209 Magazine - Issue #60

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2024 - ISSUE 60

UNIQUE EL CAPITAN

ADVENTURE

Victorian Christmas A

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FEATURES Many of today’s favorite Christmas traditions began with Queen Victoria and the royal family in the 19th century.

For those who love to celebrate with decorated trees, Christmas pudding and Christmas Eve gift giving may want to check out one of these local Victorianthemed holiday events.

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A Victorian Christmas at the McHenry Mansion

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A Victorian Feast at the City Hotel

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“A Christmas Carol” at Baker Street West

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2024

11/27/2023 9:37:45 AM

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2024 – ISSUE 60

DEPARTMENTS IN THE KNOW 12 14 18 20 24 26 28 ‌

Scene in the 209 Calendar of Events Stockton Sleigh Tank the Fire Dog ‘A Million Miles Away’ Mochimu Welcomes Children It’s Crab Feed Season

40 ‌

Sorry Machine

44 46 ‌

Hey Bartender El Rancho Inn

48 ‌

WWII Memorial

52 ‌

Sierra Splendor

56 58 ‌

Fitness and Beyond My Weight Loss Journey

62 64 ‌

Dream Home Caring for Fresh Flowers

66

Artesian Health Foods

ARTS&CULTURE

18

FLAVORS

NAVIGATOR

28

THE GREAT OUTDOORS FULL OF LIFE

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PLACE CALLED HOME

MARKETPLACE

52

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2024

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Vol. 10 No. 60

December/ January 2024

$4.95

PUBLISHER/OWNER Hank Vander Veen

EDITOR Kristina Hacker

MANAGING EDITOR Sabra Stafford

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAHERS Christopher Correa Joe Cortez Patty Guerra Teresa Hammond Marg Jackson Matt Johanson Claudia Newcorn Alex Ramirez Vince Rembulat Frankie Tovar Dennis Wyatt

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Harold L. George

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

IN MEMORIAM 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

December is one of the best times to be out and about in the 209. The weather has finally cooled off and the bright-colored leaves that many enjoy in early fall, are getting outlined with holiday lights.

In this issue we feature a few Victorian Christmas events — for those who love Charles Dickens and traditional carolers! We also highlight the recently opened children’s museum in Modesto named Mochimu as well as area crab feeds where you can enjoy the seafood of the season while supporting local charities. For those who are little more active there is the Stockton Sleigh, a 5K/10k Dash for Tots fundraiser.

As always, you will also find restaurants, bars and shops from around the 209 to check out.

On a sadder note, I lost one of my dear friends and mentor Larry Dovichi a few weeks ago. We worked together for over 30 years. For those who knew him, he was a tireless defender of newspapers and media. He understood the value of having local news. We spoke once a week, if not more. He was always there to talk about ideas or just provide encouragement. When I launched 209 Magazine, he was the first to say, how can I help.

Up until his final days, he kept a box of 209 Magazines in his car to leave at local businesses. Larry was one of a kind, his passion, energy, and his friendship, I will truly miss. He was a true legend and built a legacy that I will cherish forever.

Everyone here at 209 Magazine wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We look forward to being a part of your everyday life in 2024!

Hank Vander Veen Owner/Publisher 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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Notes

with FRANKIE TOVAR

Modesto Children’s Museum The Modesto Children’s Museum is officially open to the public! Take a look at the state-of-the-art facility created for the children of the Central Valley and learn about everything the museum and its staff have to offer. This downtown Modesto gem is a must-visit for anyone with kids who like to have fun and learn.

AEW Dynamite & Rampage in Stockton

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

All Elite Wrestling invaded Stockton to celebrate the 4th Anniversary of AEW Dynamite in grand fashion.

Fans from the 209 and beyond flocked to the Stockton Arena, eager to hear from Adam Copeland AKA Edge for the first time since joining the company. Check out our coverage and see the likes of MJF, The Hardy Boyz, Rey Fenix and more.

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Woofstock Modesto

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WE’VE GOT THE 209 COVERED

Stanislaus Animal Services Agency presents the firstannual Woofstock! This family friendly event featured trunk or treating, live music, and vendors as well as free pet adoptions for all of their dogs, cats, and even goats. Watch this episode and decide which pet had the best Halloween costume before visiting the SASA yourself and adopting a pet to bring to next year’s event.

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MORE EPISODES TO WATCH More Episodes to Watch: CrushCon Beat Battle at the State Theatre Santa HQ at Vintage Faire Mall Yoga Day Celebration

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intheknow

Scene

in the

T

he fall season saw plenty of activity in the 209 with events that could appeal to the diversity that calls the region home. If you would like your organization’s event featured in 209 Magazine, email sstafford@209magazine.com.

MANTECA PUMPKIN FAIR The Manteca Pumpkin Fair, organized by the Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis, kicked off the fall season with a celebration of all things related to the gourd, from food to patches and even games.

David, Cameron and Elizabeth Romero enjoy the live music and shady spot at the Manteca pumpkin fair.

Pat Hoffman and grandson Cameron take a shady rest before checking out the remainder of the vendor booths at the pumpkin fair.

Sam and Samantha Kirk enjoy a cool treat at the pumpkin fair.

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TASTE OF THE VALLEY The agricultural department at Stan State scholarship program got a boost from the annual Taste of the Valley fundraiser, which was held in October. The event features local eateries, breweries and wineries, along with auctions to benefit the scholarship program.

Javi and Kacie Aguilar of Turlock and Art and Jay Razo of Turlock enjoyed the various food and beverage samples at the annual Taste of the Valley event in Turlock.

Congressman John Duarte, along with Ted and Cathy Hartman of Escalon, came to the Taste of the Valley event to support the agricultural scholarships at Stan State.

Jason and Paulina DeGraff of Turlock and Jacqueline and Luke Baker of Hilmar checked out the auction items at the Taste of the Valley fundraiser for ag at Stan State.

AEW DYNAMITE For the first time, the Stockton Arena hosted the All Elite Wrestling Dynamite and Rampage, drawing in an excited and boisterous crowd ready to see the action.

Kevin Cuadra and Angel Montoya of Tracy came to the Stockton Arena to see the AEW Dynamite show. It was the arena’s first time hosting the event.

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Heath and Steven Falk of Stockton were eager to see the night’s lineup of wrestlers.

D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2024

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intheknow

COMMUNITY EVENTS 30

STARTS NOV

2023

‘A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM’

San Joaquin Delta College is staging William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with a modern spin.

The show will be performed at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2, 8 and 9 and 2 p.m. Dec. 2, 3 and 10.

Tickets are $5 to $7. The Alfred Muller Studio Theatre on the campus is located at 5151 Pacific Ave. in Stockton.

DEC

8

2022

BABES IN TOYLAND

The Fourth Wall Entertainment Troupe will perform the Christmas classic “Babes in Toyland” from Dec. 8 to Dec. 17 at the Metropolitan at 59 Main St., in San Andreas.

Shows are at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Call (209) 754-5555 for tickets.

DEC

9

2023

MOUNTAIN MELODY WOMEN’S CHORUS

The Mountain Melody Women’s Chorus will present “Sing Gently,” the holiday music program at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at the First Congregational Church in Murphys.

“Sing Gently” is inspired by the Eric Whitacre song that he created the during the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to connect people through voice and community.

Mountain Melody offers a collection of soothing and inspiring music. Some songs are new and some are very familiar. The choir is made up of local women from Calaveras and Amador counties.

The church is located at 509 Algiers St. Tickets are $10 and are available at mountainmelody.org.

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DEC

9

2023

SPIRIT OF GIVING 5K

The Modesto Spirit of Giving 5K Run and Walk will be held on Dec. 9.

Run past the Gallo Center for the Arts through beautiful College area neighborhoods and back to downtown Modesto. Wear your jingle bells, Santa garb or whatever suits your fancy and get in the spirit. Participant medals to all finishers. Age group medals awarded to top three finishers in the following age groups: 8 and under, 9 to 12, 13 to 19, and 5-year increments thereafter capping at 80+.

Bring canned or nonperishable food items to be eligible to win a great raffle prize. Raffle tickets are given out on a per item basis to a maximum of 10 tickets per person.

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DEC

2023

COLUMBIA ALLEQUESTRIAN CHRISTMAS PARADE

Enjoy the Columbia All Equestrian Parade, a colorful and fun judged parade is a Columbia tradition and open to all ages of equestrian riders/drivers and mounted groups.

The parade is set for 11 a.m. on Dec. 10 at the Columbia State Historic Park.

Participants can accumulate award points towards the California State Horsemen’s Association Parade Point Program.

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DEC

2023

WINTER WINE WONDERLAND

Pageo Lavender Farm in Turlock is hosting the Winter Wine Wonderland from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 16.

The event will feature wine and beer tasting with paired treats and live music. A full bar will be available and there will be holiday gift shop specials.

Tickets are $39 in advance and $49 at the door.

Tickets can be purchased at pageo.typeform. comDecember16th.

Everyone is encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for the toy drive benefiting Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency’s Housing Families Program.

Proceeds benefit the Parks and Recreation Neighborhood Scholarship Program (Leisure Bucks) for children of low income families, seniors and disabled citizens, as well as the Modesto Gospel Mission.

All donated canned food items will go to the Modesto Gospel Mission Pantry.

Visit modestospiritofgiving. org for more details and signup information.

PHOTO BY ELENA LOPES/ Pexels

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intheknow

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JAN

2024

STOCKTON RESTAURANT WEEK

The 14th annual dining event featuring a variety of restaurants in Stockton will be held from Jan. 19 to Jan. 28.

Presented by Visit Stockton, Stockton Restaurant Week is a 10-day dining extravaganza that gives restaurants from around Stockton, the chance to show off some of their most popular dishes and/or newly curated dishes at a unique fixed-price.

Visit the Official Stockton Restaurant Week Page at www.visitstockton.org/ restaurants/stocktonrestaurant-week to see the up to the minute listing of participating restaurants and their Stockton Restaurant Week menus.

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JAN

2024

CALAVERAS ARTS AND MUSIC SHOW

Creative Copperopolis is hosting the next Calaveras Arts and Music Show –The CAMS at the Murphys Creek Theatre. All ages are welcome.

