209 Magazine - Issue #59

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 - ISSUE 59

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FEATURES While the summer concert season may be over, fall is the perfect time to explore the 209’s many bars, breweries, wineries and night spots that offer a more intimate live music experience. We have featured just a few places you can hear live music in the 209.

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Contentment Brewing Company, Modesto

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The Tarmac, Atwater

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Dying Breed Brewing, Oakdale

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Murphys Irish Pub, Murphys

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DEPARTMENTS 18

IN THE KNOW 12 14 18 20 22 26

Scene in the 209 Calendar of Events Singh Memorial Highway Preston Castle Haunt Dell’Osso Farms Thanksgiving volunteering

NAVIGATOR 30

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forrest

ARTS&CULTURE 42 44

A father’s literary dream Modesto Symphony Orchestra

FLAVORS 46 48

Latif’s by Pedretti Fall recipes

THE GREAT OUTDOORS 52 56

Sierra Splendor Sonora Peak

FULL OF LIFE 58

Fitness and Beyond

A PLACE CALLED HOME 60 62

Backyard birds Dream Home

MARKETPLACE 64

Lilly Pad Sewing

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Vol. 10 No. 59

October/ November 2023

$4.95

PUBLISHER/OWNER Hank Vander Veen

EDITOR Kristina Hacker

MANAGING EDITOR Sabra Stafford

WRITERS Christopher Correa Joe Cortez Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Matt Johanson Claudia Newcorn Sabra Stafford Dennis Wyatt

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Harold L. George

SALES & MARKETING Chris Castro Beth Flanagan Rich Matheson Karen Olsen Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber

SPECIAL CONSULTANT Larry Dovichi

To advertise in 209 Magazine, call Manteca • (209) 249-3500 • Newman • (209) 243-8170 Oakdale • (209) 847-3021 • Turlock • (209) 634-9141 209 Magazine is published 6 times a year

Fall is a great time to get out and explore new places to eat and gather in the 209.

In this issue we feature a number of places in the 209 where you can find live music, while enjoying a craft beer or glass of wine. The best part about listening to live music in small venues is you support local artists and business owners at the same time.

This October, Preston Castle in Ione will celebrate 13 years of its popular haunt event, which opens on Friday the 13th. It’s a great way to indulge in some Halloween fun while supporting the upkeep of a 209 historic landmark.

As the weather cools, this is also a good time to enjoy the outdoors. In our The Great Outdoors section, you will find articles on easy hikes at Ebbetts Pass as well as at Sonora Peak.

Take advantage of our resident hiking experts to plan your next adventure.

Through this and every other product we publish at 209 Multimedia we continue to maintain our focus on the communities where we live, work and play. Thank you for taking the time to read this and every issue of 209 Magazine. We welcome your comments, calendar events and stories. We hope you will support the businesses and charities that have chosen to advefertise 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/ Owner hvanderveen@209magazine.com

121 S. Center St., 2nd Floor • Turlock, CA 95380 Comments: khacker@209magazine.com 209magazine.com ©Copyright 2023. 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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built for rookie walkers.

"Light Up a Light, Light Up a Life."

Tree of Lights offers a chance for anyone in the community to recognize the people who have impacted their lives, through a memorial or honorary light dedication. Donations for Tree of Lights begin in October and are accepted through the end of the year. Your donation will light up our Tree of Lights and support Hospice of San Joaquin’s programs for terminally ill patients and their families.

To purchase a light, visit www.HospiceSJ.org or call (209) 957-3888

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Notes

with FRANKIE TOVAR

Central Valley Muralist Joel Aguilar We celebrated American Artist Appreciation Month by sitting down with local muralist Joel Aguilar at one of his newest sites, the Vanguard College Preparatory Academy in Modesto. With murals dotting the Central Valley and beyond, Aguilar is at the forefront of an artistic bloom in the 209.

STUDIO209 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@morrismultimedia.com

NOBULL CrossFit Games Champ : Jeremie Jourdan Jeremie Jourdan of Denair is officially the fittest 15-yearold in the world after a first-place win at the prestigious 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games. A recent CrossFit convert, Jourdan talks about his foundation in gymnastics and how he found a new home at CrossFit Turlock and a mentor in trainer Isaiah Figueroa.

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Newman Fall Festival

STUDIO209.T V

WE’VE GOT THE 209 COVERED

Catch a quick glimpse of the 52nd Annual Newman Fall Festival, a celebration of all things small-town geared towards children and families. Mark your calendar for next year’s event during Labor Day and enjoy everything this festival has to offer that our cameras didn’t catch.

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UPCOMING EPISODES ValleyDreamCar 5th Annual Trunk or Treat Filipino American History Month Fest Garba & Dandiya Night The Whimsy Market: Studio Ghibli

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intheknow

Scene

in the

T

he final months of summer saw 209 residents and visitors getting out and about to enjoy some seasonal fun and 209 Magazine was on hand to enjoy the festivities. To have your event featured in Scene in the 209, email sstafford@209magazine.com

“Central Valley” a movie by 209 resident Travis Andre Ross debuted at The State Theatre in August with a red-carpet premiere.

PHOTOS BY COLBY GOMES

Xavier Avina of Newman starred alongside Travis Andre Ross in Ross’ film “Central Valley.”

The cast and crew of “Central Valley” got to take a bow at the film’s premiere at The State Theatre. Pictured left to right area: Luis Alcazar - key grip/camera operator; Jon Gianneli - First AD; Fabian Pourmand - camera operator; Kimmy Almanza - Actress/ Production Assistant; Todd Myers - Actor/Executive Producer; Xavier Avina – Actor; Travis Andre Ross - Actor/Executive Producer/Director/Writer; Eric Wanna - Director of Photography; and Taylor Crutchfield – Camera operator.

MOONLIGHT AND MARGARITAS The Turlock Salvation Army’s annual fundraiser Moonlight and Margaritas in August drew in plenty of party-goers ready for some festive fun and fundraising.

Dana Torres, Mary Everhart, Megan Borges and Bethany Tyler at Moonlight and Margaritas in Turlock.

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Nicole Moren, Maci Burke, Lisa Adame, Kirsten Saint and Angela Zado, all of Turlock enjoyed the margaritas an the pleasant weather at the Salvation Army’s popular fundraiser.

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AN EVENING UNDER THE STARS The Newman Fall Festival, a popular annual tradition held over Labor Day weekend, kicks off with An Evening Under the Stars in downtown Newman with plenty of good food, wine, music and company.

Don Arnett, of Newman, samples one of WhichCraft Taproom’s, located in Gustine, many choices at Evening Under the Stars.

LODI GRAPE FESTIVAL The 209 celebrated all things related to grapes at the Lodi Grape Festival in September.

Joey and Kaya Flemmer of Lodi work on their Lego building skills in the kids discovery area at the Lodi Grape Festival.

Marnie Skehan and Alyson Lewis, both of El Dorado enjoy the offerings at the Lodi Grape Festival.

Jessica McCall, the reigning Ms. Agriculture America National 2023 came from Sacramento to help celebrate the Lodi Grape Festival.

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Bernadette and Julio Marquez of Temecula returned to Bernadette’s hometown along with sister Laura Espitia and her husband Chris to celebrate the Newman Fall Festival.

PHOTOS BY AMANDA ROSE

Orestimba High School teacher and Ceres resident Rhiannon Davidson and her husband Arron enjoyed the festivities and raffle options at the Evening Under The Stars fundraiser Sept. 1.

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intheknow

COMMUNITY EVENTS 7

OCT

2023

BLUES, BREWS & BBQ

The City of Tracy is hosting the Blues, Brews & BBQ from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 7 in the downtown Tracy Plaza.

The event will have blues bands, BBQ vendors, beer booths, kids’ entertainment and more. The event has free admission.

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OCT

2023

MANTECA KIWANIS PUMPKIN FAIR

The Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis will be hosting this annual fall celebration in downtown Manteca on Oct. 7 and 8. The festival is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.

The event will include a haunted house, a tractor show on Saturday, a car show on Sunday, a kids zone, vendor and craft booths, and a pumpkin carving contest.

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OCT

2023

MERCED COUNTY NUT FESTIVAL

The Merced County Nut Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 21 at the Merced County Fairgrounds.

The free admission event will feature live music, a bake-ff contest, games, face painting, vendors and demos and a wine garden.

Admission to the festival is free.

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OCT

2023

FALL FESTIVAL

The Oakdale Chamber of Commerce is hosting a fall festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 21 in downtown Oakdale.

The festival will be held on N. 1st Street, around Last Call Brewing Co., on to East E Street. The car show will take place on N. 2nd Avenue.

The festival will have live music, vendors, family-fun activities and a car show.

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OCT

2023

‘MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS’

The Gallo Center Repertory Company is staging the Agatha Christie classic mystery “Murder on the Orient Express.”

