209 Magazine - Issue #61

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 - ISSUE 61

FOR THE LOVE OF

VINYL

YOSEMITE’S

CHANGES AXE THROWING

FUN

A REIMAGINED $4.95US

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For the you taking care of your heart, and theirs.

We deliver proactive preventive care that’s proven to keep you healthy, and world-class treatment if you do get sick.

Choose Kaiser Permanente, and get high-quality, personalized care, designed to help you spend more healthy years doing more of what you love. Learn more at kp.org/centralvalley

For all that is Central Valley. For all that is you.

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FEATURES While the digital downloading and streaming of songs on electronic devices is how most people listen to music nowadays, there are those who love nothing more than to sift through bins filled with vinyl records looking for the perfect vintage album to add to their collection. This desire to listen to music on old-fashioned record players isn’t just for the over 50 set either, as younger generations have discovered the joy of listening to the warm notes of vinyl that many consider a superior sound. This issue’s feature is all about the vinyl.

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Blast from the Past

Mod City Records

Pac Ave Records

Greatest album covers of all time

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F EB RUA RY/MA RCH 2024 – I SSUE 61

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DEPARTMENTS THE GREAT OUTDOORS

IN THE KNOW 12 14

48

Calendar of Events Murphys Irish Day

FULL OF LIFE 52 54

ARTS&CULTURE 18

Soundcheck 209 look back

Fitness and Beyond The Modesto Marathon

A PLACE CALLED HOME

FLAVORS 22 26

Sierra Splendor

57 58

Great Wolf Lodge dining Rainbird at the El Capitan Hotel

Bathroom upgrades Escalon Community Garden

NAVIGATOR 28

Yosemite’s changes

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F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2024

2/6/2024 7:55:41 AM

Vol. 11 No. 61

February/ March 2024

$4.95

PUBLISHER/OWNER Hank Vander Veen

MANAGING EDITOR Sabra Stafford

EDITOR Kristina Hacker

WRITERS & PHOTOGRAHERS Christopher Correa Joe Cortez Kristina Hacker Teresa Hammond Marg Jackson Matt Johanson Claudia Newcorn Vince Rembulat Sabra Stafford Frankie Tovar

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Harold L. George

ARDVERTISING Chris Castro Beth Flanagan Rich Matheson Karen Olsen Corey Rogers Melody Wann Charles Webber

SCAN this to advertise in 209 Magazine or 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

As 2024 gets into full swing, we hope you continue to look to 209 Magazine as the premier source for information about our region.

In this issue, we check back with a few of artists featured in our video series, “Soundcheck 209.” Focused on local bands and musicians and consisting of interviews and live performances, the series kicked off with The Old Refrain and in March 2014. Since then, 18 local artists have shared their stories and music with us. We followed up with three of those artists featured in our series to see how their careers have evolved over the years.

In our Flavors section, we traveled to downtown Merced to feature a reimagined Rainbird restaurant in the El Capitan Hotel.

The dining destination, which originally opened its doors in February 2022, transitioned in January from a prix-fixe tasting menu for dinner and brunch to daily a-la-carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. The new menus take advantage of hyper seasonal produce from local and regional farms.

A preview of Irish Day in foothills town of Murphys, a look at some of the changes for visitors to Yosemite National Park and a business profile on Oakdale’s newest entertainment spot, Axholes, is also inside this issue of 209 Magazine.

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

Hank Vander Veen Owner/Publisher

209 Magazine is a product of

121 S. Center St., 2nd Floor • Turlock, CA 95380 Comments: sstafford@209magazine.com 209magazine.com

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©Copyright 2024. 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

It’s time for Studio209’s curtain call.

After a decade of Central Valley coverage, our homegrown web-series has officially come to an end.

362 episodes, hundreds of drives up and down Highway 99, and an ever-growing cast of local personalities – Studio209 served as a spotlight to bring attention to the best of the best in the area. I had the unique opportunity to establish a digital, multimedia-based presence for 209 Multimedia and its properties as a young professional and I was able to grow alongside the show in so many ways. I’ve worked with a lot of talented colleagues and I’ve visited nearly every festival and event hosted in the Central Valley since 2014 (it feels that way, at least).

Producing Studio209 gave me space to experiment and create unique, engaging, and quality content as a producer and journalist and provided me and my team with a multitude of memories and stories.

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

Thank you to everyone brave enough to stand in front of our cameras over the years and to all the viewers along the way. And a very special thanks to everyone who helped produce this show, including: Angelina Martin, Alysson Aredas, Elizabeth Arakelian, Eddie Ruiz, Krista Messer, Candy Padilla, Teresa Hammond, Virginia Still, Chris Correa, Natalie McMahon, Tara Levy, Evelyn Hernandez, Brianna Padilla, Miranda Hamm, Harold George, Sabra Stafford, Marg Jackson, Kristina Hacker, and Hank Vander Veen.

bit.ly/209PodcastApple

bit.ly/209PodcastSpotify

Studio209, we had the 209 covered!

—Frankie Tovar

STUDIO209.T V

WE’VE GOT THE 209 COVERED

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Aztec Dancing in Turlock Mexican Dancers from the Central Valley have celebrated their indigenous roots through the art of Aztec dance for the past 23 years. This group, known as Tlaloc, was celebrating el Dia de la Virgen Guadalupe when we decided to pay them a visit. We spoke with long-time member Nancy Angel to learn about the history of Aztec dancing and gain insight into the cultural significance of this art.

Tank the Fire Dog There’s a new face at a local firehouse – a twoyear-old English Labrador named Tank. This Peer Support K9 serves at Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District Station 31, located in the Airport District of Modesto, and is handled by Captain Jon McManus. Far from a pet, however, Tank as proved to be one of the boys at the firehouse.

Artist Spotlight: Morgan Andre Fine Art Morgan Andre is an abstract painter from Turlock, California who has carved a niche of modern art in the typically traditional Central Valley.

Drawing inspiration from the human condition and translating her feelings into colors and shapes, she has steadily attracted clients from all over the area for commissioned works. We’re shining a light on this local artist - her background and future projects - in what is our final episode of Studio209.

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intheknow

COMMUNITY EVENTS 10

FEB

2024

STOCKTON STARS DANCING FOR DOGS AND CATS The Stockton City Council, Mayor, County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff, Superintendent of SJ Office of Education, and the Stocktonian of the Year will hit the dance floor, grooving to raise funds for the Animal Protection League’s new Free/ Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic and Wellness Center.

The fundraising event is set for 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Stockton Golf and Country Club. Call (209) 949-2100 for ticket information.

MAR

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FEB

The Quilt and Cloth Doll show presented by the Manteca Quilters will be held March 2 and 3 at the San Joaquin Board of Education Wentworth Center at 2707 Transworld Drive in Stockton.

The show boasts more than 100 quilts, soft dolls, and wearable arts exhibits.

Visit www.mantecaquilters. com/events.html for more information.

2024

WE OWN THE LAUGHS

One of California’s premier comedy entertainment companies returns to Modesto with a performance from some of the funniest comedians on the West Coast as part of We Own The Laughs: Modesto at 8 p.m. Feb. 16 at The State Theatre in Modesto.

Called “the funniest play Broadway has ever seen” (Huffington Post), this classic murder mystery by awardwinning Mischief is chock-full of mishaps and madcap mania. The show is being staged by Sierra Rep.

The event will feature performances

by Tania Estrada, Tyson Paul, Subhah Agarwal, Saul Trujillo, and Nick Guerra, the evening’s headliner. The host for the evening will be Modesto native Monique Flores.

The show opens Feb. 15 and runs through March 24.

For tickets and more information visit www.sierrarep.org/ series/2024-season.

It is an 18 years and over comedy show. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $55, $45 and $35

MAR

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2024

LINDEN BAND BOOSTERS SHRIMP FEED DINNER The Linden Band Boosters Shrimp Feed Dinner will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 9 at the Linden Lion Club. Tickets are $50.

There will be a no host bar, salad, bread, pasta and shrimp.

Find some goodies to bid on at the silent auction and put in for raffle prizes.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Shelley Williams at 209-986-9893 or shelleyjoaquin@gmail.com.

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FEB

‘THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG’

2024

MANTECA QUILT SHOW

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2024

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FEB

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2024

FEB

LODI ITALIAN CLUB CRAB FEED

The Lodi Italian Club will hold their crab feed from 4:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds.

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RIPON ALMOND BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

Enjoy a no host bar with a silent and dessert auction as well as live music and dancing. Proceeds from this event benefit Hospice of San Joaquin programs for patients and families and supports our Hospice House.

Pack up the kids and enjoy this family event with fun for everyone. Enjoy the beautiful town of Ripon and make memories with your children.

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Always the last weekend of February, and the first festival of the season, the Ripon Chamber of Commerce presents a carnival, fun run (1 mile race or 8K race), and well-known community parade.

This year the event is from Feb. 22 to Feb. 25. Visit riponchamber.org for more information.

MAR

2024

SUMMER NIGHT CITY THE ABBA TRIBUTE Summer Night City the Abba tribute band reigns supreme as a seven-piece production show performing all the greatest hits of one of the world’s most beloved pop SuperGroups of the 70s.

Valley and beyond. They will also have food trucks, merchandise vendors, entertainment, lawn games, and more.

This is a 21 years and older event. Tickets range from $15 to $60.

For tickets visit bit.ly/ redwhitebluebeerfest.

209MAGAZINE.COM

The Annual Ripon Almond Blossom Festival includes a Queen Coronation, carnival, fun run, and more.

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2024

8TH ANNUAL RED, WHITE & BREW WINE AND BEERFEST

The event will feature several types of craft beers, wine, and cider from breweries and wineries from around the Central

2024

HOSPICE OF SAN JOAQUIN LOBSTER BOIL

Must be 21 or older to attend.

Tickets are $135. Call the Development office at (209) 9573888 for tickets.

Visit bit.ly/lodicrabfeedfor tickets.

The 8th Annual Red, White & Brew Wine and Beerfest fundraiser event benefiting Give Every Child A Chance will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 23 at MRPS Social Hall in Manteca.

