Valley Solutions

Stepping up to feed hungry

Turlock Journal. Thanksgiving dinner draws 300.
Synopsis: Members of the Ceres community pitched in to help feed the hungry during the Center for Human Resources turkey dinner at the Ceres Community Center on Tuesday afternoon. The feast attracted around 300 adults and children for turkey with all the fixings. Among those serving the meal were members of the Ceres Partnership and Ceres High FFA, whose members collected 9,000 cans of food prior to the dinner. Jose Saldivar, owner of La Cascada Restaurant, cooked the 20 turkeys that were donated by Shane Parson of Diamond Bar Arena. Rep. Adam Gray donated 50 pies that were served by the FFA students.

Stocktonia. Stockton Emergency Food Bank distributes 2,200 turkeys in annual giveaway.
Synopsis: Hundreds of families lined up at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in south Stockton to get a free Thanksgiving turkey and all the side dishes needed for a Thanksgiving feast. Volunteers kept handing out turkeys until they ran out. The Food Bank had roughly 300 more turkeys (15%) to give away. Food Bank officials said demand is up 30% this year, due in part to demand that spiked during the government shutdown. Many of the donations were collected during “Stuff the Bus” stops throughout the county.

The need remains

KVPR (Fresno). ‘We’re praying someone has a heart’: Valley food pantries try to keep up.
Synopsis: Two weeks after the federal shutdown ended, the safety net that provides food for the poor has yet to be fully restored. Pantries operated by the Catholic Diocese of Fresno say their shelves were emptied during the shutdown, but demand has not slowed since the government reopened. Most of the pantries rely on donations from Walmart, SaveMart and other grocery stores to fill shelves. As one worker said, “We’re actually praying that someone has a heart out there, that you look through your cabinets and please donate some cans.”

Patterson Irrigator. HOST House is opening on Thanksgiving Day.
Synopsis: The homeless shelter in Patterson will be open to serve a meal to the homeless on Thursday. As of Wednesday morning, volunteers were still looking for a ham or two, apples, two baking pans and pineapple. Sleeping bags are always needed. Items can be taken to 405 S. Fourth St. in Patterson.

Feds react to SPEED (quickly)

Maven / Dept of Interior. Interior cuts red tape to speed water infrastructure in West. 
Synopsis: The Department of Interior announced Secretary Oder 3446 on Tuesday, streamlining federal construction projects across 17 western states. The purpose is to support faster delivery of critical infrastructure under the Bureau of Reclamation. Specifically, the Bureau will begin immediate implementation of efforts to elevate BF Sisk Dam in Merced County, expanding San Luis Reservoir capacity by 130,000-acre feet.
MAD Note: The move from Sec. Doug Burgum was taken just days after Rep. Adam Gray explained the need for his SPEED Act to cut red tape and procedural roadblocks on water infrastructure projects.

Nothing funny about threats

Turlock Journal. Threats against supervisor result in comic’s arrest. 
Synopsis: Anthony Krayenhagen was arrested last week for making threats against Stanislaus Supervisor Channce Condit. The grandson of former Rep. Gary Condit, Channce said his first contact with the comic was when Condit returned a call to Krayenhagen, just as he would return a call from “any other constituent.” Though they had never met, Condit said Krayenhagen launched an obscenity-laced tirade at him over the phone, including threats of violence. Condit hung up and called Sheriff Jeff Dirkse. A day later, Krayenhagen called Condit to threaten him again. Krayenhagen, who is being held in lieu of $750,000 bail, apparently believes Condit has been “cyberstalking” him. Krayenhagen has appeared as Anthony K in several comedy shows from San Jose to Rancho Cordova. 

Is that why he passed?

Merced Focus. Livingston councilman admits helping police officer complete online degree. 
Synopsis: An anonymous letter accused one or more members of the Livingston city council of helping a police officer obtain an online degree via fraudulent means. Mayor Pro Tem Gurpal Samra said, if true, the charges are a “major concern.” Councilmember Japjeet Uppal, 23, admitted on his personal Facebook page that he had helped former police Sgt. Wapinder Kang with coursework and was paid $1,000. Uppal was a high school student at the time. Kang has been investigated by both the Merced DA and the CA Secretary of State’s offices.

