Merced County Times

09/10/2024

What do Carleton Watkins and Ansel Adams have in common?

They are both well-known Yosemite photographers, and each photographed Merced at least once.

While Adams’ portrait of a drifter in front of the Palace Rooms on 16th Street provides a glimpse of optimism amid the Great Depression, Watkins’ image of El Capitan Hotel and Passenger Depot by the Central Pacific Railroad offers a look at an up-and-coming new town.

As we know, most of Adams’ work has been preserved, but much of Watkins’ was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Just as tragic as his work, Watkins was largely forgotten for most of the 20th century following his death at Napa State Hospital in 1916. To learn more about Watkins, we are going to explore his Yosemite photos and his legacy in creating the National Park.

Carleton Watkins was born in New York in 1829 but came to California at the tail end of the initial Gold Rush in 1851 to make his fortune in gold with his childhood friend, Collis Huntington. Like many gold miners, they got out of the business fast. Huntington would later become a Central Pacific Railroad magnate as one of the “Big Four” who built the first Transcontinental Railroad.

Meanwhile, Watkins found his passion in photography, and in 1858, he began working as a photographer for Hutchings’ Illustrated California Magazine. Watkins made a life-changing decision in the summer of 1861 when he traveled to Yosemite for the first time with his mammoth-plate camera, which captured more detail in the 18×22-inch glass plates. For the depth of the subject, Watkins used his stereoscopic camera to create stereograph cards.

These published photographs, the first to be seen of Yosemite in the East, won the hearts and minds in Washington, D.C. which led to State and Federal protection of the land, including the Yosemite Grant signed by President Lincoln in 1864. Later, Mount Watkins was named in his honor to recognize Watkins’ contribution in preserving Yosemite Valley

You can read the full story on our website.

Story ✍🏼: Sarah Lim, Director of the Merced County Courthouse Museum

09/10/2024

Whether you are immediately familiar with the name Joel Aguilar or not, if you are a valley resident or spend much time around here at all, you are more than likely familiar with his
artwork.

Aguilar (also known as “Gamut” to friends and social media followers) is a valley native who has been working hard for many years to expand his craft, pursue his dreams, and give
back to the community.

He is a multifaceted artist with the spirit of an entrepreneur. While his primary artistic outlet is as a muralist, he is also a seasoned ceramics artist, graphic designer, arts technician, and small business owner among a slew of other ventures with his collective THC (Third Hour Collective).

Aguilar was born and raised in Livingston to immigrant parents. From an early age, he knew that art was something incredibly special to him; even noting that after taking a career assessment test early in elementary school he was recommended to be an artist. While his decision to pursue art as a career was not something that his family really understood or could fully get behind at first, they did their best to support his aspirations, and he has gone on to accomplish much in a short time.

After winning a local Art Hop competition his senior year, and graduating from Livingston High School, Aguilar made his way to the Stanislaus State University where he would study Fine Arts and be given a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to study abroad in Florece, Italy, at the Academy of Fine Arts from 2013 to 2014.

He regards his time studying in Italy as a dream come true and hopes to return one day as a more established artist. While reflecting on his time there he said, “I lived and breathed art,”
and, “had so many experiences that I couldn’t believe.”

Among these experiences, one of his most memorable was being able to live across from and study in the legendary Uffizi Museum, where you can find a massive collection of priceless historical pieces such as the Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli and Woman with a Veil by Raphael. Additionally, when asked what he missed most was, “The food and the freedom.”

You can read the full story at newsstands.

Story ✍🏼: Andrew Hardy

09/10/2024

Ruben Sanchez’s passion for art and farmworkers is as deeply rooted as the fields where he almost came into the world.
The vibrant colors of California’s Central Valley fields serve as the palette Sanchez uses to bring to life, through his paintings, the memories of his family and the ancestors of all who have toiled there.

As a campesino artist (a term describing farmworker-related art), Sanchez captures the essence of a life lived close to the land and its labor.

