Best of Ceres 2015

BEST OFCe

Reader’s Choice results

res

How our readers voted on their favorite businesses & more

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Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

EXITHOME.com www.EXITHOME.com If HOME is where you want to be, then it’s time to work with the BEST in the field.

Thanks to Don Cool Photography and Rainbow Fields.

EXIT RealtyCONSULTANTS Consultants EXIT REALTY CalBRE CalBRELic. Lic.#01520140 #01520140

Voted “Best RealReal Estate Company ininthe 209” Voted “Favorite Estate Company Ceres”

RENEE Mark LEDBETTER Whitehead CalBRE Lic. #01488931 209-480-3943

Voted “Best Real Estate Agent in the 209” CalBRE Lic. #01329915 Voted “Favorite Realtor in Ceres”

“Find your next HOME at the nearest EXIT!” EXIT REALTY CONSULTANTS TURLOCK 600 E. Main Street Suite #300 (209) 668-2525

CERES 1768 Mitchell Road Suite #302 (209) 554-5252

MODESTO 901 McHenry Avenue & 4641 Spyres Way #1 (209) 622-4800

MANTECA FRESNO 300 Northgate Drive 3439 W. Shaw Avenue Suite #1 Suite #101 (209) 823-1234 (559) 256-7878

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Best of Ceres

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Ceres

®

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2373 E. Whitmore Ave. Ceres, CA 95307 Voted BEST of 2015 in These Categories:

- Friendliest Restaurant

- Best Burger (for many, many years) - Best Ice Cream (for many years) - Best Fast Food (for many years) - Best Lunch - Best Dinner - Best Sandwich Come try us, we guarantee you’ll come back!

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JEFF BENZIGER/the Courier

Duane Thompson of Anderson’s Towing shows off buckles his company has received the American Towman ACE Award for achievement in service performance.

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A nd erson’ s T ow ing: best tow ing service B y J E F F B E NZIGE R Editor of the

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CERES (CALIF.) COURIER

ND ERSON’ S T OWI NG OF CERES has earned the designation of “Favorite Towing Service” in the Ceres Courier’s “B est of Ceres” online survey.

Duane Thompson of Anderson’s Towing in Ceres recently received the prestigious American Towman ACE Award for achievement in service performance.

It was the seventh honor for Thompson, who has been at 2040 Rockefeller Drive in

Ceres for 10 years. The facility is home to 10 tow trucks and 14 employees. He also has a towing yard in Stockton and one in Turlock.

The ACE Award is presented by American Towman Magaz ine, the leading trade publication serving emergency road service professionals. In the year in which Anderson last time won the award, only 93 tow companies in the U.S. were given the honor. That’s huge considering that there are approximately 9,000 registered companies in California alone.

SEE TOWING, PAGE 9

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2015

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

B est of Ceres Winners

Just for You

Bootcamp: ....................................................... Body & Soul Fitness Childcare: .................................................................... Kidz Ministry Chiropractor: ......................................................Ceres Chiropractic Dance Studio: ...........................................Footnotes Dance Studio Dentist/Orthodontist: ..............................................Dr. Jeff Barton Hair Salon: ....................................................... Ceres Beauty Salon Health Club: ..................................................... Curves for Women Laser & Cosmetic: .....................................................Above Lasers Massage Salon: .................................................Green Spa Massage Nail Salon: ......................................................................... Nail Tech Nutrition: ......................................................... Power Up Nutrition OB/GYN: ........................................ Golden Valley Health Center Optometrist: .......................................................... Dr. Gerald Wing Pediatrics: ........... Sutter Gould Medical, Dr. Lynette Grandison Pharmacy: ............................................................ Ceres Drug Store Podiatrist: ............................................................. Ceres Foot Clinic Primary care physician: .............................. Sutter Gould Medical Tanning Salon: ........................................................ Pacific Tanning Tattoo Parlor: .................................................. MFH Tattoo Parlor Weight Loss/Diet Center: ...........New Beginnings Weight Loss

Favorite Food and Beverage

Asian: ...................................................................... Bamboo Garden Bakery: ..........................................................................Beto’s Bakery Bar/Pub: ........................................................................... Sweet Lu’s Breakfast: .......................................................................... Sam’s Cafe Brunch Spot: .................................................................... Fruit Yard Buffet: ................................................................. New King’s Buffet Burgers: ......................................................................Foster's Freeze Caterer: ...........................................................................La Morenita Chef: ................................................. Alfonso’s Mexican Restaurant Coffee shop: ...................................................... Bob’s Coffee Shop Deli: ...................................................................... USA Sub & Deli Dessert: ...............................................Supermom’s Frozen Yogurt Dinner: ......................................................................... Foster Freeze Fast Food: ..................................................................Foster's Freeze Friendliest Restaurant Service: ................................Foster’s Freeze Groceries: ............................................................... Cost Less Foods Healthy Eating: .............................................. Power Up Nutrition Ice Cream: .................................................................Foster's Freeze Lunch: .......................................................................... Foster Freeze Margaritas: ...................................... Alfonso’s Mexican Restaurant Mexican: .................................... La Morenita Mexican Restaurant Pizza: ............................................................................ Papa Murphy Sandwich: ..................................................................... Foster Freeze Steak house: ................................................. George’s Steak House Vegetarian Restaurant: ..............................................Jabou’s Gyros

D on’ s R V Center: B est R V D ealer NAME OF BUSINESS: Don’s RV Center.

LOCATION: 4872 Rhode Road, Ceres.

PHONE: (209) 556-9993 or (877) 236-6778.

ABOUT THE BUSINESS: Don Clark began his career in the recreational vehicle industry as a young man out of high school. While attending a local junior college, Don worked at a manufacturing plant, building RVs in his home town of Los Banos, where he gained his RV structural knowledge.

