We couldn’t ask for a nicer day weather-wise than what we enjoyed on Saturday afternoon when volunteers gathered at the Valley Home Community Park for a tree planting. Bud Ferreila drove his truck carrying a power auger and parked next to our Community Park, then went to work digging a spot for the planting of the Colorado Blue Spruce which is now the official Valley Home Community Christmas Tree. The tree was a gift from Morris Nursery which was donated to the park last December where it quickly became one of the highlights of the Valley Home annual 4-H Christmas activities. On hand to help plant the tree were Don Taro, Tony Taro, Glenn Burghardt, Kate Hart, Vicki Dickens and Laura Burghardt. The tree looks great and a wonderful addition to the Park.
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Well, in other happenings in our community, we find our 4-Hers meeting this week to nominate officers for the next year. Nominations take place in May and elections follow in June. Our President, Jenna Heaton will be stepping down this year after two consecutive terms. She will stay on to help our next President and other officers. All of the Club officers have done a superb job throughout the year, and we are extremely proud of each one of them!
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We can see from the signs around our community that County Fair is just around the corner. Our 4-Hers are busy raising lambs, goats, hogs, rabbits, poultry and horses and getting their other exhibits ready to show at the Fair.
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In other news, Cody and Cooper Bartholomew’s Pea Hen has started laying eggs. The Bartholomew brothers are excited to report that she has laid 3 eggs so far. To add to the excitement, a wild Tom Turkey has flown in and is making itself at home. It is a beautiful black and bronze in color and the two boys think it must have flown in to visit the two hens they are raising. It is a very pretty sight to see them wandering around the yard.
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Christina Barreto attended the Stanislaus County 4-H Fashion Revue held at the Valley Home School gym on April 29th. Let’s have a big round of applause for Ashley Barreto, Marissa Campbell and Hallie Smith from our Valley Home 4-H who participated in the event. Ashley and Marissa Campbell will be going to attend the State Fashion Revue on May 26th representing Valley Home 4-H and Stanislaus county.
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Wood Park in Oakdale was the site of the planting of three pink Dogwood Trees by the Oakdale Garden club. Beverly Berridge, Gloria Medeiros, Glenn and Laura Burghardt of Valley Home were among the large crowd of Oakdale Garden Club members who gathered at the Park on Friday, National Arbor Day, to celebrate the planting of a blooming Dogwood in honor of member Ingrid Dolly who recently passed away. Ingrid was a very active member of the Club and held the office of Secretary. This event also commemorated the first planting of Dogwood Trees on Arbor Day in the early 1900’s.
In addition a certificate stating that a Penny Pines Plantation of pines and other forest trees has been planted in the Stanislaus National Forest to honor Ingrid.
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We want to send Happy Birthday wishes this week to Joe Perez and to Kyle Henry who will be eighteen this year.
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And Happy Anniversary wishes go out to Tina & Gale Jensen and Mike & Karen Watson who celebrate their anniversaries this week.