More dogs, cats left at shelter due to foreclosures

All members of a family are impacted by the loss or foreclosure of a home, and that includes pets. The City of Turlock Police Department released its 2010 annual report, and Animal Services has seen an increase in dog euthanasia, likely related to the increase of foreclosed homes in the area.

Extremely rainy March sees end of drought

Turlockers are welcoming the warm and sunny spring weather after more than a week of rainy days in the Valley. Spring got off to a rainy start, but sunshine is in the forecast for the upcoming week.

Hundreds turn out for job fair

With unemployment rates hovering around 18 percent in Stanislaus County, many residents are looking for any type of job they can find. Hundreds of those would-be workers lined up outside Modesto's HIREvent and waited up to an hour for the opportunity to hand their resumes over to companies looking to hire.

Cancer patients gear up for Relay for Life with Monkey Business

Local cancer survivors and their supporters are gearing up for Relay for Life. Emanuel Cancer Center kicked off Turlock's Relay for Life 2011 with "Take Two," a survivor reception and a special concert by their Monkey Business children's group.

HEALTH: CPR SATURDAY

The American Red Cross held their 28th annual CPR Saturday this weekend, and the Stanislaus County office offered two-year certification classes for only $10. One certification location was California State University, Stanislaus, where Red Cross volunteers, including Turlock City Council member Amy Bublak, taught three-hour classes on CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED.) More than 150 people attended the Turlock classes, where they received two-year certifications in CPR ...

Pedretti Field draws tourism dollars

Turlock will host a major softball tournament in August 2012, and the economic benefits for the town could be significant.

Spring Juried Art Show now on display in City Hall

City Hall was unusually active this weekend, with artists from all over the Central Valley dropping off their entries for the 29th annual Spring Juried Art Show. Judging took place on Sunday and the show is now on display at the Turlock City Gallery inside of City Hall.

Hutton House: Providing a safe haven for runaway teens

Hutton House has been a safe haven for runaway and homeless teens in Stanislaus County since 1976. Youth ages 13 to 17 who need a temporary place to stay during a crisis situation can live at the Modesto shelter for up to two weeks. Hutton House also offers day and drop-in services, and between the residential and non-residential programs they serve around 800 clients per year.

UNIVERSITY: WARRIORS HOMECOMING

California State University, Stanislaus students kicked it old school during the final day of homecoming celebration activities. Due to rain, the homecoming parade went from an outdoor float decorating competition, to an indoor shopping cart decorating contest.

Community discusses return of Hughson Chamber of Commerce, Fruit and Nut Festival

In 2008 the Hughson Chamber of Commerce held their last Fruit and Nut Festival, and shortly after they shut their doors. The chamber has been completely inactive since that time.

A new face for Henry

The day after his eighth birthday, Henry Johnson was in surgery. This was not just the latest of a lifetime of reconstructive facial surgery, but a surgery that would give him a whole new face.

Turlock Junior High extends learning day with after-school program

After-school programming at Turlock Junior High has taken a leap into the technology era with Wii game systems, flat screen televisions and the latest in video gaming technology.

COMMUNITY: ART AND BAGPIPES

Downtown Turlock was serenaded by the sweet sound of bagpipers on Thursday evening. The musicians were part of the entertainment at a wine and chocolate event hosted inside of the Community Art Gallery on Center Street. The kilt-clad men and women played out on the sidewalk and confused more than a few passers-by.

Local speed dating service gives singles second chance at love

Valentine's Day is often despised by singles who have not been struck by cupid's arrow by the big day. But local singles will have a new opportunity for meeting their dream date thanks to Turlock entrepreneur Amber Scabia and her business partner Enrique Mendoza. The two used their own experiences with dating in the area as inspiration for their new speed dating business, Two Minute Match. <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; ...

Rush of the roses: Local florists prepare for busiest day of the year

Valentine's Day is one of the busiest times of the year for florists nationwide. The same holds true for local flower shops as they gear up for the mad rush of flower deliveries and drop-in customers on Monday.

College radio station branches out

"Alternative" radio stations have nothing on KCSS, a radio station based at California State University, Stanislaus. The station plays everything from modern rock to hip hop, bluegrass, and even video game soundtracks. Until recently, the station had a modest listener base and broadcasted only in Turlock and the immediate area. Thanks to a new transmitter and antennae, however, the station will be boosting its signal to broadcast in Modesto, Merced and beyond. KCSS ...

Food, gift program taking applicants

The team of non-profit organizations that comprise Turlock Together are hard at work collecting food and other items for their annual Christmas give-away. More families than ever are in need of assistance with record-setting unemployment rates soaring in Stanislaus County. Families in need of a Christmas meal or toys for the kids can sign up between now and Dec. 9 to receive a basket from Turlock Together. Recipients of Turlock Together food baskets ...