FEB

Hospice of San Joaquin will hold a lobster boil from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Feb. 18 at the Stockton Ballroom.

This is an all you can eat event - crab, salad, garlic bread, spaghetti, asparagus and dessert for only $85.

Music by Whiskey Kiss and Beer by Idol Beer Works.

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2024

From the smash pop stage musical Mamma Mia to all the international

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pop chart favorites, the audience will experience the fabulous costumes and hits authentically performed.

The show will be at 8 p.m. March 23 at the West Side Theatre in Newman. For tickets visit bit.ly/ summernightABBA.

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intheknow

E

ach year on the third Saturday in March, thousands of people from Northern California and beyond gather in the historic gold rush town of Murphys to honor its Celtic heritage and to celebrate as only the Irish can.

On March 16, Main Street in downtown Murphys will be filled with booths offering handcrafted items, original art, photographs, tasty

food, wine, and other beverages.

The day begins with a pancake breakfast from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Murphys just a block off Main Street at the corner of Church & Algiers Streets. Purchase tickets in advance from their website.

At 11 a.m., the swirl of bagpipes heralds a parade of marching bands, classic cars, horses, community organizations, novelty entries, and

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some of the finest children in the land. This year we will be honoring John and Gail Kautz, owners of Ironstone Vineyards and tireless supporters of Murphys who will serve as the Grand Marshalls of the parade.

The day continues with live entertainment on the stages and the street featuring singers, dancers, musicians, and jugglers.

This year the Murphys Community

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The Native Daughters will be hosting a Scavenger Hunt beginning in their Hall

Club will be hosting the Murphys School of Music and selling food & drink in the Community Park from noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy performances by the Murphys School of Music students and take a walk through the park down to the Creek for a break from the crowds on the street.

The Native Daughters will be hosting a Scavenger Hunt beginning in their Hall. Purchase a

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ticket and be entered for a chance to win a cash prize and show off your skills.

Sponsored by the Murphys Business Association, Murphys Irish Day is a fundraiser for many community projects and non-profit organizations and is the primary fundraiser for the Murphys Business Association and the Murphys Firefighters Association. ●

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arts&culture

SPINNING

LOCAL A SOUNDCHECK209

RETROSPECTIVE

By FRANKIE TOVAR

M

arch marks 10 years since the first installment of the Studio209 series Soundcheck209. Focused on local bands and musicians and consisting of interviews and live performances, the series kicked off with The Old Refrain and their song “Schadenfreude” in March 2014. Since then, 18 local artists have shared their stories and music with us. Some of those bands are now defunct, some artists have expanded their craft, and others have continued to carve a home for their music in the 209 and beyond. We’re following up with three local artists featured in our series for an update and to see how their careers and lives have evolved over the years.

NATE NATHAN – CALAVERAS COUNTY’S SOUL SEARCHER We featured Nate Nathan back in December 2020 with a trip to Angels Camp to record a live, stripped-down rendition of “Living a Lie” from his album Summer Chronicles. From the onset, it was clear he took great care to curate a visual aesthetic that was as important to his art as the music itself. Citing influence from acts like Thelonious Monk and Enya, Nathan proved to be a versatile and enigmatic artist.

Equal parts spiritual and soulful, his lyrics are deeply introspective and his style is wildly experimental. These qualities continued to evolve over the course of the three albums he released after our feature – The Castle of Doves, Butterflies from Mt Sinai, and The Vow. His expansive approach to music continued when he opened the brick-and-mortar Nate Nathan’s Sound Temple in

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NAME: NATE NATHAN HOMETOWN: MURPHY’S, CA SONG PERFORMED: “LIVING A LIE” PIANO/VOCALS NATENATHAN.COM AND @THENATENATHAN ON INSTAGRAM

Angels Camp, a space for music, worship and prayer that offers vocal workshops, community listening events, creative presentations and live production facilities. A series of music videos are also slated for release in the coming months for those interested in seeing Nathan’s brand of music-driven visuals.

“I’ve always aspired to create what visually and audibly feels like classic cinema. Each album has gotten closer to that goal of creating a world of unique lore for the listener. Opening up a creative space grounded in prayer and vocal growth has become an important piece of this puzzle. Creating a physical world where these ideas can grow has been a surreal experience.” – Nate Nathan

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singing ability on full display and perfectly captured the mood of her teenage experience in the moment of time.

Grace fronted both Gravel & Grace and the Ava Grace Trio while still in high school, touring the South with the former, while also releasing solo. After graduating from Oakdale High in 2021, Grace marked her transition into adulthood with a move to Boulder, Colorado. She’s currently completing her music degree at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and is part of its jazz ensemble, acapella

AVA GRACE – SHADES OF GRACE This multi-faceted Oakdalian graced our series in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and shutdown, an unpreceded moment in time that inspired her solo single “Senior SZN.” A then 18-yearold and soon-to-be high school graduate, Ava Grace performed her single acapella with the help of her trusted ukulele. The bare-bones performance put her

I MOVED TO COLORADO SPRINGS TO FINISH MY DEGREE IN MUSIC AND EXPAND MY PRIVATE STUDIO FOR MUSIC LESSONS. — ­ AVA GRACE

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arts&culture

NAME: AVA GRACE HOMETOWN: OAKDALE, CA SONG PERFORMED: “SENIOR SZN” UKELELE, PIANO, VOCALS AVAGRACEMUSIC.ME AND @AVA_GRACE_MUSIC ON INSTAGRAM

group, voice program, songwriting program, and theatre program. She’s slated to appear in an upcoming production of Cats! and is preparing a winter release of her debut solo album Rove.

“I heard once that in the same way art decorates space, music decorates time – I think that’s a nice way of saying all music is following some journey or another, and mine is one that everyone has been on or will be on at some point.

Self-exploration, self-sufficiency, that sort of thing. [My album] depicts my experience in becoming an adult and getting out there on my own.” – Ava Grace

JELANI – YOUR BEST FRIEND’S FAVORITE RAPPER Jelani stands as the first and only rapper featured on our series, which is appropriate given his status as the first hip-hop artist to release an album on Pac Ave Records at the University of Pacific back in 2019. We visited Jelani prior to the release of his debut EP First Impression and captured an intimate performance of his song “How Can I Forget.” Jelani gave us a lesson in classical rap, as he melded piano play with his lyrics and violin in a stellar performance.

Jelani released his sophomore effort Higher Learning, Vol 1 in 2020 and was featured on several albums, including Maverick by Nigerian singer-songwriter Kizz Daniel. Equipped with talent, experience and a Music Management degree from UOP, Jelani quickly branched out to help the next generation of local musicians. He currently serves as both a songwriting professor at his Alma Mater and is the Director of the non-profit Stockton Soul. He’s also added a new dimension to his craft, recording violin for the production Holes that held a run at Gallo last March while also playing the role of Sam.

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“I’m learning to bloom where I’m planted. As an artist/educator, I crave to cultivate connection and creativity. I was encouraged by my mom to get into my first acting class. She always saw the entertainer in me. MJC is where I took my first acting class and the next fall, I got the opportunity to play Othello.

“Musically, I’ve been working with Stockton Soul to create engaging and educational concerts for students and original music like out latest single “The Elements” where we discuss the elements of Black music.” – Jelani ●

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NAME: JELANI BROWN HOMETOWN: STOCKTON, CA SONG PERFORMED: “HOW CAN I FORGET” VIOLIN/VOCALS @IAMJELANI ON INSTAGRAM

MUSICALLY, I’VE BEEN WORKING WITH STOCKTON SOUL TO CREATE ENGAGING AND EDUCATIONAL CONCERTS FOR STUDENTS AND ORIGINAL MUSIC LIKE OUT LATEST SINGLE “THE ELEMENTS” WHERE WE DISCUSS THE ELEMENTS OF BLACK MUSIC. — ­ JELANI

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Interested in more local music? Give this list a listen.

• Valley Wolf • Tiffany Rose & The Outlaw Hearts • Seven Year Sleep • Cole Hinkle & The Debauchery • Sorry Machine

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flavors

The Great Wolf Lodge of Northern California is located a 2500 Daniels St., Manteca, featuring a variety of restaurants for both visitors and locals.

By VINCE REMBULAT

PHOTOS BY VINCE REMBULAT/ 209 Magazine

The grilled salmon, wilderness bowl, and the kids chicken tenders were all hit.

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The Butcher’s Cut Bacon Cheeseburger is one of the more popular items on the Barnwood menu.

F

olks from all around come to Great Wolf Lodge of Northern California for fun under one

roof.

The 95,000-square-foot indoor water park – set a perfect 84 degrees year-round setting – at 2500 Daniels St., Manteca, features activities and plenty of dining options.

The Barnwood is often considered the centerpiece restaurant at the lodge. Reservations are encouraged for families and large groups, given this is a resort.

If you’re dining alone, the bar area makes for a great spot for noshing and people watching.

On this rainy day, I had no problem getting seated. The Butcher’s Cut Bacon Cheeseburger caught my eye.

That along with Braised Short Rib Bolognese and the Steak & Fries were among the most popular items on the menu, according to the server.

The Braised Short Rib Bolognese is prepared with a rich tomato red wine sauce on the shredded beef short rib, served up bacon, mushrooms, and parmesan rigatoni.

The much pricier Steak & Fries consist of a 12-ounce center cut New York strip topped with compound butter, chimichurri, garlic, and parmesan fries.

The Butcher’s Cut Bacon Cheeseburger was tasty and savory. Served up on a toasted brioche bun, the burger was topped off with hickory bacon, crispy onions, melted cheddar, GWL sauce, tomatoes, and pickles.

The Barnwood comes highly recommended via social media “The grilled (sustained) salmon, wilderness bowl, and the kids chicken tenders were all hit,” one family recently posted.

According to the menu, the salmon comes prepared with chimichurri,

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lemon and fresh herb, alongside fingerling potato, corn & edamame hash, The Wilderness Bowl is served up with golden quinoa, brown rice, sweet chili sauce, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, radish, roasted peppers, and dynamic sauce.