Shows are set for 7 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28 and 2 p.m. Oct. 28 and 29.

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OCT

2023

FULL MOON PADDLE

The Boat House in Lodi is offering a unique excursion on the Mokelumne River under a full moon.

Guests will experience the tranquil setting and take in the various wildlife that comes out at night during this guided kayak ride.

Famous detective Hercule Poirot is called back from Istanbul to London on urgent business. He books a first-class compartment on the Orient Express train, on which he meets a host of peculiar, diverse characters, including a disagreeable American businessman, Samuel Ratchett. As a snowdrift halts the train, Ratchett is found stabbed multiple times in his locked compartment. Poirot sets out to solve the murder, with conflicting clues and convoluted alibis leading to dead ends. Over the course of 48 hours, will Poirot be able to solve the case?

The event is set for 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 27 and launches from the Boat House at Lodi Lake. The ride takes about two hours.

Tickets range from $25 to $45 and are available at tickets. galloarts.org.

Cheese Central in Lodi will present all things cheese to guests at 6 p.m. Nov. 1.

Tickets start at $72 and includes equipment rental.

To book the excursion visit lodiboathouse.com/tours/ full-moon-paddle.

1

NOV

2023

CHEESE 101

There will be a complete presentation of how cheese is made, with lots of samples and side-by-side tastings, along with a big cheese tray to explore four cheese families.

The cost is $65.

Call (209) 368-3033 for tickets.

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intheknow

NOV

9

2023

ARTISAN MARKET

The Carnegie Arts Center is holding an Artisan Market starting at 5 p.m. on Nov. 9.

The market will have a selection of local artisans with goods for the holiday shoppers.

The Carnegie Arts Center is located at 250 N. Broadway.

NOV

11

WINE FEST

Wine Fest, a benefit for art education in Amador County will be back in the Sutter Creek auditorium with a huge art and wine auction and live performances all night on Nov. 11.

2023

performances from youth artists.

Then stroll all around the three blocks of Main Street, while tasting wines from dozens of local, award-winning wineries.

Bid on art auctions, buy luxury raffle tickets, watch artists create original works, dance to live music, taste artisanal gourmet sweets and treats, surprise yourself with Mystery Wines, and take an arts workshop.

Visit amadorarts.org for more information.

The event is an art-filled evening including dozens of wine tastings, gourmet bites, and live artists in boutique shops along Main Street in historic Sutter Creek.

Check-in at the Sutter Creek Auditorium to receive a keepsake glass while enjoying

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intheknow

Service Remembered Highway 33 memorializes Cpl. Singh’s sacrifice

By SABRA STAFFORD

F

amily and friends of Newman Police Cpl. Ronil Singh were joined by elected officials, law enforcement from around the region and community members to mark the occasion of the long-awaited Highway 33 dedication to the fallen peace officer on Sept. 2.

The dedication ceremony and unveiling was in the downtown Newman Plaza and was followed by the sign officially being installed by Caltrans on Highway 33, just beyond the Stuhr Road intersection. The highway sign will greet drivers proceeding south on the highway into Newman.

On Dec. 26, 2018, Singh was shot and killed during an early-morning traffic stop of a suspected drunken driver in Newman. Singh was survived by his wife Anamika and their young son, who was just 5-months-old at the time of his death. He started Kindergarten this year.

“His sacrifice is so important to realize - the bravery, the commitment that he individually made,” said Congressman John Duarte, who was in attendance. “We as a community, as a nation, need to recognize our debts to law enforcement and first responders everywhere.”

Originally, a plan to rename a por-

The State approves the memorial sections but does not cover the costs associated with any memorial signs or plaques. tion of the highway in Singh’s honor started in 2019, when the Assembly Transportation Committee approved a resolution for the Corporal Ronil Singh Memorial Highway that would encompass a stretch of Highway 33 in the Westside. But then bureaucracy and the pandemic came along, slowing the process down. In an effort to get the project back on track, Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit reached out to State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil. Alvardo-Gil said that during her campaign she learned of Singh’s death and made a vow to get the highway memorial back on track. Once the effort gained support in the legislature, including that of her colleague Assemblyman Juan Alanis, AlvaradoGil turned her focus to the immediate

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need of funding.

The State approves the memorial sections but does not cover the costs associated with any memorial signs or plaques. That is where the advocacy group Blue Line Wives came in. Blue Line Wives was founded in 2016 by Amanda Young after the death of a law enforcement member in her hometown. She said she saw a need to support the families behind the law enforcement community, both in times of tragedy and in times of joy.

Alvarado-Gil and Supervisor Condit got the ball rolling with $5,000 and the organization took donations and sold memorial coins to help pay for the project, which came in around $9,000.

“This is an example of why Stanislaus County is one of the best in California,” Alvarado-Gil said. “Our community comes together not only in sorrow but to also celebrate.”

Singh was born in Fiji and came to the United States to pursue his dream of becoming a police officer. Singh started his law enforcement career as a volunteer with the Modesto Police Department and then served as a cadet and animal service officer with the Turlock Police Department. He worked in Turlock from 2006 to 2010 and then joined the Merced County

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Sheriff ’s Department as a deputy in 2010. He graduated Modesto Junior College in 2009 with a degree in criminal justice. Singh joined the Newman Police Department in 2011.

“He was a great role model for all of us living the American dream,” said Assemblyman Alanis. The two met one another when Alanis worked for the Stanislaus County Sheriff ’s Department.

“He was a son, a husband, a father and a friend,” said Condit. “And today, I’m proud to say, his memory will live forever. Each of us will have pride as we drive by that sign.”

The dedication ceremony was preceded by the Tunnel to Towers run/ walk with many people participating in Singh’s honor. The event is hosted by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which was created in the memory of New York Firefighter Stephen Siller with the mission of assisting catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, fallen first responder families, and Gold Star families. Siller was killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has previously assisted Singh’s family by paying off his mortgage. ●

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF The Preston Castle Foundation

intheknow

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By KRISTINA HACKER

he 13th season of Preston Castle’s Haunt experience will open this year on Friday, Oct. 13, upping the creep factor of a historic landmark that is already well-known for paranormal happenings.

Preston Castle in Ione undergoes a spooky makeover every October to welcome guests for a haunted tour, while bringing in much-needed funds to restore and maintain the iconic castle.

The castle first opened in June 1894 as the Preston School of Industry where it housed, educated and trained California’s troubled youth. During their stay, boys would spend half of their day in school and the other half learning trades. The students were trained in fields such as shoe making, baking, becoming a blacksmith, or an electrician.

When newer facilities were built, the castle officially closed in 1960. The building remained vacant, vandalized and neglected until 2001 when the Preston Castle Foundation embarked on a mission to restore it. After 13 years, the foundation purchased the castle from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations in November 2014.

Today, the impressive castle stands as a California State Historical Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places thanks to volunteers, donations, and the foundation’s efforts.

The Romanesque structure is one of the last remaining buildings of its type

in California, and is the perfect backdrop for a haunted tour.

“We don’t do a lot of blood, guts and gore. It’s creepy as it is. We try to feed off the ambiance,” said Melissa Zelico, a member of the Haunt Committee.

Zelico said they pretty much stick to the theme of the castle for the annual haunt events, but change it up enough so that annual visitors are surprised.

“Backwards and inside out is the theme this year. We also have an all new route this year. We try to change it up every year. We have die-hards that come every year,” she said.

The Haunt runs through the basement and first two floors of the castle, using 30,000 square feet of space.

Approximately 1,500 people come through the Preston Castle doors each night of the seasonal event and it takes over 120 volunteers to get the

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castle ready and operate the haunted experience — which is the number one fundraising event for the restoration foundation.

“We don’t disappoint,” said Zelico.

While the spine-chilling atmosphere and interactive scenes are enough to scare enough the most avid horror fan, Zelico said there’s a possibility visitors could also experience one of the castle’s actual ghostly residents.

“We get a lot of paranormal activity, especially right now while we’re building the haunt event. We hear voices, see full-bodied apparitions; we get a little bit of everything,” said Zelico, who is also a member of the Preston Castle Paranormal Team.

The castle has been featured on a number of TV paranormal shows including “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Adventures,” and “Ghost Asylum.”

She also recommends that those who are interested in ghosts should book a paranormal tour at the castle when they resume in 2024. ●

WHAT: Preston Castle Haunt, an immersive haunted tour WHEN: 7 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. Oct. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 WHERE: Preston Castle, 900 Palm Dr., Ione COST: $35 for General Admission; $50 for VIP FastPass (tickets sell out, so buy in advance) INFO: prestoncastle.org/events/the-haunt

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intheknow

Fun Q Down on the Farm

By DENNIS WYATT

uestion: How far — and how fast — can you lob a mini-pumpkin using a 6-foot bazooka-style barrel with sights?