He later moved to Modesto and worked at several RV centers. While working, he also became certified in electrical, refrigeration and all aspects of an RV. In 1989 Don opened a RV service shop and small store. The store has grown to one of the largest in the Val-

ley.

In 2001, Don decided to try his hand at sales. After many months of researching and visiting manufacturing plants, he decided to go with GLENDALE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES in Strathroy, Ontario, Canada, which were quality built trailers. Don has since continued his pursuit in carrying only high quality trailers at the best available prices as well as having the best customer service.

After moving to his current six-acre facility, he introduced the Keystone RV lines (North America’s #1 manufacturer of RVs): Montana (#1 selling fifth wheel), Springdale and also the Raptor Toy hauler lines. Clark feels his fifth wheel and travel trailer inventory is second to no one and is very involved with all day to day operations.

Contributed to the Courier

Don’s RV is located on the frontage road between Ceres and Keyes. The business boasts a wide variety of new and used recreational vehicles.

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

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CenCal T actical: B est in sp orting good s B y JEFF BENZ I GER Editor of the

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CERES (CALIF.) COURIER

ENCA L T A CT I CA L , 3525 Mitchell Road, Suite D, has been named by Ceres Courier readers as its favorite among sporting goods.

The store only sells products for the sport of shooting, including guns, ammunition, knives and accessories.

The father-son team started the business on July 4, 2015. The idea of owning a gun shop was first mentioned to Pat by Randy, who is 29 and in his ninth year as a full-time Ceres firefighter. Pat was recovering from knee surgery at the time and was contemplating retirement when Randy suggested starting up CenCal Tactical. Pat’s first reaction was negative, but when they started seeing how busy other gun shops in the area were and how difficult gun buying became, they decided to go for it.

There’s been nothing but positive feedback as the word gets out about Ceres having a gun shop which is expanding its stock.

“All in all, we are very happy with our JEFF BENZIGER/the Courier progress,” said Pat Sullivan, who is a Ceres Pat Sullivan (center) and son Randy Sullivan (right) enjoy talking guns to customers like former police sergeant Sam Ryno at their new SEE CENCAL, PAGE 11 Ceres gun shop, CenCal Tactical.

WOODWARD

=AUTOMOTIVE=

COMPLETE

AUTO

R E PA I R

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

BEST AUTO MAINTENANCE FOR 2014 BEST OF CERES!

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30/60/90K Services, Oil Changes, Tune Ups, Diagnostics, Timing Belts, Brakes, Water Pumps, Engine & Transmission, Alignment, Catalytic Converters & Mufflers

2120 Pine Street, Ceres (209) 538-0778

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B est of Ceres Winners

Located in the Richland Shopping Center, Richland Ace Hardware has won a devoted customer base because of excellent service.

R ichland A ce: # 1 p ick in hard w are Favorite for Pets Pet groomer: .......................................Hot Dogz Grooming Salon Pet adoptions: ..........................Stanislaus Animal Service Agency Pet supplies: ..............................................Rosales Food & Supply Veterinary clinic: .............................................American Pet Clinic

Community Favorites Community Events/Festival: .............................. Ceres Street Faire Community organization: ................................... Ceres Partnership Hall Rental: .............................................Ceres Community Center Most Community Involved:...........................American Pet Clinic

Favorite Businesses

Community Role Model: .............................Dr. Amanpreet Basra Hall Rental: .............................................Ceres Community Center Most Community Involved:...........................American Pet Clinic Bank:.......................................................................Wells Fargo Bank Cellular store: ............................................................................AT&T CPA/Tax Service: ............................................Sahlstrom & Yockey Credit Union:..........................................Valley First Credit Union Dry cleaning: .....................................................Ceres Dry Cleaners Florist: ..................................................................The Floral Cottage Funeral Home: ...................................................Franklin & Downs Hotel: ............................................................. Microtel Inn & Suites Insurance Agent: ..............................................................Dirk Wyatt Insurance Agency:.................Juan Jimenez State Farm Insurance Photographer: .........................................................JSKPhotography Print/Copy Shop: .............................................. DC Print And Sew Storage Facility: .........................................AAA Ceres Self Storage Tutoring: .........................................Cal State University, Stanislaus

• 2531 Whitmore Ave. • 537-4811

IN BUSINESS SINCE: 1985.

STOCK INCLUDES: Hardware, paint, garden, housewares, plumbling supplies, large selection of fasteners including chrome fasteners.

SERVICES OFFERED: Paint color matching, key making, pipe cutting and threading, equipment rental, glass

T H R E E

cutting and Plexiglass, screen repair and rekeying of locks.

SETTING THEM APART: Friendly personal service.

BUSINESS PRINCIPLES: Best customer service and product assortment.

CONTACT INFORMATION: 537-4811.

FA V O R I T E S Dr. Amanpreet S. Basra, DVM, was named by Ceres Courier readers as their favorite role model in the “Community Favorites’ categories. His American Pet Clinic, located in the Richland Shopping Center, 2531 E. Whitmore Ave., Suite A, Ceres, was also named the favorite Most Community Involved business as well as the best veterinarian office.

American Pet Clinic was voted the best in veterinary care for 2012 and 2013 as well. The clinic opened its doors in 2011 but the current ownership began in December, 2012.

JEFF BENZIGER / Courier file photo

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

D irk Wyatt: # 1 I nsurance A gent

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2 0 1 5 B est of Ceres Winners

NAME OF AGENT: Dirk Wyatt.

NAME OF OFFICE: Wyatt Insurance Agency, 3525 Mitchell Road, Ceres; (209) 537-8922.

1071 E. Yosemite Ave. Manteca CA 95336 Phone: (209) 239-5002 SERVICES: Dirk Wyatt owns a full service insurance agency representing over 100 independent companies.

Instant quotes are offered for auto, classic cars, home, boat, RV, motorcycle, renter’s, commercial, mobile home, worker’s compensation, bonds and life insurances.

