Hello to each of you. I hope you have had a wonderful week. I think fall is definitely in the air.
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This past Saturday, my sister Linnie and I attended a beautiful service for our dear friend and neighbor, Mrs. Audrey Rinna. Yes, I have already written about this amazing woman, but she deserves so much more. Audrey’s service was special, like she was. St Luke’s Church in Valley Home was packed with folks who loved this great lady … standing room only. We will miss this sweet woman whose kindness and helping hands did so much for our Valley Home community.
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With fall coming we turn our attention to our annual Valley Home Fall Harvest Festival. This year it will be held on Saturday, October 25th from 6:30pm until 9pm. This is a very, very special night in Valley Home. Our Harvest Festival was first organized by a group comprised of community members, school PTC members and school staff, over 20 years ago. It was created to celebrate our way of life here in Valley Home, to honor the hard work of our ranchers and farmers, and the amazing crews who bring in the harvest each fall. Valley Home is rich in agriculture. We are very blessed to live in this beautiful, peaceful place. Our Fall Harvest Festival is definitely a combined effort between our community and our school. We couldn’t make this great event happen without all those folks who are currently involved with our school and community and all those who return each year to help … some from many years ago come back to help make our Harvest Festival a wonderful success. It is not designed so much as a huge money maker but more of our community and school coming together and supporting one another enjoying time together and honoring our fall harvest season. Any money raised goes back into class needs, or to community needs. Last year a tri tip dinner was held during the Harvest Festival for a local young man who had been diagnosed with leukemia at age 17. Our precious Wyatt will be forever loved and deeply missed. Thank you again to all that supported our dinner last year for Wyatt.
I will share more details on this year’s Fall Harvest Festival over the new few weeks. There will be something for everyone. I hope you each mark your calendar for Saturday, October 25th.
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I am excited to share with you that our Oakdale Thunderbird, United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Wyatt Bankus and crew arrived in Cleveland, Ohio last week for a six day stay. Wyatt is an Oakdale High alum, and is now a dedicated crew chief with the Air Force Thunderbirds. Wyatt was promoted to Technical Sergeant in June of this year. This week Technical Sergeant Bankus and his Thunderbirds have flown into Quebec, Canada for an eight day stay. For those of you who enjoy following our hometown Thunderbird, I will share next week where Wyatt is off to next. God bless our military.
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We were saddened to hear of such devastating loss from the fires in areas near us. Historic Chinese Camp, between here and Jamestown suffered great loss. We deeply appreciate our fire crews, our PG&E crews, and each of our first responders who went above and beyond to keep folks safe.
I was thankful to the lady being interviewed who, in so much distress, was watching several homes in her community burn to the ground and she said “Fire fees are necessary and so definitely worth it.”
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Speaking of fire, please try to attend our next Fire Board Monthly Meeting, scheduled at the Knights Ferry Community Hall on Thursday, Sept. 11 at 10 a.m.
All are encouraged to attend.
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Please continue to pray for our precious Jett Trunnell, a young Oakdale teen who has been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. Let’s keep Jett and his family in our prayers.
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As always, you may reach me by texting me or by telephone at 209-985-5233.
Until next time, May God bless us all.