The CAMS gives out 49 Recognition Awards each year in January for the previous year’s work and accomplishments of folks from all art persuasions, nominated by community and entertainment industry leaders in Calaveras County and its nearby neighbors. CAMS, celebrates the artists and actors of the Mother Lode area with recognition awards for their outstanding service in performing, rehearsing, recording, promoting, producing, and entertaining within our community this past year.

FEB

2

2024

WINE AND CHOCOLATE WEEKEND

Join the Lodi Appellation’s winegrowers as we celebrate the annual Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend from Feb. 2 to Feb. 4.

Indulge in handcrafted Lodi wines and delicious chocolate treats as you embark on a selfguided tour between more than 30 participating wineries.

Ticket packages range from $75 per person to $125 per person. For more information call (209) 367-4727.

Check www. creativecopperopolis. com for tickets.

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intheknow

Running for a good cause

ut on your running shoes, grab your Santa hat, and get ready to run for a cause this December. On Dec. 16, Miles Chasers will be hosting the Stockton Sleigh, a 5k/10k Run and Dash for Tots, a yearly event that is in coordination with the City of Stockton.

There will be races for all skill levels of runners. Stockton Sleigh is open to all ages and is divided into three races. The first category will be a 5 km race, 10 km race, and a Kids Dash for children under ages of 9. The 5 km entry fee is $35, 10 km will be $45, and Kids Dash (ages 9 and under) are free.

Early registration deadlines for 5 km and 10 km races have passed and Kids Dash will end on Dec. 16. The run will begin at 8 a.m. till 11 a.m., on Dec. 16, at 404 W Fremont St, Stockton, CA. The event will provide festive amenities too. Christmas inspired hot chocolate, treats and music will be offered. Santa and the Grinch are invited to the event and will be available to take memorable photos.

Lastly, an ornamental medal will be given to runners who complete the race.

Stockton Sleigh was inspired with the community in mind. Last year’s event was a success and inspired a continuation of the race. Stockton Sleigh is partnering with Toys for Tots, a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve based program that provides new unwrapped toys to children in need during the holiday season. Also, Stockton Sleigh has partnered with the Stockton Food Bank.

Proceeds from the event will be provided to both organizations.

Call (209)390-7696 for more information about the event. If you’d like to donate, but cannot attend the run, visit www.visitstockton.org/events where additional registration links and contact information for the event can be found. ●

By ALEX RAMIREZ

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intheknow

TANK JOINS THE STATION 21 TEAM

By MARG JACKSON

T

PHOTOS BY MARG JACKSON / 209 Magazine

here’s a new face at a local firehouse – and it’s not what you would expect to see among the turnout gear and fire engines.

Tank is a two-year-old, roughly 75-pound English Labrador, a ‘Peer Support K9’ who is now in service at Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District Station 21, located in the Airport District of Modesto. He works and lives with his handler, Fire Captain Jon McManus, going to work when

McManus does and spending shifts at the fire station.

“Tank came from Performance K9 Training in Carlsbad, California,” McManus explained. “The funding for Tank came from Thor’s Hope in Incline Village; it’s a foundation that donates money to service dogs, peer support and emotional support dogs.”

McManus said that Tank went through an estimated 1,000 hours of training over 14 months to be

qualified as a Peer Support K9. He is around people all the time, but Tank has learned that McManus is the one he takes commands from; the one he listens to and obeys.

“It was about behavior and obedience,” McManus said of the training.

“He’s ultra-socialized to people but he’s also trained to keep his composure at all times.”

As a support dog, Tank is available to firefighters at the station and, as Mc-

already, but Tank is the first to be assigned to Stanislaus Consolidated.

Manus noted, can provide some much needed Hudson is stationed at Modesto Station 10 and Fuse is at Modesto Station relief and unconditional love after crews return 17. McManus said he approached Fuse’s handler to from a tough call. Even learn more about the program and was able to follow a ‘routine’ call can that interest all the way through to being able to have impact firefighters, and WHEN NEEDED, MCMANUS Tank join the team. having a dog waiting SAID HE AND TANK CAN Stanislaus Consolidated has five fire stations; their at the station is a way administrative services are under the umbrella of to provide a calm and RESPOND TO ANY STATION Modesto Fire Department but the firefighters work for soothing effect.

WHERE FIREFIGHTERS Stanislaus Consolidated. Along with Station 21 that “We are exposed to MIGHT BE IN NEED OF serves as home base for Tank, there is Station 22 in so many adrenaline SOME SUPPORT FROM THE Empire, Station 23 near the Fruityard, Station 24 in the rushes in our profesWaterford/LaGrange area and Station 26 in Riverbank. sion,” the fire captain GENTLE GIANT. When needed, McManus said he and Tank can respond said. “Our body starts to any station where firefighters might be in need of producing cortisol; some support from the gentle giant. cortisol is basically the “He’s a big boy,” McManus agreed of the appropriately named Tank. “I building block for anxiety and depression.” am available on my days off to come in with him if needed.”

Tank can help provide a natural ‘antidote’ to Though only in service since August of this year, McManus said the that cortisol. value of the English lab around the station is apparent.

“The physical touch, the love that animals “I am seeing benefits already, changes in the group,” he said of firefightshow actively decreases those levels,” McMaers being more positive and upbeat when they get a chance to interact with nus said of the science behind bringing a peer Tank. “There are more smiles and it is so apparent when people come in support K9 aboard. “We’re being proactive in (to the station) and take that breath.” our approach.”

Tank has also been outside the station on visits to lend support and he McManus said there are two other dogs in has a special work vest that is utilized when he is on duty. It has patches service with the Modesto Fire Department

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Obedience training is part of the drill for Tank, an English Labrador who lives with his handler, Captain Jon McManus, both on and off duty.

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intheknow

Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District Station 21 has welcomed Tank, a peer support K9, who reports for duty when his handler, Captain Jon McManus, is on duty at the station.

on it to let people know he is a working dog, they need to ask to pet him, and he has the Stanislaus Consolidated patch as well.

“He’s been to badge pinnings, he has visited a cancer center in Stockton, he has been to Doctors Hospital a couple of times,” McManus explained. “He is out there being loved and the benefits he unknowingly brings to people … they’re focused on the dog and it’s really cool to watch people drop their guard and just enjoy him.”

McManus had to be approved as a Peer Support K9 handler before Tank was assigned to him, with plenty of stipulations that come along with taking on the job.

“They have to make sure you’re someone who will continue his training; they require 30 to 60 minutes per day to do obedience training,” McManus said of one of the conditions. “And he goes everywhere with me because we want him comfortable in every situation.”

That means Tank heads to the grocery store, to get the kids at school, runs errands around town, whatever is on

the agenda for the day.

Tank understands that once the vest is put on, he is on duty, but McManus said he also enjoys the downtime when he can just be a dog.

“His favorite thing in the world is his ball,” McManus said of the English lab loving the chance to run after the ball and bring it back, only to get excited to fetch it again.

“We will go to the park and walk, I will let him be a dog,” said McManus.

“But when he puts his vest on, he knows it’s time to go to work.”

McManus and Tank recently made a quick visit to some Stanislaus County Sheriff ’s Department deputies and said introducing Tank to as many people as possible helps with his continued socialization and ability to bring his ‘feel good’ attitude to those throughout the area.

About the only thing Tank doesn’t do is respond to calls with McManus; there is no way to secure him in the department rigs and, with a hefty price tag, he is definitely precious cargo. When they do respond to a call, Tank is crated

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at the station and is familiar with that routine. When the firefighters are at the station during a shift, he has a day bed in the common room and enjoys interacting with everyone on duty.

“We’re in the infancy of this program in California,” admitted McManus of the fire department dog as a peer support K9. “It would be wonderful to have one on each of our shifts.”

Station 21 has A, B and C shifts, with personnel manning the station 24/7 on a rotating schedule.

Having a dedicated dog for each shift is a long-term goal and while adding Tank to the team was definitely an investment of money and time, McManus said it has been well worth it.

“He has been a great addition to the department and I’ve already seen some great changes with the personnel as far as attitude; overall, there’s more happiness, more smiles,” McManus summarized. “His job is to give us that ‘out’ from all the negative things we see. We can hit the re-set switch; it allows us to disconnect for a few and focus our energies on the dog.” ●

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intheknow

DREAMS AREN’T

By PATTY GUERRA UC Merced

T

he new feature film “A Million Miles Away” is a universally relatable story of resilience and achievement, depicting Jose Hernández’s journey from working the fields of the San Joaquin Valley to fulfilling his life-long dream of being a NASA astronaut.

But it’s also a story with a very personal tie to UC Merced. Hernández, who went on to head an aerospace company and operate a vineyard, is a graduate of the University of California system and serves on the UC Board of Regents, and his son Antonio is a student at UC Merced.

The university hosted a screening of the movie, with Hernández and Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz in attendance. The two met at a Houston Astros game years ago while Hernández was going through the NASA program with Joseph Acaba,

“A MILLION MILES AWAY,” WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON PRIME, STARS MICHAEL PEÑA AS HERNÁNDEZ AND DEPICTS HIS REPEATED EFFORTS TO JOIN THE SPACE PROGRAM.

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a longtime friend of the chancellor’s and recent keynote speaker at UC Merced’s commencement ceremonies.

“A Million Miles Away,” which is available on Amazon Prime, stars Michael Peña as Hernández and depicts his repeated efforts to join the space program.

Hernández said it was important to show the film at UC Merced, where many of the students are the first in their families to attend college.

“It means a lot to have the movie shown here,” he said. “I think if you look at the background of a lot of these the students you can argue they have similar backgrounds to what I grew

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UC Regent and Valley native Jose Hernández said it was important to show the Amazon Studios film about his life at UC Merced.

Hernández provided remarks prior to the screening of the film.

outside of Houston.

“Even my dad the astronaut got roped in to doing the dishes when he wasn’t busy with the space program,” Antonio Hernández said.

“My father and mother taught me that with a strong worth ethic you can literally reach for your own stars and accomplish anything in life.”

That work ethic brought Antonio to UC Merced, where he is a third-year mechanical engineering student. He introduced his father ahead of the screening in the Lakireddy Auditorium.

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Afterward, Jose Hernández took questions from the audience. One student asked what his next goals are. Hernández said his family now owns a vineyard, where his father is the farm manager. He said it’s important to always have goals.