HOURS: In Ceres, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

EMAIL ADDRESS: wyains@aol.com

Favorite Fun

Billiards: .......................................................................... Family Pizza Family Fun: ............................................... River Oaks Golf Course Friday Night Date:.......................... Alfonso’s Mexican Restaurant Kids Fun: ..................................................................... Rock N Jump Live Theatre: ..................................................................State Theater Martial Arts Institution: .....Team Endure Martial Arts & Fitness

Favorite Shopping

Dirk Wyatt Contributed to the Courier

Family P iz z a: B est B illiard s

NAME OF BUSINESS: Family Pizza.

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Pizza restaurant and bar.

LOCATION: 2921 Whitmore Ave. HOURS: Daily from 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.

CONTACT #: (209) 537-4791.

HISTORY: Sukhi Mann, owner of

Sukhi Mann is the owner and operator of Family Pizza, which has been voted as best place in Ceres to play billiards. The business is best known, however, for its pizza.

Family Pizza & Bar, says business has increased significantly following his move to a more visible location down Whitmore Avenue over two years ago.

In November 2013 the business moved from its home of 24 years, the Richland Shopping Center, to 2921 Whitmore Ave. The restaurant didn’t have the best reputation for many years because it attracted a different clientele. Now that it is “more exposed,” Mann said the business has “changed 180 degrees.”

“We were kind of like in a secluded place in the shopping center,” said Mann, 67, who quit his job at Procter & Gamble 26 years ago to go into the pizza business.

The restaurant also serves chicken wings, chicken strips, onion rings, fish and chips and salad. Mann claims the pizza sandwich is the only one in Ceres and is a top seller.

“There’s a guy who’s been buying pizza sandwiches from us for 25 years now,” he said. “It’s made like a pizza but on two pieces of French bread.”

“It’s like a neighborhood bar now. A lot of people come here. We have pool tables and pizza delivery.”

Apparel Children’s: ...................................................................Justice Apparel Men’s: ............................................................T Shirt Outlet Apparel Women’s: ..............................................Affection Clothing Bargain/Discount Store: ............................................. dd’s discounts Floral shop: ................................................................. Precious Shop Gift Store: .............................................................. Ceres Drug Store Hardware Store: ........................................Richland Ace Hardware Holiday Shopping: .............................................. Ceres Drug Store Jewelry Store: .........................................................................Walmart Locally Owned Store: .............................Hope Chest Thrift Store Office Supplies: ................................................................... Warden’s Party Supplies: ....................................................The Floral Cottage Shoe Store: ..............................................................WSS Shoe Store Sporting goods: ........................................................CenCal Tactical

Home

Carpet/Flooring Store: .........................John Decker Construction Construction Company: ..............................Diamond Carpet Care Electrical Service/Repair: .................................... Safeside Electrical Furniture Store: ..........................Stuart David Home Furnishings Heating/Air Conditioning: ........................ Reliant Heating & Air Home Accessories: ....................Stuart David Home Furnishings Home Electronics: ............................................................. Ceres TV Home Upholstery: ....................................Vilchis Bros Upholstery House Cleaning: ........................................................ Cleaning Diva Landscaping: ....................... Central Valley Trees & Landscaping Nursery/Gardening: ..........................BTY Concrete and Materials Painting Service: .................................Affordable Custom Painting Pest Control: .........................................................Delk Pest Control Plumbing: ................................................Abe’s Discount Plumbing Roofing Company: ..................................................Richey Roofing Solar Company:.................................................................BTA Solar Window Coverings:.....................................................Home Depot

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

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Curves for Women: Favorite health club/gym in Ceres B y J E FF BEN ZI GER Editor of the

URVES FOR WOMEN OF CERES, a fitness salon for women located inside the Richland Shopping Center, 2531 E. Whitmore Ave., Suite L2, has been named by Ceres Courier readers as their favorite health club/gym.

Dovie Wilson, the owner, is big on taking care of herself. It started when she moved to Ceres from O klahoma in 196 7 at age 12 and realiz ed how out of shape she became.

“I wasn’t fit,” admitted Wilson. “I was a chubby, chunky overweight O kie and that’s what started my whole lifestyle change for fitness and health. I had a very poor image and that’s the problem with women and also girls and it starts younger and younger. We have a bad self-image physically of our bodies and that’s

she felt compelled to keep it open.

She moved the shop to the Richland Shopping Center on Whitmore Avenue.

“Who would not want to be able to work out all day, listen to fantastic music and associate with wonderful women and try to give them motivation to stay healthy and fit? ” asked Wilson. “It’s a fantastic opportunity.”

Curves wants to motivate women looking to kick start their weight loss, while building lean muscle and toning. Curves is a leader in the fitness and weight management category and is the largest chain of fitness centers for women in the world.

For more information, about Ceres Curves, call 538-1515 or email cerescurves@ gmail.com or visit the club at 2531 E. Whitmore Ave., L-2, in the Richland Market Place. For more information about Curves, visit www.curves.com.

ALL OF US AT ANDERSON’S

JEFF BENZIGER/ the Courier

Dovie Wilson is enjoying her role as owner of Curves for Ceres, helping women feel and look better. The business is located in the Richland Shopping Center.

Thank you for voting us

TOWING

FAVORITE Animal Adoption Agency

WOULD LIKE TO SAY

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST TOWING COMPANY AGAIN! WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPANIES OUT THERE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU CALLING US IN YOUR TIME OF NEED. “BETTER SERVICE FROM HEAD TO TOW”

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

-M. Gandhi

Anderson’s Tow (209) 538-TOWS www.andersonstow.com

3647 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, 95358 (209) 558-7387 or (209) 558-PETS

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.

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Stanislaus Animal Services Agency

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CERES (CALIF.) COURIER

not fair because we all come in all shapes and siz es.”

Since becoming owner of Curves of Ceres, Dovie is helping other women improve their bodies and their lives.

