The hot months of summer began to fade as the region entered the fall and winter seasons; but the turning of the calendar pages still saw plenty of events and activities around the City of Action, whether school, city, community or club-related. This week, in the third and final chapter of the 2024 Year in Review series, we showcase the top stories from the front page of The News for the September through December issues.
SEPTEMBER
Wondering what the youngsters can do while the adults are enjoying sampling cheese and wine in downtown Riverbank next month? The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has developed activities just for kids as part of this year’s Cheese and Wine Exposition, giving them an opportunity to join in the celebration. There will be a variety of exciting, hands-on things to do at a Kids Corner, which will be set up in front of the Teen Center on Santa Fe Street. It’s right next door to the Community Center where the Cheese and Wine tasting is scheduled, on Saturday, Oct. 12. The planned activities are all free for the kids.
The Riverbank Save Mart grocery store celebrated its Grand ‘Re-Opening’, beginning with a huge giveaway and a ribbon cutting ceremony. The event started on Thursday, Sept 12, and select festivities continued over the weekend. A major attraction was the promise of free bags of groceries and a mystery gift card, to the first 100 customers through the door at 8 a.m. on Thursday. The enthusiasm for the prizes reportedly led the parking lot to become somewhat blocked by shoppers waiting to get in. It was also said that it took only 20 minutes to award all the prizes. The ribbon cutting took place around 9 that morning, with a number of company officers assisting. Also on hand were Riverbank Mayor Richard D. O’Brien, Council Member Darlene Barber-Martinez, and representatives of the Riverbank Chamber of Commerce and the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District.
A brand-new neighborhood park has been dedicated in the western end of Riverbank. Youngsters and their families gathered at Centennial Park at noontime on Saturday, Sept. 14, to be part of the ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication of the facility. Then, many took the opportunity to enjoy the park, as they tried out the new equipment. Riverbank Mayor Richard D. O’Brien and Council Member Darlene Barber-Martinez, whose district includes western Riverbank, handled the ribbon cutting. As the snipped ribbon fell, the group of eager youngsters present rushed through it to try out the new park attractions. In addition to a covered pavilion with permanent picnic tables, there is a large playground area with a sturdy built-in swing set, that includes two swings designed for handicapped users. There are also a large number of climbing facilities, some for older kids, some for younger, and slides at either end.
The Riverbank City Council recognized Hispanic Heritage Month with a declaration honoring resident Jose Enrique Morales at its regular meeting earlier this month. Officially, the month stretches from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, with the city celebrating the rich history and contributions made by Hispanic and Latino individuals. According to national statistics, 18.5 percent of the American population is of Hispanic or Latino origin. In Riverbank, recent census data indicates the population is about 60 percent Hispanic.
Women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and seek financial assistance to continue their education or receive training can now apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women. Applications are available at Riverbank City Hall, or by contacting Stacy Bauer at 209-284-4926. The application deadline is Nov. 15, 2024. The City of Riverbank Soroptimist club will provide a $1,000 cash award to its award recipient, who will then advance to the Soroptimist Sierra Pacific Region level, where recipients could receive up to an additional $5,000. The program culminates with three finalist $10,000 awards.
OCTOBER
With the calendar indicating we have entered fall, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department started off its series of autumn activities this past weekend … at the city swimming pool. Temperatures soared into the mid-90s for the event. On Saturday, Sept. 28, the department hosted a Floating Pumpkin Patch at the pool, from noon to 4:30 p.m. Youngsters and families were invited to jump into the pool to collect a pumpkin or two for use during the upcoming Halloween season. Also, it was a fitting end to the extended swim season that finished over the weekend.
Students, staff and faculty at Riverbank High School celebrated Homecoming Week with the theme as “Once Upon a Homecoming,” with dress up days set to different themes along the way. Friday, Oct. 4, it was Class Colors. Freshmen were to wear white, sophomores, maroon; juniors were in silver or gray; seniors in black. Part of the celebration during the busy week included the traditional Powder Puff football game, pitting the senior and freshman girls against the sophomore and junior girls. The sophomore/junior team won, 20-15. Of course, the varsity football game was part of the festivities on Friday night, and the varsity football Bruins got everyone in a good mood with a shutout win over the visiting Gustine Reds on the gridiron. Taking home the honors as Homecoming Royalty were King Esteban Ruiz and Queen Naomi Jimenez.
Riverbank City Council Member and Vice Mayor Leanne Jones-Cruz submitted her resignation, which was effective Sept. 30, and the council held a special meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 2 to decide how to fill the vacancy. The council chose to fill the vacancy by appointment, so the appointed council member will serve until November 2026, the remainder of Councilmember Jones Cruz’s term. The City Council opened an application process and is currently soliciting applications.
The Riverbank Chamber of Commerce hosted a Candidates Night for those running for posts on the City Council in November. The forum was staged on Monday evening, Oct. 7 at the Community Center. Those running for Mayor and the Districts Two and Four seats on the council participated in the question-and-answer program. Candidates for Mayor include the incumbent, Mayor Richard D. O’Brien, current District Two Council Member Rachel Hernandez, and Audio Engineer Solomon Kumar. Chamber Chair Monica Perez hosted the event, with Board Member Bill Robinson posing the questions, the same to each candidate.
