Special greetings go out to Mr. Gene Benedix. Your Valley Home community deeply appreciates your service. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

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Our Valley Home school students have enjoyed a fun holiday week. No school this past Monday and a minimum day today, Wednesday, Jan 17. Lots of good vacation time!

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Valley Home student athletes remember to please turn in your soccer uniforms. Please clean them and turn in to the office. If you are playing basketball your uniform will be re-issued to you. Congratulations to all on a great soccer season!

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It’s birthday time for one of Valley Home’s hardest working grandmas! Shelly Carpenter is celebrating her special day this month. We send tons of good wishes from her Valley Home friends. Shelly has lived in Valley Home all her life and went to school at Valley Home Elementary School. What great memories she must have! Shelly is always involved in helping with school and community fundraisers. She is married to Russ who also is a lifetime resident of the Oakdale area. Together Russ and Shelly have helped with countless school and 4-H activities. Shelly, we appreciate everything you do for our school and our community!

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We are so glad that Don Taro is feeling much better. That flu is vicious! So happy you are on the mend Donnie!

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On January 30 and 31, our Valley Home Municipal Advisory Council will attend training seminars sponsored by Stanislaus County. “MAC” board members are Ryan Cope, Ray Martin, Chris Hempleman, Nancy Osmundson and Winnie Mullins. Meetings are held quarterly at Valley Home School or in the spring at our community park. The meetings are committed to community issues with discussion and input from the Stanislaus County officials, law enforcement and fire officials. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend with their questions, concerns and ideas. Remember your opinion is important. Working together we will keep our community the wonderful, safe place to live!

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Our community park board will be meeting in early February to discuss plans for a Spring/Summer fundraiser. Remember our park belongs to each one of us. More fundraising details to come. Please let me know if you have any ideas!

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We end this week’s column with a special Thank You to our military, fire and law enforcement. We are so grateful!

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As always you may reach me at winniemullins51@gmail.com. Until next time, “Happy Trails to All!”