Answer: About 200 yards at 90 mph.

The wildly popular blasters using Northern San Joaquin Valley grown ammo are just part of more than two dozen attractions found at the Pumpkin Maze at Dell’Osso Farms in Lathrop.

Between 30 acres of corn and an old-fashioned creativity reflected in scarecrows to pedal race cars, Ron and Susan Dell’Osso have created the perfect antidote to the malaise sweeping our culture that the only way to have fun is via high-tech or the thrills and spills of spectator sports.

Now in its 27th year, the farm is open on a daily basis Sept. 30 through the end of October.

New this year is The Dell’Osso Family Pumpkin Treehouse that joins the Little Town and slide hill attractions added last year.

There is also a Halloween costume store this year with more than 900 costume options.

It seems a bit corny – pun intended – but the most fun is probably the 30-acre corn maze.

There is something about wander-

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ing through a maze trying to find your way out with friends and family that just can’t be topped.

How else do you explain laughter and smiles from just wandering around in what when all is said and done is simply a bunch of corn stalks?

Exploring the maze at night by moonlight or flashlight adds an entirely different dimension.

There are more than two dozen other attractions from a carousel that once graced Coney Island to train rides, haunted house, mini golf and more.

There is also a massive pumpkin patch — arguably the largest in the area — where kids of all ages can search for the perfect pumpkin.

In addition to the food court, there is a country store with fresh baked goods such as pies and apple spice doughnuts, as well as fudge, cookies, and other treats.

And to top off the perfect date night there’s Cider Hill. It features craft beers, hard cider and homemade pizza.

Most of the attractions are included with admission. The maze opens at noon Mondays through Fridays and at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The last admission is 7 p.m. nightly while attractions start closing at 8 p.m.

Admission is $19.95 Monday through Thursday, $24.95 Friday, and $28.95 on Saturday as well as Sunday. Children 2 and under are free. Parking is free.

Not included in the general admission is gem mining, $10; pumpkin blasters, $8; carousel, $4; pony rides, $10; and pumpkin painting, $5.

Dell’Osso Farms is located off the Manthey Road exist in Lathrop along Interstate 5 between the San Joaquin River crossing and Interstate 205.

For more information go to pumpkinmaze.com. ●

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intheknow

Thanksgiving through

service

By KRISTINA HACKER

W

hile Thanksgiving for many means a day of gathering with family members over a large meal, for others it’s a day of service.

“I think the holiday naturally turns our hearts to be thankful and thoughtful about how blessed most of us are,” said Turlock Gospel Mission CEO Christian Curby.

For the past 10 years, the gospel mission has provided a meal on Thanksgiving day for the homeless, those struggling financially or those looking to gather with others on the holiday. Between 30 and 50

It’s an opportunity to touch the lives of others who at least at this Thanksgiving aren’t feeling as blessed.

— Christian Curby, Turlock Gospel Mission

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volunteers prepare and serve a meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, vegetables, stuffing, rolls and pie every year to a crowd of approximately 100.

The kitchen volunteers prepare a meal for 200, and then create leftover sack lunches to hand out to the guests. Volunteers set up a large dining area in the front patio of the Turlock mission, complete with heaters to keep out the chill.

“It’s all you can eat, a beautiful spread but also

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a great opportunity to connect with our guests. Everybody is pretty thankful to be there that day,” said Curby.

Along with the meal, the mission also sets up stations where guests can get free winter coats and hats and toys for the children.

“It’s an opportunity to touch the lives of others who at least at this Thanksgiving aren’t feeling as blessed,” said Curby.

Those wishing to volunteer this Thanksgiving can visit turlockgospelmission.org to fill out a volunteer application or call (209) 656-1033.

Thanksgiving is a very busy time at the Emergency Food Bank of

Stockton/San Joaquin. The week before the holiday, workers and volunteers start boxing up food that will be distributed in a large-scale drive-through giveaway at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

“There are so many things to do,” said volunteer coordinator Fran O’Brien.

At least 50 volunteers are needed to prepare and distribute the food boxes to the approximately 2,000 individuals and families who will receive them.

“They are helping the needy in the community. It gives you a good feeling to be actually helping people in need,” she said.

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For more information on volunteering to put together food boxes, or help direct traffic during distribution day, call O’Brien at (209) 464-7369.

Two days after the Thanksgiving food box giveaway is the food bank’s largest one-day fundraiser, the Walk Against Hunger. This year will mark the 19th year of the family event.

In 2022, there were nearly 2,000 participants for the 5K run/walk and 10K run.

O’Brien said the food bank gives out over 400 boxes a day and the need is growing.

To register for the Walk Against Hunger, visit: www.runagainsthunger.org. ●

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navigator

By CLAUDIA NEWCORN

G

narled by time, vivid with color, perched on top of the world, the trees of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest are among the world’s oldest living things. Many are over 4000 years old, sprawled along a remote area in California’s White Mountains of the Inyo National Forest.

A HIDDEN PLACE

East of Yosemite National Park, the Sierra folds down into the Owens Valley, a high desert region that runs down towards Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, and Los Angeles. Further east rise the White Mountains, and hidden in their topmost folds and crests grow the world’s oldest living trees. Hardy, adapted to extreme conditions, they survive where most things don’t.

At around 10,000 feet, the park is one of those places visited by few, and intensely enjoyed by those who do go.

A majority hike the Schulman Grove, in which dwells the ancient Methuselah Tree that is 4,800 years old. Think about it – this tree was born before the ancient

THE ANCIENT BRISTLECONE PINE FOREST IS A STEP OUTSIDE OF TIME, WHERE YOU CAN WANDER AND WONDER AMONG THE SILENT SENTINELS OF TIME. Egyptian dynasties arose, lived through Greek and Roman civilizations, was old when Jesus was born, and has continued to this day. It crouches among similarly ancient fellows on the 4.4-mile Methuselah Trail. The tree itself is not identified in order to protect it from souvenir hunters.

But there is something about the Methuselah Grove itself that is intense.

Bristlecone pines are not like any other

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trees. Slow growing, they’ve developed extraordinary mechanisms to survive.

They live primarily on bands of white chalky soil known as Dolomite, a type of limestone created under the warm, shallow, inland sea that once covered this region. Extremely alkaline, most other plants have difficulty growing in it, enabling the bristlecones to get established and grow in a nearly competition-free environment.

Living in the Sierras’ rain shadow, the region is arid. In extremely low water years, a tree will actually allow a portion or even the majority of itself to die off, while keeping a bit alive. The result is a tree cobbled of dead and live sections.

Slow growing, the twisted dense wood is a riot of yellows, tans, russets, some thick, some thin, depending on the environmental stress during which the tree ring grew – much like geological layers in stone. The resinous wood is resistant to rot, disease and insects.

Bristlecone pines are most visually striking in the sunlight. The Schulman groves are mainly on the eastern side

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of the mountain, so visit them in the morning or early afternoon for the most visual drama. By mid-afternoon, they are in deep shadow.

The Schulman Grove is also home to the Visitor Center, the 1-mile Discovery Trail, and the 2.5-mile Mexican Mine Trail, which passes old mine entrances and provides stunning views of the Eastern Sierra.

Each trail has interpretive signs and benches. During the summer, rangers and Center staff offer interpretive programs at 11AM and 2PM. In spring and fall, programs are available on weekends only.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

For sheer breathtaking beauty, the Patriarch Grove is the place to visit.

But it demands patience. It’s a 12mile drive on curving dirt washboard roads that run along the mountain ridge north of Schulman Grove. The views are glorious, the silence amazing; just you, the birds and the breeze as you ascend to 11,200 feet.

This sprawling grove is more open, completely sunlit, and invites one to wander among bristlecones of all ages, with two easy interpretative trails that roam about, giving you views of Owens Valley and the Great Nevada Basin. The Patriarch Tree is the world’s largest bristlecone, with a massive trunk and bushy top. But the trees are mere teenagers, just up to 1500 years old.

One of my favorite discoveries in this grove was the pinecone icicles.

The long cones slowly drip resin that glitters in the light, creating unique icicles perfect for unusual photos.

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navigator

IF YOU GO HOURS: O pen mid-May – end of November.

Closed 10PM – 6AM. Day use only.

FEES: $3 per person, maximum of $6 per car.

Children under 18 are free.

CARRY: Be prepared for any weather conditions – you’re in the mountains. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a widebrimmed hat, and hike with sturdy shoes. Carry water – you’ll get thirsty in the low humidity, and there is no water fountain or spigot available.

For dramatic photography, Patriarch Grove is the place. Here the brilliant sunlight and clean air lend themselves to vivid colors, sharp-edged shadows, and contorted woods that beckon the artistic eye.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is a step outside of time, where you can wander and wonder among the silent sentinels of time. ●

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GAS UP: T he nearest food, fuel and water is in Big Pine, about 45 minutes west.

