Swarm surprises downtown workers

Rosemary Hughes is used to dealing with bees. A large jasmine bush located just outside of her downtown office building is a popular place for bees to congregate come warm weather. On Tuesday, however, the flying visitors were more than just a temporary nuisance.

Turlock girl tests her memory as ‘Brainsurge’ contestant

Denair Middle School student Lauryn Johnson was thrilled to slide down a slime-filled tunnel and land in a pit of foam. While the Turlock teen isn't particularly a fan of getting dirty, she is a fan of the Nickelodeon television show "Brainsurge."

Poisson d’avril

Hopefully, everyone reading this column successfully made it through another April Fool's Day. It is difficult for me to have any serious conversation on the first day of April because I'm always worried that I will be made a fool in the end.

Turlocker earns accolades for community service

When a crisis occurs and community members and law enforcement personnel are involved in traumatic situations they often need the emotional support of someone trained in mental health first aid and stress management. That is where Al Opdyke comes in.

Road angels

Every week Turlockers Beverly Whitort and Wil Marshall pick up cancer patients around the county and drive them to their treatment appointments. They not only offer a ride, but also a friendly ear to people who are going through extremely tough times. For four to five hours a week, Whitort and Marshall put aside their own worries and become traveling angels spending their time and gas money to help ...

Spring storms cause tree damage; sunny skies on their way

A spring storm ripped through the Central Valley this week, downing trees and causing temporary flooding in city streets.

Putting work in perspective

The tragic death of Costa Mesa city worker Huy Pham after jumping from atop the City Hall building last week - hours after receiving a layoff notice - should serve as a wakeup call. In these depressing economic times, everyone needs to remember that our jobs are not who we are. That might seem like a simple concept, but it isn't. Our culture is centered on ambition and "The ...

Small business owners reporting brighter 2011 than expected

In an economy where double-digit unemployment rates have become the norm and there are widespread housing foreclosures, many California businesses have had to shutter their doors until the climate improves. There are, however, those businesses that are not only weathering the storm but also seeing a brighter year ahead.

Local business makes community service a priority

Every year Lancaster Painting donates labor and supplies to a family or nonprofit organization in need. They have done multiple projects for both the Stanislaus County Society for Handicapped Children and Adults and Westside Ministries.

Japan quake shakes local man

A Central Valley man feels "good to be alive" today after witnessing firsthand the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked Japan at 9:46 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Thursday.

It’s not my fault

The hearings that will determine whether eight current and former Bell city leaders will stand trial for misappropriating more than $5 million is a prime example of the "not my fault" mentality that has become commonplace in America today.

Let the market dictate smoking policy

I have a confession to make: I used to be a smoker.

AG asks federal court to restore same-sex marriage now

On Tuesday, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris asked the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to dismiss its order prohibiting same-sex marriages in California until an appeal of Proposition 8 is resolved.

Turlock Chamber CEO named 26th Assembly District Woman of the Year

Many in Turlock have benefitted from the work Sharon Silva has done promoting the businesses and organizations that help Turlock prosper. As the chief executive officer of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce, Silva has long been a proponent of everything Turlock.

Temporarily homeless: Nu Alpha Kappa raises awareness, collects donations

Many college students find it difficult to wake up and get to class in the morning, but for the past week members of California State University, Stanislaus' fraternity Nu Alpha Kappa have welcomed the opportunity to get out of the cold.

Planning Stanislaus' future

More compact growth and a need to relieve traffic congestion throughout the county were the priorities voiced by members of the Turlock Planning Commission and community members during a Valley Vision Stanislaus workshop held Thursday night. Thursday's workshop was just one of the outreach sessions held in the county to receive community input on regional growth. Senate Bill 375 requires planners to consider how land use and transportation can be coordinated to help ...

Car wash to open at stalled Ten Pin site

While lack of financial backing continues to delay construction of the Ten Pin Fun Center, the Turlock Planning Commission approved development to start at the site where the bowling alley was set to open. Planning commissioners agreed to change the restrictions of the planned development site on the corner of Monte Vista Avenue and Crowell Road to allow a new Prime Shine Car Wash to open, despite previous phased development restrictions contingent on ...