Whether creating an earth-toned mural that echoes the skin tones of those who labor under the sun to cultivate our food or capturing the cherry-red tomatoes he picked alongside his family, Sanchez’s deep connection to the people and culture of the Valley is undeniable.

“It’s a reflection (of my surroundings),” he said. “It just seemed natural because that’s a part of me. That’s a part of being Latino. My story is just one of hundreds. I started doing this because when I looked at art, I didn’t see myself.”

Roots in the Valley
The 71-year-old’s origin story began under the sun in Firebaugh in the 1950s, where his mother, while picking cotton, was rushed to a nearby hospital to deliver him by cesarean
section.

From his early days, he was a regular in the fields his family worked in, where he learned about hard work and artistic pursuits. Much of that time was in the Merced County community of Planada, where his family picked tomatoes.

“When I was 5 years old, my parents took me to the field ‘para ver qué hace el niño’ – to see what the kid would do,” Sanchez recalled in Spanish. “My dad made me a can out of coffee cans with a wire, and I would fill it with tomatoes and dump it.”

In the early 1960s, 8-year-old Sanchez experienced a profound revelation during a trip with his father to Palo Alto, Jalisco, Mexico. It was his first encounter with the world his father had grown up in — a place vastly different from what he was accustomed to.

“I began to see a part of me that I didn’t know existed, Sanchez said. “It was like time traveling at the rancho. There was no water, no electricity, no nothing.”

Full story available at newsstands.

Story✍🏼: Christian de Jesus Betancourt, The Merced Focus/CVJC

09/09/2024

When Alex Carrillo moved to Merced, he anticipated only staying for about two years. Ten years later, he is still here, and has ingrained himself in the Merced community.

With his 33rd birthday just next week, he is currently campaigning to bring his advocacy experience to the Merced City Council as the representative for District 5. He is running against incumbent City Council member Sarah Boyle, and fellow challenger Felipe Rojas-Flores, an attorney, in this year’s election process that culminates on Nov. 5.

District 5 covers the area west of G Street and north of Bear Creek, including the Merced Mall and the neighborhoods of El Portal, Buena Vista, Shadow Brook, and a small section south of Highway 99 along Sydney Lane.

When Carrillo’s younger brother was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, Carrillo saw firsthand the difficulties of handling the healthcare system, and the complicated nature of accessing necessary resources during a crisis. That realization led him down his current path.

“That’s really what the motivator was to really take the advocacy route. … It wasn’t just my brother going through that experience,” said Carrillo. “It was like, oh, a whole lot of families in the Central Valley, when in the same situation, they didn’t have access to healthcare.”

Early in his career, Carrillo worked primarily in Stanislaus County. He received an associates degree in human services from Modesto Junior College in 2012, and has worked with at-risk youth and nonprofits. He currently works at the UC Merced Community and Labor Center as the director of communications.

Carrillo also worked on the campaigns for State Senator Anna Caballero and State Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, both of whom have given their endorsements in his bid for Merced City Council.

Carrillo identifies five primary priorities for his campaign: economic prosperity, public and neighborhood safety, modernizing our infrastructure, community preservation and revitalization, and community engagement

You can read the complete profile on our website and at newsstands everywhere.

Story ✍🏼: Brittany Miller

09/09/2024

Last year, 2023, the Merced SPCA TNR’d 982 homeless cats.
TNR stands for Trap - Neuter (spay) - Return. (Cats are returned to the area where they were trapped.)

This TNR program has prevented the birth of approximately 26,500 kittens from being born into a hostile unwelcoming environment for 2023. The hope is to increase that amount for
this year, 2024.

Merced SPCA was able to socialize and find “forever” homes for 60 kittens. Unfortunately and with sad hearts, 25 had to be put to sleep due to illness or injuries that were terminal and
the cats were suffering.

Merced SPCA does not take this task lightly. Part of this figure was due to a break out of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) — a horrid, contagious and deadly disease.

At the April 16, 2024 City Council meeting, the President of the Merced SPCA, Cynthia Kelly, asked the Merced City Council to use their Social Media to advise the public that harming/killing cats (and dogs) is a felony. This request was made because of a rash of animals being shot and worse.

