Being the third Wednesday of the month, tonight is the meeting night for the Valley Home Municipal Advisory (MAC). The Valley Home MAC is an important means to know what is happening in our community. Reports are presented at the meeting by representatives from various county agencies in addition to the Oakdale Rural Fire Department, and the California Highway Patrol. The meeting is held at 6:30 p.m. in the library of the Valley Home School. All are invited and encouraged to attend.
*****
As reported in last week’s column Michelle McKenzie, Chairperson of the San Joaquin Neighborhood Watch of the Lone Tree, Henry, Steinegul and Seidner roads area invited interested Valley Home residents to their annual pot luck BBQ meeting on Sunday at the Martin Manor on Henry Road. There were approximately 20 persons at the BBQ including Valley Home residents Joseph & Linda Perez and Glenn & Laura Burghardt.
It was a nice gathering and some interesting words were heard from Ken Vogel, Supervisor, Fourth District of San Joaquin County and Bill Hughes, Abatement Supervisor, Patrol Division of San Joaquin County Sheriff Department. First, Supervisor Vogel spoke about the S.J. County budget problems with an interesting comment regarding the Williamson Act and how October may be when the Act’s future is decided. Much of what he spoke about, although related to San Joaquin County, was of equal importance to Stanislaus County residents where the same problems exist.
The second speaker, Bill Hughes reported about the success of the local Neighborhood Watch by quoting how many and different calls for sheriff service. Every call is valuable not only for the reported incident but for later incidents that can be connected to the called in one. He passed along the phrase, “When people call, crooks go away!”
Chairperson McKenzie mentioned that our criminals hop back and forth across the county line so we must keep aware of them on both sides. They are interested in our crime information and we are interested in theirs. What the residents of Valley Home need is a resident who will volunteer to chair the Valley Home Neighborhood Watch program.
*****
Our Valley Home PTC members would like to thank everyone that supported our Annual Scholastic Book Faire, with your help we were able to raise over $1000 in books for our school library. Great job to all involved!
*****
Valley Home School has nine outstanding students who will be receiving the honor of Student of the Month for their class. This is a great achievement for which they will receive a certificate, a T-shirt, a special lunch, personal recognition with all students in attendance and have their picture taken for the Oakdale Leader. Please be on the lookout for these fine students! Just a reminder to all our students, if you are not this month’s Student of the Month, make sure to study, focus during class instruction, be kind to others and work hard to be one in an upcoming month.
Our PTC president, Lisa Jones invites you to join the group at their next meeting, this Thursday, September 16 at 3 p.m. in Mrs. Moore’s classroom. Babysitting will be available. Harvest Fest Committee will be updating us on their progress and let you know how you can help to make this event fabulous.
*****
Are you going to enter the Scarecrow contest? No? Why not, it is a fun task that shows community spirit! Now that the answer is YES … look for flyers and entry forms the beginning of October.
*****
Celebrating birthdays this week are Don Taro and Penny McDonald. Have a wonderful day!