Open seven days a week – 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Barnwood has a full bar with sports airing on the TVs. Meanwhile, the other eateries inside the Great Wolf Lodge feature self-service automated kiosks, with visually-appealing menus – descriptions or list of ingredients may be included with some – to efficiently help out with custom orders and even speed up the kitchen-to-table process.

Hungry As a Wolf

Everybody loves pizza.

If not, Hungry As a Wolf offers pastas, salads, and more.

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flavors

Hungry as a Wolf offers Brooklyn-style handstretched pizzas.

Pizzas are described as “Brooklynstyle hand-stretched.”

Other items include savory Italian and meatball parmesan sandwiches, garlic cheese bread, and freshly made salads.

Hungry As a Wolf also provides a whimsical Wiley’s pizza recipe, described as: “One bucket of laughter, a dash of mischief, 4 scoops of fun, 1 lifetime of memories, a pinch of magic – stir in a few giggles and add a sprinkle of adventure.”

Campfire Kitchen

Farm fresh eggs, applewood smoked bacon, signature wolf waffles.

Campfire Kitchen – opens at 7 a.m. – kicks off the day at the Great Wolf Lodge for visitors and locals alike.

This family-friendly dining place offers up the traditional Tex-Mex fare – variety of tacos, bowls, and salads.

One bucket of laughter, a dash of mischief, 4 scoops of fun...

Buckets Comfort food without leaving the water park.

The menu at Buckets – look for the old school bus – includes premium burgers, hearty sandwiches, sides, and fresh salads and veggies.

A good variety of beer, wine, seltzers, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages are also listed.

The signature Tipping Bucket is a familysized treat layered with ice cream, brownies, cookies, and candy, topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

Dunkin’

Donuts, Munchkins, Muffins, Croissants, and Bagels.

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Those are among the choices of the place still preferred by most as Dunkin’ Donuts – the company officially changed the name in September 2019 for branding purposes.

Beverages include freshly crafted espressos and coffees, cold brews, and lattes, to name a few.

The Great Wolf Lodge offers two places to pickup that morning pickme-upper and donuts – Munchkins are donut hole treats offered in a variety of flavors – at two locations, including Dunkin’ Express.

What’s Dunkin’ without donuts?

They’re offered in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla frosted, Boston Kreme, butternut, apple streusel, and cake.

For more information, log on to www.greatwolf.com. ●

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Comprehensive Services: From companionship and emotional support to transportation, meal preparation, and beyond, our range of services covers every aspect of non-medical care, including pet care and planning social outings.

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flavors

A reimagined

Rainbird

By KRISTINA HACKER

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ainbird is singing a new song in 2024. The downtown Merced eatery started the new year with expanded hours and refreshed menus by new executive chef Evan Morrison.

The dining destination, which originally opened its doors in February 2022 inside the El Capitan Hotel, transitioned in January from a prix-fixe tasting menu for dinner and brunch to daily a-la-carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus.

According to Kassie Nguyen, director of Community Impact for the El Capitan Hotel, the changes came about in an effort to better serve the Merced and surrounding Valley community.

“We did a bunch of research on our previous menu and found that only 5% of Merced could afford to eat here.

With our new executive chef and this new concept of rejuvenation, we have changed it so that our goal is to hit at least 90% of Merced residents be able to eat here,” said Nguyen.

However, the idea of making the menu affordable for most local residents didn’t take away from the restaurant’s dedication to using the best quality food grown and produced in the Central Vally.

“The concept of farm to fork and working with our community partners and local farmers in Merced County is still really ingrained within our menus,” she said.

Rainbird – whose name represents the regional bird’s unique migration patterns that signal the coming of rain and a forthcoming, bountiful harvest – will continue to take advantage of hyper seasonal produce from local and regional farms including Humble

Rice Farmer, Sweet Arnold Farms, Burroughs Family Farms, and Way of Life Farms, to name a few.

Chef Morrison joins the Rainbird team following a four-year stint working as an executive chef for The Boat Company and Alaska Dream Cruises in Sitka, Alaska, following other stints in Savannah, Georgia and Southern California.

“We are excited to partner with Chef Evan on the evolution of the Rainbird concept,” said Robin Donovan, Managing Director of El Capitan Hotel. “Our dedication to provide the best of the Central Valley to our community and beyond has never been stronger, and we look forward to welcoming both returning and first-time guests to experience what’s new at this special dining destination.”

Menu highlights include: Ricotta Pancakes - Homemade blueberry compote, pistachio crumble, Meyer lemon zest, whipped butter, maple syrup Caramelized Custard French Toast - Famous Rainbird Farro Sourdough dipped in egg custard, then caramelized with cinnamon sugar, topped with macerated strawberries, whipped butter, and maple syrup Crispy Duck Confit - Slow cooked leg quarter deep fried until crispy, atop butternut squash puree, ancient grains, dressed local greens, and pomegranate molasses Foraged Wild Mushroom Risotto Roasted wild mushrooms with creamy risotto, Grana Padano, red wine reduction, and fine herbs Harris Ranch Boneless Ribeye Chargrilled 12 oz. boneless ribeye, gorgonzola butter, roasted aspara-

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gus, frites Vadouvan Butternut Squash Bisque - Granny Smith apple, pumpernickel croutons, toasted pumpkin seeds, dill oil, sumac Roasted Beet and Chevre Salad - Arugula, roasted hearts of palm, orange, roasted beets, goat cheese, crispy spiced chickpea, pomegranate vinaigrette Rainbird’s wine program–which received Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence in 2023–features both domestic and international purveyors with inspiration from the region’s vibrant wine history. With a heavy focus on local and regional craft winemakers, the restaurant’s selection includes nearly 75 varietals sourced from the surrounding Central Valley, Central Coast, and Sonoma/Napa regions. As part of the exploration of these regions, special attention has been given to the Rhone varietal producers.

Additionally, Rainbird’s artisan cocktail program features a selection of beverages inspired by Central California’s seasonal produce, curated to complement Chef Evan’s cuisine. ●

IF YOU GO WHAT: Rainbird WHERE: 609 West Main St., Merced, on the ground floor of the El Capitan Hotel WHEN: Rainbird is open daily for breakfast from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m.; lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m., with brunch on select holidays.

CONTACT: Reservations can be made on OpenTable or by visiting rainbirdmerced.com

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navigator

YOSEMITE’S CHANGES – new roads, new trails

By CLAUDIA NEWCORN

W

aterfall season at Yosemite National Park just around the corner. Depending on the warm-up in the High Country, waterfalls can begin trickling in late February, and by late March you can enjoy seeing water gushing from cliffs all around the Valley. Most visitors start pouring into the Park in early April. But things have changed a bit, and there’s news you need to know before heading up to the Park.

Day-Use Reservations required: Gone are the days you can just cruise on up on impulse. Yosemite’s popularity continues to grow, and this year, the Park has put day-use reservation restrictions into place to limit traffic and road congestion.

To save yourself the disappointment of a long drive and being turned away at the gate, make sure to check if you need a day reservation – and note that it applies whether you’re

visiting the Valley or just driving through to another destination. If you are staying in the Valley, your lodging reservation is fine. Key reservation required dates:

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• April 13 - June 30: 5AM-4PM on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (May 27, June 19).

• July 1 - August 16: 5AM-4PM every day.

• August 17 - October 27: 5AM-4PM on Saturdays, Sundays, and on holidays (Sept. 2, Oct. 14).

For more info, bit.ly/ YourVisitPlan Bridalveil Falls Trail reopens: The two-year Bridalveil Rehabilitation project is wrapping up and the trail is now open from the main

road. They’re still working on the parking lot and new bathrooms (the ranger couldn’t give me a completion ETA), but parking is available along the main road just beyond where it turns to one way. The road’s parking configuration has changed, with a number of areas on the right restricted to buses and handicapped parking, so check before you park. Many of the spillover parking spots further up the road that people ‘created’ are gone.

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Recognizing the need for ADA compliance and visitor access, the trail has changed significantly. The new trailhead features a view of the falls, and a wide paved area and plenty of informative signage on the changes that have been made and why.

There’s a brief snippet of the old trail from the trailhead before it merges with the paved trail (which starts on the far left). Then, gone is the bumpy rock-strewn trail of decades past, and in its place is a smooth-paved road that climbs more gradually to the two bridges, following along the old trail’s original path.

Gone are the days you can just cruise on up on impulse.

What really struck me were the number of photo opp spots and rest areas that have been added. At one time, to get a clear shot of Bridalveil, you had to hike up the steep and often slippery trail near the base. Now, you can get some nice shots along the main trail. The steep trail itself has been re-graded, with traction ridges to minimize chances of slipping, and the viewing area expanded.

At its base is a wide area with places to sit. I spied an elevated wooden

walkway along the south cliff base that leads to the parking lot.

Some helpful hints: Because the trail is newly reopened, it’s busy – especially from morning-early afternoon. My personal favorite time to visit is in the later afternoon – the crowds usually have eased off, and the sunlight illuminates the watery ribbons to release countless rainbows, especially on a breezy day.

You may have to wait to take advantage of the photo opp locations due to the crowds. If you’re visiting in Spring and plan to take the steep trail, bring a rain poncho, and count on getting soaked by spray. Parking is challenging, but may improve once the new parking lot is opened.

Valley floor roads rewinding: Brace yourself for redirected roads in the Valley. I confess I’m not sure what the traffic planner was thinking, but they’re not an improvement – even bike trails have been tinkered with. Turn left at Sentinel Bridge, and traffic goes ‘British’. The two-lane road now has a raised divider forcing you to take the left lane.

If you instead go straight towards Half Dome, at the Curry Village intersection the main road has been permanently blocked, rerouting drivers to detour through Curry Village to access the road further up, and creating serious congestion. And that’s just a partial listing of the changes. Keep a close eye on directional signs because if you don’t, you may find yourself going in circles. Pack your patience, especially in busy season, as I can guarantee you’ll need it.