Turlock plays host to 49er, Kaepernick fans

Making the case for Big Brother

If I was a politician, I might be labeled a flip-flopper because I have recently reversed my previous opinion on a local governance issue. The matter in question: red light traffic cameras. Four years ago, the City of Turlock was considering installing red light enforcement cameras at two Turlock intersections. I was personally against the idea of traffic cameras and was happy when the City ultimately decided against their installation. I have since ...

Connie Fairchild: Mastering the business of healthcare and the art of caring

Connie Fairchild always knew she wanted to be a nurse. "My aunt was a labor and delivery nurse ... She would put on her white dress and cute hat and a navy cape with the white lining. I felt like she was an angel and she'd say 'I have to go deliver babies;' I wanted to be like her," Fairchild said. After high school she enrolled in the nursing program at the ...

Pennie Rorex: Getting the message out

Keeping a community healthy involves doctors, nurses and hospital employees of all kinds working together for the wellbeing of each and every patient. It also takes communication; internal communication between healthcare professionals and communication with the community at-large. "It's important to deliver a message to all audiences and deliver it consistently," said Pennie Rorex, assistant vice president of corporate communication and marketing for Emanuel Medical Center. "In our marketing we can say ...

Dr. Kathleen Kearns: Turlock's first female Chief of Medical Staff

Emanuel Medical Center saw a lot of changes in 2012, one of them being the appointment of the hospital's first ever female Chief of Medical Staff in Dr. Kathleen Kearns. As Chief of Staff, Dr. Kearns was responsible for presiding over Emanuel's medical staff meetings, directing the medical staff executive committee, serving as liaison between physicians and hospital administrators and interpreting hospital policies to the medical staff. Kearns said she was happy ...

County loses bid for Health Exchange call center

As the state received news of a $673 million grant to help implement the new health care law, Stanislaus County was handed a bill of no sale. The county lost its bid to host a Local Health Benefit Exchange Call Center Site that was expected to bring 300 jobs to the county. "I'm saddened, yet fully supportive of the decision," said County Supervisor Vito Chiesa on Friday. "We'll be better prepared when ...

Kaepernicking: More than a meme for heart camp kids

It started with a kiss - but has become much more than that. When San Francisco 49ers quarterback and hometown hero Colin Kaepernick kissed his bicep after a touchdown run, he started a Niner Nation sensation called "Kaepernicking." It is now common to see men, women and children of all ages kiss their arm in celebration of a coupon deal, family poker night victory, or just for fun and YouTube. On ...

Gone, but not forgotten

It is common knowledge that teachers play a key role in the development of their students' minds and outlook on the world around them. But this oftentimes cliché about the importance of educators never really hits home until a beloved teacher is suddenly gone. My senior year high school English teacher passed away on Saturday. Although it's been over 20 years since I sat in his classroom, the thought that he would no ...

A greener vision for Stanislaus

Local legislators support Gov.'s budget proposal

The light at the end of the tunnel was seen Thursday morning as Gov. Jerry Brown outlined a 2013-14 balanced budget proposal that increases funding to all levels of education - and even includes a surplus.

Local businesses compete for prizes in Entrepreneur Challenge

Two years ago Dale and Johni Melden decided to take their shared passion to the next level and open a small business - thus, Central Valley Standup Paddle was born. "I grew up as a surfer. Being landlocked here in the Valley, I was looking for a way to get the beach culture and vibe that surfing has," said Dale Melden. To the Meldens, bringing the recreational sport of standup paddleboarding to ...

Nightly vigils offer hope in response to crime

A small group of community members gathered around a candle-lit picnic table at Columbia Park late Thursday night in an effort to stop the recent violence that has shook the neighborhood. Their method of change? Prayer. "We're taking a stand the best way we know how," said Lydio Banana, youth director of Westside Ministries. The nightly candlelight vigils, which began Dec. 30 and will continue through Sunday, were prompted by the fatal ...

Lisa's Pet Styles: Helping Turlock dogs look their best

Keeping Turlock's pets clean and stylishly groomed is more than a job for Lisa Pervere, it's a passion. Pervere started grooming pets inside First Street Vet 19 years ago. Today, there are three Lisa's Pet Styles shops, two in Turlock and one in Waterford. Along with the expansion has come a commitment to excellence service, which has earned Lisa's Pets the 2012 Turlock Journal Readers' Choice award for best groomer. "I love ...