Hernández said he didn’t grow up hoping to have a movie made about his life; he grew up hoping to make it into space.

“To think you’re one of less than 600 individuals who’s had the privilege of seeing the world from the outside,” he said. “It still gives me goosebumps thinking about it.” ●

PHOTOS COURTESY OF UC Merced

up under.

“I’m hoping it empowers them to see, ‘If he did it, why can’t I?’” Hernández grew up in Stockton, in a family of migrant farmworkers. He said his father, despite only having a third-grade education himself, taught him the recipe for success: defining a goal, determining what it would take and developing a plan to get there.

Muñoz called Hernández’s story “very important and inspirational,” and said the two had talked about a screening on campus since the movie went into development.

“Any American should be inspired by this story, as I am,” Muñoz said. And it’s particularly resonant during Hispanic Heritage Month.

“He was nurtured by a culture and reached, quite literally, the upper atmosphere,” he said. “It teaches you to work hard, set high goals and let nothing deter you.”

The hard work didn’t only include what Hernández had to do to be accepted at NASA following 11 rejections, and then be selected to fly on the space shuttle to the International Space Station.

“A Million Miles Away” shows his wife, Adela, pursuing her own dream to open a restaurant, which the family operated

D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2024

11/27/2023 10:04:54 AM

intheknow

WELCOMETO MOCHIMU

By SABRA STAFFORD

C

hildren in Stanislaus County and beyond have a new place to explore, play, learn and stretch their imagination with the opening of the Modesto Children’s Museum.

The Modesto Children’s Museum is a project that was years in the making and finally saw all the effort come to fruition with the grand opening in September.

The museum, colloquially referred to as MoChiMu, has the motto of “Be Curious, Be Creative, Be You” and it certainly has plenty of interactive attractions and exhibits to open up a child’s curiosity and creativity.

The Color Story Train greets visitors on the first floor. Powered by imagination, children select a color on a bubble-powered engine, then follow the matching story-line through the train to read visual stories as they overlap and connect. They can also mix colors on collaborative color wheels and paint with light on a digital board, play with reflection in a merge mirror and leave their imprint on a touch-based, tactile wall.

The first floor is also the base of the Adventure Climber, a two-story tower of attractions for children to climb on, swing over, crawl through and slide down.

The Light Lab on the first floor is a

MOCHIMU’S SECOND FLOOR IS WHERE TO FIND THE AIR LAB, WHERE CHILDREN GET TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE INVISIBLE FORCE BY SENDING PROPELLERS SPINNING, BALLS ROLLING, AND SCARVES SOARING. prismatic playground where children can explore the properties of light, color, and shadow. In this darkened space, reflective walls create the illusion of an infinity mirror. There is a digital kaleidoscope that fills the ground and a wall of prisms refracts white light into a stunning spectrum.

MoChiMu’s first floor also has a Tall Tales Stage for some pretend time; a Changing Color exhibit; and the Water Lab, a hands-on liquid laboratory that follows water’s journey from the mountains to our valley and onward to the ocean.

MoChiMu’s second floor is where to find the Air Lab, where children get to experiment with the invisible force by sending propellers spinning, balls rolling,

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and scarves soaring. Experiment with flight in a wind column; navigate a wall of intertwined tubes to follow air’s flow, and balance balls on columns of air as you race through obstacle courses of their own design.

Upstairs is the Valley Proud, a pretend grocery store that delights a child’s imagination. Children can sort and group to stock shelves; fill a cart by following a shopping list; or share their family’s culinary traditions and food stories in a perfectly-sized play café.

The second floor also features the Little Rainbows play area for those 3 years and younger and the MSR Maker Lab, where children can experiment with new tools and processes ranging from robotics to art; engineering to ecology.

MoChiMu is located at 928 11th Street in downtown Modesto. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays when it is open from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Please note that MoChiMu will be closed on Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Christmas Day (Dec. 25), New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), and Jan. 9.

Tickets are $15 for every age except those 11 months and younger, which have free admission.

For more information or for tickets, visit www.modestochildrensmuseum. org. ●

DECEMBER/JANAURY 2024

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intheknow

MY HUSBAND IS A CRAB SLUT. I DON’T EVEN LIKE CRAB. MY JOB IS TO CRACK SHELLS ALL NIGHT AND PASS THE MEAT TO THE LEFT. SO EVEN THOUGH I DON’T EAT CRAB, WE STILL GET OUR MONEY’S WORTH. ­—Patty Guerra

CRAB FEEDS ARE COMIN’

By JOE CORTEZ

W

e’ve all seen them, with their bibs and crackers and tiny forks and ramekins of melted butter.

They’re out there, lurking, eyeing the calendar, waiting for the start of “crab feed season.”

For some, a crab feed is more than the just a dinner, it’s practically a way of life. Folks show up with serious tools that make it easier for them to enjoy that hard-to-get-at fruit of the sea. In fact, many come armed not only with their own specialized utensils, but a strategic plan of attack.

“My husband is a crab slut,” joked Patty Guerra, a Turlock resident. “I don’t even like crab. My job is to crack shells all night and pass

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the meat to the left. So even though I don’t eat crab, we still get our money’s worth.”

Tickets tend to be on the expensive side, but the event almost always serves as a fundraiser for a specific cause or organization.

Here’s a list of some crab feeds coming up around the 209: The Modesto Portuguese Pentecost Association will hold its annual crab feed on Jan. 6, 2024, from 5 to 9 p.m., at the MPPA Hall/California

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Ballroom, 432 Sixth St., Modesto.

Dinner includes crab, pasta, clam chowder, salad and bread. Tickets are $65. For more information, visit mppa-events.com The Gustine Pentecost Society’s crab and cioppino dinner will be held Jan. 13 at GPS Hall, 500 Third Ave., Gustine. The meal includes, crab cioppino, clam chowder, salad, bread, wine and soft drinks. The nohost bar opens at 6 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:30. To purchase tickets for $75 call president Manuel Lopes 209-678-1678 or vice president Antonio Azevedo 209-355-7760.

The Soroptimists International of Twain Harte are holding their annual crab feed on Jan. 13, 2024, at Tuolumne Veterans Memorial Hall, 2 S. Green St., Sonora. For information, visit tuolumnesorptimist.org/ fundraisers.

The 18th annual Jerry Burns Crab Feed will be held Jan. 20, 2024. Benefits the Lodi Boosters of Boys and Girls Sports. For information, call 209-817-1975 or visit lodibobs.net/home.

The Merced Breakfast Lions will hold their annual cioppino crab feed on Jan. 20, 2024, at APC Hall, 1420 Third St., Atwater. For information, call Gary Eno at 209-658-2345 or email mercedbreakfastlions@gmail. com.

The annual CSUS Warrior Crab Feed, featuring Dungeness crab,

pasta, salad and bread, will be held Jan. 27, 2024, at Fitzpatrick Arena. There will also be music, and live and silent auctions. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served an hour later. The “starter” table for 10 is $850 and the “AllConference” table for 10, which includes a glass of wine for each guest and table sponsorship, is $1,200.

For more information, call 209-6673016 or visit warriorathletics.com/ crabfeed. All proceeds benefit the Warrior Athletics Scholarship Fund.

The CAF/Central California Valley Squadron crab feed will be held Jan. 27, 2024, Hangar 1-S, 700 Tioga Drive, Modesto. Doors open at 5 p.m. and tickets are $75.

Dinner includes appetizers, pasta with meat sauce, salad, garlic bread, and, of course, crab. Dessert also is included. To purchase tickets, call 209-605-4313. Limited seating available. This one sells out fast.

The Turlock Pentecost Association will hold its annual cioppino dinner on Feb. 3 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Turlock Ballroom, 528 N. Golden State Blvd. Dancing will be from 7 to midnight. Seating is limited and no takeout orders are available. Tickets prices to be determined (likely between $65 and $75). For information, contact Michael and Alison Carvalho at 209-765-7354 or Alvaro and Anabela Cabral 209-342-8104. Tickets are

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THE TURLOCK PENTECOST ASSOCIATION WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL CIOPPINO DINNER ON FEB. 3 FROM 4:30 TO 8:30 P.M. AT THE TURLOCK BALLROOM

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intheknow

limited for this feed so if cold, marinated crab is your thing, you’d better hurry.

The fifth annual Nocetti Group Crab Feed will be held Feb. 10, 2024 at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, 1658 S. Airport Way, Stockton. Tickets are $75 and doors open at 5 p.m. Live and silent auctions and raffle prizes. Dinner features crab, tri-tip, pasta, salad, bread, no-host bar. Tables are reserved for groups of 10.

The Turlock Pentecost Association will hold its annual cold crab dinner on March 1. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the Turlock Ballroom, 528 N. Golden State Blvd.

Dinner served at 6:30. Open bar. Crab, clam chowder and garlic bread. Ticket prices to be determined (likely between $65-75). Turlock Ballroom, 528 N. Golden State Blvd. Limit 500 tickets. Visit the TPA Facebook page or call 209-342-8104 for more information.

The inaugural Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers Crab Feed will be held March 16, 2024, at Rev. O’Hare Hall at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 1813 Oakdale Road, Modesto. Crab dinner, no-host bar, live and silent auctions. Tickets are $75 for individuals and $800 for a table of eight. Contact DaShaun Winston at 510-714-3906 or email dashaunwinston@gmail. com. ●

THE INAUGURAL STANISLAUS AREA CRIME STOPPERS CRAB FEED WILL BE HELD MARCH 16, 2024, AT REV. O’HARE HALL AT ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2024

11/27/2023 10:18:25 AM

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IN THE 209

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feature

The Candlelight Tour is a chance for visitors to experience what it was really like to live in that house during Christmas in 1883. ­—Susan Baudler

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D E C E M B E R/J A N UA RY 2024

11/27/2023 10:25:07 AM

A Victorian Christmas at the

McHenry Mansion

By SABRA STAFFORD

W

hen it comes to a Victorian Christmas, the McHenry Mansion in downtown Modesto gives visitors a chance to experience what it was like to celebrate the holiday during this time period.

The historic home was built by the McHenry family in 1883 and opened to the public in 1983. Each year the stately mansion is decked out in traditional holiday decor with the decorations selected to match the overall theme of the room.

“It’s absolutely magical looking,” said McHenry Mansion Foundation President Susan Baudler. “I’m floored every December by how gorgeous it all looks.”