Glacier Point Road reopens: Visiting Glacier Point is a favorite trip, and best done first thing in the morning before it gets too busy and traffic control restrictions come into

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place. Many trailheads also start from the road, such as Sentinel Dome, Bridalveil Falls and more, further drawing hikers to head up early in the day (bit.ly/Glacierhikes) The two-lane road has been under renovation for nearly two years, and it’s brought many improvements. Most noticeable is that it’s wider, making it safer for today’s larger cars. It’s also been leveled and repaved, making for a much smoother ride. Trailhead parking areas have been expanded (and fill up quickly).

Note that the widening has eliminated most of the ‘creative’ parking spots people invented along the road edge over the years, especially near Glacier Point. For more info, bit.ly/YosemiteGlacier. ●

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For the love of vinyl

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NEW STORE OWNER PART OF NEXT GENERATION OF VINYL LOVERS

BY CHRISTOPHER CORREA

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-year-old Logan Robert Malsack has lived in Tracy for most of his life. While attending Millennium High School, one of his favorite spots to hang out during his free time was Blast from the Past, a small store at 76 West 10th Street that sold vintage clothes, sports cards, vinyl records, CDs and other collectibles.

After graduating in 2021, Malsack admitted that he didn’t quite know what he wanted to do in his life, as he was working jobs in fast food and as a maintenance man in Tracy’s parks and recreation services. That was until he returned to Blast from the Past to add to his CD collection this past summer.

“I was just in here looking for CDs and hanging out, like I always do, when I heard the owner telling an older fella in front of me in line that he was thinking about retiring,” Malsack said.

The owner of Blast from the Past was Michael Lehman, who opened the doors to the shop 11 and a half years ago.

“When I got to the register, I asked if there was anybody next in line to take it over, and he said there wasn’t, and the store was going to close. I went back the very next day and asked if he thought about selling it. Nobody had asked him that before. Three months later, he called me and asked if I was ready to buy the store. I said ‘No, but I will be.’”

Malsack spent the following weeks saving up money. He reached out to Lehman in midAugust, and was able to acquire the space and its inventory. Malsack ended up getting rid of the clothes, cards and other collectibles and decided to focus solely on music. With the help of his parents, B.J. and Morgan, he was able to completely transform the space, expanding the showroom from 2,500 square feet to roughly 3,200, elevating the ceiling, adding new lights, laying down modern flooring, painting the walls, building wooden shelves and displaying most of the inventory.

According to Malsack, Lehman had tens of thousands of records in stock, with just a fraction of them on the floor being cataloged

and ready to sell. Since reopening Blast from the Past on Sept. 1, Malsack believes he has cataloged over 7,000 records. Meanwhile, there are about 11,000 left in the back room.

“It’s insane to look at, and a bit overwhelming,” he jokingly admitted. “I’m not even sure what’s in there, but we’re getting through it slowly but surely.”

Anytime there is slow foot traffic, Malsack brings out boxes of unsearched inventory to clean, test, catalog and put out on the floor.

I WANT IT TO BE THE SPOT… I’D LIKE THIS PLACE TO BE A COOL PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND LISTEN TO MUSIC, TALK ABOUT MUSIC AND JUST HAVE SOMEWHERE TO CHILL. —LOGAN MALSACK Many if not all the records he inherited were of the rock, pop and jazz genres from the pre-1990s. To offer customers more selection, he has acquired about 1,500 records on his own, expanding the store’s selection of rap, R&B, metal, country, indie and other genres and artists at the top of today’s charts.

“There are so many different tastes in music. There are so many different types of sounds out there… I want to give people as much of a selection as possible. I mean, I’ve even expanded my own taste in music just by brute force,” Malsack explained. “People are coming in here talking about different music and showing people new stuff.

I have to listen to a lot of this stuff to know what people are talking about and what they want and to see if some of this stuff works. People ask me to spin records for them before they decide to buy, which I am more than happy to do. I have to learn and experiment with it all.

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“Like I said, there’s a wide range of what people want.

We have people from all ages, all tastes come in looking for stuff. Music spans generations.

We have the people who want their Beatles, their Led Zeppelin, their ‘Stones, then we have generations of people who like MF Doom, Lauryn Hill, Whitney, and now we have the younger people asking for the Taylor Swift stuff, Post Malone, Kanye.”

While Malsack has expanded the selection of newer records, the store is remaining true to its name. Walking through the wood door can quite literally be

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a blast from the past. He has taken some of the best and iconic records out of the wood shelves and put them on display on his walls.

These include original copies of iconic records like the Grateful Dead’s “American Beauty,” Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon,” and George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass.”

“When we first opened, those first two months, and even now, people walk in and they go, ‘Oh my gosh. This is nice.’ But my favorite compliment is when people would come in and say it reminded them of the golden era stores from like the 80s. Obviously, I’ve never been to them since I’m just 20, but it’s really cool to hear that and bring back some of those memories.”

And it’s not only vinyl. He has a full shelf of CDs and has crates of 8-track and cassette tapes.

Malsack explained that, for many people who enjoy oldies or classic rock, there is a generational divide with how they access their music.

“That heyday of music, do you think those people who grew up with it are going to be getting an Apple music subscription? Heck no. It’s funky. They need their physical copies. Each generation had a different way of listening to music, whether its records, tapes, CDs or streaming,” he explained.

“There’s a lot of reasons why physical copies are making a comeback,” Malsack continued.

“It’s a different, unique way to listen to music. For some people, there’s a possessiveness factor.

It’s like, ‘I have this copy and nobody can take it from me. It’s mine. It’s my music and it’s in my collection.’ It becomes kind of like an heirloom that you can share and [ass on down instead of just sending a link that will probably change or not work depending on

the service and platform.

That’s so much more impactful.”

Along with being a place for music lovers to hang out and shop, Malsack hopes that Blast from the Past can be a place where he can host live performances from local bands and host listening parties for the latest albums.

“I want it to be the spot… I’d like this place to be a cool place for

I’D LIKE THIS PLACE TO BE A COOL PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND LISTEN TO MUSIC, TALK ABOUT MUSIC AND JUST HAVE SOMEWHERE TO CHILL —LOGAN MALSACK people to come and listen to music, talk about music and just have somewhere to chill,” Malsack said. “And if you want to pick up a record, sick.

You don’t want to pick up a record and you want to hang out somewhere that you just think is really cool, then this should be the spot.”

Blast from the Past is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Tuesdays through Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. ●

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Woodward Reservoir I Modesto Reservoir I Frank Raines OHV Park I La Grange OHV Park

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Fitness Races Music, Art & Food Festivals Fishing/Boating Competitions Family Reunions Corporate BBQs

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A weekend of muddy 4x4 Obstacle Course Competition.

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Hunt for eggs and enjoy face painting, arts & crafts, train rides... and have a chance to win a bike or a gift basket for the entire family.

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2.16-18 Valentine’s Stuckfest @ La Grange OHV Park

Earth Day in the Park @ Graceada Park

Come visit our booth for a prize at the City of Modesto’s Earth Day in the Park.

6.29

Fireworks Celebration @ Woodward Reservoir

View the stars & fireworks on Saturday, June 29th. $30 per carload.

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BY CHRISTOPHER CORREA

T

he popular quote “There’s no place like home” was first said in the 1823 song “Home! Sweet Home!”

by Sir Henry Bishop and John Howard Payne. It’s safe to say there isn’t a home like Mike Scanlon’s Modesto residence.

Every third Saturday of the month, Scanlon opens his garage, turns the volume up on his record player, and welcomes vendors to set up camp inside and on his driveway for a swap meet, one that has since been coined as Mod City Records. On average, the monthly gathering hosts around 10 vendors from across the Central Valley and averages about 50 customers. The goal is for it to be a place for folks to buy, sell and trade vinyl, while also giving people a place to hang out and bond over their shared love of music.

One customer described Scanlon’s garage as “the music lover’s man cave.”

Scanlon explained that Mod City Records began nearly seven years ago when he jumped back into record collecting by digging through crates and garage sales, thrift stores and flea markets.

“I was getting older, and I thought, ‘You know, I want to listen to jazz and smoke cigars in my garage,’ he said. “So

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WE’RE SEEING EVERYBODY FROM THOSE JUST GETTING INTO THE HOBBY TO VINYL AFICIONADOS TO PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST REALLY INTO RECORDS.” — MIKE SCANLON

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I saw this beautiful copy of Duke Ellington live in Newport for just $1 at a garage sale. When I finished listening to it, I was obsessed, and I was buying records left and right… Now, I buy records so that I can buy more records.

“While out at different thrift stores, I met a couple of like-minded guys that were record collectors.

We started hanging out in the garage and playing records over some beers. We thought of inviting others over for a swap meet.”

After promoting the swap meet online on platforms like Craigslist, Instagram and Nextdoor, the first ever Mod City Records swap meet drew a massive crowd. Some from that first meet have become regulars, setting up their own tables and canopies in Scanlon’s front yard.

“We have canopies and tables for anybody that wants to show up and buy, sell or trade, and we’ve had great success doing it and have built quite a following,” he said. “We’re seeing everybody from those just getting into the hobby to vinyl aficionados to people that are just really into records.”

One of the vendors at the swap meet is Eddie Sperry of Modesto. Sperry has been collecting vinyl for over 20 years and has set up a table in Scanlon’s driveway for over three years. Like many, he learned of Mod City Records by word of mouth.

“I went to a yard sale and one of the guys was a vendor there. He asked, ‘Hey, do you like records?’

I’m like, ‘I love records.’ So I came here,” Sperry explained. “The first time I came, I bought records that first year. Then, I brought one box full of records and I made like $50. I spent half of that buying more records. The next time I came, I made like $100. I then started going to estate sales and I would just buy collections. I started getting doubles and triples (of records), so I sold the extras here. Now, I probably have about 2,000 records that I sell and trade back and forth, and I have about 700 of my own that I keep (for my personal collection).”

Sperry’s nickname for the swap meet is “The Record Club,” referring to the large contingent talking about music while lounging on chairs and couches beside the hundreds of crates full of records in Scanlon’s garage and driveway.

“My favorite part about this is just coming in and collaborating and meeting new people,” he added.