WEBSITES: Schulman Grove Visitors Center: bit.ly/SGVC Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest: bit.ly/ABPF

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feature

CONTENTMENT BREWING COMPANY Beers and music make for a contended vibe at this Modesto brewery

By JOE CORTEZ

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Contentment Brewing Company sits on the tree-lined corner of Campus Way and Coyado Avenue, an oasis in a southwest Modesto industrial complex.

Behind the trees that guard the building like sentries, the facade of the brewery is painted in bright primary colors, making it obvious to anybody searching for CBC that they’re in the right place.

The brewery takes its name from the arched sign — “water, wealth, contentment, health” — that welcomes visitors to downtown Modesto, choosing to single out the third word of that slogan.

Naturally, CBC offers a wide array of beers, and frequently has a food truck parked outside on Coyado Avenue. On this particular evening, the East Meats West food truck is serving a mix of Asian and American fare. Also, making stops are Tailgaters Food Truck and Paul’s Rustic Oven, serving wood-fired pizzas.

Inside, it’s part brewery, complete with stainless steel brewing tanks, and part saloon, with a long wooden bar and shuffleboard table.

Three nights a week, a makeshift stage is set up as CBC plays host to local bands.

Modesto-based group The Vibes are visiting with patrons and enjoying a few cold ones before they begin their set, which lasts about three hours.

The seven-member band — Joe Berretta and Gary Nelson on guitars, Steve Ashman on bass, Justin Black on keyboard, Dave Rogers on drums, and sisters Claudia and Shelly Streeter handling vocals — plays everything from the Beatles to Motown to blues to original compositions.

“We’re open Wednesday through Sunday and we usually feature live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” said Alyssa Splitstone, a bartender at CBC who handles scheduling the musical acts. “We have bands, solo artists, DJs … all different kinds of acts. It just kind of depends what’s going on in the area. We just try to find out what Modesto has to offer and bring that to the people.”

Singer-songwriter Kayla Just has also appeared at Contentment Brewing Company.

There is no cover charge at CBC. “Nope, no cover charge,” said Splitstone. “Just drop on by and enjoy the vibe.” ●

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THE TARMAC

By CHRISTOPHER CORREA

The former Castle Air Force Base in Atwater has seen

a revival thanks to a popular Stanislaus County brewery.

In December of 2019, Blaker Brewing of Ceres expanded their operations to Merced County with the opening of The Tarmac, a unique taproom and food truck park.

Located at 1930 Airdrome Entry off of Santa Fe Drive, the taproom takes up over 3,000 square-feet of land with an indoor seating area that includes a bar, a patio area and a large event venue that includes a stage, with the Castle Air Water Tower serving as a backdrop. The space doesn’t include the parking lot, better known as The Landing Zone, where 12 food trucks are parked.

The concept of The Tarmac is simple. Every day of the week, at least five of the food trucks are open for most of the day.

Meanwhile, the taproom is open in the afternoons and into the night every Wednesday through Sunday. There is a limited food menu in the taproom so that visitors can explore the flavors offered by the local food trucks, which include La Cruda Tacos y Mariscos, Phantom’s, La Patrona Taqueria, Nancy’s, The Hot Spot Wings, Nali Chinese, Rei Teppanyaki Japanese, Carmelita’s Authentic Mexican, Tacos El Su-

nador, Vidas, Serranos Mexican and Torres Tacos.

The Tramac’s event venue is the only spot on the property where outside food isn’t allowed, as there is a large brick oven for pizzas and grills for barbecuing.

The venue is complemented with live music every Friday night through the “Backyard Beats” series. The series features local artists of various genres to entertain the guests as they enjoy the food and beverages of Blaker Brewing.

Blaker serves a selection of craft beer, cider, wine and even craft cocktails on certain nights.

But Fridays aren’t the only times you can enjoy live music at The Tarmac. This summer, the taproom has hosted multiple festivals and events, such as the Jacked Up Country Music Festival, Deja Brew DJ festival, their annual 4th of July and St. Patrick’s Day parties, and the Summer Smash BBQ. The Tarmac is open Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Fridays from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Food trucks open as early as 10 a.m. daily.

For view upcoming events, the Tarmac menu, food truck hours or to book the event venue, head to www.blakerbrewing.com/taprooms/the-tarmac. ●

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Every day of the week, at least five of the food trucks are open for most of the day.

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feature

DYING BREED BREWING

By TERESA HAMMOND

What was once just a vision with a mission has

turned into a popular local music spot for music lovers throughout the 209.

Located at the south end of Oakdale, Dying Breed Brewing has become known for more than its locally brewed beer selection.

First opened in April of 2020, the local brewery located at 963 Shepard Court Suite B, Oakdale is now home to weekly music almost year round.

“Almost all of our Saturdays are kind of our larger shows or shows when people have free time to come out and listen,” said co-owner and business partner Josh Malcom.

The owner team of Josh Malcom, Dan Wood and Robin Aldridge share more than a love of beer, but a love for good music and community as well.

“The world has opened back up and things have opened up everywhere,” Malcom stated. “Everyone’s schedules are booked out a year to year and a half now.”

Booking out talent looks a lot different when the Brewery first opened.

Malcom shared that while a stage and music was a part of the brewery concept from day one, the talent began as a more homegrown effort. Reaching out to close friends or close friends of friends to share their talents. Currently the brewery hosts artists each Wednesday and Saturday, modifying the main stage schedule in the winter months to accommodate weather.

The stage in and of itself is just as unique as the brewery’s hometown feel.

Constructed of two metal containers with the company logo as a back drop it is no doubt the center piece of the outdoor area.

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The people who are working here care about this place. The people who are visiting care about this place. The people entertaining care about this place.

When you’ve got all those things going on there’s just these little magic moments.”

“That was Dan’s vision from Day 1, wanting two containers,” Malcom shared. “My thing was we have to have a stage, but Dan is the design person. Dan is amazing in his design and sometimes you have to go with the process.”

A second, smaller stage has been placed in the tasting room for the more intimate Wednesday night shows.

“We have a few months that’s more of the singer/ song writer or singer of covers and there’s some really good local people coming in,” Malcom said of the late winter months.

“We do have the occasional Friday night shows, that will follow line dancing, if it’s a line dancing type band,” he continued. “Or if it’s a Six Strings for freedom show and Friday nights the only night that can work.”

Artists like Tyler Braden, Jackson Dean, Sadie Bass from “The Voice” and Flying Blind are just a few wellknown names that have played the Oakdale venue.

As luck and good timing would have it, country artist Braden graced the Dying Breed stage the very night the artist went number one as an XM radio country.

“That’s been a really fun crowd,” Malcom recalled.

“In the last year, there’s a lot more contemporary country bands,” he shared. “We’ve partnered with Six Strings for Freedom. They’re a non-profit that typically work out of Fresno and Nashville. They bring a lot of Nashville artists that are on tours and supports a lot of first responders.”

Due to venue space and demand, most shows at the brewery are ticketed events. Tickets can be purchased on their website www.dyingbreedbrewing.com “In the music world, we’re a small venue. We may be big for a brewery but we are a very small music venue,” Malcom acknowledged. “But we bring a crowd and I think when you have the intimate setting and so many people who are into music…. especially with the larger places they play. They really seem to miss that intimate setting. If we’re able to combine the buy in up front with our space.

The buy in of our community and the intimacy of all that, sometimes it’s magic. Then you have people who want to come back here time after time.”

In addition to live music and beverages, the brewery hosts food trucks for customers to enjoy a bite to eat while listening to music.

“The people who are working here care about this place,” Malcom said. Noting his extreme gratitude for what the business has become. “The people who are visiting care about this place.

The people entertaining care about this place. When you’ve got all those things going on there’s just these little magic moments.”

“Sometimes when you sit back and look at it… when you’re in the middle of any type of career sometimes it’s the Ground Hog Day, doing the same thing, doing the same thing. There’s a definite grind to this,” Malcom summarized. “But when we do community events and people are able to express what this place means to them and that happens frequent enough that it leaves you with a really good feeling.” ●

— Josh Malcom

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feature

MURPHYS IRISH PUB

By KRISTINA HACKER

Anthony Delaney has been a regular musician at Murphys Irish Pub for the past five years. Three years ago, he and his wife Jessica purchased the pub and have since been working to make it the go-to place for live music in the area.

“We try to focus on the music, on having great food, a great community and creating a great vibe. We’re a public house; we’re a pub; we’re here for the people,” said Delaney.

Murphys Irish Pub has live music every night they are open — Wednesday through Sunday.

Every Wednesday is Open Mic Night and it is open to musicians of all kinds.

“There’s such great talent here in the area, and we just get such good people coming to Open Mics. It’s become really a great popular night,” he said.