“I’m about women being healthy and strong and staying fit and weight is not the important thing. To me, you can be obese and still be somewhat healthy if you’re working out and doing something physical.”

Wilson felt it was a good move to involve herself in a fitness business in Ceres, where she feels invested.

“You want it (Ceres) to be prosperous and you want the people to be healthy and to be happy.”

Dovie bought the Curves franchise from Linda Javine a few years ago.

At that time Curves was located on Mitchell Road. Linda began contacting members about the closure since she had no buyer. When Dovie heard about the impending closure,

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

S ahlstrom & Y ock ey: best CP A /tax p rep arer Sahlstrom & Yockey, LLC, is a full-service accounting firm serving clients throughout the

Ceres area, dedicated to providing our clients with professional, personaliz ed services and guidance in a wide range of financial and business needs.

The firm, located at 2723 Central Avenue, Ceres, has provided tax preparation, tax representation, bookkeeping and payroll services to individuals and small businesses in Stanislaus and surrounding counties since 1997. More recently, the firm has begun providing services online throughout the country.

Sahlstrom & Yockey, LLC provides a wide range of services to individuals and businesses in a variety of industries. Sahlstrom & Yockey strives to meet each client’s specific needs in planning for the future and achieving their goals in an ever-changing financial and regulatory environment. Professional services include: • Tax management services; • Assurance and advisory services; • Estate and trust planning and tax preparation;

• Litigation support and forensic accounting; • B ookkeeping/ write-up; • Q uickB ooks accounting help; • Payroll services; • Cash flow and budgeting analysis; • B usiness valuation; Robert Yockey • Debt and finance advising; • Accounting services; • Audits, reviews and compilation; • Financial and retirement planning; • IRS representation; • Entity selection and restructuring; • Computer consulting; • Employee benefits, pension, and profitsharing plans; • Mergers, acquisitions and sales.

The firm is open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

TOWING FROM PAGE 3 Recipients were nominated by the nation’s maj or motor clubs and dispatch centers, including Agero, CoachNet, GEICO , National Automobile Club, Nation Safe Drivers, Q uest Towing Service and Road America.

The nomination guidelines for the ACE Award include: the highest percentage of calls when the estimated time of arrival of achieved; consistency in response time; written appreciation from customers; and percentage of calls services instead of turning them away thereby reflecting reliability and overall professionalism. ACE recipients rank in the top one percent of the towing industry’s service providers.

Thompson bought Anderson’s Towing in 1994 from Steve Anderson.

“When I came in, I didn’t know anything about the tow business at all,” said Thompson. “I was green as green can get.”

He purchased the business because a deal to buy a one-hour photo processing lab collapsed and he needed a business to invest in. The opportunity became known to Duane through his brother, who was a friend of Steve Anderson’s. Duane

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had to “chew on it” for a few weeks and decided it was an opportunity he needed to seiz e.

“We had two tow trucks at the time so we’ve come a long way since. It’s been a godsend to me.”

B eing green was a tremendous advantage, he said, because he wasn’t indoctrinated in shady practices that many tow operators adopt. He said the industry reputation has been hurt by “grease monkeys” who have damaged cars and not owned up to it, had employees who steal possessions out of towed cars and overcharged customers for service.

“B ecause I wasn’t taught those things, I didn’t do those things and to me it created a tremendous advantage over our competition. A tow truck’s a tow truck’s a tow truck. The only difference is our customer service and that would be how we present ourselves, be it verbally, body language or our dress and being able to do the j ob right the first time.”

Thompson said his company invests lots of time in operator training for safety purposes, preventing damage to vehicles and keeping down worker’s compensation cases. He even created his own rollover training videos.

“Training is a huge factor for us and I think that’s part of our success,” said Thompson.

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

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Ceres T V : Favorite in home electronics B y J E F F BENZ I GER Editor of the

CERES (CALIF.) COURIER

Ceres TV may be changing its exterior looks of the former O dd Fellows Hall in downtown Ceres but the same reliable service is inside.

Pedro Perez ’s devotion to his customers has earned him the “B est in Home Electronics” category in the Ceres Courier’s “B est of Ceres” online survey.

With the help of friends who are in construction, Perez is updating the exterior of his business at 3005 Fourth Street after having removed the faded red awnings that had been affixed to the two-story building for decades. Perez recently purchased the entire historic building from the O dd Fellows and Eastern Star because they only meet once per month for an hour and no longer need it. He is contemplating faç ade improvements to the second floor and possibly painting over a mural that was painted in the 1961 Ceres Paint Festival.

In what come as a shock to many in this culture of throwit-out-when-it-breaks, Ceres TV specializ es in repairs of TVs and stereos and also sells reconditioned TVs. Repairs of quality

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JEFF BENZIGER/the Courier

Pedro Perez’s devotion to customers of Ceres TV has earned him the “Best in Home Electronics” category in the Ceres Courier’s “Best of Ceres” contest. The shop is located in downtown Ceres

TVs are still cost-effective when weighing costs against the purchase of a new set.

“There are some cheap sets that you can say are disposable sets, the smaller sets that sell for $169,

but something like this, people pay $3,000 for and it’s worth fixing even if you pay $400 to repair.”

The largest set he’s worked on was a 92-inch screen.

B est of Ceres Winners

The shop sells TVs that he reconditions after picking them up from a B ay Area furniture store. He also reconditions some of the sets people bring in but decide to buy new instead of

repair. Perez offers a 90-day warranty on reconditioned sets.

Pedro reports that very few Panasonic TVs come in for repairs and when they do it’s something minor. He sees a lot of Samsung sets come in for repairs.

Perez said he was working in Napa Valley when he became inj ured on the j ob and was offered vocational training for another line of work. In 1978 he moved to Ceres and in 1992 took over Dale’s TV, which was operated by Dale K j ellberg on Fourth Street.