Cooler temperatures than the recent 100+ degree weather in the Central Valley welcomed an enthusiastic crowd to the 47th annual edition of the Cheese & Wine Festival in downtown Riverbank on Saturday, Oct. 12. Hundreds of festival goers flocked to the streets of Riverbank on their way to the Cheese & Wine tasting held in the Community Center in three sessions through the afternoon. On the streets, food trucks, booths and popup tents offered a wide variety of beverages and food, from hot dogs and brats, to BBQ ribs, pizza, and a range of ethnic dishes to satisfy anyone’s taste. Other booths featured all types of products, and arts and crafts for sale, as well, with still more on hand providing information about their organization.
The trucks and booths were on both sides of Third Street between Santa Fe and Topeka, in front of City Hall North and Plaza del Rio Park, and on both sides of Santa Fe going east, from Fourth through Seventh streets.
The City of Riverbank is redesigning the intersection of Roselle Avenue at South Rosebrook Drive. The project has been underway for about a week, with the forming work for new sidewalks at the corners, as well as new islands to surround the stop signs on Roselle. They say the sidewalk improvements will bring bulb-out corners, ADA accessible ramps, pavement improvements, installation of crosswalks, bike lanes and other improvements, along with the installation of medians. Officials also noted that the project is being funded by Measure L Funds.
It was more than they could have imagined. Given the opportunity to help, the community came through in a big way. Donations poured in for the local clothing collection, hosted at the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District Station 26 in Riverbank on Saturday, Oct. 26. The goal was to collect some much-needed items to send back east, to benefit those impacted by Hurricane Helene. Co-coordinators, sisters Cathy Bernardi and Theresa Berner, organized the drive, with the first collection on Oct. 26 in Riverbank and a second one set for Saturday, Nov. 2, with that drive-thru at the Hughson Fire Department, 2315 Charles St., Hughson, set from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The effort is called Operation Hope & Love From California and Bernardi said residents donated by the carload. The co-coordinators have partnered with Lauren Holmes, a former resident of Escalon, who now lives in South Carolina, to help get the donations to those in need.
The Halloween season got a kick start here in Riverbank over the weekend, with activities both at Jacob Myers Park and on the Riverbank High School campus. The Riverbank Parks and Recreation Department hosted an alien-themed Haunted Hayride through the western trail at Jacob Myers Park on Friday and Saturday evenings, Oct. 25 and 26, with participants riding through the dark in open trailers pulled by Parks pickup trucks, past a number of scare sites. Rented construction lighting generators lit up the park, normally closed after dark, as crowds lined up for the ride and a number of youngsters played on the playground equipment while waiting their turn. On Sunday afternoon, Oct. 27, the RHS Athletic Booster Club hosted a Fall Carnival and “Booth or Treat” event at the western parking lot on the Riverbank High School campus.
NOVEMBER
The Riverbank Parks and Recreation Department hosted its fourth Annual Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead – celebration in the downtown area on Friday, Nov. 1. The event was staged on Third Street, between Topeka and Stanislaus streets, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday, observed on Nov. 1 and 2, celebrating the dearly departed with live music, food, altars, Catrina contests and more. It is associated with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
The Riverbank Chapter of Royal Neighbors of America hosted its 16th Annual Veterans Luncheon on Saturday, Nov. 9. It was staged at the Stanislaus County Veterans Center on Coffee Road in Modesto. It originated in the Riverbank Community Center, but outgrew that location several years ago, moving to the larger venue in nearby Modesto. Even so, this past weekend, the larger site was almost filled to capacity, with veterans and their guests. The food was prepared by volunteers from the Central Valley Community Resources, headed up by CEO Darlene Barber-Martinez. Food items for the meal were provided by the new Cost Less Market in Riverbank. Members of the Royal Neighbors staffed the serving line.
In a special City Council meeting held on Monday, Nov. 18, the Riverbank City Council voted to appoint John C. Pimentel to fill the vacant District 3 City Council seat. The vacancy was created following the resignation of Councilmember Leanne Jones Cruz, announced during the Sept. 24, City Council meeting, with her resignation becoming effective Sept. 30. The term for the District 3 seat will expire in December, 2026.
It’s the day before Halloween, and the sun beats down on the Central Valley, making it feel more like the day before the Fourth of July. Halloween. Fourth of July. Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t really matter. In this tiny corner of the county, hard up against the Stanislaus-San Joaquin County line, Christmas is the main thing. For most of the year, Morris Nursery, which sits on about 2.5 acres in Riverbank, operates like any other retail nursery, selling greenery and gardening supplies. But to get through the colder months, when customers are huddled by their fireplaces instead of sprucing up their yards, Morris Nursery becomes a winter wonderland, looking more like a garden center that you might find in the North Pole. “Right after Christmas, we either go to a show or we do it online, and buy all the materials for the next year’s Christmas,” said owner Ron Hoffman, who hosted nearly 175 people for a recent VIP Night. “Prior to that, at the end of the season, we have to sit down and decide on new themes. Once we decide on new themes, then we start looking for the products. Usually, the shows are in the second week of January.” Those themed trees anchor different sectors of the 4,500-square-foot store, located at 1837 Patterson Road.
