This year’s edition of the Great Valley Bookfest, staged Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley in Manteca, featured a couple of local connections. Area author Kimberly Van Meter was among those with a booth set up along the Author’s Alley, meeting and greeting readers while signing some books that were available for purchase. Van Meter also continues to contribute articles and columns for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. Meanwhile, Marg Jackson, who serves as editor for the three weekly newspapers, was honored along with Manuel Camacho as the 2025 ‘Literacy Heroes’ for their continued advocacy and support of multiple programs and initiatives focused on literacy throughout the region. Camacho is a full-time faculty member at San Joaquin Delta College and also a storyteller.