“They sent me j ob searching. I had a little bit of knowledge and came to talk to Dale and he said he was getting ready to retire. He said ‘ You can help me out and later on when I’m ready I’ll sell you the shop.’ So I started working with him. I didn’t have the experience but I worked hands-on with him for about six months.

He started getting sick. I was watching the shop and he’d come in and help me a day a week.”

For seven months Dale helped Pedro troubleshoot the repairs over the phone and the apprentice became an expert himself.

“He knew a lot about TVs left and right. It got to the point I didn’t need him any more so he SEE TV, PAGE 15

Real Estate

Condos/Apartments: ................................... Windmere Apartments Favorite Real Estate Firm: .............................................. Exit Realty Favorite Realtor: ..................................................... Mark Whitehead Loan/Mortgage: ....................................................... Guild Mortgage Property Management: ..........Action One Property Management

Auto Business

Auto Maintenance/Repair:........................Woodward Automotive Auto Body: ......................................................... Knockout Customs Auto Dealership (new): ................................Country Ford Trucks Auto Dealership (used): ......................Blue Diamond Auto Sales Auto Upholstery:....................... Conway and Friends Upholstery Car Wash/Detail: .............................................Prime Shine Express Oil Change: .................................................Woodward Automotive RV Dealer: ......................................................................... Don’s RV Smog: ...........................................................Woodward Automotive Tire store: .................................................. Les Schwab Tire Center Towing Service: ..................................................... Anderson’s Tow

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

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S tuart D avid : Favorite furniture d ealer

By JEFF BEN ZIG ER Editor of the

CERES (CALIF.) COURIER

Stuart David Home Furnishings, which has been voted by Ceres Courier readers as their Favorite Furniture Store, might be Ceres’ best kept secret.

Many still have not found FA S T FA CT S the store’s 25,000-sq.-ft. showroom, which is tucked BUSINESS: Furaway inside of a metal niture. industrial building at 3419 LOCATION: 3419 Railroad Avenue (j ust Railroad Ave., Ceres. south of the Pine Street PHONE: (209) overpass).

537-7449 The business makes its HOURS: 10 a.m. hard wood furniture on the to 5 p.m. Mondays premises and has a line through Saturdays. of dinette sets, bookcases, bedroom sets, living room pieces, entertainment sets, stereo cabinets, office furniture, wall beds, Stuart David began in 196 1 as Stuart’s Cabinet Shop owned by Stuart Neilson and his wife Lela who designed custom cabinets for local homes.

Stuart’s gained a reputation for beautifully crafted, durable cabinets that would withstand the test of SEE STUART, PAGE 15

CENCAL FROM PAGE 5 Police sergeant. “We continue to build our customer base and not be like the other firearm dealers.

We feel we offer a type of hometown type of service. We try and greet and acknowledge everyone who comes into the store. We are in a great location and want the Mitchell Road business corridor to continue expanding. We have been approached several times by people wanting us to move our location because we are such a big draw for customer traffic. We are completely happy being in the Wyatt Insurance complex.”

Sullivan said it’s nice to be recogniz ed by the community.

“Randy and I work hard to ensure our customers are satisfied with their purchases and have a great experience while in our store,” he said.

“We work hard to support as many community fundraising events that we can,” he added.

His hope is to expand into more community events promoting firearm safety, self-defense classes, shooting sport events and eventu-

Stuart David has a 25,000 square foot showroom at 3419 Railroad Ave., in Ceres just south of the Pine Street overpass.

ally a city of Ceres concealed carry licensing program for its citiz ens.

Pat and Randy are big believers in law-abiding citiz ens having the right to bear arms for personal protection and for sport. And as being experienced as a Ceres police sergeant, Pat has a wealth of experience to share about firearms sold in his shop.

Guns were always a part of the Sullivan family household. Pat taught all his children - including his daughters - responsible gun handling and they regularly practices shooting.

Sullivan has found that all of his customers have been “law-abiding citiz ens who have a right to own them.”

“I have been a police officer for 30 years. I have no problem with people owning guns, using guns, having guns for personal protection.”

Sullivan said many times the mere presence of a gun can thwart a crime in process. At other times, a person who has a gun needs to be prepared to use it.

“As a police officer, I tell people we (police) get there 90 percent of the time after everything is done. We’re there to clean

the mess up. Us getting there and protecting you rarely happens.”

With the city of Ceres being one of its biggest customers and the Sullivans employed by the city, CenCal walks the fine line to keep matters legal and ethical.

“We now sell law enforcement supplies and emergency vehicle equipment. With that, we are very careful not to give the impression we are being favored because of our employment with the city of Ceres. We operate under very strict rules that make sure the city approaches us to make purchases.

Randy and I cannot have anything to do with the decision to buy from our company. All decisions are left to city officials to decide on buying products from us.”

Pat said he’s looking out for Ceres taxpayers.

“B ecause we both have worked for a municipality, we have seen how cities can sometimes get taken to the cleaners by some of the distributors they purchase from. We have the ability to offer the same equipment to the city at a fair and reasonable price.”

CenCal orders guns from wholesalers, some of which are linked to the business website,

www.cencaltactical.com which offers access to 75,000 products.

The shop has about different types of handguns on display and different types of rifles and shotguns.

The shop also has knives and gun accessories.

CenCal sells the most popular handguns for personal and home protection, including the Smith & Wesson, Wilson Combat, B eretta, Colt, Daniel Defense, Springfield, Glock, Taurus, Sig Sauer, Remington and others.

“We offer a price range from the guns that people can afford to the custom guns that you can order and we can specialty orders for people to several thousands of dollars,” said Sullivan. “We are intentionally keeping our prices as low as we possibly can because we’re a new business we want to get a customer base to come into our store.”

The shop also offers consignments of used handguns.

For new gun owners, Sullivan likes to find out what the gun will be used for, such as self or home protection, target shooting or whatever. He will direct them to guns that are easy to handle and generally safe. Those who plan to

have a conceal and carry permit (CCW) he recommends guns that are smaller and easier to side.