Baudler said it takes about a month to get all the decorations up, which all are within

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the Victorian style of the home and the work is done

by Lisa Mesa, the exhibit and rental coordinator at McHenry Mansion. “She’s a miracle worker,” Baudler said.

The McHenry Mansion Foundation has two special events for the Christmas season.

The Christmas Tea is a chance to celebrate the season with a traditional high tea popular in the Victorian era.

Set up in the basement of the mansion, the tea features a menu reminiscent of the time period, like scones with clotted cream, tea sandwiches and mini desserts.

“They bring out the massive collection of tea cups and saucers for the service,” Baudler said. There will be two seatings: 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Dec. 5. Cost is $40 per person.

The McHenry Mansion Foundation will offer two nights of the Candlelight Tours this December. This gives guests a chance to tour the mansion decorated in all of its Christmas finery by candlelight.

“The Candlelight Tour is a chance for visitors to experience what it was really like to live in that house during Christmas in 1883,” Baudler said. “It’s also the only time they light the chandelier in the front parlor.

It’s the only one remaining that is gas.”

The tours will be on Dec. 15 and Dec. 16. The Tours begin at 5 p.m. and the last entrance is at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10 years old.

Along the tour, guests will learn about some Victorian holiday traditions like Christmas trees, candles, candy canes, gingerbread houses, poinsettias, stockings and many more.

Visitors will also want to make a stop at the gift shop where they have a stock of Christmas collectible ornaments from Old World, Christopher Radko and Ink Schaller.

For tickets or more information visit www.mchenrymansion.org. ●

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feature

A Victorian feast at theCity Hotel

By KRISTINA HACKER

T

he Columbia City Hotel Restaurant will once again host holiday revelers from near and far for a unique Victorian feast, which features traditional English fare and a historic melodrama to get the digestive juices flowing.

The Victorian feast at the City Hotel has its origins in decades past, but has seen its share of starts and stops over the years. This year’s event will see some of the original actors and carolers taking part in the event, following a three-year pandemic hiatus.

Tom Bender has been part of the Victorian feast since the beginning and is excited to see its return.

“We’re looking forward to reviving it again this year, and we’ve had a great response from our own membership,” said Bender, referencing the unique ownership of the City Hotel Restaurant and What Cheer Saloon.

The hotel restaurant reopened one year ago as a cooperative corporation with more than 290 local shareholders.

Three years ago, the parks department discontinued the contract to operate the hotel and restaurant and it sat empty in the middle of the Columbia State Historic Park that preserves the town’s Gold Rush era past.

“The locals felt we needed our watering hole, we need our City Hotel back,” said Bender and that’s when the idea for a coop came about, with hundreds

of locals pooling their money together to reopen the historic restaurant and saloon. The state parks reopened the hotel for a few months this year but has since closed it again.

Bender is hoping the return of the Victorian feast will bring back the many visitors who made it part of their holiday traditions in years past.

Bender is hoping the return of the Victorian feast will bring back the many visitors who made it part of their holiday traditions in years past.

The feast will feature a historic fourcourse meal starting with Champagne and oysters, followed by a soup course,

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roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and dessert with an English holiday game.

There will be a ring (predicting love in the coming year), a coin (foretelling fortune) and a thimble (which means hard times ahead) in the dessert and guests are encouraged to find their treasure.

“It’s always fun to pass those around the dining room and look for who’s found it you know, without a trip to the dentist you might say,” said Bender.

This year’s drama will once again see the original founders of the City Hotel — George and Margaret Morgan — hosting guests for a holiday dinner in the 1870s. A shady politician may unexpectedly join the festivities and talks about that new-fangled hydraulic mining may come up. Never fear, the dinner is sure to end with holiday toasts, carolers and musicians.

Not will the hosts, musicians and other actors be dressed in their Victorian finery, but guests are also encouraged to don their best 1870s apparel.

The City Hotel Restaurant’s Victorian Feast will be held Dec. 8, 10, 14 and 15. Tickets for the feast are $150 and include the four-course meal with four wine selections, along with the entertainment. The City Hotel Restaurant is located at 22768 Main St., Columbia.

To purchase tickets, visit columbiacityhotelrestaurant.com/ festivities/#victorian-feast or call (209) 396-1981. ●

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We’re looking forward to reviving it again this year, and we’ve had a great response from our own membership. ­—Tom Bender

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feature

p into ‘A Christmas Carol’ e t S at Jackson landmark

By SABRA STAFFORD

T

he Charles Dickens classic novella “A Christmas Carol” is the epitome of a Victorian Era and those in the 209 have an opportunity to see it in a unique setting when it’s staged by the Baker Street Players acting troupe.

Located above the Hein and Company Bookstore in Jackson, 221B Baker Street West is a replica of Victorian London with shops that pay homage to the locations and characters in Sherlock Holmes stories. It will be the staging for the production of “A Christmas Carol.”

“A Christmas Carol” tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his three ghostly visitors sent to rekindle his generosity to humanity. Dickens penned the novella

There is a bit of to shine a light on the growa mystery as to sometime in early by the owner of ing level of poverty he was whether or not this 2024 the building. witnessing, especially among could be the last “Our future is still children. The first edition was unknown, but we published on Dec. 19, 1843 staging the troupe intend to emulate and had sold out by Christdoes of the holiday the Phoenix and rise mas Eve. again ~ hopefully in The story has never been classic. out of print and has been retold in numerous other productions.

The show will be performed at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturday and 2 p.m.

Sundays through Dec. 10.

There is a bit of a mystery as to whether or not this could be the last staging the troupe does of the holiday classic because the group is having to vacate the upper level of the bookstore

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Jackson, the town we love ~ to continue our good work,” the group wrote in a Facebook post announcing the end of their 10-year long location. “Our landlord has conceded to us the use of our marvelous and impressive space until early 2024 so that we may produce our beloved Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.” It means more than ever to us now.” ●

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arts&culture

TURLOCK’S

SORRY

MACHINE STRIKES AGAIN SECOND EP

PHOTO BY FRANKIE TOVAR/ 209 Magazine

By JOE CORTEZ

hile most bands toil for years in obscurity before they ever produce an album, the opposite is true for Turlock trio Sorry Machine.

Colin Danks (guitar), along with married couple Wesley (drums) and Ciara Williams (lead vocals, bass), very quickly had enough material for an EP, and then a debut album, long before even playing their first gig.

“Deified,” a collection of seven original songs and one instrumental interlude, was released earlier this year. Their self-titled EP, which features five original numbers, was released in 2021 — all before their first gig on May 21 at Modesto’s annual Porchfest. Then, in October, the band released its second EP “Delta Wave/ Farewell Waltz.”

Since then, the band had been playing different venues around the region, including Downtown Modesto First Fridays and at the grand opening of Turlock coffee house Rise N’ Brew and the with the ART Co-Lab at the Carnegie Arts Center.

209 Magazine sat down to talk with the band:

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Ciara Williams (lead vocals, bass), Wesley Williams (drums) and Colin Danks (guitar) make up Turlock band Sorry Machine.

209 MAGAZINE: HOW DID YOU ALL MEET UP? WAIT, LET ME BACK UP. HOW DID YOU TWO (WESLEY AND CIARA) MEET?

CIARA WILLIAMS: Wes and I have known each other since

college. We had a mutual friend who introduced us. We hung out in the same social circles for a while. So, we’ve know each other since … 2012, 2013. Long time.

WESLEY WILLIAMS: Late 2013.

209: AND YOU’VE BEEN MARRIED HOW LONG? CW: Since 2019.

209: WHAT DREW YOU TOGETHER? WAS IT YOUR MUSICAL INTERESTS? WW: We just became friends, and it was just …

CW: We had similar hobbies. Video games and stuff.

WW: I wouldn’t say music. Hobbies.

209: DID YOU KNOW EACH OTHER BEFORE MEETING COLIN? CW: Yeah, Colin and I are co-workers. We met in 2016 when I started working at the CSU. Music and similar taste in books is what brought us together.

209: WHAT KIND OF BOOKS? CW: Japanese authors, mostly.

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WW: It was my focus in college, but I really just liked the

CD: Yeah, (Haruki) Murakami is what kinda brought us together.

209: SO, WHEN AND HOW DID THE IDEA FOR THE BAND COME ABOUT? CW: Colin and I were in a band together before Sorry Machine was a thing at all. And, that band (Sunica) fell apart at some point, and then we went a year or so without doing anything musical.

209: SO, SORRY MACHINE ROSE FROM THE ASHES OF SUNICA? CW: I wouldn’t call it “from the ashes.” In that time between Sunica and Sorry Machine, Colin and I were still making music.

Colin took up guitar — he was the drummer for Sunica — and he was still making music; I was still writing music, and at some point we realized that we had enough material to keep making music. We just sort of fell into that organically.

209: AND THEN HOW DID WESLEY GET INVOLVED? WW: I’m not really a creative force in the band. I’m just … the drummer (laughs). I just started learning the drums about …

CD: 2021.

WW: Yeah, around then.

209: SO, YOU WEREN’T A MUSICIAN BEFORE 2021?

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theory. I never got good at an instrument and I never made music.

CW: You’re more production focused.

WW: Yeah, the tech side. I’ve made little things, loops, and all that.

209: DID YOU PRODUCE “DEIFIED?” WW: No (points to Danks) CD: So, for Sorry Machine, I was originally a drummer. I learned guitar and learned production so we could release our music, because it was really important to me that we could have this creative outlet. For the two years that we were working on our EP and “Deified,” I would just be up late at night practicing guitar or doing production on my computer in my garage. That’s where everything happens — in my garage.

209: ARE YOU MORE OF A MUSICIAN OR A SONGWRITER? CD: I’m more of a musician. Ciara is the songwriter, although I have written a couple of our songs.

CW: I want to disagree, because a lot of what I’ve written was in tandem with stuff that Colin has written. I mean, I guess the majority of songs I wrote, but I get a lot of my creative influence from Colin’s writing. I’ll get the main chord progression down, but as far as embellishing that and fleshing it out into a full song … that’s Colin.

CD: A lot of that is just experimentation. We’ll lay down a progression into our digital audio workstation, and then I’ll just play over it. Just record things, see what happens.

