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COMMUNITY NEWS
March
3 , 2021
THE
CASTLE AIR MUSEUM, ATWATER, CA WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
AIRCRAFT ARRIVAL ON FRIDAY MARCH 5 AT APPROXIMATELY
8:00 AM AT THE MUSEUMS RESTORATION HANGAR LOCATED
AT 3040 'A' STREET ON THE CASTLE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT
IS A GRUMMAN A-6E INTRUDER AND IS THE LAST TO HAVE
FLOWN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY! ON HAND TO RECEIVE
THIS AIRCRAFT WILL BE THE LAST PILOT TO HAVE FLOWN
THIS AIRCRAFT! WITH EXCEPTION OF A FEW HOURS WILL
BE 24 YEARS TO THE DAY THAT THEN LT. JUNIOR GRADE
GREG SMITH USN (RET.) FLEW THE AIRCRAFT ON ITS FINAL
FLIGHT TO THE ARIZONA DESERT FOR STORAGE! GREG SMITH
RETIRED FROM THE NAVY AS A LT. COMMANDER NEARLY 10
YEARS AFTER THIS HISTORIC FLIGHT.
THIS
IS A SUPER SIZE LOAD AT 25 FEET IN WIDTH AND NEARLY
54 FEET IN LENGTH REQUIRING TRANSPORT OVER THREE NIGHTS
FROM TUCSON ARIZONA AND NUMEROUS HIGHWAY PATROL ESCORTS
ALONG THE WAY!! TRAVEL WILL BE INTERSTATE 10 FROM
BLYTHE CA TO THE I-215 TO I-210 TO INTERSTATE 5 IN
SOUTHERN CA. OVER THE GRAPEVINE UP I-5 AND INTO ATWATER
DURING THE EARLY HOURS ON FRIDAY MARCH 5 AND ARRIVING
8;00 AM TO THE MUSEUM'S RESTORATION HANGAR AT THE
ADDRESS ABOVE.
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FOR MORE
INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT JOE PRUZZO, MUSEUM DIRECTOR
ON THIS EPIC MOVE! THE MUSEUM SINCERELY THANKS THE
A-6 INTRUDER ASSOCIATION AND ITS MEMBERS ALONG WITH
NORTHROP GRUMMAN FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN! |
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March
3 , 2021
UC
MERCED MEN’S VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS CALIFORNIA PACIFIC
CONFERENCE WEEKLY AWARDS
MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced
men’s volleyball team swept the California Pacific
Conference Player of the Week awards for the second
consecutive week, as announced Monday evening by the
league office.
Jared Guglielmana was named Cal Pac Attacker of the
Week after his stellar collegiate debut, while freshman
Ryan Kilgore earned Cal Pac Defensive Player of the
Week honors and setter Tyler Vincelli was tabbed the
Cal Pac Setter of the Week.
This is the first career Cal Pac honor for all three
Bobcats. The weekly awards are for the performances
turned in against Pacific Union College on February
24.
Guglielmana, attacker of the week, earns this award
for his 12-kill performance in the Bobcats sweep.
The Madera, Calif., native hit .318 in the match and
became just the third ever Bobcat to record double
figure kills in his collegiate debut. Guglielmana
joins the likes of Joseph Webb and Chris Morikawa.
Aside from his strong attacking efforts, Guglielmana
also recorded his first career service ace, dig, block
and assist. In total, Guglielmana had six digs which
was good for second among all participants in the
match. No other UC Merced outside hitter has recorded
more than six digs in a match this year.
Kilgore earns his first career honor after answering
his coaches call to start at the middle blocker position.
Normally an outside hitter, Kilgore filled a void
the Bobcats needed him to and the 6’7”
freshman made the most of it, notching a solo block
and played a big role in limiting Pacific Union College
to a -.078 hitting percentage. Kilgore also managed
to record a dig. Along with his defensive efforts,
Kilgore provided a spark defensively and smacked a
career-high nine kills on a .600 hitting percentage.
The player of the week didn’t commit an error
in 15 attempts. Fitting, Kilgore recorded the
first kill of the match as the Bobcats went on to
earn their first 3-0 start in program history.
Like the other two award winners, Vincelli also turned
in a career-outing and the junior was good for a three-set
program record 42 assists in his first career start
at the setter position. He also had two digs and his
42 assists (14 per set) came while running the offense
to a solid .386 success rate. With the help of Vincelli,
all seven front row players who took the floor got
at least three kills. Four of those seven smacked
five+ kills, while three notched at least eight. The
program’s previous three-set assists record
was 38, held by Ryan Steele since February 23, 2018.
Guglielmana, Kilgore and Vincelli give UC Merced men’s
volleyball six players of the week already in the
2021 season, surpassing the 2019 record of five player
of the weeks in one season.
Overall, UC Merced Athletics has had seven players
named a Cal Pac Player of the Week in 2021.
The Bobcats are back in action tonight as they host
Simpson University at 8:30pm.
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The
University of California, Merced men’s and women’s
volleyball teams each earned a sweep over Simpson
University on Monday night.
The men improved to 4-0 with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-23,
25-18) win, while the women improved to 2-2 with a
3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-13) win.
Men’s Match
Setter Ryan Steele quarterbacked the match with 37
assists and ran the Bobcats offense to a .430 success
rate in the sweep. The .430 hitting percentage is
the second highest of the season.
Chris Morikawa and Ryan Kilgore each had ten kills.
The double figure mark was a career-high for Kilgore
and he didn’t have an error in 16 attempts.
Kilgore is the second Bobcat in program history to
record double figure kills without an attack error.
Morikawa was also good for seven digs, three blocks
and two service aces. Emmanuel Egun had a season-high
six blocks.
Women’s Match
Freshman Teola Nowak held match-high with a career-high
14 kills, while Olivia Harden finished in double figures
for the third time this season and finished with eleven
kills on the night. Nowak recorded a .565 hitting
percentage. Serena Choi was good for 24 assists and
ran the offense to a .333 success rate.
Defensively, Lexus Lagumbay paved the way with a season-high
18 digs. Other notables include a career-high four
blocks from Olanasaze Ojo and a career-high three
service aces from Destiny Lei Ramilo.
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March
3 , 2021
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
RAMP CLOSURE
STATE ROUTE 99 AT 16th STREET IN MERCED
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various ramp and lane closures on State Route 99 (SR-99)
for maintenance and
construction operations. Work will occur as follows;
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to southbound
SR-99 for utility work on
Wednesday, March 3, 2021, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00
p.m.
Motorists should expect 5-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
|

