In this, the third and final installment of the Year in Review for The Leader, we look back at the months of September through December, highlighting some top stories in the Oakdale community and the surrounding areas.
SEPTEMBER
One truly never knows the direction life may take you. In the case of local business owner and an entrepreneur extraordinaire, Kendra Harris Jordan, this could not be more true. Jordan was recently honored as a recipient of the “Inspire Her Award,” as a Woman Excel Awardee, presented by the Pretty Powerful Organization. “I know them because I actually minister with them. We all pastor at each other’s churches and support one another,” Jordan said of the Bay Area based organization. She noted that the nomination was a complete unexpected shock. It was through the help and coordination of her husband Lorenzo Jordan, that the organization, which is partnered with the NAACP, drove out to present her with the nomination during a church service.
Stanislaus County Library is seeking community input on library services and programs in its third annual library survey. Responses collected from this survey help determine the community’s needs, benefiting both library staff and the community they serve as the library plans future improvements. The survey began Sept. 1 and will run through Sept. 30 to correspond with National Library Card SignUp Month, a nationwide library initiative to raise awareness of the valuable resources individuals can access with a library card.
Amidst a flurry of pomp and circumstance, the whistles were blowing and the goals were being scored. It was Opening Day for the Oakdale Soccer Club, with games starting early and running throughout the day on Saturday, Sept. 9 at the T.L. Davis Sports Complex in Oakdale. While there was a formal ceremony starting about 8:45 a.m., not everyone could attend, as some games started before then. However, a large crowd turned out for the official kickoff. Offering the welcoming remarks was Oakdale Soccer Club (OSC) advisor and Oakdale Mayor Cher Bairos. She noted that hundreds of kids – well over 800 total – would be suiting up for the sport, with 89 teams across a variety of age divisions.
It has been 22 years since the terrorist attacks that saw hijackers take control of four planes on Sept. 11, 2001; an act that claimed thousands of lives and led to the War on Terror. Over two decades later, Americans nationwide paid their respects on Monday, which was observed as Patriot Day. On Monday morning, Sept. 11 folks gathered outside the historic Knights Ferry Fire House No. 2 – which also serves now as Oakdale Fire Protection District Station 29 – for a memorial ceremony. Those in attendance included several residents from Knights Ferry and surrounding areas, as well as students and staff from the nearby Knights Ferry Elementary School. Four crew members at the fire station hosted the event and performed a flag ceremony, as well as led the crowd in observing a moment of silence for those lost at that fateful day.
Catherine Medlin just may have found the job truly suited for her. The longtime Oakdale Joint Unified School District employee with a varied educational background was recently promoted to Director of Child Welfare and Attendance.
With 25 years of experience at Oakdale Joint Unified and a previous educational career at Juvenile Hall, Medlin was ready for the transition from Principal of Oakdale Junior High to the District Office. During her tenure with OJUSD, Medlin has served as a fourth grade teacher, OJHS Vice-Principal, as well as Principal for the past two years. The responsibilities of the new position to OJUSD include: attendance, school safety, student discipline, universal complaint procedures, home and hospital and Title 9 complaints.
Stanislaus County Public Health officials are reporting a significant increase in West Nile Virus (WNV) cases for the 2023 year compared with recent previous years. WNV is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. As of Sept. 15, 2023, a total of 28 WNV human cases, including one death, have been reported in Stanislaus County residents compared to 15 WNV cases for the entire 2022 season. Nineteen of the 2023 WNV cases reported so far have been neuroinvasive WNV, where those infected developed neurological illnesses.
Some new restrooms will soon be open at Dorada Park in Oakdale, with work continuing on the project. The Dorada Park Restroom Replacement was identified as a project that would qualify for the Per Capita Grant Program provided by the State Department of Parks and Recreation. This grant was funded via the Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018, through Prop. 68. City officials said the grant provided $192,207 of the approximately $350,000 project cost.