“Also, seeing the younger generation, the kids that come in to buy records and listen to music is awesome. Even my grandkids, who are ages six to 18, three of them already have turntables. And then getting to add to my own collection is great.”

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HERE, YOU CAN FIND A BAND LIKE THE BEATLES AND GET ONE OF THEIR RECORDS IN REALLY GOOD CONDITION FOR JUST A COUPLE DOLLARS. — MIKE SCANLON

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“We have the regular vinyls, and people bring the small 45s, now-defunct labels that are out of stock,” said Scanlon.

“We have rock, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, foreign stuff, novelty soundtracks, surf, country, punk. We see pretty much everything.”

According to Scanlon, one of the most expensive records to ever trade hands at the swap meet was the iconic Yesterday and Today “butcher” cover by The Beatles. The cover shows the band dressed in white coats holding decapitated baby dolls and covered in pieces of raw meat, an image that sparked controversy for its gory subject matter.

Public backlash led Capitol Records to immediately withdraw the LP and replace the cover image with a shot of the band posed around a “steamer” trunk. The original cover is said to be incredibly scarce.

Copies in bad condition have recently sold for over $800, while copies with minimal damage can sell upwards of $2,500.

“We’ve had a number of those come through here,” Scanlon said. “It’s neat to see.”

Even though there are some grails to be found, Scanlon assures that there is something for everyone’s budget.

“I read somewhere that vinyl is in higher production than CDs for the first time in decades, and when you go to stores, the new vinyl goes for 30 to sometimes 40 dollars. Here, you can find a band like The Beatles and get one of their records in really good condition for just a couple dollars. How can you pass that up?”

Like Sperry, Scanlon also believes that record stores and swap meets like his have grown in popularity because of the community it builds, as well as the thrill of finding hidden treasures.

“It’s interactive,” he said. “​​I like the thrill of the hunt, whether it’s in a garage sale or store. To search through a nice stack of records and find something that is rare, hard to find, or in really nice condition, there’s kind of a ritual to pull it out. You get that good, dusty smell and look at the liner notes and the lyrics and see which version of the record you found. You try them out. Sometimes, you can listen to your favorite bands or artists or find some new ones. You share those experiences with your friends. You even make friends over it. It’s just a fun hobby.”

Dates and times, as well as Scanlon’s home address, are announced each month on Instagram at @ModCityRecords. ●

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CRINKLAW

F I N E A R T G A L L E R Y / S T U D I O KATHERINE CRINKLAW ARTIST HOURS: OPEN BY APPOINTMENT DAILY, PLEASE CALL 209-573-3523 AND OPEN FOR WALK-INS DURING WEEKDAY STUDIO HOURS 377 FIFTH STREET, GUSTINE, CA. 209.573.3523 CRINKLAWFINEART.COM 209MAGAZINE.COM

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PAC

AVE Records

By ALEX RAMIREZ

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he music industry in California is a $12.3 billion streaming based business. Some of the most world-renowned artists in mainstream music get their roots from the Golden State. Apple Music, a Silicon Valley based music streaming platform, has posted over $8 billion in revenue from 2022. Spotify, in 2022, made $13.6 billion. Both these music colossal giants employ talent from around California, and the country, from the Bay Are to Los Angeles. Here, in the heart of the Central Valley, a guild has been quietly preparing music students for the complex music industry.

PAC Ave Records, in Stockton, is a student-run record label at the University of Pacific. Taught by UOP Professor Joshua Smotherman, the program had humble beginnings as a way for students to experience the process of label creation and entrepreneurship.

While the program was well-received, the only hitch was the work would start over every semester. Then, in the spring of 2012, PAC Ave Records was officially formed, giving UOP music students a year instead of each semester to work at the label for experience that would prepare them for the music industry.

“Each fall I get a new set of staff (students),” Smotherman said. “This is my fifth year doing it and each group is different. They have different skill sets, different talents, different motivations. The fun part is learning the students each year and then making sure I’m giving them opportunities to learn what they want to learn.”

It gives students experience on their resume. Finding a career after college can be challenging. This is why working in a simulated record label is valuable. In the program there are different roles, besides music creation, that students can explore. Most roles range from marketing, business development, brand focus and even creative roles like graphic design, and content creation.

“And the whole goal of the class is that they walk away with experience. They put it on a resume, to go and get a career in the industry, or a recording studio, or something,” said Smotherman.

Connections in the industry are important. Starting in 2024, the program is developing a trial that will connect students with alumni professionals, already in the field. It helps students get connected in an already heavily competitive job market.

Referred job applicants can improve their chances of being interviewed by almost 50%. The program is encouraging their students to network

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and become that next referral. An important role that the Conservatory of Music, at UOP, has committed to.

“If they don’t get a job, we’ve had a couple of students who’ve gone off and started their own companies and then become entrepreneurs with the knowledge that they gained or during the music industry program,” Smotherman said.

Music produced from PAC Ave records is released to the public in a modern way. For now, their music is released on Spotify.

Their playlists are curated and shared onto social media platforms such as Instagram.

Showcasing their graphic works and new artists releases. Just how a industry standard label or organization would function.

Moreover, students work in small classes creating opportunities for more engagement, less waiting times for lab use, and sessions.

All content is created by UOP students.

To learn more about the program, contact the UOP Conservatory of Music at (209)946-2415 or visit music.pacific.edu. To hear Pac Ave Records music, keep up-to-date on their Instagram @ pacaverecords or visit the website at www.pacaverecords.com. ●

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feature

By JOE CORTEZ

J

ust about 30 years ago, sales of compact discs began to overtake sales of vinyl records. Almost overnight, a revolution was launched, changing the way people listened to music.

Gone was the warmth of the hisscrackle-pop that blared through the speakers the moment the stylus was placed on an LP — that’s a long playing record for those of you born in this century.

But something else went missing with the advent of the CD. The album cover.

Of course, CD’s also came with cover art, but at about 5 by 5 inches, it was about a quarter the size of a standard LP cover, which measured about 12.5 by 12.5 inches.

Naturally, the music was the main thing, but the covers were a big part of the equation. They could be propped up against a pillow or a desk drawer as the music poured out of the speakers, allowing the listener to get lost in the image.

Today, even CDs have become nearly obsolete with the advent of streaming services such as iTunes,

Spotify and Pandora. But vinyl is finding new life. Is it a fad? A nostalgia trip? Or do LPs just sound better, warmer, more real.

Whatever the reason, the comeback of the vinyl LP will launch a counterrevolution — the renewed importance of the album cover.

With that in mind, here’s our list of the Top 20 greatest album covers of all-time. Keep in mind that the heyday of album covers was the 1960s and 1970s, so most of the entries will be from that period.

No. 20 — “License to Ill,” The Beastie Boys (1986): The two-sided cover captured the Boys’ irreverence with the image of a jumbo jet being snuffed out like a cigarette. The plane’s tail number (3MTA3) spells “Eat Me” backward.

And the title itself was a pun on James Bond’s license to kill.

No. 19 — “Holy Diver,” Did (1983): Illustrated by Randy Berrett, the cover features the band’s mascot, Murray, a demonic creature pulling or whipping a snapped metal chain and a Catholic priest splashing in a body of water.

Singer Ronnie James Dio reminded people to “not judge a book by it’s

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cover,” suggesting that the image was misleading, and it could be argued that the priest is killing the demon.

No. 18 — “1984,” Van Halen (1984): The last studio album, until 2012’s “A Different Kind of Truth,” to feature David Lee Roth on vocals. It reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and was kept out of the top spot by Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” The cover features a cherub, ostensibly Baby New Year, looking embarrassed for having been caught enjoying a cigarette.

No. 17 — “It Takes a Nation to Hold Us Back,” Public Enemy (1988): The group’s masterpiece for it’s social commentary and groundbreaking production. With a simple image of Chuck D and Flava Flav behind bars, the cover epitomizes

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the band’s outlaw aesthetic.

No. 16 — “Physical Graffiti,” Led Zeppelin (1969): A simple picture of a tenement in New York City’s East Village.

The original album jacket included internal sleeves that could be swapped out to present different scenes in the building. One features red letters in the windows that spell out “Physical Graffiti.” Another includes photos of notable personalities such as W.C. Fields, Pope Leo XIII, and Buzz Aldrin, in each window.

No. 15 — “Death Certificate,” Ice Cube (1991): On the heels of high-profile legal troubles for his group, N.W.A., the rapper leaned into the controversy for his second solo effort. The cover shows a corpse, identified by the toe tag as

Uncle Sam, with an American flag draped over it. The music, meanwhile, painted a graphic picture of gang life in the U.S. No. 14 — “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.” Simon and Garfunkel (1964): The cover shot was taken at the Fifth Avenue/53rd Street subway station as the duo waited for a train to take them back to Queens after a late-night gig in Manhattan. Art Garfunkel said that hundreds of photos taken were deemed unusable because of vulgar graffiti painted on the walls behind them.

No. 13 — “Born to Run,” Bruce Springsteen (1975): New York photographer Eric Meola delivered one of the most iconic shots ever of The Boss. It shows Springsteen holding his famed Fender Telecaster and leaning on the shoulder of saxophonist Clarence Clemons, whom you can see only on the back of the fold-open cover. Springsteen later said of the album, “When you saw the cover, you said: ‘I want that one.’”

No. 12 — “The Slim Shady LP,” Eminem (1999): The image mirrors the violent fantasies of the rapper’s alter ego, for whom the record is named. The

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unstable Slim looks across the river as he gets ready to dispose of a corpse whose feet are sticking out from the trunk of his car. In a stark juxtaposition, the album’s title is spelled out in whimsical, crayon colors, as if written by a child.

No. 11 — “Revolver,” The Beatles (1966): Not only was “Revolver” a groundbreaking album for the Fab Four, featuring music that was becoming increasingly difficult to reproduce on stage, but the album cover was also a departure for the group. The artwork was created by their friend Klaus Voorman, who drew the sketches of John, Paul, George and Ringo, and created a college with a plethora of pictures, which seemed to spring from the mind of each Beatle.