Thursdays are called the Weekend Warmup and feature more local bands, including Delaney’s own bands Side Hustle Ministry or Murphys Jazz Allstars. Fridays are a mix of popular local bands and touring artists. Saturdays are primarily touring bands, which not only draw in locals but also the large number of tourists that frequent the Calaveras County town of Murphys every weekend.

Sundays are using also local bands and the music gets started earlier, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

There are tickets or cover charges on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

There is a minimal cover charge on Fridays and Saturdays.

“The money goes literally just to the bands. And I think that part of what that does is create a more intentional space for music. Because the people who are in there are paying money to come in. So the band doesn’t get turned into background music… It helps elevate things a little bit. And I think that’s why

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We try to focus on the music, on having great food, a great community and creating a great vibe.

We’re a public house; we’re a pub; we’re here for the people.

— Anthony Delaney

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We do Rock. We do Indie music, blues; a lot of blues, lot of jazz, from straight jazz to like fusion. We do country. We do a lot of bluegrass.

bands have great shows here because people care,” said Delaney.

What kind of music can be found at Murphys Irish Pub? “A mix of everything,” said Delaney.

“We do Rock. We do Indie music, blues; a lot of blues, lot of jazz, from straight jazz to like fusion. We do country. We do a lot of bluegrass. I’ve become a big bluegrass fan. I book all the bands so I’ve been getting into a lot of things. Now. I’ve been getting into country bluegrass since I’ve moved to the foothills. We’ve got some reggae.

“The only thing We don’t generally have any rap or hip hop,” he continued also stating that because the pub is a smaller venue, they also stay away from the harder, more aggressive and loud music.

They also have quite a few regular bands and/or artists, along with Delaney. Graham Richards is the pub’s resident pianist and plays on Friday and Saturday afternoons, either solo piano or piano and vocals. Local band US4Love is also a regular, as well as

part of the Pub is Dead band — a Grateful Dead tribute band that plays at the pub on every fifth Sunday.

A few of the artists coming the Murphys Irish Pub in October include:

Oct. 6 — Brad Parsons, country singer-songwriter

Oct. 14 — Big Sticky Mess, an original funk festival band Oct. 15 — Cole Hinkle, a local altcountry band

Oct. 20 — The Neighborhood Sound, a local rock band Oct. 21 — Sweet N’ Juicy, a unique and fruity rock band from Portland

Oct. 22 — Chris Baron, a singersongwriter out of Portland Oct. 27 — Jimbo Scott and Yesterday’s Biscuits, a fusion of bluegrass, country, rock and soul For more information on upcoming music events, visit goirishinmurphys. com. ●

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arts&culture

Finishing a father’s literary dream

T

“Dad didn’t read,” Martin Jr. shared of his father’s need to stay busy and rarely sit still.

“Dad wrote on napkins, Yet in his early he wrote on scraps of 50s he shared with paper, everything was his wife Elsie that handwritten.” he wanted to write a — August Martin Jr. said book. Setting up an of the early unfolding office in the family’s of the current book. barn to escape and unleash his creativity, the dairy farmer first took to poetry.

A passion which eventually led to him becoming the treasurer of the San Joaquin Poet Society.

“Dad wrote on napkins, he wrote on scraps of paper, everything was handwritten,” Martin Jr. said of the early unfolding of the current book.

In the early ‘90s with the help of daughter Lisa Martin, all of the scraps, napkins and papers by Martin, Sr. were typewritten.

“He wanted to get this book published for years,” his son said. “Then my dad had a stroke in 1996 and the book just kind of went on the back burner.”

The severity of the stroke was one which left the senior Martin’s wife Elsie advocating for her husband, as doctor after doctor left them with little hope for his recovery. Yet he did recover and with his wife leading the way, one of two of his life dreams was fulfilled prior to his passing in 2006.

The first of the two dreams was to open and offer a safe place for children in need. In 2002 after much hard work, fundraising and community support, the couple opened the

he background story of the recently released “Running with the President,”

by Redwood Publishing, LLC is an inspiring story unto itself.

Described as a Political/Assassination/Conspiracy Thriller, “Running with the President,” mirrors today’s headlines, while managing an escape from reality for the reader. The romantic political thriller centers around an assassination attempt on the President which turns into a twisted turn of mistaken identity and romance.

“I’m excited and thrilled to see it in print,” co-author August Martin, Jr. shared of the novel.

His excitement is equally echoed by his mother, Elsie Martin, whose idea it was to complete her late husband, August Martin’s dream.

“My dad was this Portuguese farmer, known for his gregarious personality but also known for his temper,” Martin Jr. said of his late father, who owned the family dairy farm in Valley Home. “He was tough. He had these two sides.”

The “two sides” the co-author speaks of would be something which later blossomed from being a well-known storyteller/life of the party to a “renaissance man,” who took to writing poetry, playing violin and decided to write a book.

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By TERESA HAMMOND

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Children’s Guardian House, located in Oakdale. The Guardian House is a children’s shelter for abused, neglected and high-risk youths from infant through 17 years of age.

“I just said, I think we should complete dad’s dream,” Elsie said of getting his book published, approaching the idea with her son in early 2020. “We didn’t know at the time that we were going to have it for this fundraiser. We had no idea, that just came up.”

The fundraiser, where the book was available for sale, was hosted in mid-August this year, and is put on annually in Farmington to benefit the Oakdale Guardian House.

“I needed a project,” Martin Jr. said of taking on the book. “So, I decided to pick up the book, but we only had a typed version of it. We didn’t have an electronic version.”

With a then-first grader at home distance learning, Martin Jr. began reviewing the book and quickly realized a project that he thought would take three weeks to edit and review, quickly turned into eight months.

“I knew the story. I knew the framework of the story. I had just never read it,” the co-author said, noting that the book sort of jumped around and he needed to read it before completing the digitizing. As he did, he realized it needed a bit more work.

Martin Jr. shared the book is absolutely his dad’s book. Through

“It’s exciting to have it completed, because that was August’s dream. That was way before he had the stroke. So, I had thought, well I’ll print a few copies, he thinks he’s a writer.”

his fixes, enhancements and edits, Martin Jr. said he feels he’s contributed to about 20 percent of the book.

“I’m not a writer, dad’s not a writer,” he said, sharing feelings of being an imposter, after receiving 12 pages of the fixes from their editor.

Yet as time went by, the notes began to make sense to the co-author and after eight more months, the final product was ready for print.

“Mom’s feeling is that if he could have started his life over when he was younger,” Martin Jr. said of his father, “he probably would have had a totally different career. He did what he did

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because that’s what he knew.”

“It’s exciting to have it completed, because that was August’s dream,” Elsie shared. “That was way before he had the stroke. So, I had thought, well I’ll print a few copies, he thinks he’s a writer.”

Now the completed work can be found on all internet book sites including Barnes and Noble and Amazon. A portion of proceeds from book sales will benefit continued work at the Children’s Guardian Home.

“I’m unbelievably excited and happy,” Elsie stated. ●

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9/25/2023 10:06:51 AM

arts&culture

93 Years

of Musical Masterpieces

By SABRA STAFFORD

T

he Modesto Symphony Orchestra will open its 93rd season with new Music Director Nicholas Hersh with Tchaikovsky & Copland on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14.

The program will start with Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro then will feature pianist Alessio Bax on Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The evening will conclude with Copland’s Symphony No. 3, which features the well-known theme from Fanfare for the Common Man. As part of the opening weekend festivities, the MSO will have an afterparty in the lobby to celebrate the new season and their new Music Director Nicholas Hersh.

“We are so excited to open our Classics Series with our new Music Director Nicholas Hersh,” said Caroline Nickel, President and CEO of

the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Association. “Nick immediately started to work completing the programming for our season and we are so excited to share it with the community. Everyone at the MSO is thrilled to have Nick’s artistic leadership and we can’t wait to see where we’ll go from here.”

Hersh is frequently in demand as an arranger and orchestrator, with commissions from orchestras around the globe for adaptations of everything from classical solo and chamber music to popular songs. His orchestration of Beethoven’s Cello Sonata Op. 69 was premiered by the Philharmonie Zuidnederland in January 2022, while his symphonic arrangement of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody continues to see worldwide success as a viral YouTube hit. He also serves as arranger and editor for the James P. Johnson Orchestra Edition.

The opening concert will feature Alessio Bax on piano. Bax catapulted to prominence with First Prize wins at both the Leeds and Hamamatsu International Piano Competitions, and is now a familiar face on five continents, not only as a recitalist and chamber musician, but also as a concerto soloist who has appeared with more than 150 orchestras.

Th next show in MSOs Classics Series will be Gershwin’s An American in Paris at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 and 10. Hersh will be conducting and the program will include William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony; D’un Matin de Printemps (Of a Spring Morning)

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from Lili Boulanger; and George Gershwin’s An American in Paris.