At the June 17 meeting, Kelly asked the Merced City Council to use their social media to advise the public to get their pets vaccinated due to the deadly outbreak of FeLV.

The City Council did neither of these things. It’s difficult to believe that not one council member posted this — whether they like cats or not. This program saves our city thousands of dollars.

For this month, September, Merced SPCA is lowering their membership fee in an effort to acquire new members. The Merced SPCA is supported entirely from donations. No funding is received from city, county, state or federal entities, except in possible grants when available.

Family Membership: $35 Annually
Individual Membership: $25 Annually
Senior Membership: $20 Annually
Organization Membership: $75 Annually

You may go to the SPCA webpage: mercedspca.com, and fill out the membership form. You may pay your membership fee online, paypal, Venmo, or mail it to: MERCED SPCA , P.O. Box 929, Merced, CA 95341.

Letter ✍🏼: Florence Lambert, Merced SPCA President

09/07/2024

Quarterback Ariel Ochoa is ranked 12th in the nation in passing yards (1,656), and she’s thrown 25 touchdown passes with an overall 74 percent completion rating.

Her teammates — receivers Shantelle Magana, Abnoor Bains and Madysen Dietz — have a combined 22 touchdowns, with 115 receptions for 1,197 yards.

And they’ve only played nine games this preseason. League play starts later this month.

If these numbers spark your interest, and you’re wanting to know more, well you just have to check out what’s happening with the Girls Varsity Flag Football team at El Capitan High School.

Yes, we’re talkin’ good old flag football — with a jolt of enthusiasm.

The non-contact sport that started out with recreational leagues in the 1940s is today the fastest-growing team sport in the world. Flag football is even going to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

In this area, girls’ teams have formed at most local high schools, and last year, they started competing in a Central California Conference league.

The 17-year-old Ochoa was a standout quarterback in 2023 with her JV team that won the CCC title. Last year’s Varsity team didn’t fare so well, ending up in fourth place with Atwater and Merced High tying for first place; however, the El Capitan Gauchos did go undefeated in the second half of the season.

“Things are starting to click and now we’re playing as a complete team,” says Varsity Coach Tyler Dietz. “We also added some talented girls from last year’s JV team. They have been executing very well on both offense and defense. It’s been pretty fun so far. We’re 6-3 in the preseason so far, and all our losses were to highly-ranked teams.”

When Ochoa talks about her game, she sounds like a seasoned pro, saying she’s been studying film from past games, and building chemistry with her teammates.
“I know their speed, and they know my throwing distance,” she says. “Some people say my performance has been really good, but I know I can do better.”

You can read the full story on our website & at newsstands throughout Merced.

Story ✍🏼: Jonathon Whitaker

09/06/2024

Joanna Garcia Rose is no stranger to bureaucracy. She is currently running against incumbent Esmeralda Soria to become a member of the California State Assembly, and the 39-year-old Atwater resident has spent a large portion of her working years as a state employee, doing everything from working at the Department of Motor Vehicles to working as an auditor for the Employment Development Department. She currently works for the California Department of Corrections.

Garcia Rose received a degree in Ag Business from Fresno State, and graduated from San Joaquin College of Law in 2013. She won the primary earlier this year for the District 27 seat, but she shared with the Times that she had not initially planned to run for any political office.

“I was registering to vote and I looked at what happened last year, and how close it was, and I felt like California hasn’t had balance for a long time. Whether you’re one party or the other party, complete control by one opinion is never going to be a good thing for everyone. I’ve always known that,” said Garcia Rose. “So I sent a joking text about the seat to the consultant that helped me out like 10 years ago when I ran for Congress.”

“I was kind of kidding. …I wasn’t prepared right now. I have a three-year-old. But within five minutes he was calling me, and then within a couple days I had people calling me, party leaders calling me, saying ‘We need someone who’s good for this seat. You’re it.’ And I’m like, wait, what?” she said with a laugh. “I prayed about it a lot and I felt like doors don’t open like that on their own. … You don’t get that much support unless there’s, in my opinion, something bigger happening.”