Caltrans announced this past week that it was awarded $18.7 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for a project that will improve passenger rail service and freight movement at Amtrak San Joaquins stations in the Central Valley. The San Joaquins Corridor Second Platform project will build a second set of passenger platforms and install additional tracks at the San Joaquins intercity passenger rail stations in Modesto and Turlock-Denair. “Caltrans continues to move forward in building and expanding our state’s rail system to provide more transportation options to the traveling public while improving the movement of goods that power California’s economy,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. Caltrans is matching nearly half of the grant amount through the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program to ensure project success.
DECEMBER
Shoppers getting started on their holiday gift purchases also had an opportunity to donate to the local rendition of the Toys for Tots program. Collection day was hosted over the weekend in the Crossroads Shopping Center. Located in the Save Mart parking lot, the donations were accepted by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve members and their families, as well as members of the Central Valley Community Resources organization, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1. The event also featured a car show in the parking lot, which included a wide variety of classic cars, hot rods, trucks and even motorcycles.
Stanislaus County Clerk Recorder and Registrar of Voters Donna Linder announced the Nov. 5, 2024 Presidential General Election canvass of the vote per California law was completed Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. There were several races of local interest on the ballot. City of Riverbank Mayor – Three candidates were seeking the post and coming away with the victory was Rachel Hernandez, who received 4,538 votes, defeating incumbent Mayor Richard D. O’Brien, who polled 4,137 votes. Hernandez, a city council member, chose to not seek re-election to that post in order to run for mayor. Also running was Solomon Kumar. Riverbank City Council, District 2 – Cynthia L. Fosi was unopposed and received 1,465 votes. Riverbank City Council, District 4 – Three candidates were seeking the post; Stacy Call received 1,050 votes to win the seat, defeating incumbent Darlene Barber-Martinez, who received 860 votes. Also in the running was Roxana Garcia. Riverbank Unified School District Board, Area 1 – A two-way race for a seat on the school board saw Gary Vernon win the position with 791 votes, Ernie J. Velasco received 393 votes. Riverbank Unified School District Measure E – The bond measure received more than the needed percentage to pass; the vote was 3,413 votes in favor, 1,629 opposed.
The regular Riverbank City Council meeting was held on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Riverbank Community Center, moved there from the council chambers to accommodate the expected crowd present to observe the swearing-in ceremonies. Outgoing Mayor Richard D. O’Brien presented outgoing Council Member Darlene Barber-Martinez with a plaque and certificate recognizing her years of service, both on the council and in other community service. O’Brien was also honored for his many years of service to the city, filling several terms as mayor. Following that, John Pimentel was sworn in as District 3 Council Member by City Clerk/Election Official Gabriela Hernandez. He was appointed by the old council in November to fill the seat left vacant when Leanne Jones Cruz moved out of town at the end of September. Next, Hernandez swore in Cindy Fosi, who ran unopposed in the November election for the District 2 seat. Following that, Stacy Call was sworn in, to take the District 4 seat. And finally, City Clerk Hernandez, no relation, swore in former District 2 Council Member Rachel Hernandez as Riverbank Mayor.
Riverbank residents, friends and visitors enjoyed a relatively stormy weather-free evening of Christmas celebration over the weekend, as they got to enjoy the 55th annual parade down Santa Fe Street in the downtown area. And they got to do it without concern for the windy, rainy weather that had been in Riverbank up until about noon on Saturday, Dec. 14. Starting promptly at 5:30 p.m. near the Community Center, the parade travelled down Santa Fe Street past the Plaza del Rio Park and between the City Hall buildings towards Second Street and back up Stanislaus Street to where it began. As is customary, the parade began with a color guard by a local Boy Scout Troop, and wrapped up with a Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department engine carrying Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The last Senior Lunch of the year featured a Christmas theme, hosted at the Riverbank Community Center on Friday, Dec. 20. The regular event is put on by the Central Valley Community Resources, who, along with Sandi Luin, from Gallo, provided the food. The menu included ham, mixed broccoli and cauliflower, along with pasta Alfredo. Apple pie was served as desert. As the meal was being prepared, the group, numbering about 35, was led in singing Christmas songs by a singer and guitar player from New Life Community Church on Estelle Way in Riverbank.
The local Toys For Tots program culminated for this season with a family get together over the weekend. Hosted as Brunch with Santa, Riverbank families were invited to come to the Riverbank Community Center on Saturday morning, Dec. 21 for a bit of a meal, an opportunity to speak with Santa and Mrs. Claus, have photos taken with them, then pick up toys for the youngsters. Toys were donated during a previous community collection earlier this month.
