Mold Remediation in Modesto, CA

Get ready to harvest some fun during a month filled with fall festivals and other events in the greater Modesto region.

October brings some of the larger festivals, including the long-running celebration of cheese and wine in Riverbank.

There are some changes for this year’s 47th annual Riverbank Cheese & Wine Festival, however. The city of Riverbank has taken over organizing the event after several years of contracting it to outside promoters, according to Virginia Still, administrative clerk with city’s parks and recreation department.

More notably, the festival will go from its traditional two days to one day.

“It just hasn’t been as well attended as it was in the past,” Still said. Organizing the festival in-house allows the city to decide where money will go and have more control over decorations, wine selection and more.

The city is looking to bring the festival back to the family-friendly event that it used to be, she said.

Also coming in October are the International Heritage Festival, the California Tamale Festival and the All Hallows Faire, along with several other events.

There are a few groups getting a jump on the holiday craft fair season, too, planning events in October rather than November.

Here’s a look at some of what’s coming up in the Modesto and Mother Lode regions:

TASTES OF THE VALLEY — Oct. 3: The Stanislaus State agriculture department and Friends of the Fair Foundation present the annual event. There will be samples from wineries and brewers around the region, local cheesemakers and restaurants with small plates, as well as live music. 6-9 p.m. Stanislaus County Fairground, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock. $60. www.csustan.edu/agriculture/tastes-valley.

INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE FESTIVAL – Oct. 5: Enjoy international food, music, dance performances, children’s crafts and more at this annual event celebrating diverse heritages. Children “travel” around the world collecting stamps on their passports. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with opening ceremony at 11 a.m. Graceada Park, 401 Needham St., Modesto. Free. 209-809-4741.

CALAVERAS GRAPE STOMP & GOLD RUSH STREET FAIRE – Oct. 5: Calaveras County celebrates its wine industry with grape stomp competitions, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Gold Rush Street Faire has vendors, arts and crafts, antiques, collectibles, food, live music and family activities from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Grape stomp at Murphys Community Park, street fair on Main Street in Murphys. calaveraswines.org.

FALLING LEAF BOUTIQUE & PANTRY – Oct. 5: There will be an array of items for sale. 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall, First United Methodist Church Modesto, 850 16th St., Modesto. fumc@firstumcmodesto.org.

MANTECA PUMPKIN FAIR – Oct. 5-6: The fest offers entertainment, children’s activities, pumpkin events and more. Pumpkin-carving contest judging 4-5 p.m. Saturday. Car show Sunday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fair 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days. Downtown Manteca. Free. www.sunrisekiwanis.org.

ST. PATRICK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH CRAFT FAIRE – Oct. 5-6: Shop for handmade items, holiday crafts and baked goods. All proceeds benefit St. Vincent DePaul. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon Sunday. Parish Hall, 19399 E. Highway 120, Ripon. 209-838-2133.

SONORA BACH FESTIVAL – Oct. 6-26: A lineup of concerts for lovers of baroque and classical music. Highlights include youth concert on Oct. 6, 3 p.m.; locals concert on Oct. 13, 3 p.m.; salon concert featuring Jason Jeffrey on Oct. 20, 3 p.m.; Bach’s Brunch on Oct. 26, 12:30 p.m. Locations, ticket prices and times vary. Details at www.sonorabach.org.

RIVERBANK CHEESE & WINE FESTIVAL – Oct. 12: Enjoy wine tastings, local cheeses, live music, dancing horses, activities for children, food, vendors and more. Wine and cheese tastings at Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe St., festival in downtown Riverbank on Santa Fe between Second and Seventh streets. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free for expo; wine tastings $30 in advance, $40 at the event. riverbankcheeseandwine.com.

HARVEST FESTIFALL – Oct. 12-13: Crafts, food, demonstrations, music and more at Columbia State Historic Park. Nearly 50 vendors, dressed in 1850s attire will display their handmade arts and crafts for sale. Demonstrations of spinning and weaving by the Mother Lode Weaver & Spinners, face painting and entertainment. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Main Street. www.columbiacalifornia.com.

CALIFORNIA TAMALE FESTIVAL – Oct. 20: There will be a Tamale Alley, live music, cooking demonstrations, car and motorcycle show, home and garden display, vendors, kids zone and more. Noon-7 p.m. Stanislaus County Fairground, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock. $10 ages 11-17, $25 general, free age 10 and under. 209-840-2723 californiatamalefestival.com.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR – Oct. 26: There will be handmade crafts, gifts and holiday items, opportunity quilt, wood crafts, homemade jams/jellies and more. Soup and pie lunch for $12. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Escalon United Methodist Church, 2000 Jackson Ave. 209-838-2792.

ALL HALLOWS FAIRE – Oct. 26-27: This annual large festival includes live music, craft vendors, jugglers, cosplay contest, haunted house, food, drink and more. Noon-9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Calaveras County Fairgrounds, parking entry at 101 Frog Town Road, Angels Camp. $15-$30 Saturday; $10-$23 Sunday; free to age 5 and under. www.allhallowsfaire.com.

This story was originally published September 30, 2024, 6:00 AM.