B eing first-time business owners, the Sullivans have found the shop a “huge learning curve for us.” Pat said he is “constantly asking questions and talking with area business people about running a business and dealing with the state and federal regulations associated with a firearm business. It’s frustrating that the state of California is the nation’s most stringent state when it comes to rules and laws pertaining to firearm sales and they give businesses no training in this area. The state will grant a license and tells you are now eligible to sell firearms without any training. They leave it to the licensee to make sure they follow every regulation perfectly.

I’m pretty sure the people in Sacramento know us by now; we call them with procedural questions all the time j ust to make sure we are doing things right.”

The state only allows a person to buy a handgun every 30 days.

CenCal Tactical is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and closed Mondays.

12

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

P acific T anning: Ceres' favorite for tanning B y J EFF BEN ZI GER Editor of the

CERES (CALIF.) COURIER

P

A CI FI C T A NNI NG EN, located at 1778 Mitchell Road, has been selected by Courier readers as the best in tanning salons in Ceres.

The salon opened in Ceres in 2007 (after the success of the salon in Turlock which opened in 2002), offering spray tanning for the first time. Tanning and tanning products is the sole mission of the salon (which is located immediately east of In-Shape City).

Pacific offers levels of state-of-the-art tanning bed equipment as well as the revolutionary Mystic HD Spray tan machines.

“The heart of our business is tanning beds,” said owner Jon Peterson, who has invested over $75,000 in recent years to bring the most advanced spray tan machines to both the Ceres and Turlock locations. “We offer four levels of tanning beds, from low to high-pressure beds.”

EX

O

IT

The Ceres from glycerin) location that interacts features 10 with the amino tanning bed acids in dead rooms and one skin cells to room for spray produce a tanning. brown color Many change. Since people are these dead opting for skin cells are “sunless” tans constantly because it does being shed, the not involve color change exposure to produced by ultraviolent DHA usually rays from the Visitors to Pacifc Tanning in Ceres will be able to achieve lasts about five sun. At Pacific a nice tan within several sessions. Men also tan there. to seven days.

Tanning, cusAdvancetomers may opt for tanning beds with times ments in spray tanning and have made it of up to 20 minutes per session, or the Mysthe fastest growing segment of business, tic HD spray. In the spray process, clients said Peterson. Pacific Tanning’s salons are sprayed with a mist of dihydroxyacetone were voted to the list of “Top 250 Tanning (DHA) which imparts color to the human Salons” in the United States by Looking Fit body. DHA is a colorless chemical (derived Magaz ine and have been featured in indus-

try magaz ines like “Island Sun Times” and “Looking Fit.” The owners of Pacific said they got into the tanning business because they wanted to create “impeccable salons that offered a new dimension in tanning luxury with a reputation of the highest level of customer service.”

“O ver the years we have learned the importance of ambiance, cleanliness, and most importantly, delivering high-quality results to our clients through equipment and education,” said Peterson. “Learning from our years of experience is how we stay on top.”

O pen seven days a week, Peterson said that interactions with his clients “have shown us that tanning at Pacific Tanning is about more than j ust results. It’s about having a beautiful, relaxing retreat, available seven days a week, where you can go to unwind and soak up the sun.”

The business may be reached at 537-3400 and is on web at www.pacifictanning.com.

Re alty: Favorite R eal E state Firm

N T H E H EEL S OF I T B EI NG named in January as the “B usiness of the Year” by the Ceres Chamber of Commerce, EX IT Realty was a strong winner in the Ceres Courier’s “B est of Ceres” contest in which readers selected it for “Favorite Real Estate Firm.”

In addition, EX IT agent Mark Whitehead was named as the “Favorite Realtor” in the Ceres Courier’s online survey.

EX IT Realty Consultants’ Ceres, opened in January 2012 and is one of six offices owned and operated by EX IT owner and broker K ris K lair.

“I believe what makes EX IT Realty Consultants the ‘ B est of Ceres’ is our agents,” said K lair. “We instill in our agents the importance of giving back to all of the communities we serve. Perhaps people are recogniz ing that we are not here j ust to do business, but to be an active contributor in shaping and growing our communities.”

At the Jan. 29 47th Annual Community Service Awards & Installation Dinner hosted at the Ceres Community Center, the Chamber awarded the Ceres office.

After the event K lair stated, “I am absolutely humbled that the members of this great community recogniz e that we are here for the growth and success j ust as they are and we are truly vested here in Ceres.”

Since opening its doors in 2011, EX IT Realty Consultants has been extremely

EXIT Realty staff is involved in community activities, such as here at the Ceres Chamber awards banquet in January. Left to right are Dale Singh, EXIT broker/owner Kris Klair and Mark Whitehead. Mr. Whitehead was named at the Favorite Realtor in the Ceres Courier’s “Best of Ceres” contest.

Contributed to the Courier

involved not only with real estate in Ceres and the surrounding areas. Established with the best reviews in Ceres and the premise that giving back to the communities EX IT serves is essential and has helped grow this empire to reach from Fresno to Manteca, totaling six locally owned real estate offices.

EX IT Realty donates a portion of every transaction to Habitat for Humanity, an agency which helps underprivileged families get into homes. They do this, said K lair, because EX IT believes everyone should have an affordable, healthy and safe place

to call home.

For the past three years, the EX IT Giving Tree program has provided over 250 Christmas gifts for children identified by the Ceres Partnership for Healthy Families.

EX IT Realty also holds an annual B B Q in O ctober for B reast Cancer Awareness raising proceeds to benefit the B ill & Elsie Ahlem Cancer Foundation at Emmanuel Medical Center in Turlock.

As a Chamber member, EX IT agents can often be found attending various Chamber events and supporting local functions and/ or programs where they “will continue to

do so as long the Chamber will have them” stated Whitehead.