You can read the full story on our website at the link in our bio.

Story ✍🏼: Brittany Miller

09/06/2024

The Lake Yosemite Sailing Association (LYSA) held their last race of the season last Thursday. Eight sailboats raced through a multi-point course around the lake. The weekly sailboat races during the season are one of their most popular functions. During this season’s last race, the boat “Quick Fix” came in first, as they have for what sounds like many previous races.

In addition to their weekly sailboat races, LYSA is responsible for the maintenance of their clubhouse and the adjoining docks. They also run a junior sailing club in the summer months to teach kids the art of sailing.

On Saturday, Sept. 14, LYSA will hold their largest event: their annual open house and all-you-can-eat shrimp feed. The event functions as their largest fundraiser, which helps to cover their operating costs as well as pay for scholarships for next year’s junior sailors.

The open house event has enough activity to fill a full afternoon and evening. From 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. the club offers sailboat rides along the lake for those attending the shrimp feed. Food is served at 5:30 p.m., with live music from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Festivities will also include a raffle and a dessert auction.

Chris Currier is the current Vice Commodore for the Lake Yosemite Sailing Association, and will be next year’s Commodore, following current Commodore Dan Aleman. Currier said the club is looking at the next generation as they plan their future.

“I think it’s a good time for the sport,” said Currier. “Sailing has been a really tough sell for a lot of years, but every now and then the wind changes, and it seems like it’s going in sailing’s direction right now.”

Read the full story on our website & at newsstands throughout Merced.

Story ✍🏼 & Photos 📸: Brittany Miller

09/04/2024

The debate between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones has been going on ever since they first crossed paths on the charts 61 years ago.

The argument at the time, and one that still persists, was that the Beatles were a pop group and the Stones were a rock band: the boys next door vs. the bad boys of rock.

So who’s better?

These two legendary bands will engage in an on-stage, throw down — a musical “showdown” if you will – at the Merced Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. — courtesy of tribute bands Abbey Road and Satisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show.

Taking the side of the Fab Four is Abbey Road, one of the county’s top Beatles tribute bands. With brilliant musicianship and authentic costumes and gear, Abbey Road plays beloved
songs spanning the Beatles’ career. They face off against renowned Stones tribute band Satisfaction who offer a faithful rendition of the music and style of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
and the bad boys of the British Invasion.

Where did the idea for the show come from?

“Music fans never had a chance to see the Beatles and the Rolling Stones perform on the same marquee,” said Chris LeGrand, who plays “Mick Jagger” in the show. “Now, music aficionados can watch this debate play out live on stage.”

The Merced show is part of a 125 stop tour of the U.S., Australia and Canada and has been touring since 2011. The production includes some of the more popular songs from the two rock pioneers and covers the scope of their musical careers, although the set list for Satisfaction usually includes Rolling Stones songs up to the 1980s.

“They certainly have more pop songs but we’re a really great live show. The fans are in for an incredible night of music!” says LeGrand.

Tickets are $40-$60 and available online at mercedtheatre.org, by phone at (209) 381-0500 or at the Theatre Box Office.

09/03/2024

Merced County officials and Winton residents held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate a major upgrade to the town’s 52-year-old community park.

The $3.7 million Winton Park project was funded through an award the county secured through the California Department of Transportation’s highly-competitive “Clean California Local Grant Program.”

Winton Park, located at Olive Avenue and Winton Way, is 21.5 acres and was established in 1972. It is the only park located in the community of Winton, which is approximately 1.5 miles northwest of the Castle Commerce Center.

Supervisor Lloyd Pareira, whose District 4 includes Winton, said the park is a frequently-used staple of the community.

“This park is such an important amenity to the residents in and around Winton,” Pareira said. “These renovations, which were funded through grant dollars, will ensure the community can enjoy this resource now and well into the future. One of the most anticipated features is the lighted walking loop around the park, which I hope will serve as a safe way for seniors to stay active while enjoying open space.”