Play is blast from Turlock’s past

The Center for Urban Performance and Service and Westside Ministries will take a journey to Turlock Christmases past with their performance of "Old Tyme School Christmas," an original CUPS production. Over 200 dancers, actors and singers are involved in the Christmas production, which is set to a backdrop of downtown Turlock, complete with a bakery sign that looks very familiar. The group will dance to a variety of classics including Frank Sinatra's "Santa ...

Spa owner to blanket the homeless

The staff at A Beautiful Reflection Day Spa is hoping to make the holidays a little warmer for Turlock's homeless with their second annual Blanketing the Homeless drive. They are collecting new, wrapped blankets to be distributed as Christmas gifts to residents of two homeless shelters in town. This is the second year that Kerry Strickland and the staff of A Beautiful Reflection have collected blankets for homeless Turlockers. "It really seems like ...

Fraternity helps prepare Thanksgiving meals

While most people are lounging around the house enjoying football and appetizers this Thanksgiving, the men of Eta Tau Chapter of Theta Chi fraternity will be hard at work. A group of Theta Chi members and their friends volunteer to prepare meals for the less fortunate every Thanksgiving. This year they will be working at the United Samaritans Foundation preparing the meals that will be served later that day on the lunch trucks. ...

Local second graders get up close with season’s favorite bird

Students in Mr. Munoz's second grade class will have a much better understanding of their Thanksgiving turkey this year, thanks to a class field trip to Wellsford Ranch in Modesto. The class from Sisk Elementary School had the unique opportunity to tour a Foster Farms turkey ranch on Thursday. Wellsford Ranch raised the presidential turkeys last year, which were pardoned by President Barak Obama at the Whitehouse Thanksgiving celebration. The turkey and his ...

What would happen if we stopped voting?

Did you vote on Nov. 8? If not, you weren't alone. According to Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters Lee Lundrigan's office, there were 50,982 ballots counted in the final election results. In a county of 514,453 people, only 227,278 are registered voters, and only around 50,000 people actually voted in this election.

A long ride

Luke Nowlin and his horse "Geno" have traveled a long way to get to the Central Valley. The pair started out in Emerald Isle, N.C. around 150 days ago. Nowlin has traveled across the country on horseback, and is nearing his end destination of Eureka. "I want to encounter American people where they are in their lives," Nowlin said. Geno and Nowlin stopped in Denair on Tuesday, where they stayed with Tim ...

Doing the most good

The Salvation Army lived up to its motto of "doing the most good" during the nonprofit's annual Kettle Kick-Off fundraising luncheon on Tuesday. The main highlight of the annual event is the Kettle Klash, a race to raise the most cash in a set time limit. Teams run around the room with Salvation Army kettles and collect donations from luncheon attendees. Donators ring small bells to alert the kettle teams that they have cash ...

Luggage sought for foster kids

Children in foster care in California often leave their families in crisis situations. They take only a few personal items with them, maybe a change of clothes or two. Most of them don't have luggage, backpacks or even a tote bag to keep their things in. "These kids literally have a garbage bag or a box," said Cheryl Gerhardt, marketing director for Paramount Court. That is why Paramount Court Senior Living is ...

Local vets receive highest civilian honor

Several local veterans were presented the highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, for their outstanding efforts in World War II. Why honor war veterans with a civilian medal? These men faced discrimination at home and in the military because of their ethnicity. These soldiers are members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Infantry Battalion, World War II veterans, and Japanese Americans. Hiro Asai was born and raised in Turlock. His ...

Training mission long time coming for local man

Thorsen’s celebrates 100 years in business

Thorsen's Inc. is celebrating 100 years of history this month. Thorsen's Plumbing received a business license from the City of Turlock in 1911, and it has been owned by the Thorsen family since that time. Thorsen's is the oldest family owned business in Turlock, and the business grew with the town. Anders "Andy" Thorsen was born in Norway but immigrated to the United States as a child. He walked from Stockton to Turlock ...

Halloween fun

Turlock's annual Halloween event brought goblins, ninjas and princesses downtown for trick-or-treating and festive fun. The 12:10 Lions Club of Turlock and the Kiwanis Club of Turlock teamed up for their annual haunted maze. Alpha Xi Delta sorority of California State University, Stanislaus provided pumpkins for the maze and held a Halloween Carnival on Broadway.

Assyrian Civic Club celebrates its long history in Turlock

The Assyrian American Civic Club of Turlock celebrated several milestones on last Saturday. They commemorated 100 years of Assyrian history in Turlock; they celebrated 65 years of AACCT membership; and they recognized the oldest living Assyrian in Turlock. Assyrian history in Turlock dates back to 1911 when a man named Isaac Adams arrived in town. Adams was a driving force behind the Assyrian immigration to the Central Valley of California. Many Assyrian families ...