Symphonic Soundtrack is a new concert experience MSO will debut at 7:30 p.m.

March 15 and 16. The performance will feature a special program curated by the MSO musicians and will include an afterparty for the whole audience.

The fourth concert in MSOs Classics Series will be Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto at 7:30 p.m. April 12 and 13. The concert will be conducted by Hersh and Tai Murray on violin. Murray has performed as guest soloist on the main stages world-wide, performing with leading ensembles such as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Symphony Orchestra, and all of the BBC Symphony Orchestras.

The program will include performances of Astor Piazzolla’s Tangazo; Louise Farrenc: Symphony No. 3 in G minor; Bach’s Little Fugue in G minor; and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor.

The Classics Series will close out with performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at 7:30 p.m. May 10 and 11. The show will feature the MSO Chorus directed by Daniel R. Afonso Jr. All shows are in the Mary Stuart Rogers Theater at Gallo Center for the Arts.

Single tickets range from $20 to $94 and students can get in for $12 with a valid student id card. Subscription packages are available. For more information visit ModestoSymphony.org. ●

OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2023

9/25/2023 10:14:14 AM

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flavors

Welcome back to

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA STILL/ 209 Magazine

By CHRISTOPHER CORREA

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T

he greatest hits of the 1960s and 70s are once again playing on the speakers throughout the building at 111 N. Golden State Blvd. in Turlock, the home of Latif ’s

by Pedretti. The iconic diner, which first opened in 1953 and moved into its current location in 1959, reopened on Aug. 24 after being closed for two and a half years following a kitchen fire on the day of Super Bowl LV. “It’s been a crazy two years,” said owner Nick Pedretti. “It’s been a long, rough process, but I’m so happy we’ve gotten it done.”

The fire on Feb. 7, 2021 had begun in the kitchen and quickly led to the entire building falling victim to severe smoke damage. To this day, Pedretti isn’t quite sure what caused the fire.

His best guesses are that it was either the refrigeration system or the electrical unit, which was installed in 1956.

“Absolutely everything was damaged,” Pedretti said.

Pedretti explained that since shutting their doors to the public on that February day, he couldn’t go anywhere without people asking him about Latif ’s. They were questions he appreciated, but also ones he was hesitant to answer.

“It’s great when people care so much and want to talk about this place, but when you don’t know what’s going to happen for certain, it weighs on you and there were times where it got pretty stressful,” he shared. “I’ve had family helping me out and friends getting me going through the time. If not for them, we definitely would not be where we are right now.”

Pedretti believes that it took every single one of the 927 days to get

the restaurant back open, as insurance claims had to be sorted out and almost everything inside needed to be replaced.

“We had to replace everything and renovate everything so that it could all be up to code,” he said. “Nothing could be grandfathered in anymore, so everything had to be new. Figuring out which insurance was paying for what also slowed things, but we made it.”

Sure, everything is new, including the kitchen, the bathrooms, ceilings and the paint, but the restaurant still has the same feel as it has had for the last seven decades.

On the building’s brick wall on the far side of the restaurant, the light blue paint is complemented by shelves with orange vases, plants and vintage images of former Latif ’s customers and employees. Pedretti explained that the idea came from loyal customer Jaci Machado. She had the original photos blown up and printed onto large canvases as an ode to the restaurant’s rich history.

Also being kept the same are the orange booths and stools, including the two seats that were occupied by President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush in 1988.

“We didn’t make any super crazy changes because I knew that people would be upset if I did,” Pedretti explained. “I was never going to do much different anyway. There’s too much history here.”

Pedretti and his staff are also planning on continuing the tradition of serving fresh pies to their customers.

For now, pies are only available on the weekends as staff continue to get trained by the niece of original pie-

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maker Paula Loomis.

As for the breakfast and lunch menus, they remain mostly the same, with a handful of new sandwiches. For those 21 and over, the reopening has also introduced an expanded menu of beers and wines.

According to Pedretti, since the reopening, everything has been a hit.

“People asking about this place showed me that people were anxious for us to come back, and it’s proven to be true,” he joked. “We’re definitely at full-go now, and it’s nice to know.

You get nervous if people are going to come back or not, but slowly they’re all coming.”

Some of the returning parties include Kiwanis of Greater Turlock, Turlock Rotary and the football programs of Turlock High and Pitman High, who have reserved the newly renovated second floor on select days of the week.

Pedretti admitted that the reopening process has been a learning experience, especially considering the fact that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fire, the diner has only been open at full capacity for three months since he purchased it in 2019.

“We’ve barely had three months of being open normally, and we’re going on year four of me owning this place, so it’s been a pretty crazy couple of years,” he said. “I’m happy that we’ve finally gotten it going. Now it’s about making sure everything goes well and keeping this place open.”

Latif ’s by Pedretti is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

They are open for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays till 7 p.m. ●

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flavors

WATERMELON WALNUT CURRANT CHUTNEY SERVINGS 16

4 cups watermelon, juiced 2 cups watermelon rind (white part), diced small 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar 1/2 medium white onion, sliced 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon cloves, ground 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 lemon, juice only 2 tablespoons currants 2 tablespoons roasted walnuts 1 wheel brie cheese, for serving crackers, for serving

DIRECTIONS

In saucepan over medium heat, reduce watermelon juice to 2 cups. Combine with watermelon rind, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, white onion, garlic, nutmeg, cloves, lemon zest, lemon juice, currants and walnuts; simmer until almost dry.

Chill and serve over brie with crackers.

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OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2023

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SKILLET APPLE PIE WITH CARAMEL SAUCE 4 large Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1/4 cup sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon, divided 1 tablespoon lemon juice 6 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup, plus 2 teaspoons, brown sugar 2 refrigerated pie crusts 2 teaspoons whipping cream caramel sauce

DIRECTIONS Heat oven to 350 F. In large bowl, combine apples, sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon and lemon juice until apples are covered.

Set aside.

In oven-safe, 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter. Add 1/4 cup brown sugar and remaining cinnamon; mix until combined. Boil 5-8 minutes.

In same skillet, place one pie crust over brown sugar mixture. Pour apples over pie crust. Cover apples with second pie crust. Cut slits in top to release steam.

Brush whipping cream over crust. Sprinkle with remaining brown sugar.

Bake 35-45 minutes until crust is golden brown.

Drizzle with caramel sauce.

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OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2023

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thegreatoutdoors

EBBETTS PASS EASY HIKES DELIVER HIGH ADVENTURES

A

lpine lakes, scenic hikes and exciting summits await.

Highway 4 over Ebbetts Pass provides easy access to worthy Sierra Nevada adventures.

If you haven’t discovered the treasures of the Mother Lode’s high country yet, why not venture out this year? Here are three moderate outings near Ebbetts Pass which will deliver more happiness than most Gold Rush miners attained in these parts.

By MATT JOHANSON

PHOTO BY MATT JOHANSON/ 209 Magazine

KINNEY LAKES

A four-mile loop circles the picturesque Kinney Lakes near Ebbetts Pass. Anglers will enjoy fishing the lakes and anyone will enjoy the clean air and High Sierra view. Children and dogs should like it too.

Take Highway 4 east for about 15 miles from Bear Valley, or Highway 4 west for 18 miles from Markleeville. There’s roadside parking at the pass and in a trailhead lot half a mile east of it.

Hike north on the Pacific Crest Trail past Sherrold Lake, reaching Upper Kinney Lake in about one mile. Here we leave the PCT to take a use trail around Upper Kinney Lake and neighboring Lower Kinney Lake. Many options exist to circle the lakes and return to the road, either out and back or on a loop.

FUN FACTS: Miwuk and Washoe Indians traveled the Ebbetts Pass corridor, as did Jedediah Smith, the first non-native to cross the Sierra Nevada, surviving a fierce snowstorm in 1827. John “Snowshoe” Thompson delivered mail through this area on his cross country skis from 1856 to 1876.

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EBBETTS PEAK

A short and easy ascent delivers an impressive view.

Ebbetts Peak might be the best mountain in this region for introducing children to the rewards and adventure of climbing.

Starting from Ebbetts Pass, find the dirt road leading northwest. Follow it about a quarter mile to its end. Take the northbound trail up to the saddle and then climb a use trail northeast up the last few hundred feet to the summit.

For variety, descend northwest toward Sherrold Lake where you’ll meet the Pacific Crest Trail. Turn right to take it back to Highway 4, where another right returns you to Ebbetts Pass in a few hundred yards. Making this loop adds only a half mile to the

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Folger Peak stands over nearby Highland Lakes, where its trailhead is found.

total distance. Be cautious of this option in the early season when the north slope of Ebbetts Peak will have snowfields.

The climb to the 9,160-foot summit and back climbs 424 feet in about a mile, taking most people an hour or less. Take it easy if you just came from low elevation, though.

FUN FACTS: Pioneer John Ebbetts crossed this pass in 1851.