There’s a lot of experimentation in our songs.

209: A LOT OF EXPERIMENTATION, BUT HOW MUCH IS ACTUALLY MUSIC THEORY? DO YOU HAVE THAT BASE AS A SONGWRITER? CD: I do, yeah. I use music theory. I like to think of it as a starting point, or a shortcut to go the chord that’s going to sound good.

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arts&culture

209: IT KEEPS YOU IN THE RIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD. CD: Yeah, we always find it’s more interesting to go a little bit outside of music theory, but it’s a great starting point.

209: HOW LONG HAD YOU BEEN PLAYING THE DRUMS? CD: Since high school, so since about 2001. And I wasn’t practicing regularly. I took up guitar during the pandemic, basically. Our guitarist had left Sunica and we both still wanted to make music, so I had to learn guitar.

And I learned music theory at the same time.

209: AND YOU, CIARA, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MUSICIAN? CW: I’ve been singing before I could read. I grew up in a religious household and my older sister joined a choir. And I wanted to join choir because she joined choir. I was technically too young, but they let me in anyway because I had memorized all the songs. So, I’ve been singing my whole life. As far as playing instruments, I only took up bass when I started playing with Sunica. They needed a bassist and I had dabbled in guitar before. So, I was like, “I can do bass. It has strings. They’re tuned similarly.” The thing is, I don’t know music theory and I don’t read notes. Not that I can’t, but it’s just quicker for me to do things intuitively. Just playing by ear for the most part and just kind of feeling out things as I go. That’s

something that’s been really beneficial with bass. With a guitar, I learned chords, but I didn’t really know how to fit those chords together. With bass, it’s kind of like playing a piano. I used to play piano by ear. The sounds that I’m making correspond to my hand movements, if that makes sense.

209: IT DOES NOT. CW: No? (laughs). It’s easier for me to play bass by ear than it is to play guitar by ear, I guess.

209: THAT MAKES A LITTLE MORE SENSE. CW: So, it really helps having these two know actual theory and structure, and then I can just kind of wing it. Playing bass feels like singing to me. I’m not reading anything when I’m vocalizing.

You know? I’m not reading notes, I’m not writing anything down. I’m vocalizing. It feels the same with a bass. I’m just trying to hit the sound that feels correct to me.

209: WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES? CD: I’ll start. As far as genres go, I like to think my music is a mix of, like, indie singer-songwriter. Phoebe Bridgers. Snail Mail. I really like female artists, so it’s great having a female singer that really fits in with my sensibilities.

I like hearing the female perspective, the female experience in music. That’s interesting to me, the experience of, like, Kim Deal and Kim Gordon in music … the Pixies and Sonic Youth.

So, yeah, indie singer-songwriters like Phoebe Bridgers and Snail Mail and Mitski and Japanese Breakfast. And

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then, also, I’m a big fan of shoegaze.

Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine. I really like effects pedals, big reverbs, delays, fuzz, things like that. And we’re big fans of Japanese literature and Japanese music, J-rock, Japanese shoegaze. There’s a band called My Dead Girlfriend that I like a lot. And then, post-punk. Pixies fall into that category. Sonic Youth, Pavement.

Slacker Rock. That kind of stuff.

209: AND YOU, CIARA? CW: I pull from a lot of different avenues. People always say, “I listen to everything.” I also say that (laughs).

So, as far as influences that directly influence my songwriting and creativity, it’s mostly Japanese artists. There’s a band called Mass of the Fermenting Dregs from which I pull a lot of my ideal sound. Similar to a lot of the bands that Colin described, really grungy indie. I also like a band called The Peggies. With these Japanese artists, my favorite thing about it is that I can’t understand them. A lot of what I gain from their music is emotions. It’s evocative. It’s the music and the sound itself that affects me, not necessarily the lyricism. So, I try to bring that kind of vibe to the stuff I make. As far as other influences, I’m a big fan of early 2000s alternative pop punk. My Chemical Romance, The Used, AFI, Blink-182. My Chemical Romance is probably my favorite band and they have influenced me greatly, lyrically.

Their lyrics aren’t a very literal type

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of writing; it’s just a lot of evocative imagery. That’s what I cling to; that’s what I’m drawn toward. All the same, I like a lot of things very dissimilar to the genre I just mentioned. I listen to a lot of Kpop, as well. Again, I don’t understand what they’re saying, but it feels good to listen to. I listen to a lot of Bad Bunny, so I try to keep pop in my scope. I don’t like to be trendy, but I like knowing what is starkly out of fashion.

CD: Speaking to that, on the subject of emotion rather than literal lyrics, we both really like the Cocteau Twins. And a lot of their lyrics are nonsensical — either not words or don’t make sense together, because it’s just the emotion they’re trying to get to.

CW: I really like the concept of treating the voice as another instrument. Like, I am my instrument. I’ve got to take care of it. I’ve got to learn how to use it. So, using that kind of focus is interesting. It drives my creative juices.

209: WHAT ABOUT YOU, WESLEY? WW: I haven’t contributed creatively to any of the music.

209: BUT ARE THERE BANDS THAT INFLUENCE YOU IN SOME WAY? WW: I didn’t get into music until I discovered Dance Dance Revolution. And then I got too good at rhythm games.

Guitar Hero and Rock Band. But, as far as just listening to music, it was just basic stuff like AC/DC. And then I heard My Chemical Romance and I loved that.

And then I heard System of a Down and I loved that. And then I found J-core, which is hardcore electronic music.

And that has turned into more hardcore electronic music, where I don’t understand anything that is being said.

But drums kind of speak to me, as far as playing an instrument.

209: Porchfest was the first gig. Is there anything else on the horizon?

CD: Nothing we can announce right now, but we would like to play more live.

CW: We’ve definitely been looking into

local venues and more casual affairs, like open mic nights or other local bands who are looking for openers.

Because we play original music and don’t do covers, our catalog is limited.

We want to be able to make sure we can cover the time slot they want.

209: DO YOU FEEL A BIT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER BANDS? BY THAT I MEAN, MOST BANDS START IN THE GARAGE DOING BEATLES OR KINKS COVERS. AND THEN THEY EXPAND THEIR MUSICAL ABILITIES, AND THEN SOMEBODY GETS AN IDEA FOR AN ORIGINAL SONG. BUT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE IT KIND OF BACKWARDS. YOU’RE LIKE SONGWRITERS LOOKING FOR A BAND. CW: I don’t want to claim that we’re not like other bands, but we’re primarily a creative outlet. We’re primarily here just to make our art. As far as producing and releasing and gaining a fanbase … it’s not for the numbers, you know?

CD: We just have to make art and music.

As a result, we have music to share with people.

CW: That’s how the band came about.

We were out of a band, and then we just couldn’t stop making music. It was like, why don’t we just keep doing this?

209: WITH MOST BANDS, IT’S “WHERE ARE WE HEADED? TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTS!” BUT THAT DOESN’T SEEM TO BE YOUR THING. IT SEEMS YOU WANT A BAND THAT ALLOWS YOU TO PUT YOUR ART INTO THE WORLD. CD: Exactly. It’s a creative outlet. We are going to keep making music and recording it, because I enjoy that. And I enjoy producing and experimentation of layering tracks. But we’d definitely like to connect with other local artists and with local audiences. That’s a goal for sure. Sharing our music is a goal.

209: NOT JUST VIA DOWNLOAD, BUT LIVE AND CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE? CD: Yeah, because we had a lot of fun playing live of Porchfest.

CW: It sparked a big drive. At first, I was like, “OK, we’ve got to play one show.

It’s a milestone and if we don’t do any more after that, so be it.” But after hav-

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ing actually played the show, I really want to perform more. My favorite part about Porchfest was not recognizing a lot of the people that were staying to watch us play original music. That was a huge shock for me. I was expecting friends and family to show up, but people we have never met before stayed and enjoyed our set. And I want to keep doing that. I want to have that brief connection with a total stranger, and just play our music and have them feel happy from it.

209: WELL, IT WORKED. I HEARD YOU AT PORCHFEST AND WAS IMMEDIATELY STRUCK BY YOUR SOUND. CD: Maybe it’s because we’re just interested in making our own thing, and didn’t do all the covers. My guitar journey, I wasn’t just learning “Smoke on the Water” like most people. We have strange influences, and because we don’t have a lot of experience playing conventional rock ’n’ roll, we come at it like outsiders a little bit.

209: HOW CAN FANS ACCESS YOUR MUSIC? CW: We’re on all the major streaming platforms, and we just got an EPK (electronic press kit). All our links are on sorrymachine.carrd.co — with two R’s.

CD: And if you run a radio station, we have MP3s with metadata.

CW: Oh, yeah, we have our tracks set for radio play.

209: OK, LAST THING: HOW DID THE NAME SORRY MACHINE COME ABOUT? CD: So, Ciara and I apologize a lot.

209: TO EACH OTHER? WW: To everybody.

CW: Just overly courteous.

CD: Yeah, we apologize too much. We’re the Sorry Machines. ● To contact the band, email sorrymachineband@gmail.com

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xxxxx flavors

Cocktails & Cinema at the Intermission

By FRANKIE TOVAR

F

or the first time in its 89-year history, the State Theatre of Modesto has its very own cocktail lounge for patrons to enjoy – the Intermission.

While many cocktail-forward businesses in the area are preoccupied with unique creations and modern spins on classic recipes, Intermission harkens back to the Golden Age of cinema in both its art deco aesthetic and menu. Instead of finding fusion drinks, visitors are welcomed with authentic 1930’s cocktails, meticulously curated to offer a refreshing blast to the past.

“When you come here and order one of our cocktails, you’ll be able to go somewhere else. We’ve done the research; we’ve gone down the rabbit hole,” Executive Director Gabriela Guerrini said. “We don’t carry flavored vodkas or flavored

whiskeys. You won’t be able to come in here and get a kamikaze shot.”

Intermission also stands apart from other lounges and bars due to the fact that it is an all-ages establishment complete with an espresso bar and zero-proof cocktails to complement its 21 and over offerings.

“We did not want to turn this into a club scene,” Guerrini said. “This is a place for people to really just relax and feel comfortable. We want to bring

PHOTOS BY FRANKIE TOVAR/ 209 Magazine

When you come here and order one of our cocktails, you’ll be able to go somewhere else.