With additional offices in Fresno, Turlock, Manteca and two in Modesto, EX IT Realty Consultants has numerous agents working in residential and commercial sales and leasing, and property management.

For more about EX IT Realty call 5545252.

For a career in real estate, visitwww.

EX ITHO ME.com or contact 216 -1919 for a personal consultation.

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

B T Y : Favorite L and scap ing S up p lies B T Y

CONCRET E & MA T ERI A L S has been chosen as the Favorite in Nursery/Gardening category of the “B est of Ceres” contest.

The B TY Concrete & Materials yard, 4107 Morgan Road, is also the only place in Ceres - now that Ceres Porta-Mix Concrete near Highway 99 has closed - for doit-yourselfers who want to pick up readymix concrete by the yard. The business, owned by the Thornberry family of Ceres, also sells sand, bark, river rock, crushed gravel and topsoil for landscaping.

B TY (B y The Yard) is the new name for an operation that started as D& L Concrete 20 years ago by K en Thornberry and now being carried on by sons Nick and Ryan Thornberry. K en actually took on D& L Concrete from his dad, Marshall Thornberry Jr. who came to Ceres in 196 3.

The yard’s location is perfect in that it is upwind from the Ceres wastewater treatment plant across the street and downwind from homes on the north of Service Road, making it very convenient but out of the way of city living.

Homeowners with a trailer hitch can travel to the yard, back up for a trailer filled with ready-mix concrete and take off for weekend proj ects at home like patios and sidewalks. Deliveries of materials are also made for those who don’t have vehicles.

“We don’t have a minimum,” said Nick.

13

Nick, Ken and Ryan Thornberry stand by the only concrete by the trailer facility in Ceres.

Located at 4107 Morgan Road just east of the Ceres wastewater treatment plant, the BTY Concrete & Materials yard is convenient for most in Ceres.

JEFF BENZIGER / the Courier

“We’ll deliver a half a yard if you want us to, however we charge an hourly fee to deliver. We’ll do whatever we need to do to get the j ob done. If you come in and say ‘ I want a bucket load,’ I’ll deliver your bucket load. If you come in and say ‘ I want 500 yards,’ we’ll figure out a way to get that too.”

Last year Ryan accommodated a home-

owner who only needed two wheelbarrows full of mixed concrete. They were propped up in the back of the man’s pickup.

Cost for materials varies.

The business deals in pavers, boulders, rock and sand products, top soils and fertiliz ers and bark and wood products.

Since it recycles aggregate products, the business also accepts broken concrete and

broken roof tiles. The material is grinded up in a large crusher and mixed together to become Caltrans graded base rock for road proj ects. Cal Crush out of Ripon operates the crusher in the yard.

B TY Concrete is open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. For more information call 538-8492 or visit btyconcreteandmaterials.com.

M icrotel: favorite lod ging p ick of locals

By JEFF BENZIG ER Editor of the

CERES (CALIF.) COURIER

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham has made the top of the list of Ceres Courier readers when it comes to selecting a place to spend the night.

Located at 176 0 Herndon Road, Microtel in Ceres has been serving and hosting travelFA S T FA CT S ers, residents and visitors since 2002. Guest BUSINESS: services and housekeeping staff have earned Motel. high marks, said operations manager Ash LOCATION: 1760 Jamnadas.

Herndon Road (at “Guest rooms are laid out efficiently and Evans Road). maximiz e space and cleanliness,” Jamnadas PHONE: (209) said.

538-6466.

The Ceres lodge has rooms with single beds AMENITIES: and double beds as well as single suites. All Fitness room, pool guests sleep on queen siz e pillowtop mattress. and hot tub.

Guests are treated to free Wi-Fi, breakfast and nationwide calling.

Last year the ownership initiated renovations that brought a new color scheme, carpeting, LED TVs, refreshed lobby and more. “We look forward to continuing to offer a clean, safe and friendly experience well into the future.”

The Microtel Inn has been offering quality lodging at affordable prices since 2002.

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Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

V O T E D

FA V O R I T E

FO O D

&

B E V E R A G E

H E A L T H Y

E A T I N G

P ow er U p aims to mak e Ceres a healthier city • Protein, good habits served up at Ceres business

By J E F F BEN ZI GER Editor of the

CERES (CALIF.) COURIER

Courier readers named Power Up Nutrition as winner of the Favorite Food & B everage category of health eating category.

The business, located at Suite Y of the Richland Shopping Center, 2531 E. Whitmore Ave., was founded in 2014 by Debbie B ailey, a registered nurse and lifelong Ceres resident who struggled with health issues like liver and kidney damage, heart problems and obesity. She lost over 200 pounds from good nutrition and working out.

B ailey opened the shop along with business partners Lissa and Mike Reece. They sold the business to Manuel “Junior” and Tara O ceguera of Stockton in August.

“My wife’s from Ceres,” said Manuel, a happy, buoyant personality. “She’s a B ulldog.”

A 1995 Ceres High School graduate to be exact.

The O cegueras were in the process of opening up a similar business in Stockton but mutual friends shared with the B aileys told them about the opportunity to buy the Ceres business.

“I commute every day to make Ceres healthy,” said Manuel with a smile.

Power Up is not what you might think. Unlike Jamba Juice or Juice It Up, the business is not j ust about selling close to 6 0 flavors of nutrient-packed smoothies. Manuel hesitates to call it a business but also says he can’t classify it as a club.

“I like to think of it as a bar,” said customer Mike Gonz alez , who was sipping on a drink on a recent warm afternoon. “Yes, we’re like a protein smoothie bar,” agreed O ceguera. “I’m a counselor. I see it like a Cheers bar – everybody knows your name. We’re a healthy Cheers.”

JEFF BENZIGER/the Courier

At his Power Up Nutrition, Manuel Oceguera serves up a drink to customer Mike Gonzalez (owner of Priority Pest Control). The business is run more like a club that has no membership.

