Hello to each of you. I hope you are all having a really good week.

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I was very blessed this past weekend. My sister and I were able to go into town, East D Street to be exact, at 11am on Saturday. We were honored to watch as local veteran Darryl saw the American flag raised once again, this time in his yard on. My eyes filled with tears as I thought of what that flag means to so many of us … especially our veterans like Darryl. I felt so much gratitude and respect for Darryl and all those who served our great country. “Thank you” to each of you who served our great nation. It is because of you that we were able to stand there on the far side of D Street watching as this flag that stands for our freedom was raised to fly high once again. I watched as our local reporter Kristi Mayfield stood silently capturing the event, to honor our men and women who made this day possible. We could all stand together on the side of a road in Oakdale, California as our beautiful flag was raised once again as a reminder that freedom is not free. God bless America.

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This week I would like to send a huge “Thank you” to our Valley Home friends and neighbors who worked so hard on Love Valley Home Day. These folks spent the day making our community beautiful. What a special place we are blessed to live in. We are grateful to our Stanislaus County Supervisor Buck Condit and our Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors for always supporting us in Valley Home.

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To update you, don’t forget Oakdale’s All American Bash will be hosted again this summer. This very special celebration is put on by the Oakdale Enrichment Society. It promises to be a tremendous salute to our nation’s beginning … July 4, 1776. Expect a very special celebration on this, our nation’s 250th Birthday. The Bash will be held on Saturday, June 27 at Dorada Park, near the Chamber of Commerce building and the city swimming pool. We hope to see you there. Please mark your calendars.

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May is a special month; a month our students have very much looked forward to during the school year. Our Valley Home kindergarteners are excited to move on to first grade; our eighth graders are thrilled to head to high school. Most will go on to Oakdale High; some will head to Escalon High and some will attend other high schools. Wherever they choose to attend high school it is going to be an amazing time in their young lives. As our Valley Home eighth graders look forward to beginning their high school journey, we send them best wishes for a wonderful high school experience. We are so proud of our 2026 Oakdale High School and Escalon High School graduates. May God bless each of you. Keep reaching for the stars.

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As always, you may reach me by text or telephone at 209-985-5233.

Until next time, “Happy Trails to All.”