The Modesto Bee

209-578-2312

Pat Clark covers entertainment and other stories for The Modesto Bee. She attended California State University, Stanislaus, and grew up in Modesto. Support my work with a digital subscription

“We’re really excited to bring our BBQ to the heart of the Central Valley,” said Steve Pierce, VP of Operations. “At Famous Dave’s, we put our heart and soul into crafting a true BBQ experience that the whole family will love. We’re looking forward to having the Modesto community get a taste of our wide variety of flavor-packed menu offerings.”

The new Famous Dave’s in Modesto will feature authentic, pit smoked BBQ, made from scratch sides, an expansive bar with over 30 draft beers and happy hour every day. Guests will experience an interior that marries comfort with a touch of BBQ nostalgia, while embracing a modern, inviting atmosphere. It will be a space for family gatherings, business meetings, after-work happy hour, and it is the perfect place to recharge after a day of shopping at the Vintage Faire mall.

The Famous Dave’s menu not only honors Famous Dave Anderson’s roots from the southside of Chicago, but also features regional flavors from throughout the U.S., like St. Louis-Style Ribs, Texas Beef Brisket, Georgia Chopped Pork and Famous Bread Pudding. The Famous Dave’s team has dedicated Pitmasters, ensuring that every piece of meat is expertly seasoned, smoked to perfection.

Grand Opening events kick-off on November 14th at 12pm with a Ribbon Cutting ceremony including the Modesto Chamber of Commerce. Following the ceremony, from 1-5pm, there will be a DJ, giveaways and rib tastings. The official Grand Opening will be at 4pm. The first 100 guests in line at 4:00pm will win free ribs for a year, which features one free St. Louis-style spareribs entrée per month*.

Additionally, from 11/14 - 11/30, $3 of every All American Feast purchased will be donated to Make-A-Wish® .

*Limit one FREE St Louis-Style Spareribs Entrée certificate per household per visit. Valid for St Louis-Style Spareribs Entrée (4 bones with choice of 2 sides and a corn bread muffin). Limit one free St. Louis-Style Spareribs Entrée per month, per table. Certificate to be used only if winner is over 18 years of age and is accompanied with a valid government issued photo ID (Drivers license, Passport, U.S. military ID, Permanent resident card). Not valid with any other offer, coupon or discount. No cash value. Not valid on Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Dine-in only. Only valid at the Modesto, CA location. Other restrictions and conditions may apply. Famous Dave’s reserves the right to change or cancel this offer at any time.

SOURCE Famous Dave's of America Inc.

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Are you looking for a way to make some extra cash for the upcoming holidays?

Several Modesto businesses, from pet stores to fashion retailers, are hiring multiple seasonal positions in Modesto.

Wages range from $15 to $48 an hour.

Here’s which jobs were available on the businesses’ websites, as of Friday morning, and what they pay:

PetSmart

PetSmart at 2100 McHenry Ave. is currently looking to fill the position of part-time seasonal associate.

The associate is responsible for engaging with guests, assisting with product selection, maintaining store standards, promoting current sales and ensuring a positive experience for customers.

The pay ranges from $16 to $28 per hour.

Del Monte Foods

The position of seasonal warehouse supervisor is currently open at Del Monte Foods at 4000 Yosemite Blvd.

The warehouse supervisor assists the area warehouse manager in various tasks, including enforcing safety; managing inventory and labeling; overseeing shipping schedules and coordinating staffing.

The pay for this role ranges from $15.50 to $48.08 an hour.

Dick’s Sporting Goods

Dick’s Sporting Goods in Vintage Faire Mall at 3401 Dale Road is looking to hire a seasonal retail sales associate.

The retail sales associate is responsible for creating a welcoming store environment and promoting sales.

The pay ranges from $16 to $23 per hour.

Target

Target at 3900 Sisk Road is hiring for the position of seasonal stock associate.

Responsibilities include scanning and handling merchandise, maintaining store inventory and delivering on sales goals.

The pay for this position starts at $18.25 an hour.

GameStop

GameStop at 801 Oakdale Road is looking to fill the position of seasonal sales associate.

Some responsibilities include sales, store maintenance and customer service.

The pay starts at $16 an hour.

Party City

Party City at 2401 McHenry Ave. is looking to hire a seasonal team member.

The team member is responsible for providing customer service, promoting sales and restocking merchandise.

The pay for this position starts at $16.

Boot Barn

Boot Barn at 2225 Plaza Parkway is currently looking to fill the position of seasonal inventory control associate.

The inventory control associate is responsible for managing store inventory, ensuring the sales floor is well-stocked and promoting a positive customer experience.

The pay ranges from $16 to $19.50 an hour.

BoxLunch

BoxLunch in Vintage Faire Mall at 3401 Dale Road is looking to hire a seasonal key holder.

The key holder’s responsibilities include supporting store sales goals, covering sales floor zones, processing transactions and assisting with store visuals and merchandising.

The pay for this position ranges from $16.50 to $19 an hour.

Burlington

Burlington at 2001 McHenry Ave. is looking to fill the position of seasonal cashier associate.

Some responsibilities include delivering customer service and processing transactions.