Ebbetts later suggested the route for a transcontinental railroad to surveyor George Goddard. After

THE CLIMB TO THE 9,160-FOOT SUMMIT AND BACK CLIMBS 424 FEET IN ABOUT A MILE, TAKING MOST PEOPLE AN HOUR OR LESS. TAKE IT EASY IF YOU JUST CAME FROM LOW ELEVATION, THOUGH.

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Ebbetts died in a steamboat explosion in 1854, Goddard named the pass after him. Despite Ebbetts’ vision, no railroad was ever constructed here, though a toll road opened in 1862 to accommodate silver mining. The road became public and free to use in 1911.

HIGHLAND LAKES, FOLGER PEAK, HIRAM PEAK

Get off the main highway and discover the attractive Highland

OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2023

9/25/2023 10:21:36 AM

thegreatoutdoors

Folger Peak’s view includes Hiram Peak and the Mokelumne and Carson-Iceberg Wildernesses.

Lakes area. A short and pretty hike leads to the modest Folger Peak summit, suitable for beginners, kids and dogs.

Take Highland Lakes Road leading southeast from Highway 4, about 4 miles east from Hermit Valley Campground if eastbound or 1.3 miles west of Ebbetts Pass if westbound.

Drive on the partly-paved, partly dirt road for 5.8 miles to Highland Lakes Campground beside the second and smaller lake. The road can be rough, narrow and windy in places but is generally drivable for cars without high clearance.

Walk through the campground area on the west side of the road and locate site #4. A use trail leads from it through lodgepole pines to the west. Soon you’ll emerge from the trees, turn north and start steeper climbing up a gravely slope. When you reach the secondary peak on the mountain’s southern flank, you’ve gained about 75 percent of the climb’s elevation. The last segment is slightly steeper and rockier than the lower portion but still class 1 if you stay on route. The round-trip outing of 2 miles climbs 1,100 feet to a 9,720foot summit, taking most people one

WALK THROUGH THE CAMPGROUND AREA ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LOCATE SITE #4.

or two hours.

Our summit view features peaks of Mokelumne and Carson-Iceberg Wildernesses and 9,795-foot Hiram Peak to the southeast.

If Folger Peak warmed you up for a bigger challenge, that could be your nightcap. After descending, find Hiram’s trailhead across the road in the east side of the campground.

A 1.5-mile use trail to the summit involves steeper

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Hikers Bob Leung and Polly Sang visit Ebbetts Peak’s summit, where a flag honors veterans.

climbing and class 2 terrain.

Or if you’ve had enough hiking, take a refreshing dip or cast your fishing line into the pretty Highland Lakes.

Fun facts: Folger Peak carries the name of an eastern Sierra newspaper pioneer, although no one knows for sure which one. Robert Folger (1820-1899) founded The Alpine Chronicle in 1864 and was the west coast’s oldest working journalist at the time of his death. His brother Alexander Folger (1831-1902, and identified as Andrew by some sources) became the town’s first postmaster and also published newspapers with his brother in Markleeville and Bridgeport. Hiram Peak’s name honors Hiram Tyre, who grazed cattle in the region. ●

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thegreatoutdoors

SONORA PEAK A PERFECT HIKE FOR

NEOPHYTE PEAK BAGGERS

I

t’s not the highest peak in the Sierra but when it comes to vistas Sonora Peak is arguably without peers in the Sierra when it comes to accessibility.

The 360-degree view from its 11,459-foot summit is worth every step of the short but semistrenuous 5-mile round trip from the St. Mary’s Pass Trailhead located just west of the 9,623-foot Sonora Pass on Highway 108.

The fairly easy to follow trail, the short distance in terms of Sierra peak hiking, and the rewards once you reach the summit make it a popular pick for hikers of all abilities including neophyte peak baggers.

Some have described the Sonora Pass hiking area as Yosemite-

like. Although there is some resemblance to the Yosemite High Country, Sonora Pass is a different cat. It also has less people — a lot less people.

On my last trip up Sonora Peak on Sept. 10, I encountered no one on the way up.

It wasn’t until I was halfway across the plateau that serves as a massive snow field on the way down that I encountered the first hikers. There were two others by the time I got back to the car — a pleasant 68-year-old lady I chatted with just a

quarter mile down the St. Mary’s Pass that’s at 10,100 feet and a hunter who was doing an overnight backpack trip that had just departed the parking area as I neared it.

As for those that peaked that day, there was one person before me — a hiker who signed the summit registry as a member of the Army Special Forces.

While it is fun to read the entries in the summit registry and get tidbits of observations about life or the hike, the soldier’s entry served as a reminder that to the east from Sonora Peak is the Marine Corps mountain train-

You might be tempted to head down the eastern slope to the Pacific Crest Trail and head back to the pass and then walk 0.8 miles along Highway108 to your vehicle.’

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ing facility. Occasionally hiking the Pacific Crest Trail that provides an eastern approach to Sonora Peak, you can hear the sounds of Marines training if the wind is right.

As an aside the Pacific Crest Trail from Sonora Pass proper is less strenuous for an out-and-back hike and has its share of stunning views, but ascending Sonora Peak from this route is more of a challenge.

Finding the St. Mary’s Pass Trailhead can be a slight challenge as the short dirt driveway to the parking area isn’t marked. Heading up from Sonora it is on the left about 0.8 miles short of the pass. There is also a dirt parking area on the right side of Highway 108 just after the turn into the St. Mary’s Trailhead parking access. Don’t confuse this with the paved Sonora Pass parking area just shy of the pass.

There is about 2,000 feet of net elevation gain on the hike. The mile to the pass is do-able for most folks.

The lady I referenced earlier was taken frequent breaks. There’ plenty of excuses for doing that considering the scenery you can photograph.

Once at the pass, you take a hard right to the trail that climbs to the east. This will lead you along a ridge where you round a corner and Sonora Peak will loom on the horizon. It’s here that you will depart the trail and head toward the peak. There is an obvious trail going up the mountain to your left beyond the slopping plateau. You can look for cairns (stacked rocks others have placed to serve as a trailer marker) to guide you the shortest distance. The trail picks up again as you near the most strenuous part of the climb.

There is scree or loose rocks and such on a fairly steep incline on parts of the final ascent. This is where hiking poles come in handy although it can be conquered without them.

Once you summit, you might be tempted to head down the eastern slope to the Pacific Crest Trail and

A

B A - Looking toward the 11,233-foot Stanislaus Peak (high point in upper middle of photo) from the 11,459foot summit of Sonora Peak.

B - Different photos of wildflowers on way to Sonora Peak.

C - Pinnacles on wat to Sonora Peak.

head back to the pass and then walk 0.8 miles along Highway108 to your vehicle.’

But be warned: The trip down on that side is a bit steeper. Besides there’s something rewarding about descending the same way you came up and taking in what some have called “the 100-mile view.”

No permits or fees are required. The hike took me 4.5 hours to complete including 20 minutes at the top and fairly frequent photo stops.

This is also ideal weather especially for those tackling a peak for the first time.

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C The sun isn’t brutal, you’re not going to freeze, the weather is usually pleasant, and winter has yet to arrive.

There is still a smattering of wildflowers that give you an extremely small glimpse of what the hike scenery looks like in mid- to late- spring. This region of the Sierra is considered second to none with its abundance of spring wildflowers.

The hike is do-able in rugged workout shoes although hiking boots are best.

Use sunscreen and preferably a hat. Take plenty of water and let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back.

Sonora Peak is the highest point in Alpine County.

It is unique in that it drains into five water basins — Deadman Creek, Sardine Creek, Wolf Creek, East Fork Carson River, and the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River. ●

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fulloflife

By TERESA HAMMOND

T

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY VELASCO

his issue of the 209 will forever be the one where you will find me reminding women, their children, their families and spouses to not only schedule their annual mammogram, but also don’t forget your self-exam.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Finding out I had cancer in April 2020, this month took on a whole new meaning for not just myself, but my family, my friends, as well as my community as I became public about my diagnosis from the get go. It’s a pretty vulnerable thing to share so openly.

However from the day I learned of my diagnosis until this very day, I’ve always believed God placed me in this position to do exactly what I’m doing now.

The public forum for a journalist reaches so far beyond our immediate circle that it hardly felt right to not share not only my experiences but my lessons as well.

In prior issues I’ve shared the importance of getting checked, checking yourself, advocating for yourself, as well as the amazing technology of a “cooling cap.”

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Since sharing openly I’ve had the honor and privilege of helping other women, as well as families navigate the “bad news,” pursue second options, as well as navigate the grief which is so very real as your life transforms to something you’re not familiar with.

I laugh as I type this, recalling my conversation with my newspaper via FaceTime the day I learned of this news. “This will make for a great 209 story come October,” I shared … and it did.