OCTOBER
With more than $130,000 raised prior to the actual 24-hour Relay For Life this past weekend at John Thurman Field in Modesto, the 2023 event far surpassed its $150,000 fundraising goal. By the time the closing ceremony was staged on Sunday, Oct. 1, teams involved in the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser had gone over $161,000, with more donations still anticipated. At press time, the total had surpassed $166,000. Top fundraising team was Conagra Oakdale Fights Back, with the Oakdale team bringing in more than $25,000. Conagra also served as the presenting sponsor for 2023. The combined Relay, which brought together Modesto, Oakdale and Turlock Relays, also draws in participants from some San Joaquin County communities and is classified as the Relay For Life of Greater Stanislaus County. This year was the third year for the larger, combined event. All the activities were at John Thurman Field, home of the Modesto Nuts.
An Escalon woman who serves as a cheerleading coach for an Oakdale-based travel team was arrested on Friday, Oct. 6. Escalon Police reported the arrest of Samantha Marie Silva, 34, of Escalon in connection with the case, accused of taking funds from the cheerleading bank account of the Oakdale Inferno cheer team for her personal use.
It was a hugely successful Homecoming Week for the Oakdale High School Mustangs and the community. Along with the Friday afternoon, Oct. 6 parade, there were fun activities on campus during the week, downtown windows were painted by the high school classes with their individual themes, and the students also put together their class floats. The senior class float was ultimately chosen as the award winner, encouraging the football team to ‘crunch’ the Lancers, based on their Cap’n Crunch cereal theme. New Homecoming royalty – at least part of it – was crowned at halftime of the varsity football game at The Corral. Named as the Homecoming Queen was Brooke Wheat, with Aubrey Thompson chosen as the Homecoming Princess. The football team did its job to ensure the night ended on a high note, as they thrashed the visiting East Union Lancers by a final score of 62-26 in Valley Oak League action.
Fair Oaks Falcons are spreading their wings in the art world and their Parent Teacher Club could not be more thrilled. Thanks to fundraising by way of the annual Jog-a-thon, the Fair Oaks PTC has been able to replace the once popular Art Corps program with Mistlin Art. According to Falcon parent and PTC member Jennilyn Tolboe, the Art Corps program came to a halt for the school post-COVID. Anxious to find another program to enrich the students, the PTC became aware of the Mistlin Art program. Tolboe shared the group became aware of the program through a parent during a PTC meeting.
After months of debate, the Oakdale City Council finally passed the proposed massage ordinance at the Monday night meeting, Oct. 16 but not without some council members expressing reservations. For many of the council, the sticking point continued to be the requirement of a CAMTC (California Massage Therapy Council) certification for all massage businesses licensed within the city of Oakdale as it is regulatory in nature, which could potentially create unnecessary log jams for legitimate businesses looking to open in Oakdale. Several council members were on the fence, teetering on sending the proposed ordinance back to the drawing board, acknowledging that shutting down the illicit businesses was key, but CAMTC might not be the answer. Throughout the lengthy process, businesses owners have shared pros and cons of having the CAMTC requirement but ultimately, most were in favor.
Putting the exclamation point on an extended Homecoming celebration, it was a victory for the senior girls in the 2023 Powder Puff game, while the Homecoming King and Prince were also revealed. The game and crowning both took place on Monday, Oct. 16. Senior and junior female students suited up and played in front of a large crowd inside The Corral for the annual Powder Puff contest. The seniors were in control from the start and took the win, 26-6. The Homecoming King and Prince were announced and received their crowns during the evening as well, with Omar Alsaidi selected as King, Grant Gardner tapped as Prince.
Weather conditions were picture perfect for a day outside Saturday, and a large crowd took advantage of the cool breeze and feel of autumn to enjoy the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival. The chamber hosted this first-time event in the downtown area on Saturday, Oct. 21 with activities running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Action was centered on North First and North Second avenues, with East E Street also lined with some vendors in between the avenues. Vendors of all varieties turned out in force as well, offering everything from tie-dyed clothing to fruits and vegetables, homemade soaps, lotions, jewelry and more. There were also plenty of fun activities in the Kids Zone, music, demonstrations by the Congressional Gunfighters of America, animal adoptions by the Oakdale Animal Shelter, a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting and the chance to tour and learn about the Gilton Solid Waste trucks.