The position pay $16 an hour.

World Market

World Market at 3801 Pelandale Ave. is looking for a seasonal stock associate.

Responsibilities for this position include processing freight; unloading trucks; maintaining merchandising and pricing standards, keeping an organized stockroom and helping customers find the right products.

The pay ranges from $16 to $16.50 an hour.

In Modesto, cars are king, but that has started to change as more locals take advantage of the public transit system in the city.

Being carless in Modesto usually means using the public transit buses known as the “S” and run by StanRTA.

Ariel Romero, who commutes from where she lives in northwest Modesto to downtown for work, said her experience has been almost entirely positive since ditching her wheels.

“I walk more. I’ve read like 21 books since I started,” Romero said. “It’s good to get outside and it’s more relaxing.”

Three years ago, Modesto Area Express, or MAX, merged with Stanislaus Regional Transit, or StaRT, to create a comprehensive transit system for the whole county.

“We’ve seen awesome growth in ridership over the last year,” Adam Barth, chief executive officer of the resulting Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority, or StanRTA. As of May, ridership is up 38% year over year, according to the StanRTA website.

There are several pleasant surprises that come with taking the bus instead of hopping in a car beyond eliminating wear and tear on your vehicle and the ever-increasing cost of gas. For example, StanRTA provides an entire month of free ridership in July and other free rider days paid for by grants.

“I don’t know how this system can work, because it’s only two dollars a day,” said Sarah Pisanu, a rider who works remotely for a non-profit, and uses the S to get around for errands and recreation.

Barth said StanRTA gets about half of its funding from the state. The rest comes from Federal funding with bus fares chipping in a little bit.

With the increase in ridership, some riders noticed inconveniences. In areas outside of downtown, finding stops with shelters and a place to sit can be challenging.

“Modesto is hot as hell almost all of the time,” said Atticus Stenson, a 33-year-old legal analyst who uses the bus to commute from where he lives in Northeast Modesto to downtown for work daily. “And a lot of these bus stops, especially in residential neighborhoods, are unsheltered.”

Barth said they plan to get at least one-person seats installed at all bus stops.

“We can’t put in a shelter and obstruct the sidewalk because then a wheelchair can’t get around it,” Barth said. “So if space exists, we definitely want to put in a shelter or a bench there.”

In the last year, Barth said they added 50 new blue bus shelters throughout the system.

“Personally, I would prefer to do everything with public transportation, but I don’t see how here,” Pisanu said.

She has experienced some reliability issues, mostly during bus transfers.

“Because I can’t rely on the first bus, I can’t rely on my connection either,” Pisanu said. “Sometimes I take a route where I’m walking 20 minutes afterwards because I can rely on my feet more than the second bus.”

For areas of downtown Modesto, local buses can take as little as 15-20 minutes to arrive, but buses servicing areas outside of Modesto, like Patterson or Ceres, have an hour’s wait.

On top of the scheduled bus routes, StanRTA also operates a dial-a-ride service for people 65 and older or who are disabled. Riders can schedule in advance trips to most areas of Modesto within a three hour window.

A paratransit system is also available with advance notice for those whose disabilities prevent them from using the fixed-route bus system. It requires an ADA paratransit certification process which needs an in-person interview to be conducted in one of their three Stanislaus Eligibility Centers– Modesto, Patterson and Turlock.

Jaime Ortiz is a long time rider of the bus but stopped during lockdown due to concerns about exposure to COVID. Ortiz is a care worker, but said he hasn’t used the dial-a-ride or paratransit bus system with clients. He said it would be useful if more people understood the process for ordering a paratransit or dial-a-ride.

Whereas the regular fixed-route bus system sees around 10 thousand trips a day according to Barth, the paratransit system only sees 600.

“It’s definitely a critical service and a critical need for our community for those folks that need it,” Barth said. “But if you can ride the fixed route, that’s great too.”

Though the ridership is increasing, riders say outside of peak hours or around schools the bus is mostly empty. To improve the experience by adding more stops, better bus shelters, more reliability– the city and county would need to believe that there is an appetite for it.

Pisanusaid this is mainly a perception about the unreliability of the bus system.

“It’s a vicious circle where the public system is not used because people can’t rely on it, but because people can’t rely on it they have to have a car,” Pisanu said.

Free:

Day passes: $2 for unlimited trips

7-day passes: $10 for unlimited trips

31-day passes: $40 for unlimited trips

People with disabilities using the fixed route bus service ride for half price.

Through the app, “Token Transit,” purchasing five day passes in a row will automatically upgrade the ticket to a 7-day pass. Notably, this convenience doesn’t extend to riders who use cash, and getting a ticket on the bus requires you to have exact change which may be hard for some riders. But cash riders can still go to the transit station and get change.

Paratransit: $2.50 per ADA certified passenger and another $2.50 for single companions. Youth 18 or younger and personal care attendants ride free.

This story was originally published September 17, 2024, 6:00 AM.

The Modesto Bee

(209) 356-4302

Kathleen Quinn is a California Local News Fellow and covers civics and democracy for the Modesto Bee. She studied investigative journalism at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and completed her undergrad at UC Davis.