensure the sand remains only in the cracks, not on the surface. Gentle spraying of water ensures the sand will not be displaced and will harden in the cracks. Aggressive watering can wash out the sand and cause the polymers essential for bonding to float out and spread a milky substance on the bricks so caution must be exercised.

The patio project was a challenge but it was done nicely at a cost much less than had I contracted the work. Anyone wanting to do their own project should do the research necessary and devote the energy and ambition required. For me, the satisfaction of sitting back on the patio with a cold brew in the evening is increased tenfold knowing it was personal design, muscle and hard work that put it there. ■ 84

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