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Ask bartender Delylah Fountain for any one of these cocktails and dip your bill in deliciousness.

SIGNATURE DRINK: Cosmopolitan 1934 Made with Roku Gin, Orange Liqueur, Raspberry, Lemon CROWD FAVORITE: Old Fashioned Bulleit Rye, Orange Bitters, Demarara Syrup CLASSY CHOICE: Dirty West Martini Grey Goose, Dry Vermouth, Shafters Bleu Cheese Olive OFF THE BEATEN PATH: Ridge Hill Maple Leaf Maker’s Mark, Maple Syrup, Lemon, Cinnamon

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in parents and their children and the 19- and 20-year-olds that don’t have a space. They’ll be able to come here and drink coffees or mocktails.”

In addition to focusing on authentic recipes, Intermission also insists on including locally sourced ingredients for both its drinks and food.

These products include local favorite Alchemy Bread, mushrooms from the Modesto Certified Farmers Market, Corto Olive Oil from Stockton and a variety of local wines, to name a few.

“We’re using as many local products as possible,” Guerrini said.

The Intermission is also complimented by another brand-new addition to The State Theatre known as The Jewel. This state-of-the-art micro cinema directly connects to the cocktail lounge

and will be utilized for both standalone film screenings and integrated community events.

“We really pride ourselves in trying to make this a space for all community and local organizations,” Guerrini said. “We’re resurrecting our Film School, which will be held here starting in the spring and we have the local Modesto Poetry group hosting their meetings every other month.”

For those of you looking to visit Intermission for the sole purpose of imbibing some giggle juice, however, take a look at our suggested cocktails before making your visit. ●

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IF YOU GO LOCATION: 1301 J Street, Modesto, California HOURS: Thurs. Fri. & Sat. 4 to 11 p.m. & Sun. 12 to 5 p.m.

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flavors

By VINCE REMBULAT

PHOTOS BY VINCE REMBULAT/ 209 Magazine

Ray Lacondeguy’s El Rancho Inn Steak & Lobster House in south Stockton attracts diners from both near and far. Lacondeguy (far right) along with his staff is there, Tuesday through Saturday, to offer quality food, service and customer service.

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R

ay Lacondeguy has been the owner and operator of the El Rancho Inn Steak & Lobster House since 1986.

No surprise to those who frequent his restaurant that the secret of his success has always been “quality food, quality service, and quality customer service,” he said on a Thursday morning in October.

Lacondeguy was gearing for a busy day that included catering a party of 150 from the California Trucking Association – he indicated the CTA function is his lone catering job of the year – along with handling the folks coming in for lunch and dinner.

Located at 1457 E. Mariposa Rd., Lacondeguy purchased the business along parts of the old highway not too long after fire temporarily closed down the place.

El Rancho Inn was a stopover built in 1939 and survived fires that occurred in 1962 and 1984. “This was prime real estate,” he said of his south Stockton establishment.

What’s prime at El Rancho is the menu, which includes beef from the Midwest and lobster shipped in from Western Australia via San Francisco.

According to Angel Padilla, who has been the manager at the restaurant for the past 10 years, the flat steak (10-12 oz. cut marinated and grilled to perfection) is the goto favorite among the regular lunch

What’s prime at El Rancho is the menu, which includes beef from the Midwest and lobster shipped in from Western Australia via San Francisco. clientele consisting of nearby industrial workers, business people, and farmers. “It’s just enough (food),” she said.

Added Lacondeguy: “Our customers are the rich of the rich and the poor of the poor – they’re all regular people to us.”

On Wednesdays, his lunch menu features meat loaf served with mashed potatoes and brown gravy along with a choice of soup or salad.

“The meatloaf is Ray’s secret family recipe – he won’t share it with anyone,” Padilla said.

Chicken fried steak is the Thursday lunch special while the Friday menu features prawns served deep fried or scapi style along with a soup choice of clam chowder.

As for dinner, Padilla pointed out that the ribeye steak is a popular choice among customers along with

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the filet and New York steak (14-16 oz. cut).

El Rancho also offers up burgers – hamburger or cheeseburger, charred on the indoor charcoal grill – consisting of half-pound handpressed ground beef patty served on a toasted Genova bun.

And then there’s the succulent lobster tail, which, Padilla said, is “to die for.”

Greg Swanson can attest to that.

He said via social media that Ray Lacondeguy’s El Rancho is simply the best steakhouse.

“You can sit down and savor the flavors and great cuts of beef. And his giant shrimp are killer as well not to mention the service, which is a cut above – always a very positive experience,” he said. ●

IF YOU GO WHAT: Ray Lacondeguy’s El Rancho Inn Steak & Lobster House WHERE: 1457 E. Mariposa Rd., Stockton, CA WHEN: Lunch, Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Dinner, Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Friday & Saturday, 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

CONTACT: 209.467.1529

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navigator

a tribute to bravery washington’s wwii memorial

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By CLAUDIA NEWCORN

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legislation to build one but it would drag through 17 years of legal, legislative and artistic challenges.

In 1993, President Clinton signed a law that authorized the first national memorial dedicated to all the men and women who served during WW II, and acknowledged the commitment and achievement of the entire nation.

But while the Federal Government would contribute $16 million towards its construction, it took an additional $164 million in private donations to get it built, due largely to the advocacy of WWII Veteran Senator Bob Dole and actor Tom Hanks. Construction began in September 2001.

By the time it opened and was officially dedicated by President George Bush in May 2004, many of the WWII veterans it was built to recognize had already passed, never getting a chance to see the memorial. Nor to read the announcement stone that proclaims that it honors “Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A nation conceived in liberty and justice.”

he Mall in Washington D.C. is home to numerous war monuments. The newest one is surprisingly the World War II memorial. Long-delayed in being built, in size, scope and placement in the heart of the Mall, it stands as a place of honor for the 16 million who served in the US Armed forces, of which 416,800 died in just over four years. It is a place of inspiration and reminds us all to speak with this passing generation of veterans to hear their stories and experiences before they disappear into history.

78 YEARS AGO… In 1945 the world celebrated the end of the most devastating war in history, World War II. Nearly 60 million people perished, including 15 million battle deaths.

My father was a WWII 2 veteran; my mother a ‘Rosie the Riveter’, helping to build airplanes to support the war effort.

Both vividly described VE (Victory in Europe) and VJ (Victory in Japan) celebrations. My mother spoke of bells ringing wildly, people dropping what they were doing and pouring into the streets to dance, cry, and shout with joy.

Yet it was not until nearly 40 years later that efforts began to recognize the US veterans with a monument on the Washington Mall in DC.

A QUESTION STARTS THE PROCESS In 1987, WWII veteran Roger Durbin of Berkey, Ohio, who had served under

A PLACE OF HONOR Gen. George S. Patton, asked his US Rep. Marcy Kaptur why no memorial existed on the Mall to honor WWII veterans. The Vietnam War Memorial had been built in 1982. Kaptur introduced

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Plan to spend time at this beautiful monument for there is much to see. Located at the eastern end of the Reflecting Pool, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, the WWII monument sits on just over seven

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acres of the Mall. Now managed by the National Parks Services, its elegant and open design fuses strength with symbolism, acknowledgement of sacrifice with pride of accomplishment.

The granite and bronze monument surrounds a large circular plaza which in turn surrounds a great pool punctuated by a spurting fountain, all centered between arches symbolizing hostilities in Europe and the Far East. The arches are flanked on either side by semicircles of tall pillars decorated by bronze wreaths, representing each state, territory and the District of Columbia.

Beyond the pool is the curved Freedom Wall of 4,000 glittering gold stars, one for every 100 Americans killed in the war. Scattered among the pillars and Wall are plaques inscribed with quotes from leaders and generals. Details abound, from metal eagle sculptures soaring inside the arches to bas-reliefs on the walkways.

Trees cluster near the arches, offering shady benches for contemplation.

And yet it is not a sad place. On a warm day, the fountain’s shallow pool hosts people dipping their toes as they perch along the edge. Children romp and play.

Elderly veterans, proudly wearing caps, insignia and uniforms, are scattered about – some walking, some with walkers or in wheelchairs. All with heads held high, perhaps “seeing” and “hearing” other things in the monument’s shadows that to us “younger folks” are only a part of history.

At the Freedom Wall, I gazed at those stars. Each of those men and women had families, friends, people waiting for them to come home and resume their lives.

But they didn’t. Instead, these people of diverse backgrounds from every walk of life worked together and gave their lives to help make this world a safer place, helping to preserve so many of those things we take for granted today. They are the heroes who merit being called patriots.

This Dec. 7 is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, so named in honor of Pearl Harbor and the start of the US entry into WWII. Please, take a moment to honor all our veterans. Those of WWII veterans, members of “the Greatest Generation”, and all those before and after. For truly, this memorial is a “monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people.” Let us never forget… ● Claudia Newcorn is an award-winning auth and freelance writer.

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The Memorial is open 24/7 and free to the public.

Be respectful of the veterans and other visitors.

Rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily and to provide interpretive programs throughout the day and upon request.

NPS website: www.nps.gov/wwii/index.htm Weather is a factor to check during your visit – in summer, thunderstorms are common, and it can be hot and humid. Spring and Fall are much less busy.

Wear good walking shoes and a hat – DC is a walking city.

The Mall is surrounded by many museums and activities; you can spend a whole trip just exploring everything there is to do.

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thegreatoutdoors

SKIERS SEEK UNIQUE EL CAPITAN ADVENTURE

By MATT JOHANSON

E

l Capitan attracts its share of impressive exploits.

From Warren Harding to Lynn Hill and Tommy Caldwell, countless cutting-edge climbers made their mark there. But how many have ascended Yosemite’s granite giant with skis rather than ropes? The prospect of that unique challenge lured me and two companions to the big stone in winter.

When the three of us attempted an El Cap climb years before, we didn’t get very far, stalling on the first pitch. None of us ever threatened to upend the big wall climbing world. This time we felt better prepared, having cross country skied in Yosemite’s backcountry since before Alex Honnold moved into a van.

Glacier Point, Ostrander Ski Hut,

and Tuolumne Meadows inspired many happy winter journeys, but we had never skied across Yosemite Valley’s north rim before. The snowy Captain demanded a visit.