Renovations include:
•A new 5,650-foot walking path around the perimeter of the park;
•Restoration of a soccer field including grading, reseeding, and lighting;
•Renovation of a baseball field including lighting;
•Four new baseball dugouts;
•Lighting for the basketball court;
•A new playground;
•Two new picnic shelters;
•Sixty graffiti-resistant picnic tables to replace vandalized ones;
•Twenty new trees with water-efficient irrigation;
•A public art project consisting of 12 iron benches designed and made by high school students.

These improvements were made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom’s statewide Clean California initiative — a sweeping, $1.2 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and join with communities throughout the state to reclaim, transform, and beautify public spaces and help keep them that way.

You can read the full story on our website and at newsstands throughout Merced.

09/03/2024

If you ask Cynthia Kelly about the region of Merced she has lived in for the past 17 years, her response might have you thinking she would be a really good real estate agent.

“It is one of the most desirable locations to live and work in Merced,” Kelly says. “It’s the most walkable community in our city, as well. In 15 to 20 minutes, you can walk north to Olive Avenue for shopping and errands, or south to Downtown for additional shopping and entertainment activities. Its tree-lined streets and proximity to Bear Creek also provide opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities and recreation.”

Kelly is talking about a historic area where it all began for the city: the Old Town Merced neighborhoods, the Main Street corridor and its downtown shops, and Applegate Park.

However, since Kelly is a local political candidate, and this is an election year, she and other candidates are calling this well-known geographical area by another, more modern term: “District 3.”

And, not surprisingly, District 3 has issues.

“We not only need city support in District 3, but we also need tangible solutions,” Kelly says. “Our roads have failed (or are failing) as was highly evident after the flood of last year. We have illegal camping on our creekbanks and dumping in our waterways. There’s been an increase in car thefts, home thefts and property vandalism; and cars speeding in the east district has caused our streets to become unsafe.”

Kelly is running for the open District 3 seat on the Merced City Council in the all mail-in ballot election that leads to the final Election Day on Nov. 5. Incumbent City Councilwoman Bertha Perez has decided not to seek re-election in the race, so Kelly is one of three challengers to take her place, along with Mike Harris, a city planning commissioner, and Sair Lara, a former president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. District 3 is bordered in the north by Bear Creek and in the south by Highway 99. It includes a stretch of Yosemite Parkway on one end, and a small section south of 99 near Gracey School on the other.

You can read the full story on our website, linked in our bio.

Story ✍🏼: Andrew Hardy

09/02/2024

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Merced started the iconic Kiddieland in Applegate Park in 1957. Kiddieland has been enjoyed by thousands of kids and adults over the years, and new plans include the addition of an ADA clean-energy train, and an enlarged train platform area with better access for the rides and concession stand.

There is a total of six rides: Go Gator roller coaster, merry-go-round, helicopter ride, rocket ship ride, car ride, and of course, the favorite Express Train ride that’s being updated. There is also a birthday area for those wishing to celebrate the occasion.

Kiddieland is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. usually starting around the first weekend in March and going through October, depending on weather of course.

The exciting thing that is happening now is the purchase of a new Wattman Maxi Express train with three to four cars, and the caboose is handicapped accessible with a wheelchair ramp. The old train track will be removed and a new longer concrete pathway will be constructed for the new train with rubber tires.

The train will be very colorful and will feature authentic locomotion sounds and a sound system to all the cars. The train will be equipped with all the latest safety features as
the train and all the other rides annually pass inspection by the California State Department of Public Relations.

You can read the full story at the link in our bio and at newsstands everywhere.

09/02/2024

FYI --- Congressional Committee to Hold California Field Hearing in Santa Nella on Water Issues and Challenges

SANTA NELLA - On Friday, Sept. 6, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) will host a field hearing titled, "Water Abundance: Opportunities and Challenges in California."

MEMBERS:
Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.)
U.S. Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.)
U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.)
U.S. Rep. Vince Fong (R-Calif.)
U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.)
U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.)