No. 10 — “Rumours,” Fleetwood Mac (1977): Oddly, the cover art only

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feature

The cover art only features two of the five members of the band.

features two of the five members of the band: drummer Mick Fleetwood (with a pair of lavatory balls dangling suggestively between his legs), and the diminutive Stevie Nicks (who looks all the more diminutive standing next to the 6-foot-5 Fleetwood).

No. 9 — “Tapestry,” Carole King (1971): Photographer Jim McCrary posed King in the living room of her Laurel Canyon home. Before he started snapping photos, he asked the barefoot singer-songwriter if he could move her cat, sleeping across the room, into the shot. After a few clicks, Telemachus grew annoyed and returned to his original location, but McCrary got the image he wanted … and Telemachus became the most famous tabby on the planet.

No. 8 — “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’,” 50 Cent (2003): The rapper almost never got the chance to make this record. Three years earlier he was shot nine times and nearly died. The album cover tells the tale with a defiant 50 Cent seen through a bullet hole.

No. 7 — “Sticky Fingers,” Rolling Stones (1971): With photographs by Andy Warhol that focused on the bulging jeans of a male model that to this day remains

unidentified, it was Warhol who came up with the idea of to feature a working on the jeans. Along with graphic designer Craig Braun, they would earn a Grammy Award nomination for best album cover.

No. 6 — “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” Bob Dylan (1963): Don Hunstein’s photo shows Dylan and his girlfriend/muse Suzie Rotolo walking in the middle of Jones Street in New York City’s West Village. In her memoir, Rotolo said, “It is one of those cultural markers that influenced the look of album covers precisely because of its casual downhome spontaneity and sensibility.”

No. 5 — “Abbey Road,” The Beatles: The band toyed with the idea of calling the album “Everest,” after the brand of cigarettes smoked by their recording engineer, and even considered a trip to the Himalayas to take the cover photo.

Instead, they chose the path of least resistance and simply popped outside their EMI recording studio — now called Abbey Road because of this album — for a quick photo of them crossing the street. Since then, millions of fans have recreated the image at the famous “zebra crossing at 3 Abbey

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Road, St John’s Wood, City of Westminster, Greater London, England.

No. 4 — “The Ramones,” The Ramones (1976): Roberta Bayley’s stark, blackand-white photo of Johnny, Tommy, Joey and DeeDee Ramone, with their backs against a graffiti-covered wall created a punk mise en scéne that would inspire the Blank Generation to pick up their instruments, regardless of how skilled they were. At the top, in bold upper-case letters it read simply, “RAMONES,” as if to say, “We’re here.

Deal with it.”

No. 3 — “Straight Outta Compton,” N.W.A. (1988): A provocative photograph from the perspective of someone lying on the ground. It depicts Eazy-E pointing a gun at the viewer while the rest of

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the group looks down at the viewer … without a trace of mercy. It’s one of the most famous images in the history of gangsta rap. Chilling.

No. 2 — “Dark Side of the Moon,” Pink Floyd (1973): Keyboardist Richard Wright told the design team of Aubrey Powell and Storm Thorgerson to “do something clean, elegant and graphic.” The light going through the prism and coming out as a rainbow has become synonymous with the band itself.

“Dark Side” spent an unbelievable 917 weeks — about 18 years — on the Billboard 200 chart.

No. 1 — “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” The Beatles (1967): Widely considered the greatest pop album ever created, it also has what is widely considered the greatest cover art of all-time. And we agree.

John, Paul, George and Ringo are dressed in colorful Edwardian military uniforms and have shed their lovable mop-top image (all four are sporting mustaches for the first time). That, in and of itself, would’ve made it a fantastic album cover. But behind the new-look Beatles are the images of 58 influential people, such as Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Bob Dylan, Mae West, Edgar Allen Poe, Karl Marx, Albert Einstein, and even Madam Tussaud’s wax figures of the early young mop-tops.

It’s a cover that could be ogled over and over and over again as the music played.

And isn’t that the goal for any album cover? ●

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thegreatoutdoors

WET WINTER REVVED UP OUTDOORS ADVENTURE IN 2023

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Matt Johanson and Kevin Jonaitis approach the summit of Pico de Orizaba, 18,491 feet, Mexico’s highest mountain.

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Following an epic winter, snow blanketed the Sierra Nevada mountains deep into the summer. Photo by Matt Johanson

T

rekking along the top of the Sierra Nevada mountains challenges hikers every summer. This snow-covered range provides a far greater challenge for skilled mountaineers in winter. But 2023 will go down in history as the year summer and winter combined for the hardy few in the Range of Light.

Winter conditions that stretched into August led most Pacific Crest Trail hikers to wisely skip the High Sierra, though some 200 PCT overachievers braved the buried mountains in June and July. The hardships and deadly hazards they overcame make a typical PCT journey seem like a walk in the park.

Snow obscured their trail, forcing them to navigate an invisible path. High passes like Forester, Mather and Glen became terrifying ice climbs. Sun cups and slush slowed progress to a crawl, leading hikers to start daily around 3 a.m. when frozen crust provided better footing. Raging water and damaged footbridges

I’M GOING TO TRY TO GIVE MORE HAPPINESS TO OTHERS IN 2024 AND BEYOND. made river crossings perilous.

To top it off, hikers had to carry backbreaking loads: crampons, ice axes, food, fuel, bear cans and cold-weather clothes, shelters and sleeping bags were all essential. That added up to around 50 pounds, or about three times a typical PCT pack weight.

“Each day tested my limits mentally, physically, and emotionally. I cried. A lot. I fell in rivers. I fell and slid down snow. I was scraped and bruised

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by countless tree limbs. I had blistered feet. It was not easy out there, but I did it. I hiked through the entire PCT Sierra section in a 300-percent snow year,” shared Moony, who journeys under a trail name like most PCT hikers.

“There are no words for what we have gone through,” declared Refill, who chose some to describe his experience anyway: “Frightening, beautiful, bone-breaking, astonishing, brutal, mind-breaking, pure happiness, and sheer terror. Never before have I done something this extreme, challenging, but also beautiful.”

In a historic and drought-busting winter, California received 247 percent of average snowfall, filling reservoirs to 128 percent of their typical storage. The PCT hikers’ unprecedented High Sierra odyssey was just one result of this wet windfall, the outdoors story of the year.

Ski resorts which often close in April or May stayed open until July or even August. Kayakers and rafters enjoyed the biggest rapids in decades. Even desert areas like Joshua Tree and Death Valley saw rare wildflower blooms, delighting conservationists and nature lovers.

There were significant drawbacks, of course. Flooding, heavy snowfall and high rivers caused dozens of deaths and billions of dollars in damage. But California wildfires burned just 20 percent of average acreage compared with the last five years. Since no one can control the destructive effects of tumultuous weather, this outdoorsman suggests that we appreciate the beneficial ones, too.

In other outdoors news, wildlife made exciting appearances.

Monarch butterflies continued their recovery after reaching

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dangerously low numbers in 2020. A wolverine traveled through California, caught on camera in both Yosemite and Inyo National Forest, for the first time in 15 years. A beaver pup was spotted in ​​Palo Alto’s Matadero Creek, the Bay Area’s first beaver sighting in decades. And a pack of at least five gray wolves, an endangered species, has moved into Sequoia National Forest for the first time in a century.

California Outdoor Hall of Fame inducted surfer Bianca Valenti “because of her prowess as an elite big-wave surfer, proponent of gender equality in professional surfing and inspiration to thousands of women to set aside their fears and paddle into the roiling ocean to surf.” Valenti founded the Better Wave Foundation to empower outdoor athletes, volunteers with Brown Girl Surf to promote women and girls of color to surf, and serves as an ambassador for Save the Waves Coalition and Sustainable Surf. “I’m more inspired than ever to help preserve, protect and conserve the great outdoors,” she said.

The hall also inducted fisherman Gary Coe, fly-fishing guide Jay Fair, and cyclist Alan Kalin, who promoted life-saving traffic improvements on Mount Diablo’s windy summit road.

The hall has now honored 84 men and 13 women since its inaugural class in 2002.

Students from kindergarten through eighth grade will get more fresh air under a new state law that requires schools to allow them 30 minutes outdoors per day. The Legislature passed the measure by a rare bipartisan and unanimous vote. “The benefits of the unstructured play and peer-to-peer social interactions offered by recess are more important now than ever,” said Sen. Josh Newman, the law’s author.

Your columnist enjoyed some personal outdoors experiences in 2023, as

Pacific Crest Trail hikers power their way up a snowy mountain. Photo by Matt Johanson

Monarch butterflies multiplied their numbers in 2023. Photo by U.S Fish and Wildlife Service

well. They include cycling through Joshua Tree National Park, trekking in Grand Canyon National Park, and climbing the three highest mountains in Mexico. I was fortunate to explore the Patagonia mountains of Chile and Argentina for the first time.

More significantly, I managed to complete the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, 26 years after my first PCT hike. The experience taught me more than I expected about human kindness, as practiced by hundreds of selfless trail angels who make such journeys possible.

Trail angels deliver water to the desert, give hikers rides to and from town, host and feed us in their homes and much more. In a world which seems to lack benevolence,

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they radiate generosity and motivate others to do the same.

After finishing my hike, I jumped at the chance to help my brother lead three friends up Yosemite’s Half Dome this fall. Felipe, Christian and Gama had never climbed the shapely mountain before and were aching to try. Everyone laughed when Dan and I discovered the three had comically overstuffed their packs and we made them unload a pile of unneeded gear.

The new climbers grinned from ear to ear as we ascended the cables.

When they called their families jubilantly from the summit, I realized this was a lifetime highlight for them, and that helping them achieve it was one for me, too. I’m going to try to give more happiness to others in 2024 and beyond. ●

F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2024

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fulloflife

Modesto Marathon 2014 finish line with a sub fivehour 26.2 time achieved.

From 5k to marathon runner to race director of an Oakdale Fun Run, one simple goal can be life changing.

In 2011, the Hawaii 5k took me from working toward a weight loss goal to a full-on runner.