B esides being a bartender of healthy drinks, O ceguera is a health and wellness coach, offering advice and meal plans for free.

“I have athletes. All shapes and

siz es. I get a lot of high school kids. I get college students. We kind of cater to everyone.”

O ceguera, 37, admits there was a time years ago in which he was

overweight – by about 40 pounds – and out of shape. He started working out to build muscle and burn fat and also ate healthier. For breakfast he’ll eat two eggs and three egg whites for a vegetarian omelette.

“It all depends on your goals,” said O ceguera. “People tell me what they want and I try to help them get there.”

Power Up offers free wellness profile with the Iron Man Scanner to help others gain or lose weight or gain muscle. A participant can learn his or her B ody Mass Index (B MI), hydration level, muscle mass and how much protein that is needed based on gender, age, weight and B MI. “The only thing we sell is our products and our shakes. So if you come in for a wellness evaluation and say, ‘ Junior, I want to build more muscle and drop my cholesterol,’ we kind of tweak something for you and we do that for free.

Not everything is for profit. I make friendships. I like to get that text that says, ‘ Junior, I’m glad I met you. I went from a siz e 42 to siz e

38 in a month. The shakes pay the bills.”

Another freebie is the 9 a.m. Saturday fitness camp held at B ody & Soul Fitness, 1920 Foundry Court, Ceres, through a mutual agreement.

“The owner of the gym kind of barters service so he’ll trade my clients – anybody who wants to come in to work out – he trains them for free on Saturdays at 9 a.m. It’s basically like a mini boot camp and we have high school kids all the way to 70-year-olds.”

Working out is good but Junior said “it’s about 80 percent nutrition – abs are made in the kitchen.”

“I tell my customers there is no cheat day until you reach your goal. O nce you reach your goal, then you can have a cheat day.”

O ceguera said protein is an integral ingredient used for cells to build and repair. B ut carbohydrates are important, too, for absorption of protein. Cutting good fats found in avocado, almonds or coconut oil is not advised either, he said. It’s all about balance of good nutrition.

The smoothies sold at Power Up are delivered in three steps. First, the customer is given a two-anda-half-ounce shot of aloe, which is a prebiotic to help the body accept good nutrition to follow. That is followed up by an herbal green tea or Nature’s Raw Guarana tea and then the 20-ounce smoothie that consists of less than 200 calories, 21 vitamins and nutrients and 24 grams of protein (33 grams for workouts). A typical drink might have nine grams of sugar but it’s from oranges and beats. A similar siz ed drink at a Jamba Juice or Starbucks can contain 770 calories and 78 grams of sugar.

“If you put 78 grams of sugar in a Z ip-lock bag, you’re going to be like, ‘ Really? I j ust drank that? ’” All products are made from Herbal Life brand of products except for nuts and cinnamon coffee.

The business is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. They business may be contacted at 248-5888 or powerupceres@ yahoo.com. A website for ordering product is found at goherballife.com/powerupceres.

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

TV SHOP FROM PAGE C10 stayed home.”

Pedro was 22 when he got into TV repair. Now he’s 50.

Dale passed away in 2008.

Wife Estella helps run the business and he relies on two other employees to make home service calls.

“We used to have eight employees and three trucks doing service calls. Right now we have one and it’s parked most of the time.

In-home service is becoming a thing of the past.

Most people bring their stuff in because they save.

Since we don’t have those big old consoles people bring them in with no problem. They’re so light it’s no big deal.”

STUART DAVID FROM PAGE 11

The exterior of Ceres TV is undergoing a facelift since shop owner Pedro Perez took ownership of the IOOF Hall at Fourth and Lawrence streets.

time. With a yearning to construct furniture, Stuart and Lela’s son David designed an antique-type roll top desk that was taken around to nearby antique reproduction stores by a family friend in 1980.

The demand for these desks, and other pieces of furniture was so great that Stuart’s Fine Cabinet Shop opened a storefront on J Street in downtown Modesto. At this point the shop took on its new name, Stuart’s Fine Furniture. Soon after the J street opening, Stuart’s relocated to a larger location in Modesto on Tully Avenue. Stuart’s Fine Fur-

15

Repair costs vary depending on the problem but the average shop labor is $75 with parts.

The shop sells remotes and cables and accessories, old TV parts and older stereo systems.

Ceres TV is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays by appointment.

It may be reached at (209) 537-4851.

niture soon became a hot item, and the retail responsibilities of the store began to overrun the process of making the furniture.

In an attempt to focus on making the furniture, Stuart’s sold its store to a company called Marlyn’s. Stuart’s son David took over the company in recent years and it continues to grow at its Ceres location.

Stuart David Home Furnishings distributes its furniture throughout the United States. I The business showroom is an experience itself and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

A virtual tour of the Stuart David showroom is available online at https://goo.gl/ maps/V9Uhg7LYJWG2

The staff at American Pet Clinic would like to THANK YOU FOR VOTING THEM Best Veterinarian Office, Most Community Involved Business and for voting Dr. Basra Best Role Model!

2095372100

59210_1

2531 E. WHITMORE AVE., • SUITE #A, CERES, CA

16

Best of Ceres

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Thank You Ceres!

Sutter Gould Medical Foundation thanks you for choosing us for Best Primary Care and Lynette Grandison, M.D. as your Favorite Pediatrician! Thanks for voting us the best in Ceres for three consecutive years!

With more than 300 providers and specialists throughout the Central Valley,

Miguel Cazares, M.D. Family Medicine

Elvis Fedalizo, M.D. Family Medicine

Lynette Grandison, M.D. Pediatrics

Pat Limpiado, M.D. Family Medicine

we make it easy to build a partnership with a doctor that lives where you live.

It’s one more way we plus you.

2516 E. Whitmore Ave. Ceres, CA 95307 209-538-1733 suttergould.org