Additional members possible

SCHEDULE:
Sept. 6
10:30 a.m. PDT | Field Hearing
Hotel Mission De Oro in the Ponce de Leon Room
13070 S Highway 33
Santa Nella, CA 95322

The field hearing is open to the public, and will be streamed live here:

On Friday, September 6, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. (PDT), the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold an oversight field hearing titled “Water Abundance: Opportunities and Challenges in California.” The hearing will examine California’s water supply, i...

09/01/2024

*60 days but who’s counting 🎃

HAPPY SEPTEMBER! 🍂

Comic💥:

09/01/2024

When one thinks of a Parkinson’s diagnosis, a pair of boxing gloves might be the last thing that comes to mind. At Rock Steady Boxing, however, they are the first line of defense.

Rock Steady Boxing is a nationwide fitness program aimed at helping those with Parkinson’s fight their condition. Kody Runyan, a Physical Therapist Assistant at Park Avenue Physical Therapy in Merced, partnered with Merced MMA to bring the program to Merced.

Runyan, who is the lead instructor of the local Rock Steady Boxing program, got the idea from Joan Hayes, a Parkinson’s patient. Runyan was helping Hayes at Park Avenue Physical
Therapy, and Hayes suggested Runyan look into programs tailored to Parkinson’s. Runyan trained to become an instructor for Rock Steady Boxing, worked with Merced MMA, and the
program took off early this year.

“Because this is a progressive disorder, it’s something that just gets worse in time and there’s no cure for it. But it’s more of a
movement disorder. So the more that you move, the slower it progresses,” said Runyan.

“That’s why I love the phrase ‘movement is
medicine.’ It’s huge for them.”

“Movement is medicine” is a clear theme of the program, and it is the cheer everyone makes during the end of class huddle.

Full story is available on our websites & newsstands throughout Merced.

Story ✍🏼: Brittany Miller
Photos 📸: Brittany Miller

08/31/2024

The University of California, Merced, is now officially part of the city.

Local leaders say this is an important step that marks a new chapter in the community’s development and collaboration.
Students, faculty, and staff at UC Merced can expect campus life to continue as usual, with the university maintaining its own safety services to ensure a familiar and secure environment.

The transition to other city services, such as fire protection, is underway, with all parties dedicated to coordinating responsibilities between jurisdictions.

“It’s an exciting new era for both the city and the UC,” Mayor Matthew Serratto told the campus community. “This isn’t just about expanding city limits — it’s about the shared future we’re
creating together. Your creativity, energy, and innovation are essential to Merced’s spirit, and we look forward to all that we will achieve together.”

As we get closer to elections later this year, the Merced County Registrar of Voters is preparing to share information about the Nov. 5 General Election and voter registration. Residents in the
newly annexed area will be eligible to vote on national, state, and county issues. However, they will not be able to vote on city-specific contests, such as mayor or city council, because the annexation and subsequent change to voting precincts will not have been in effect within the required 125 days before the
election.

Read the full story on our website & at newsstands throughout Merced.

08/31/2024

If there were a list of top advocates for the Downtown Merced
area in recent years, the name Sair Lara Rodriguez would
definitely be on it.

The 41-year-old board member and former president of the
Downtown Neighborhood Association has stood up at
government and community meetings, and led community-
based efforts to create safer streets, clean parks and a thriving, walkable Main Street shopping and entertainment area.

However, Lara sees the effort as only just beginning, and that’s
one of the reasons he’s in the race for Merced City Council to
represent the district where he lives — District 3.

“I am running for Merced City Council District 3 because I
believe I can bring balance and effective representation to the
council,” the candidate told the Times. “This next council will
shape the next 20 to 30 years of Merced’s history, and I need to be part of that for my daughter, and the future of Merced. If we do not have a unified council to pass proactive policies, we run the risk of falling further behind on housing, economic
development, infrastructure, and public safety.”

Merced’s District 3 encompasses the Downtown portion of the
city, and its historic neighborhoods south of Bear Creek. Lara
faces two other contenders in the District 3 race: Mike Harris, a
city planning commissioner, and Cynthia Kelly, a marketing
director.

Read the full story on our website & at newsstands.

Story ✍🏼: Andrew Hardy