The ability to use this forum to share a bit more that may benefit as few as one or as many as dozens is a gift within itself.

For this issue, I wanted to offer a few things: a brief update on my personal health, share a few valuable lessons I’ve learned since the October 2020 issue, as well as offer some reminders.

Personally, we continue the battle.

My initial diagnosis of Stage 3, Triple Negative Breast Cancer, has maintained. Since the diagnosis in April of 2020, I’ve experienced two separate recurrences resulting in more treatment.

For the reader shaking their head and perhaps thinking, “She should have had a mastectomy;” I did. As well as multiple chemotherapy treatments, radiation and a handful of surgeries which I’ve quite honestly now lost track of.

There’s a not so funny thing that happens when one gets diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. You find yourself (or at least I have) navigating through grief, guilt and an inevitable fear.

The grief came by way of my life which I’ve missed. Pre-cancer T was different in a lot of areas. Learning to live with the disappointment of not yet being “well,” is a real thing. Putting life on hold in certain areas, as we work on finishing the battle also plays into the grief. Typically speaking, I’ve

always been an optimist and battling through this disease has been no different. However, the three-and-ahalf-year battle has benched me from certain moments in my life I would have not otherwise missed. Hence the grieving.

It also has a way of really teaching one to live all the moments fully with a quickness. An example of this would be this year is the first in the past three years that we’ve packed our bags and gone, gone, gone. Memory making has taken on a whole new level of “must,’ with my friends and family. The waiting for- insert a future timeline herehas been replaced with, how can we make that happen. I’m grateful for that and feel abundantly blessed to still be here to do all the things.

The lessons are big and I’m both grateful and happy to share them with others as much as I possibly can.

The first and very important lesson comes by way of the mammogram.

Every woman of recommended age should absolutely have an annual mammogram. That test should be viewed as insurance that your health is going well, in that area. That one test, however, should not be relied on completely for the remainder of the year.

Self-exam is how every single one of my tumors were found. The beauty of the self-exam versus an annual mammogram is you don’t have to wait for an appointment; it can be done daily and should.

Case in point, following my first round of treatments and surgeries my PET Scan in July of 2021 detected no cancerous activity. We were thrilled!

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That same year, three short months later, I found another lump on the same side. The following year after another surgery and more chemo, that fall I found another tumor; same side, again.

The other and most valuable lesson comes by way of getting a second opinion. What I’ve learned since leaving the Valley following my first recurrence in October 2021, is we have some amazing resources right in our backyard. Insurance should not be a deterrent.

When I learned of my recurrence I shared with my surgeon that perhaps I needed to get out of the Valley. Through her help a referral for a second opinion was sent through to my insurance. Hospital of choice, Stanford. Personally following up with my insurance I learned I had been rerouted to UCSF, which was fine by me.

UCSF typically is not in my plan, however given the second opinion status, it is a hospital they “partner” with.

Not only was going to UCSF a good move in my battle, I also came to realize that seeing a Breast Cancer Oncologist versus an Oncologist (with no specialty) was a good thing. The team that I was now joining knew all things breast cancer and they were ready to attack this aggressive type.

Becoming an advocate for yourself, making the calls, building the relationships are all so important when trying to do what’s best by way of your health. Putting things off is not in your best interest. Not to mention documenting everything including questions you may have, can be instrumental in the overall process.

Overall, there’s a lot I’m grateful for in this chapter. The lessons have been abundant, the people amazing and at the end of it all, life truly is beautiful.

Now make that appointment, share this with someone who might benefit and remember your health is your business. ●

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aplacecalledhome

Attract backyard birds

with the right seeds W

hile almost all bird seed may look pretty much the same to you, it doesn’t to the birds you’re feeding. Knowing what kinds of seeds different birds like can help you attract a variety of fine feathered friends to your feeders. Consider these popular seed types and the common backyard birds they attract:

Sunflower Black sunflower seeds attract blue jays, goldfinches, woodpeckers, purple finches, chickadees, titmice and nuthatches. Striped sunflower seeds appeal to chickadees, doves, grosbeaks, northern cardinals, nuthatches, titmice and woodpeckers. Sunflower hearts (also known as “hulled sunflower” and “sunflower chips”) attract chickadees, common redpolls, juncos, doves, finches, goldfinches, grosbeaks, nuthatches, pine siskins, titmice and woodpeckers.

Nyjer

Cracked corn

These lightweight, tiny seeds are a favorite of goldfinches. Put nyjer seeds in a hanging feeder with tiny holes so the small seeds won’t get blown away. Nyjer also attracts redpolls, juncos, doves, indigo bunting and pine siskin.

Popular with ground feeders, cracked corn appeals to doves, crows, jays, sparrows, juncos and towhees. Avoid getting finely cracked corn as it’s vulnerable to rot and can quickly turn to mush.

Safflower These white seeds are slightly smaller than black sunflower seeds. Because they are bitter, grackles, blue jays, starlings – and squirrels – don’t like them. However, they do attract doves, purple finches, chickadees, titmice and downy woodpeckers.

White millet Good for scattering on the ground, white

millet attracts ground feeders such as juncos, sparrows, indigo buntings, towhees and mourning doves.

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When choosing a bird seed mix, pay attention to the ingredients list on the package. Bird seed is required by law to list ingredients in order of content. Some cheaper mixes have filler seeds such as wheat, red milo, red millet or “assorted grain products.”

Most backyard birds won’t eat those, and your seed mix could end up wasted on the ground. ●

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5 home renovation projects to tackle this fall

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marketplace

LILLY PAD SEWING

MARKS TWO DECADES IN BUSINESS

By TERESA HAMMOND

I

t’s been just a bit over 20 years since Lilly Retelas took a leap and opened her own business. A leap of faith for a single mom who had relocated to Oakdale with a skill and determination. And while many who know Retelas would likely say it’s her kindness and personality which have maintained her shop for the past two decades, her wisdom and business savvy play an equal part in the success of her business, The Lilly Pad Sewing.

“I decided to move to the Valley. I bought a house here in Oakdale and I was going around to the businesses like a politician with a clipboard and I was asking everybody. Taking a survey,” she said of her initial business idea of opening a sewing machine and vacuum repair shop. That was a job she had done while living in the Bay Area.

Four years after starting her business at the 1214 W. F St., Oakdale location, Retelas was able to relocate to a larger suite in the same building, due to a new demand. Her favorite quilting shop in Modesto had closed, which left the go-getter with only one option: to start carrying fabric.

“The business switched from sewing and vacuum sales and repair and classes to sewing and quilting. No vacuums anymore,” the entrepreneur said.

“I’m a hard worker. I love a challenge,” she continued, “and I guess I have a natural ability to go with the flow. So I

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switched my business because the economy was asking for this. I’ve been blessed to be able to recognize the signs and I guess I have a knack for business. I take care of my customers.”

In addition to the quilting items, sewing machine sales and repairs offered at the Lilly Pad, Retelas also hosts private classes for small groups; maximum four people.

Teaching the machines, beginner quilting, advanced quilting and different techniques.

“You can make beautiful projects,” she said of the art of quilting. “It’s rewarding. It’s also a very therapeutic way to take care of trouble and anxiety. It has lots of benefits.”

Proving to be committed to her craft as well as her clients, Retelas shares her passion for the art of quilting by way of offering all that her clients may need to create the work which lines the walls of her shop.

“I make all the samples because I buy all the patterns. I coordinate the way I like to coordinate and make my own bundles to make the kits,” she said of putting her own creative touch on the quilt kits she sells.

Yet 20 years of business, most especially post-COVID and in a small town takes more than commitment and passion, it takes hard work.

“All the old school businesses that are still here and they grow it’s because the owners are hardcore.

They believe in what they do,” she said. “They take care of their

business. They take care of their customers and they don’t spend their money as soon as the money comes in on this and that.”

Retelas added that it also is important to focus on the customers.

“When a person decided to drive and come into my store, I feel honored. And I feel obligated and excited to see how I can help them. I cannot ignore them. The person has to feel welcomed,” she explained.

When asked the secret of owning a business 20 years, Retelas didn’t hesitate.

“I truly believe the trick to it, is to pay attention to your clients.

Specifically, now that everything is available on line,” she said. “Trust is what you build with a client. It might not happen right away. It may not come for years, but it can come.”

Manageable hours of Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., have come hard earned over the years. The hours, however, help Retelas maintain a healthy life balance and a continued love for her clients and the business.

“My oldest son George claims my shop is an extension of my living room, because I treat people the same way as if you come to my home,” Retelas concluded. “I cannot change. I don’t have a different hat for business. I am how I am.

Everybody knows this is the happy place. I take really good care of you.” ●

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I TRULY BELIEVE THE TRICK TO IT, IS TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR CLIENTS. SPECIFICALLY, NOW THAT EVERYTHING IS AVAILABLE ON LINE.

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