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STRETCH YOURSELF TO A NEW FRONTIER

By TERESA HAMMOND

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his issue marks a cool, sort of full circle moment.

When prompted to present my bi-monthly pitch of this issue’s Fitness and Beyond feature, I pondered a bit. Always looking for someone or something new to share with our readers, I reflected on what we’ve shared over the years and why.

As I googled fitness trends of 2024, spoke with friends and colleagues on inspiring 209ers and the like — it hit me.

In all the years I’ve contributed on all things health and fitness in the 209, somehow I’d neglected to share the Modesto Marathon.

Now hold on, my non-runner readers, don’t bail just yet. There’s a great story here and a reason this column is being penned in addition to the story on the Marathon in this very same issue.

There’s a lot to love about the Modesto Marathon from a local perspective and no it’s not the 26.2 miles of flat roads and ag land. While I personally happen to love the course, I recognize it’s truly not for everyone and actually is for very few.

That being said, here we are just settling into the 2024 year.

Some of you may have set goals, perhaps many of you set your sights on achieving some fitness goals. There’s truly no better way to measure how we’ve progressed from a fitness standpoint than to challenge ourselves with a few “what ifs.”

Thirteen years ago last month I completed my first 5k. I was smack dab in the middle of my getting healthy/fitness journey and our family was traveling to Hawaii for a family wedding. At the time I made the bold decision to take on this feat my objective was simple. I had shared with my children’s father when else would I have such a unique opportunity.

At the time I was not a runner. I was a mom with two young children, using the couch to 5k app to try and lose some weight — a lot of weight actually, which I did.

That race was a bit crazy, but it was fun and I learned a few things during the 38 minutes it took me to finish. I enjoyed the

challenge. I wasn’t concerned about the other racers, I knew my own story and it felt good to make my children so proud.

Fast forward many miles and a year later and I ran the Modesto Half Marathon for the first time in March of 2012. The reasoning quite simple. Once again, it was the challenge and the proximity (and cost) ideal. Waking up in your own bed to show up for a local race in the early morning is about the only “normal” part of taking on a 13.1-mile distance.

As Modesto Marathon Director Bree Fitzpatrick shares in the story which follows running is a special kind of crazy. Yet there’s truly no way to accurately describe the feeling when you cross the finish line; yes, even in a 5k.

I understand the ‘crazy’ Fitzpatrick describes. The Modesto Half for me was just the beginning. Two years later with one full marathon under my belt, I took on the Modesto Full Marathon in March 2014. While I was far from a Boston qualifier, I was able to complete my personal goal of finishing in less than five hours.

That’s what this is all about. It’s not about how fast, how far or even how often. With less than just a handful of weeks remaining there’s not ample time to train for a half or a full, there is however plenty of time to click register and commit to the 5k or the 10k. The reason quite simple: completed goals are both rewarding as well as a great confidence booster in knowing you can.

You don’t have to be a runner, walking a 5k (3 miles) is a doable fitness goal. Already fairly fit? Step up to the 10k (6 miles) and experience what that finish line cross feels like.

Personally, I’ve shared a lot of my fitness journey in these pages. It’s been both vast and rewarding. That being said, I’m no different than many of you. With a health crisis now behind me, physically speaking I’m right back at ground zero.

The confidence, however, of knowing your body can do something you once thought unheard of, doesn’t leave you. So, as you look to 2024, challenge yourself in a way which will benefit you personally and emotionally in the long run. And if you really want to do something fun and exciting with a group of strangers who are also the most supportive people you’ll even encounter ... hit register and stretch yourself to a new frontier. ●

So, as you look to 2024, challenge yourself in a way which will benefit you personally and emotionally in the long run.

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fulloflife

MODESTO

MARATHON KEEPING ‘GRAFFITI’ THEME

By TERESA HAMMOND

I

t’s never too late to try something new. Whether a veteran or a novice, the Modesto Marathon has a little something for everyone, including children and teens.

Presented each year in the heart of Downtown Modesto, the annual event draws over 2,000 participants to the 209 each year. This year’s event will be hosted March 24 with packet pick up March 23 at the Modesto Classic Car Museum.

“We’re keeping it kind of the graffiti, Modesto theme,” second year race director Bree Fitzpatrick said. “Last year was the first year we used the ‘Graffiti’ theme.”

While the name of the event may put some off, Fitzpatrick recently shared the marathon is not the only event for those looking to trying something new, take on a challenge or simply lace up their sneakers for an event close to home.

Each year the Modesto Marathon hosts a 5k (3.1 miles), 10k (6.2 miles), half marathon (13.1 miles) and full marathon (26.2 miles).

Illustrating the ‘something for everyone’ point, Fitzpatrick shared that in 2023, out of the 2,100 participants,

“Anybody and a healthy lifestyle. can walk three According to Fitzpatrick, Teens Modesto (TRM) was started by miles. I would Run Shadow Chase Running Club members, husband and wife, Mike and challenge Ryan. Sharing a passion for runpeople to do the Heidi ning and movement, the couple began 10k, because working with high school students throughout the 209 training anybody can do from them to complete a goal.

“Teens Run Modesto is the whole the 5k.”

—Bree Fitzpatrick 306 were full marathoners.

“Anybody can walk three miles,” Fitzpatrick shared, noting there is still time to prepare for the 5k or 10k distances. “I would challenge people to do the 10k, because anybody can do the 5k.”

“So, challenge your buddy to do the 10k and if you walk the whole thing, you walk the whole thing, but you did it,” she continued.

Joining the event herself as a half marathon participant in 2013, Fitzpatrick said it was her daughter who first got her involved with the Teens Run Modesto program, a running program targeted at helping teens achieve goals

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reason the Modesto Marathon got started,” Fitzpatrick stated, adding that prior to the formation of the local event, the couple would take the teens to the Bay Area for the San Francisco Half Marathon.

As a result, the couple along with the Shadow Chase Running Club, made the decision to offer a local race so the teens could race close to home.

“All of our profit goes back to the Teens Run Modesto Program,” she shared.

While a field of over 2000 is a respectable number for a race event in the 209, Fitzpatrick said they do get a large number of recreational and first-time runners, but also have elite runners travel to participate in the event as well.

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A runner crosses the finish line at the Modesto Marathon, which this year is scheduled for March 24.

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fulloflife

Race Director Bree Fitzpatrick

“The Modesto Marathon, everybody tells us that it’s a fast, flat course,” she said of the top 10 rated fast/flat courses for the entire state. “It’s a Boston Qualifier, as well as a New York Qualifier, a lot of people don’t know that we can qualify for New York as well.”

And as some might imagine the TRM Program also draws a lot of people.

“The other thing I think brings a lot of people to the area is the camaraderie of the Teens Run Modesto Program,” she continued. “We promote the Teens Run Modesto Program through the Modesto Marathon.”

To prepare for a fun weekend for visitors as well as locals, the Modesto Marathon team works hard at putting together hotel and restaurant packages to help participants navigate the 209.

“So, we’re making it a whole community event versus just a downtown race for runners and trying to pull in local vendors as well,” Fitzpatrick explained.

As they work at getting that dialed in for the 2024 race, Fitzpatrick has set a goal to use all local sources for all aspects of the event including shirts, medals and everything related to the

Modesto Marathon.

As a participant turned Shadow Chase Board Member and now Race Director, Fitzpatrick “gets” the commitment. Sharing that running her first Marathon in 2014 she hit “the wall” struggling from mile 16 to the finish line. Ending her race after the cut off time of seven hours, Fitzpatrick works with her team and volunteers to make the event positive for all, regardless of level.

“So that’s why I want to make the festivities last until the last person comes in. I want them to feel just as good as the first person,” she said.

“We have been there eight hours; we stay until the last person is done.”

A supportive mom turned lover of not just running but the community, Fitzpatrick was clear the sport as well as the race is designed for all levels, from runner to “ralker” (run/walker) to walker as well as wheelchair participants, there’s room for all on the Modesto Marathon course.

“When I got involved in the running community, it’s just a different mindset,” she stated. “Everybody wants to help everybody. You don’t ever hear, I want someone to fail. You always hear, come on you can do it, just a couple more steps.”

That’s the positive message she wants to see continue.

“For me, I just couldn’t see it going away and I want to see it grow bigger and better,” she said of committing to becoming Race Director two years ago.

Now looking down the line at the 2024 event, Fitzpatrick is already talking plans for 2025.

“It’s hard to put into words,” she shared of what makes the event special. “It’s not like any other sport. Everybody is on their own, but everybody is there together. It makes running more fun, when you have somebody there to do it with you.”

For more information on the Modesto Marathon or to register for the upcoming event, visit modestomarathon.com. ●

“We have been there eight hours; we stay until the last person is done.”

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Friends, families, members of running clubs, novices and experienced runners alike, are all welcome and encouraged to join the Modesto Marathon, which has four different race options for participants.

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2/6/2024 9:56:00 AM

Improve wellness with bathroom upgrades W

ellness is at the forefront of nearly everyone’s mind, including keeping germs at bay and creating surroundings that promote mental and physical health.

Even small, but important, spaces like the bathroom can benefit from changes with wellness in mind.

A bathroom can be one of the easiest rooms in your home to give a little extra TLC toward creating a healthier lifestyle. These cost-effective measures can turn your bathroom into a more practical, functional space that promotes your well-being.

Switch Up Surfaces The countertops in your bathroom, much like the flooring, must be able to withstand a lot of water. Nonporous vanity tops, such as those made from quartz, hold up to being wet constantly and can help keep germs from breeding. In addition to being easy to clean, a solid-surface option like quartz never needs to be sealed or polished, making it an aesthetically pleasing, long-lasting option.

Clean Green Bathrooms are often hot and steamy places, and water vapors in the air can carry potentially harmful chemicals from cleaning products. Green cleaning products are made to control the spread of bacteria and viruses using safe and effective means. Not only are they helpful in preventing asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, but they are a low-cost way to improve overall indoor air quality.

What you use to clean yourself is just as important. Using green or organic personal care items can help reduce toxin exposure and lessen the likelihood of an allergic reaction.