My cousins Andy, Zach and I set out from Old Big Oak Flat Road trailhead, on the west side of Yosemite Valley near the Foresta Road junction. Our route took us east, crossing Tamarack Creek and Cascade Creek as we gradually gained elevation. After two hours of

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OUR ONLY COMPANIONS WERE EACH OTHER, THE TREES, AND THE STARS.

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effort, we reached enough snow to don our skis. That lightened our packs though complicated routefinding as snow concealed the trail. So we used a map, scattered trail markers and faint snowshoe tracks to navigate.

Winter visitors, and especially backcountry travelers, experience a vastly different Yosemite than summer crowds. When we camped that night, our only companions were

each other, the trees and the stars.

Zach and I collected wood to build a fire. Andy, field chef extraordinaire, fed the team a sumptuous dinner. We enjoyed a pleasant night together in the snow, unfathomable as that would sound to tourists in the valley below.

Our journey reminded me of Native Americans who also experienced a Yosemite free of traffic jams and crowded parking lots.

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They named it Ahwahnee, called themselves the Ahwahnechee, and told an interesting legend about our objective. Two young bears slept on a large flat rock which grew until the cubs scratched their faces against the moon. When Mother Bear called for help, the inchworm Tutokanula crawled to the top and rescued the babies. So they named the 3,000-foot mountain Tutokanula, after the bears’ savior. Perhaps

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thegreatoutdoors

the inchworm should get credit for the first ascent, too.

Our ascent became more difficult on the second day as tracks and trail markers disappeared. The unseen path wound through a thick forest with only occasional glimpses of landmarks like the Cathedral Rocks. Reluctantly, we resorted to electronics to stay on route.

The snow itself varied in quality: sometimes good, other times choppy and rough. We caught our first sight of El Cap from its western gully and neared the summit soon after. Snow became icy as we traversed a steep slope; a fall into the gully would mean a thousand-foot drop and mountainsized trouble. But we overcame the crux and soon found ourselves atop the big stone that fascinates so many.

A wondrous winter view rewarded us and we gazed at Half Dome, Sentinel Rock and other snowy mountains around us. The best snow of our 20-mile outing let us glide smoothly around the summit; we kept a careful distance from the edge. None of El Cap’s more famous climbers were present, unless Tutokanula escaped our notice.

We couldn’t claim a first winter ascent, though, not even for that day, as we spotted several snowshoers tramping about. A dozen more were ascending or descending on the Yosemite Falls Trail. El Cap has actually seen remarkable activity in winter, including death-defying climbs through epic snowstorms and even the world’s first skiing BASE jump in 1972.

Still, only a handful ski across this summit each year, compared to thousands who rope up to climb the

FROM ICY SLOPES TO A THOUSANDFOOT DROP, EL CAP’S CHALLENGES UNFOLDED WITH EACH STEP. mountain’s face.

Harding, Hill, Caldwell, Honnold, and… Andy, Zach and Matt?

That’s quite a stretch but we descended into the valley with pride. Tourists stared at our skis and backpacks in bewilderment. Hot showers, cold beers and a suitably huge dinner restored our energy as we celebrated an uncommon adventure and pondered our next one. ●

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fulloflife

CARING KINDNESS

By TERESA HAMMOND

T

his has come to be my favorite issue for this column space.

Now a few years in, I must admit I once found it extremely challenging. Packing myself with undue pressure to write the perfect “New Year” column.

So recently as I pondered this very trouble, I came to realize what a privilege and tremendous opportunity it is to share my thoughts with our readers as one year ends and yet another is fresh in front of us.

The 2023 year started with yet another battle with cancer personally speaking. It was also a year where we lost some pretty special people to the merciless disease. It’s an odd and at times troubling path to journey, watching loved ones succumb to the very disease you continue to battle. Loss has always had a funny way of tapping me on the shoulder as if to remind me of the fragility of life. The true Carpe Diem (Seize the Day), we must wake and embrace each and every day.

As a cancer survivor, it intensifies the reality of that.

Yet as the 2023 year came to a conclusion, I couldn’t help but reflect on some newer health issues we seem to be facing as a community, as well as a country. A disease which gained a lot of ground post-pandemic as our children returned to school and the media gave it attention: Mental Illness.

As parents we became hyper aware of the challenges our children faced as we returned from isolation from the world and back to “normal.” Yet, “normal” is not what it once

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was and may never be that again.

It’s not just our children, however, that have struggled with the transition “back,” in my opinion. As adults we see it more often now than ever before on the news, as well as social media.

Coming out of an era where socialization was mainly via the internet, texting, Zoom calls and FaceTime we’ve got some big steps to make.

More and more the pandemic of keyboard warriors continues to grow and that’s

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not a good thing.

Most recently, by way of said social media, this became glaringly apparent as a community member openly bashed the community she lived in almost in a taunting sort of way. A friend had sent me a screen shot of the post along with mentioning that comments had climbed to over 85 in minutes as proud community members condemned the warrior’s opinion.

Reading through the thread my mind was quickly

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PHOTO BY ANN BUGAICHUK /Pexels

reminded of a favorite quote: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

It’s honestly all I could think as I read the comments from a community member who was clearly bored, troubled, angry or all of the above. Not to suggest that the poster struggles with mental illness yet at the same time … how do we know.

Transitioning back to the new normal, that quote seems more important than ever before.

Listening, humbling ourselves and forgiveness are actions we may

IT’S BEEN A MESSY FEW YEARS, NOW AS WE FACE 2024 MY HOPE IS WE CAN ALL SHOW A BIT MORE OF OUR GENTLER SIDE WHEN EMBRACING OTHER HUMANS.

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need to lean into just a bit more.

It’s been a messy few years, now as we face 2024 my hope is we can all show a bit more of our gentler side when embracing other humans.

Turning our focus not completely off our youth, but recognizing the grown-ups need kindness and care just as much.

None of us are perfect, after all.

We each make mistakes, embrace unpopular opinions or simply have a bad day. At the end of it all may we all embrace the same simple notion: to leave the planet, as well as its people, better than we found them.

Happy New Year. ●

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fulloflife

I’M HALF THE MAN I USED TO BE . . .

SOME ADVICE FROM A GUY WHO HAS BEEN THERE ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH GETTING HEALTHIER

By DENNIS WYATT here was a time that if you suggested I go for a run I’d look at you like you were a few fries short of a Happy Meal.

Even after I lost 130 pounds 37 years ago and started bicycling 10,000 miles a year and trying not to embarrass myself in Jazzercise classes, I abhorred the idea of running.

Today, if I don’t go for at least a two mile jog — or at least a fast walk on any given day — I’ll go crazy.

It’s a far cry from the days when I tipped the scales at 320

pounds and walking a flight of stairs would almost put me down for the count.

Everyone offers you advice on how you should go about changing your course.

And what works for me may not work for you and vice versa.

Keeping that is mind there are a few things that, from my limited perspective, that hinders many from stepping up their game when it comes to exercising.

1.You need to go to a doctor first before starting an exercise program.

That might indeed be solid advice, but get real.

If you’re like me, there is no way I’m going to let anyone see me at 320 pounds.

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I didn’t see a doctor until after I lost 130 pounds and then it was because I was strapped to a backboard.

It’s kind of like hiring a cleaning service to clean your home. Before the first time you interview the person at your home and show them what needs to be done you clean the place because you don’t want anyone to know how big of a slob you are.

Granted, if you have a serious health issue seeing a medical professional before you start is common sense.

But if you don’t have a health issue, thinking you have to see a doctor first before you stop taking elevators to go up one floor and use the stairs is a stalling tactic.

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2. Get advice from people who look ripped or who are young and have the “body” you’d like to have.

No disrespect, but the instructors that I have benefited the most from will never make the cover of “Men’s Health” let alone “Muscle & Fitness.”

They simply have to be students of movement, understand the dynamics of stretching, have a full understanding of muscles and how they work, get the ins and outs of anaerobic and aerobic exercise, and be able to tailor exercise routines to the baggage, if you will, that we all bring.

I do not have the perfect body, whatever that is supposed to be. I have my body.

The goal is to make it work the best it can be for me. If it somehow my body becomes more appealing, that’s fine. The goal should be to be healthier, stronger, and more flexibility and not a figment of your imagination or that of someone else.

3. Take a good look in the mirror.

5. You can have the body you want.

I guess that works if you did not become overweight until you were an adult. But what I weighed in the sixth grade is what I do now — 178 pounds.

You don’t need a mirror to tell you the truth about yourself. You already know it if you are being honest with yourself.

Besides, I know of more than one person that after looking in a mirror closely then looked at other people and decided they weren’t all that bad because others were a lot heavier.

It’s the perfect advice to set yourself up to fail and quit.

You can only have one body — your body. You can make it the best it can be but you can’t change nature.

If you look at my feet you’d probably have a heart attack like my primary physician almost did when he saw my right bunion for the first time. He thought it was infected from a casual look. He even characterized it as the worst bunion he’d ever seen until he had me take my other sock off.

I have hammertoes. I have an interesting shoulder issue. I have mild spine curvature. I have persistent pain in specific locations of my body I haven’t let any of that stop me.

And, for the record, if I ever get a one-pack, let alone a six-pack, I’ll be dancing in the street.

There are three basic body types.

Mine is an endomorph. To give you an idea of what that means, John

4. Listen to what others say.

Wrong. Ignore people especially if you’re trying to find the impetus to get started on an exercise program. You read that right. Ignore people.

They have a nagging habit of stating the obvious. Someone telling you that you are fat isn’t going to inspire you to lose weight.

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fulloflife

Goodman is an endomorph. As an endomorph I have a strong tendency to accumulate body fat with minimal muscle definition.

Experts are right when they say dropping weight is hard to do for an endomorph regardless of how many exercise and diet routines you try given you can morph into the Pillsbury Doughboy if you let yourself go.

Of course, what I’ve always wanted to be is an ectomorph — a skinny build and the ability to eat like a bottomless pit and never seem to gain weight.

It wasn’t until perhaps 15 years ago I kind of made peace with myself that I am what I am.

6. Exercise like hell.

They really don’t utter those exact words but they imply it giving people the wrong impression. They think they have to go one-on-one with Stephen Curry in a pick-up basketball game, train like a Navy SEAL, or bench press a Greyhound Bus. There’s a lady in town who managed to shed over 80 pounds by simply walking her dog for upwards of an hour every day. That was almost 30 years ago.

