Appliance Repair in Denair, CA

A Denair organization which has fostered an appreciation of the performing arts for community members throughout the decades is in danger of shutting down due to a lack of board members and volunteers.

There are currently four Denair Gaslight Community Conservatory board members who volunteer their time and oversee all happenings at the Gaslight Theater on North Gratton Road — a selfless job which helps bring theater, music and dancing opportunities to the town’s youth.

According to board president Katie Mullany, the GCC board was extremely active prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, once the virus hit and was here to stay, board members moved to different cities or were no longer able to be active and the organization was back at square one.

“We have to basically rebuild the entire program at this point,” Mullany said. “We’re looking for people that are willing to get in there and help replenish the board a little bit, as well as volunteer at the facility once we can get it up and running again.”

Volunteers are needed not only to oversee things from a board perspective, but the theater is also hoping to receive help from those who can run the stage and lights for different shows at the theater and teach children about the various performing arts.

The Denair Gaslight Theater is the former site of the Denair school, built in 1917. The Denair Community Services Committee purchased the building in 1968 and in 2002, the Gaslight Community Conservatory was formed.

The organization has never been in danger of shutting down before, Mullany said, emphasizing the dire situation in Denair. Rebuilding a program from the ground up via a volunteer-based model may be a tall order, but she believes the community can come together to make it happen — like they always do.

“We know a lot of kids that have gone through the programs and look back fondly on it, and even parents have been involved,” Mullany said. “It’s a community-based thing for everybody and it’s a gathering place and somewhere you can be creative. It just becomes a little family down there, and we've seen different families come in and out over the years.”

GCC board members are responsible for attending monthly board meetings and pitching in with all aspects of the organization, from helping to run the website to the actual operations of the facility. Mullany encouraged those who want to give back and are good at working in a team to inquire about a position on the board.

“We need good team players and people with strong leadership skills. We’re excited to get in and really get on the ground floor of it because we’re not just looking for people to be yes men where they come and vote and that’s it. We have to get in and get our hands dirty and walk the walk ourselves,” Mullany said. “That’s the type of personality we’re looking for — someone who’s creative and excited to volunteer with the community.”

Mullany said GCC is looking for a handful of new board members and additional volunteers to help the performing arts programs and shows at the Gaslight Theater get back up and running. If they don’t find enough volunteers by Jan. 1, 2022, the program will shut down. Those who are interested can contact Mullany at 209-424-1601.

The 2022 SAL regular season schedule has come to an end for the Gustine High Reds as they played their final two games of the season last week facing off against the Denair Coyotes (4-10) in two conference match ups.

The Reds and Coyotes split wins on their opponents’ home fields to conclude the series at an even 1-1.

Gustine wrapped up their season with an overall of 8-11 and a 5-9 SAL record finishing in fifth place without a playoff berth this season.

“Overall this season, I feel like we did what we were suppose to. We had our ups and downs, but we finished strong,” said Head Coach Craig Beevers. “There is a “high ceiling” for this young team and it will be exciting to see what the next couple years bring.”

On May 5 the Reds played their last game of the season in an away match up on the Coyotes home diamond, where they took 12-5 landslide victory to close out their season.

In this complete seven inning game the Reds bats were active from start to finish scoring every inning but the top of the fifth totaling their 12 runs on the evening. The Gustine defense and pitching were able to hold back the bats of the Coyotes only allowing three runs in the second and two in the third inning.

In the batters box the Reds had themselves a day with six batters getting in on the action for their win.

Gio Quezada (3 for 4, double), DJ Segura (3 for 3, double), Michael Salsa (2 for 4) and Philip Saaranzin (2 for 3, double) were Gustine’s top batters of the evening batting over .500.

Also for the Reds offense Danny Quezada went 1 for 3 while also hitting a home run; Grant Hazan was also in the mix going 1 for 4 with a double.

On the hill Segura pitched the complete game giving up 5 runs, while also retiring five Coyote batters.

“I would like to give a huge thanks to the assistant coaches, Russ Hazan, Mike Salsa, and Rich Campbell. I would also like to thank Barbara Azevedo, for always creating a great baseball environment for our fans and last but not least, the parents and community members that came out to support this year. It was a great atmosphere,” Beevers noted.

For the first match up of the two game series Gustine hosted the visiting Denair Coyotes on their home field for senior night.

The Reds honored their four seniors; Giovanni Quezada, Tyler Borba, Angel Toledo, and Mateo Gallichio.

Gustine was overpowered 14-1 in their home match up as the Coyotes had a big nine run inning in the first to secure their win just in five innings. GHS was only able to connect with a single run in the bottom of the fourth.

The Quezada brothers and Gallichio were able to lead the Reds offensive plays, all going 1 for 2 at the plate.

The continued spread of COVID-19 cases across Stanislaus County has led one group to cancel a festival set for this weekend, while another will go on as scheduled..

Though COVID deaths slowed down in the county over the Labor Day weekend, the Black Family Day Culture and Music Festival event planned for Saturday at Graceada Park has been canceled, said the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Modesto/Stanislaus. This comes as Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief White House COVID adviser, cautioned against massive crowds gathering outdoors as the delta variant spreads.

The Family Day was set to feature arts, crafts, food and a free COVID vaccination clinic, according to the organization’s website.

“We are sad to cancel but believe that given the latest advances, we are making the best decision to protect the health, safety and welfare of our community,” said Wendy Byrd, NAACP president, in a news release.

Also scheduled for Saturday, the Denair Farm and Family Festival is still on, said James Shehan, event chairman. He said the permit to have the event was just approved this week.