What to call a taco truck?

Modesto Bee. Popular Modesto taco truck must change name or be sued; it’s taking suggestions.
Synopsis: Flaco’s Tacos apparently is a popular name. It graces not only a food truck in Modesto but a chain of three restaurants in Chicago. The restaurants trademarked the name back in 2009. Modesto’s Rafael Calvillo opened his truck in 2022, but just got the notice to stop using the name two months ago. He’s got until January to make the change. To turn the problem into an opportunity, he’s asking customers to help him rename his truck. The Bee is collecting ideas, but the name cannot include the word “Flacco.”
MAD Take: This could be fun. Tires & Tacos … Fat Tacos … Taco Party ... Have Truck, Will Taco.

What happens to those cows?

Western Farm Press. Where do cows go when they die? 
Synopsis: A new CA law allows on-farm composting of up to 100 cubic yards of cow carcasses. That’s about 6 to 10 animals. It is necessary after the closure of so many of the state’s rendering plants. The concept arose after the 2006 heat wave that killed tens of thousands of cows and steers and hundreds of thousands of birds, overpowering the Valley’s rendering facilities. Legal in 42 states, livestock composting is the most common form of disposal. It takes 45 to 90 days for full decomposition.

543 homes coming to Los Banos

Westside Express. LB planning commission approves 543-unit housing development. 
Synopsis: Northpointe at Regency Park has been approved on a 3-0 vote of the Los Banos planning commission after two members of the commission were absent. The project was originally approved in 2008 as Villa Burano, but the developer had to back out. Stonefield Homes, owned by Greg Hostetler, took over the project and redesigned the layout and the homes. The 114-acre project will go up to the San Luis Canal and include 84 multi-family units, a fire station, park and canal-side trails. It will also offer 27 home plans, from 1,250 to 3,360 square feet.

Hilmar’s new Portuguese hall

Turlock Journal. ‘A Monumental Day’
Synopsis: The Hilmar community gathered Tuesday to break ground on Casa Dos Açores on Lander Avenue. The new center is envisioned as a central gathering place for celebrations, religious services and, well, parties. Zeto Carvalho, director of the Azorean Diasporta of California, called the groundbreaking “A monumental day.” Among two dozen dignitaries attending the groundbreaking were Merced supervisor Lloyd Parreira, DA Nicole Silveira, Portuguese Council to the US Felipe Ramaleira, and Lisa Mantarro, representing Rep. Adam Gray. The organization dates back to 1970 when a group of Azorean immigrants formed a soccer team that morphed into a community organization. DA Silveira noted that her job is to keep the community safe, but that isn’t “always done by just arresting bad guys … It’s things like this that keep our community safe. Having nice places to go, where people can enjoy each other’s company.”

Old motel to become housing

ABC10. Stockton to gain 240 affordable homes as CA repurposes unused buildings.
Synopsis: Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered the repurposing of more idle state buildings, including a former Best Western SureStay motel, at 33 N. Center, just south of McLeod Lake in Stockton. Across the state, six such buildings will help create 840 housing units. Stockton’s is the largest project of the six.

Keeping an eye on our water

Valley Citizen. Director Byrd’s riparian water dodge: Legal, illegal or just wrong?
Synopsis: Eric Caine continues looking into the water dealings of Modesto Irrigation District director Larry Byrd. He is suspected of using water from the district to irrigate land he farms outside district boundaries. Byrd claims a right to the water based on his belief that the land was once part of a larger parcel that bordered the river. Why is that important? Because, in Eric’s words, “The Tuolumne is one of the most abused, controversial and treasured rivers in the American west. It is a major public asset. Now the public needs to know how often riparian rights along that great river may have been abused.” The public also needs to know who has access to their river.