And after she lost the weight she has kept on walking as she discovered what most people do when they really get into an exercise program — the endorphins, peace of mind, and elimination of stress is unparalleled. She has never gained any weight back.

The bottom line is do what works for you but be consistent and try to build it into your life more than just once or twice a week.

7. Devices like Fitbit can make a difference.

I guess they do if having $100 less in your pocket and becoming obsessed with numbers makes a difference.

If you can’t tell if you’re pushing yourself too hard and you have to back off, you need to get back to basics — listen to your body and not get wrapped up in numbers.

How I got to where I could jog/run for 6 miles without stopping was to get

to the point it was a little bit too much to breathe then I’d walk.

When I recovered — you can determine this when you can feel your heart is no longer pounding as if Buddy Rich is on Red Bull playing the drums and your breathing no longer sounds like the Santa Ana winds whipping up a canyon — I repeated the run then walk process until I completed the route.

It took a little over a month but I was able to go 5 miles without stopping. It didn’t require Tim Cook to come up with an app.

8. Don’t step on the scales everyday as it is self-defeating.

Like hell you’ll ever see me follow that advice.

I still remember like it was yesterday when I stepped on the scale at the end of my seventh grade year and I saw the number 240 pop up and — then years later as a 29-year-old after dropping down to 190 pounds to start my eight grade year — the scales when they stopped at 320 pounds.

Between 190 and 320 pounds I never looked at the scales. On my 29th birthday when I stepped on them for some reason, I vowed never to let a day pass that I did not weigh myself.

Since then I have religiously weighed myself every day and marked the weight on a calendar without fail.

I completely get that weight is not an indicator or how healthy you are.

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It was music to my ears last Saturday before I donated platelets that the Red Cross phlebotomist noted my heart rate was 56 and blood pressure was 114 over 84. Those are the numbers I put stock in.

I’m anal about my weight because I don’t want to every go through what I did for a third time — ballooning up to a weight that makes living more of a chore.

I treat the scales as the proverbial canary in the coal mine. Besides it’s a great feeling knowing I’m roughly half the man I used to be.

9. It is about being healthy.

Well, that’s partially true. But it reality it’s about lifestyle.

I’ve discovered that exercising and diet — they go together — has allowed me to do things I never would have thought possible whether it is being perched on a 13,000-foot peak; bicycling over Tioga Pass, or taking a 16-mile round-trip hike to sit at the base of a glacier at 14,000 feet.

I don’t tire easily and I certainly don’t starve as I polish off 3,000 plus calories in a typical day. I can’t remember the last time I had a headache and I rarely get sick. It’s also easier to be focus and to think.

Believe me, I know all of the excuses not to do something. But the key is — as Nike’s marketing gurus say — is just do it. ●

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placecalledhome

Hang artwork Any space is made more welcoming and classy with the addition of some artistic touches. Hang pictures that will create a relaxing atmosphere, such as floral prints or beachscapes. Integrating large prints or a gallery wall can add a different dimension to the bathroom.

Plan a spa bathroom remodel

M

any health and wellness regimens include treatments that promote relaxation and comfort. According to IBIS Worldwide, revenue for health and wellness spas across the United States has risen at a rate of 1.1 percent over the past five years, reaching $23.3 billion in 2023. The International Spa Association said that while spa visits fell in 2020, likely due to the global pandemic, visits rebounded a year later.

The popularity of spa visits is one indicator that people enjoy being pampered and frequently make time for treatments. While visiting a spa is one way to rest and recharge, individuals may be able to enjoy similar perks if they incorporate these spa-like features in their homes.

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Change the color scheme Spas are typically bright and clean and evoke feelings of purity. This can be achieved by choosing white, offwhite or pale gray in the color scheme.

An all-white design for fixtures and tiles also makes it easy to swap out accessories when the mood strikes.

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Keep the tub While many adults admit to not bathing nearly as much as they shower, there are benefits to having a deep, spa-like tub.

Soaking away the stresses of the day, lounging in the tub with a good book and listening to music while enjoying a bubble bath are all ways to slow down and eke out a bit more quiet, personal time to unwind. Tubs can be outfitted with waterfall features to add to the ambiance even further.

Invest in quality linens When stepping out of the shower or the bath, individuals can wrap themselves in thick, luxurious towels or robes. Guests also will appreciate comfortable towels if they come to visit.

Certain features can transform home bathrooms into spa-like retreats with a few touches.

Install a rainfall shower head Upgrade fixtures to make them more luxurious.

Multi-head shower fixtures and rainfall shower heads can help anyone unwind and relax. Rain showers can evoke calmness and relaxation as they gently cascade down. Additional shower upgrades can include steam functions, soothing lights and aromatherapy.

Incorporate natural materials When decorating the space, use natural materials like stone, wood and marble rather than plastic or metal. This can add to the luxury appeal.

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aplacecalledhome

CARING FOR FRESH FLOWERS T

he beauty of having a garden is buds continually blooming on one plant or another throughout most of the year. While this provides lovely views from your windows, it can also be nice to bring some beauty indoors.

Don’t be afraid to snip off a few blossoms each week. Many plants thrive after trimming and may reward you with even more flowers. Once you’ve gathered a bouquet from your garden, consider these tips to help keep fresh flowers at their best for a week or more: • Bacteria can quickly destroy fresh flowers, which is why it’s important to use a clean vase. Any floral foam, wires or frogs used in your arrangement must also be washed in warm, soapy water.

• Remove any lower leaves that may come in contact with water inside the vase.

• Carefully trim each flower stem at a 90-degree angle. It may also be helpful to cut flowers while they are underwater to keep moisture flowing into the stems.

• Keep your arrangement out of direct sunlight.

The darker and cooler the room, the longer your blossoms will bloom.

• Adding a crushed aspirin, bleach, vinegar, sugar or penny to the vase are age-old tricks. However, you can keep bacteria at bay and help flowers thrive by adding a packet of flower food to the water. It can be found at your local florist or home improvement store.

Flowers are living things that still require water, food and care after they are cut. Every 2-3 days, be sure to change the water, replenish the flower food and recut the stems for additional days of glorious color.

Find more ideas for freshening up your indoor spaces at eLivingtoday.com. ●

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Happy

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marketplace

The 209’s one-stop health shop

By CHRISTOPHER CORREA

W

It’s been a blessing to be able to help people. I’m happy to take care of the community as much as possible.”

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inter time can go two ways for folks - a time where some enjoy all the delectable flavors the holiday season has to offer, or a time where people can get a head start on their New Year’s resolution of living a healthier lifestyle.

At Artesian Health Foods in Tracy, those looking to better their body and minds can do so year-round.

Artesian Health Foods was founded in 1978 in what was originally a wholesale grocery store. Under the ownership of Christine Parrish over 20 years ago, the store expanded its selection to offer a wide selection of natural health remedies. Located at 2251 Grant Line Rd. in Tracy for the past 10 years, the store has become a staple in the community, offering a variety of vitamins, herbal formulas, homeopathic remedies, diet aids, glutenfree foods, teas, tinctures, breads, all-natural oils and other personal care products In April of this year, Parrish handed the reins to loyal customer Rashi Sandhu, who has continued the legacy of promoting optimal health and wellness.

“I’ve been a customer of this store for quite a while,” Sandhu said. “I’m a mother, and my children were constantly getting sick. Of course, I was treating them with traditional medicines like Tylenol, etc… I was tired of treating them with antibiotics, so once I found alternatives and I saw they

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worked and my son was healed even faster with less side effects, I became such a huge believer in these things. I decided that I wanted to go this route.

I started seeking out people that were herbalists and naturopaths and I started reading their content, watching videos and just really educating myself. This store helped me a lot.

“When I learned that the owner at that time, Chris, was getting ready to retire, I just kindly approached her and I said, ‘Hey, whenever you’re ready, I would love to take over the store, I would love to be the next owner.’ We were actually in conversation for about three years. This past year, she said she was ready, so I’m very grateful that she gave me the opportunity. It’s been a blessing to be able to help people. I’m happy to take care of the community as much as possible.”

Sandhu explained that one of her primary goals is to educate the public on the importance of taking care of one’s body. The store also has books on hand for customers to use as reference and her staff has years of experience in natural health remedies. For those not in the store, there are facts, tips and tricks on their social media channels - Artesian Health Foods on Facebook and at @ ArtestianHealthFoods on Instagram.

Each month, the store hopes to focus on different themes on their social pages.

“We want to be a resource for our communities as much as possible. We want to educate and share as much information as we can. We want everybody to feel their best because,” Sandhu said.

Sandhu also credits social media personalities like Barbara O’Neill for there being such a big shift in people experimenting in healthier lifestyle habits and remedies, like the use of herbs, which have been selling well in recent weeks.

Other popular items year-round at

Artesian Health Foods include gluten-free foods, including traditional groceries, local honey, raw milk, multivitamins and magnesium.

“Magnesium is definitely one of our most popular and most sought out products here. We also have a lot of people that come in for vitamins like multivitamins, because they’re tired of buying the multivitamins from places like Walmart or Target or Costco,” Sandhu shared.

What’s the difference, though?

According to Sandhu, vitamins from national retailers usually contain synthetic ingredients, leading people to come to Artesian Health Foods for more natural options.

Come winter time, customers are also focussed on boosting their immunity, as it’s the time of year where colds, the flu and other illnesses tend to thrive. Luckily, there is an entire immunity section at the very front of the store.

And with different seasons, there are different flavors on tap. Indeed, there are drinks on tap at Artesian Health Foods. It’s kombucha to be exact. Like many other health remedies, kombucha, a fermented beverage, has grown in popularity over the past few years. While the drink, which usually comes bottled, can sometimes be hard to find, the Tracy store is one of the only in the region to serve it on tap. Customers can fill up a regular sized glass, or purchase a refillable 32-ounce growler.

“I don’t know if there’s anybody else around here doing this,” Sandhu said. “Every now and then, I will switch it for a seasonal flavor. Every now and then I also want to bring in new flavors.

“Overall, it’s a pretty fun experience and people just love it. Not just the drinks, but the experience as a whole. Like I said, I’m incredibly grateful to be in this position and help people better themselves.

I love it.” ●

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