Halloween is just around the corner and the City of Oakdale is once again hosting the Annual Halloween Parade and Festival. The festivities are scheduled on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This free, family-friendly event is the perfect time to celebrate Halloween, participate in the costume contest, enjoy free food, and play kid-friendly games.
NOVEMBER
A cowboy riding a dinosaur instead of a horse waited patiently for a tri-tip sandwich in the food line, the Big Bad Wolf settled in at a table to crunch on some nachos and a spaceman made the rounds, checking out the games offered and prizes available. The unusual cast of characters could be found on Saturday night, Oct. 28 in Valley Home – under a full moon, no less – as the small community gathered for a Halloween-themed Harvest Fest, put on at the Valley Home School.
Just in time for the holidays, the Friends of Oakdale Heritage have a couple of events lined up to promote the sale of their new book through Arcadia Publishing. The book is called “Images of America OAKDALE” and is serving as a fall fundraiser for the organization, which oversees the Oakdale Museum and History Center at 212 W. F St., Oakdale. “We had an impromptu pop-up during (Oakdale’s) Fall Festival and the response was amazing,” noted Barbara Torres of the Friends group. “Our official Book Launch will be November 15 at the Chamber of Commerce office.” The book is described as a ‘pictorial history’ of early Oakdale and sells for $27, tax included.
Bright blue skies, crisp fall air and plenty of pumpkins made for a picture perfect day in Knights Ferry on Sunday, Nov. 5 with a huge crowd turning out for the annual Pumpkin Roll. Contestants in several age groups, from toddlers to seniors, gave it their best effort, vying for the coveted Pumpkin Roll trophies. There were plenty of the colorful gourds available for competitors to choose their favorite while spectators often made a stop at the local ice cream parlor so they could enjoy a treat while watching the events unfold on Main Street. There were also a number of vendor booths, face painting, food and more to enjoy during this year’s event, the 60th annual Pumpkin Roll.
Veterans took center stage on Saturday, Nov. 11 as residents in the Oakdale area set aside some time to pause, reflect, and honor their service and sacrifice. A mid-morning parade stepped off with the Oakdale Saddle Club in the lead and a number of other entries joining in, following a route from the FES Hall on North Lee to Pontiac, heading west on Pontiac to the stopping point at Fish Park. There, other events were planned, including a program with remarks from some city and county officials. Among them were Oakdale City Council member Fred Smith and Stanislaus County District 1 Supervisor Buck Condit, who represents Oakdale and Riverbank on the county board.
Business owner Adrianna Alves is trying something new this Small Business Saturday. The owner and founder of downtown Oakdale boutique Wynfull + Wonder is hoping to take advantage of the busy Saturday to not just support her business, but an organization as well. On Saturday, Nov. 25 as local businesses open their doors for holiday shoppers, Alves will open hers for shoppers as well as photos with Santa Claus and a clothing drive. All hosted as a charity event for HAVEN (Healthy Alternatives to Violent Environments) Stanislaus. “It’s all for HAVEN Stanislaus,” the small business owner shared.
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, Oakdale High School students will be offered a unique opportunity. As demand, as well as opportunity for college acceptance continues to a stressor for graduates, the University of California Merced has partnered with the Oakdale Joint Unified School District for the Merced Automatic Admissions Program (MAAP). MAAP allows students to apply early to UC Merced and be guaranteed admission, as long as certain requirements are met. Assistant Superintendent Gillian Wegener presented MAAP to the OJUSD Board at the November meeting. During that time, she highlighted a number of attributes of the program including the objective. Wegener shared the program aims to engage students who may not realize they have potential to be admitted to a UC school. “I’m really excited about this opportunity for our students,” Wegener stated following the monthly meeting.
The Oakdale Lions Club is far from new at serving the community or serving up some good eats, for that matter. And as they have in the past, on Thursday the club rallied once again to provide the community with the annual Spirit of Oakdale Thanksgiving Dinner. The event was hosted at the Gene Bianchi Community Center. The club members, along with a group of community volunteers, packaged up some 125 meals for home delivery and served an estimated 450 hot, heaping plates of food to in person diners.