“We haven’t heard anything from the county” about canceling the event, he said. Shehan added that the event will be held outdoors and a mask is not required. The downtown event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. kicks off with a tractor parade and includes kids activities, live entertainment, 100-plus vendors and more.

The Oakdale Chocolate Festival, scheduled for Sept. 25-26, also still is scheduled. None of its promotional materials indicate masks will be required.

Tens of thousands of people attend the Oakdale event every year. In 2018, attendance was 45,000, according to the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, over 70,000 people attended, making it the second largest attendance record in the event’s history, chamber CEO Mary Guardiola told the Oakdale Leader at the time.

As of now, Stanislaus County is allowing events but requiring masks for indoor settings.

The hopes for the Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)

to win a third straight Open Division state title is still alive after an 80-74 home victory over St. Augustine in a CIF State Open Southern California regional first round game on Wednesday.

Playing without Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, the Trailblazers (25-4) got 22 points from UCLA-signee Amari Bailey and 16 from Isaiah Elohim. Sierra Canyon was upset in Southern Section pool play by Harvard-Westlake and now there will be a rematch. The Wolverines (25-3) will host the game 6 p.m. Saturday.

James is believed to be nursing a hip injury.

Due to the pandemic, it's been since 2019 that the California Interscholastic Federation has crowned boys basketball state champions. That is about to change.

The CIF announced the pairings of its Northern and Southern California regional championships on Sunday and below are all the first-round results. he winners in each of six divisions meet to crown state champions March 11-12 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

The 2019 boys champions were Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) in the Open Division, Chino Hills in Division I, Campolindo (Moraga) in Division II, La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla) in Division III, Ribet Academy (Los Angeles) in Division IV and Foothill (Bakersfield) in Division V.

Check for live scores updated throughout the night.

Full bracket can be found here - 2022 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships Open Division

Full bracket can be found here - 2022 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships Division I Full bracket can be found here - 2022 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships Division II Full bracket can be found here - 2022 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships Division III Full bracket can be found here - 2022 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships Division IV Full bracket can be found here - 2022 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships Division V

Residents of four unincorporated areas of Stanislaus County are facing big increases in garbage collection rates.

County officials say the rate increases, adding anywhere from $13 to $30 to monthly residential bills, are tied to implementing a state recycling bill signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2016.

The increases will affect Bertolotti Disposal customers in Salida, Keyes, Crows Landing, Grayson and Westley.

Also affected are Gilton Solid Waste customers in Knights Ferry and Valley Home, and areas served by Turlock Scavenger in Denair, Empire, Hickman, La Grange and unincorporated pockets of Turlock.

The county, which regulates garbage haulers and sets the maximum rates they can charge, previously has made minor adjustments to garbage service rates based on changes in consumer price indices. But Senate Bill 1383 brings significant changes and additional requirements for recycling organic wastes.

The bill is designed to fight climate change by reducing wastes going into landfills that break down and create methane emissions. County officials said the state has provided no funding to offset the costs of implementing SB 1383 and that puts the costs on the shoulders of ratepayers.

County environmental resources staff told supervisors this week the new state requirements will apply to a large portion of county unincorporated territory and expand the areas where garbage service is mandatory.

The most immediate changes will take effect in four areas served by garbage collection companies:

? Bertolotti Disposal customers in Salida, Keyes, Crows Landing and Grayson will receive three 96-gallon carts, including a green one for organic waste, blue for plastics and beverage containers and black for regular household waste. The county board approved a monthly rate of $43.90, an increase of $15.99, effective Jan. 1. The new commercial rate is $135.53 a month, a $34.06 increase.

? Gilton Solid Waste customers in Knights Ferry and Valley Home will receive a green cart for organic waste and a black cart for recyclables mixed with regular household garbage. Gilton can use two carts because it has a processing facility for separating out recyclables. The new rate is $35.92 a month, an increase of $12.98, effective Jan. 1. Commercial customers will pay $124.37 a month, a $29.34 increase.

? Turlock Scavenger will use a three-cart system for residential service in Denair, Empire, Hickman and La Grange. According to the county, inefficiencies caused by SB 1383 requirements result in a large increase to $51.91 a month, or $25.47 higher than the current rate, effective March 1. Commercial customers will pay $109.59 a month, a $25.47 increase.

? A three-cart Turlock Scavenger service in unincorporated parts of Turlock will cost $53.64 a month, an increase of $29.25, effective March 1. The big hike also is due to inefficiencies caused by SB 1383 requirements, the county said. The commercial rate will be $115.66, a $29.25 increase.

The county environmental resources agency has been distributing flyers on the garbage service changes and customers will receive information from haulers.

County supervisors recognize the higher garbage service rates will be difficult for some families and people on fixed incomes. They said the higher costs are related to the new state regulations.

Residents can get together with neighbors on arrangements to share containers and lower their monthly costs.

“We are going to do what we can to work with people,” Supervisor Terry Withrow said. “We all want to do our part to recycle. It becomes very real when the rates have to go up.”

Supervisor Mani Grewal said he also wants county environmental resources to keep looking for ways to reduce the rates. “If there is an opportunity to lower these rates, I want to make sure we are on top of it,” he said at Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting.

Tami Stoller of Salida said in correspondence to the county that she’s concerned about the hefty increase. Stoller wrote that she and her husband already have taken steps to reduce yard waste and won’t likely need a large recycling container.

“We just converted our yard to artificial turf and rock using the county’s turf conversion program,” Stoller wrote. “We did this to save water and cut down on the green waste going to the landfill.”

This story was originally published December 16, 2021 8:51 AM.