Reduce Humidity All that steam can affect your health

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in other ways, too, since it creates a humid environment that encourages mold and mildew. A heated towel rack is an inexpensive way to add a touch of luxury to your space while generating heat that helps reduce humidity and the growth of mold and mildew, therefore benefitting indoor air quality.

Heated towel racks like those from Amba Products come in a variety of finishes and styles to coordinate with your decor. For modest accommodations, the Radiant Small is a space-saving choice, and freestanding models are available if wall space is at a premium. Another advantage: Since the racks dry towels, they’ll stay mildew-free longer and don’t need to be washed as often, which helps save valuable natural resources.

Enhance Air Quality Creating a green, spa-like oasis with plants can bring wellness benefits that don’t break the bank. Indoor plants help rid the environment of pollutants, and the energy and ambiance they add may have mental health benefits, too.

Plants like mother-in-law’s tongue or peace lily are popular options to incorporate as natural air purifiers.

Explore Color A bathroom’s color palette can also play a role in your wellness goals.

Warmer shades like red and orange enhance energy while cooler colors like green and blue can be calming.

Begin planning bathroom upgrades that improve your health and well-being with more tips and ideas at ambaproducts.com. ●

F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2024

2/6/2024 9:57:52 AM

aplacecalledhome

This head of cabbage is ready for picking, growing in one of the dozen planter boxes that make up the Escalon Community Garden, offered through the Escalon Strong organization.

Community garden

growing strong in Escalon

By MARG JACKSON

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A

n idea that took root several months ago, the Community Garden in Escalon is growing strong.

Planter boxes are available for rent, with a variety of vegetables and flowers currently flourishing. The garden is situated in the 2100 block of Jackson Avenue in Escalon, on land donated by the adjacent Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The garden was brought to fruition through the efforts of the grassroots organization, Escalon Strong, a service based, community focused group of volunteers working to better the community. Those who want to take part in the garden project can sign up for the 12by-4 individual garden boxes at a cost of $50 per year.

The garden features a dozen boxes right now, with plans to add more at the roughly quarter-acre site in the near future.

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Some of the planter boxes at the Escalon Community Garden are filled with produce, others have a wide variety of flowers that are flourishing.

It’s really kind of a collective overlap of community members coming out and working together. ”

Escalon Strong President Andy Hagan looks at the notice posted in the planter box of the Escalon Farmington Community Garden Club, which was designed with a mix of pollinating plants to benefit all the other boxes on site.

— Andy Hagan

Escalon Strong President Andy Hagan said there are some general rules when it comes to the garden.

“Just basic guidelines as far as taking care of and managing your own space,” he said of keeping the gardens well-tended.

Ten boxes are rented and two are open; the infrastructure has also been put into place so that the garden can eventually support 36 planter boxes.

Some families have rented out boxes, some are rented by individuals, and a trio of Escalon High School FFA students are working on projects for school through their garden plots.

All the planter boxes were built by the Escalon FFA and students who worked on each box were able to put their name on it, along with the FFA symbol.

“We’re planning on the next couple of boxes to be a little bit higher up for some of the senior citizens that can’t bend down as easily so we’re going to try and get a few of those raised beds in,” said Hagan.

He added that one of the best parts of the garden effort so far is that they have been able to donate some fresh produce to the local food distribution programs that serve Escalon, helping to add another dimension for those that are in need of food.

In addition to the Escalon Strong garden site, Hagan said there are a couple of smaller initiatives, including a school garden on the Dent Elementary School campus in town, as well as a small site at the Escalon Library. While not formally affiliated, Hagan said all three are helping provide some food items for the community as well as life lessons for the youngsters getting involved in the growing of food and caretaking of the garden sites.

“That’s the beauty of these,” Hagan said of the 12 planter boxes at the Escalon Community Garden location. “People can donate, they can use it for their

own personal needs; you figure $50 a year is pretty inexpensive when you’re talking about going to the grocery store (for produce) and paying who knows how much.”

Water and fertilizer – natural compost fertilizer – are also available and provided on site, with piping, drip lines and sprinkler heads included in each planter box.

Hagan noted that the community garden here is modeled off a similar – though larger – one in Ripon, where they have about 75 garden spaces for residents.

“The Seventh day Adventist Church donated the space for us to use and everything here is either a donation or funded through local businesses,” explained Hagan. “When businesses see that you’re really doing something, they want to help.”

The garden had its official ribbon cutting and grand opening last October and Hagan said they are pleased with the interest in it and are eager to add even more

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planter boxes soon.

Escalon Strong Treasurer Aldah Johnson was one of the driving forces in getting the effort started and she also pointed to cooperation from the Escalon-Farmington Community Garden Club, which rented a planter box to create a pollinator garden.

“This box planted and maintained by the Escalon Farmington Community Garden Club and is a mixture of pollinating plants to benefit all gardens here,” the sign states.

The club box, the sign also notes, is filled with plants donated

by Frantz Nursery in Hickman and Morris Nursery in Riverbank.

“It’s really kind of a collective overlap of community members coming out and working together,” Hagan summarized. “That’s kind of what we’re trying to do and that’s what Escalon Strong is all about; a collective effort, grassroots from the community and trying to get the community understanding that we’re stronger together as a collective.” ●

F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2024

2/6/2024 10:00:16 AM

marketplace

By TERESA HAMMOND

Axholes patrons are each encouraged to take a photo with their first successful throw.

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Axholes owner James Marlatt enjoys taking time to work with customers on their ax throwing skills.

The expansive, unique Axholes in Oakdale features multiple throwing lanes as well as a bar area for relaxing with snacks and drinks before or after your ax throwing experience.

O

ne looking for fun and a way to pass some time, need not look further than the small town of Oakdale thanks to the vision and hard work of James Marlatt and Kristi Green.

The husband-and-wife duo are the founders and owners of the recently opened business Axholes, located at 111 S. Maag in Oakdale.

“Once we moved here, there wasn’t a lot to do,” Green said of relocating to the small town. “You have to go out of town to find something fun.”

Always out for some fun and adventure themselves, the couple shared they felt ax throwing, while new to the community, it might just be something Oakdale and surrounding communities would embrace. Through extensive research and elbow grease, the couple opened the sporting facility in the fall of 2023.

As a former co-owner of Exit Escape Room Adventures in Modesto, Green along with her mother Susan, were no

strangers to hard work and growing a business. The dynamic duo sold the business in 2020 and three years later, almost to the day, the husband/wife team took keys to their ax throwing venture.

Complete with eight lanes for ax throwing, pub tables, large screen TVs with sports running at all times and a snack bar including beers on tap, there is something for everyone.

“Our beer system is pretty unique.

There’s only one other place in the Valley that has it,” Green shared. “It’s called Bottoms Up Beer Dispenser. It fills your beer from the bottom and then it has this magnet with our logo on it. Free magnet with every beer that you drink.”

According to Green the magnet seals the hole at the bottom of the cup.

“It’s unique,” she continued. “There is less waste. With the magnet concept, not only does our name get out there, but we’re going to play games with them.”

In addition to a variety of beers and

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keeping with the family friendly vibe the business also offers snacks and soda.

They welcome customers to bring in their own food be it pizza or Chinese food from neighboring eateries or something else.

“Family friendly ax throwing bar,” was Marlatt’s reply when posed with the question of describing Axholes for readers.

“I still struggle with how we describe ourselves because we are a bar,” Green added, noting that while they currently offer beer only as an adult beverage, they do plan to expand at some point.

With a focus of providing entertainment for the entire family Axholes offers eight lanes which can host six throwers at a time. Ax throwing is open for anyone age 12 and up. But not to worry, the couple demonstrates their commitment to keeping it family friendly with a junior size throwing board and lighter ax for the younger family members.

“But kids 12 and up can throw the

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marketplace

The Bottoms Up Beer System at Axholes always has customers smiling.

real axes,” Marlatt shared of the age guideline, noting the weight of a real ax as a hindrance for younger children.

Lanes are rented for 75-minute increments of time and may be reserved in advance. Children 12 and older can throw with their family and those 16 and over are welcome to throw unattended as long as a waiver has been signed by a parent.

Green shared that Marlatt (passionate for the activity) coaches throwers when they first step up to give it a try.

“He’s really good at taking time and staying with the people,” she said. “He helps everyone find their spot so they’re able to make it.”

Hours of operation are Wednesday to Friday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. (or later); Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (or later); Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and closed Monday and Tuesday.

Due to high participant volume reservations are recommended Fridays and Saturdays.

Taking aim at the target, patrons enjoy the chance to let the ax fly down the lane at Axholes in Oakdale.

You don’t have to throw axes to come in. People are welcome to come in and watch sports and drink beers if they’d like.

“Our last lane reservation is at 9:15 p.m.” Green added. “With that being said, people can still walk in, at say 9:30 p.m. and if we have lanes available, they can play. You just can’t make a lane reservation past 9:15.”

And while ax throwing may be the draw to the new business, the husband/ wife team are more than happy to serve up beverages while patrons take in their favorite sport on one of the four big

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screen TVs. “You don’t have to throw axes to come in,” Green stated. “People are welcome to come in and watch sports and drink beers if they’d like.”

As for the overall business the couple shared word of mouth and social media are slowly helping them grow the business. They added that customers are not only local, but from surrounding areas as well.

“We’re getting busier and busier and busier every weekend. We have people come in and say, I didn’t ever know you guys were here,” Marlatt said.

“As of right now, this is definitely what we envisioned,” Green added of the space in its early phase.

“It’s cool to see people happy when they come in and they’re having a good time,” Marlatt concluded.

For additional information on Axholes or to inquire on group parties or lane reservations visit axholescalifornia. com. ●

F E B R UA RY/MA R C H 2024

2/6/2024 10:02:07 AM

I didn’t think I needed one.

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Stop relying on social media pages for your business.

Let us help you build your new website.

Visit us at 209multimedia.com/webdesign to get started.

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Real Life Kitchen Dreams

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209-521-4490 www.aakmodesto.com

Monday – Friday 9 am -5 pm, Saturday 10 am – 5 pm

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