DECEMBER
It was a day which summoned thousands to the community as the center of Oakdale was completely abuzz with activity on Saturday, Dec. 2. As Downtown Christmas celebrated its 15th year, the draw of the event was apparent as over 100 vendors lined North Third Avenue, as well as E street offering gifts, goods and food of varying cuisines. While the hustle and bustle of North Third continued well into the night, Oakdale Enrichment Society stayed busy at the other end of town as over 75 floats began lining up at the FES Hall for the seventh annual Christmas Parade. Children, car clubs and enthusiastic community members began the journey east on Poplar at 4 p.m. sharp, making their way to North Second. An estimated 2,000 people lined the streets to cheer on the participants. Rounding out the back of the parade line was none other than Cowboy Santa himself, who brought Mrs. Claus along for the festivities.
Dogs of every size and breed – many sharing costumes similar to their humans – turned out for a special holiday gathering, A Very Furry Christmas, on Sunday in Oakdale. The Dec. 3 fundraising event was put on by the Oakdale Shelter Pet Alliance, which supports the Oakdale Animal Shelter. The shelter services the communities of Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon. Serving as coordinator was Laurie Fanjul, who has been involved with the OSPA for years. “We have been around since 2004 but we have been shrinking,” she said of the membership. “We just about decided we were going to go out of business at the end of this year.” But the holiday season brought out some new, fresh ideas and, working with the Oakdale Police Department – which oversees the animal shelter – Fanjul said the framework of the Very Furry Christmas came together.
It is a tradition which is not only long lived, yet has become iconic with the Oakdale Lions Club and what they represent as a service club. While the experience may look a bit different, the intent as well as the joy brought to Oakdale children remains the same. On Tuesday, Dec. 12 the Oakdale Lions Club will once again present the annual Children’s Christmas Shopping Tour. The event will be hosted for invited guests at the Gene Bianchi Community Center between the hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. As is customary the event will be complete with a pizza dinner for the attendees, as well as a visit from Santa Claus himself and a gift card for every child.
Santa Claus is coming to town … about a week early. Oakdale’s ‘Christmas House’ on North First Avenue will welcome Santa on Monday, Dec. 18. The house is one that is decked out for the holiday season and there is also a special mailbox for Letters to Santa set up. A sign on the lawn indicates Santa’s arrival at 7 p.m. on Dec. 18. Organizing the effort is the husband-wife team of Charles Taylor and Jessica Brennan. “My mom and dad started doing this in the early 2000s, they started decorating and making their own stuff,” Brennan said of her parents. Though her mom, Janice, passed away a few years ago, the family – including Jessica’s dad James – have continued the tradition.
It was an event not to be missed as a couple hundred community members gathered on Saturday, Dec. 16 to participate at Wreaths Across America. The event is hosted locally on the third Saturday of each December at Oakdale Citizens Cemetery, as well as at 4100 locations across the nation. A proper ceremony circling the flag pole with former Mayor JR McCarty serving as Master of Ceremonies began at 9 a.m. “Today more than ever we reflect on our nation’s veterans and active-duty service members who have and continue to fight to protect the innocent and the oppressed,” McCarty said. “This nation has always been the first to stand up for people for freedom around the world. Many of you here today have answered that call and have served your country well; for this we say thank you and we are honored to know you.”
School bus riders within the Oakdale Joint Unified School District will soon have an app for that. At the December meeting of the OJUSD Board, district Transportation Director Kat Songer presented a report regarding the Bus Right Routing System to the board. “We presented it to our drivers and everybody thought it would be beneficial to our drivers,” Songer of the bus tracking system, which will update parents and students via an app on individual buses’ whereabouts and arrival status. “But then it went in to, it’s going to be beneficial to our students. It’s going to be beneficial to the parents and to our staff.”
As residents all across the state prepare to usher in a new year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is ramping up efforts to help ensure the safety of all road users, while reducing the number of deadly crashes on the state’s roadways. Beginning at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 29, the CHP will implement a statewide Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), which will continue through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. The CHP conducted a similar enforcement effort during the recent Christmas holiday.