For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.

|
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March
3 , 2021
Carlos
Vieira Foundation $2,000 Race to End the Stigma Scholarship
LIVINGSTON,
CALIF.,- The “Race to End the Stigma”
campaign was created to not only change the way people
perceive those who are living with mental illness,
but also how those who are affected perceive themselves.
At the Carlos Vieira Foundation, we strive to support
the mental health community through education, fundraising
and facilitating resources.
The
Race to End the Stigma Scholarship was created by
the Carlos Vieira Foundation in efforts to begin the
conversation about mental health. The $2,000 scholarship
is granted annually to graduating high school seniors
within our twenty-one counties who have expressed
interest in raising mental health awareness or who
have shared their story about mental health. Recipients
are selected on the basis of academics, extra-curricular
activities and their essay on one of three topics
about mental health. The deadline to apply is March
12th, 2021.
In
recognition of receiving the scholarship, the Carlos
Vieira Foundation will be sharing the winner’s
scholarship essays on its website and social media
platforms. Recipients will also have the opportunity
to share their story on the KDD podcast. For more
information on the organization or scholarship, follow
the Carlos Vieira Foundation on Facebook (@CVFoundation)
and Instagram (@carlosvieirafoundation) or visit their
website at carlosvieirafoundation.org!
|

About
Carlos Vieira Foundation
The Carlos Vieira Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization that focuses on the following three campaigns:
Race for Autism, Race 2B Drug-Free, and Race to End
the Stigma. Through local support, the foundation
is able to assist families and individuals across
21 counties within Central California. Our mission
is to assist in strengthening communities by directly
helping the individuals that live in them. We do this
by providing key resources, awarding direct-help grants,
fundraising, and collaborating with other dynamic
organizations that help make a difference. For more
information, please call (209) 394-1444 or email info@carlosvieirafoundation.org.
Carlos Vieira Foundation
6079 Washington Blvd, Livingston, CA. 95334
www.carlosvieirafoundation.org
Phone – 209.394.1444 Fax – 209.394.3964
info@carlosvieirafoundation.org
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March
2, 2021
California
Farmland Trust Announces Matching Support to Protect
Fiorini Ranch
(Elk Grove, CA – March 1, 2021) – Thanks
to support from the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation,
California Farmland Trust (CFT) is embarking on a
conservation fundraising campaign to protect Fiorini
Ranch.
Located in Merced County, the 60-acre almond operation
is owned and operated by a multi-generational farming
family, the Fiorini’s. Currently operated by
a third-generation family member, Randy Fiorini, the
fourth and fifth generation family members are now
engaged, and becoming more involved, continuing the
family’s legacy. The Fiorini family reached
out to the California Farmland Trust to ensure the
land and their legacy will remain in agriculture,
forever.
The California Farmland Trust has partnered with farmers
for over 16 years to protect farmland from being subdivided
and developed into homes and shopping centers, while
contributing to agriculture’s unique role in
climate benefits. “Working with the Fiorini
family to ensure this land will provide food, open
space and climate benefits is essential,” said
Charlotte Mitchell, CFT Executive Director. The Fiorini
family has adopted and embraced sustainable farming
practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve
the biodiversity of beneficial insects, and further
reduce soil erosion.
In the coming months, CFT will be pursuing a grant
that will provide some of the funding needed to purchase
the development right and protect the land with an
agricultural conservation easement. CFT is required
to source matching funds when pursuing grant funding,
which is where the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation (Foundation)
support is focused. In late 2020, the Foundation provided
CFT with nearly half of the matching funds needed
to meet this requirement. Funds from the Foundation
will be leveraged by CFT to raise the remaining $85,000.
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“The
support from the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation really
made this project achievable,” shared Mitchell.
“It’s difficult to obtain the match requirement
needed for a grant and the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation
provided funding that will essentially double every
other donation we receive for the project, helping
us achieve the match requirement.”
The first step will be launching a campaign that leverages
the Foundation’s $80,000 donation to raise the
remaining $85,000 needed to obtain the match required.
CFT will simultaneously pursue a grant for the remaining
seventy-five percent needed to fund the easement.
Once secured, the easement will ensure the farmland
will never be subdivided and will no longer be subject
to development pressures from nearby communities for
housing or commercial development.
“Our family has farmed this land sustainably,
and productively for over 100 years. It is threatened
by the potential of urban development and our family
wishes to preserve the ability to continue to contribute
to our nations healthy food needs,” shared Randy
Fiorini.
If you would like to learn more or become involved
in this project, please visit our website: www.cafarmtrust.org/protect-fiorini-ranch.
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March
2, 2021
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
RAMP CLOSURE
STATE ROUTE 99 AT 16th STREET IN MERCED
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various ramp and lane closures on State Route 99 (SR-99)
for maintenance and
construction operations. Work will occur as follows;
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to southbound
SR-99 for utility work on
Wednesday, March 3, 2021, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00
p.m.
Motorists should expect 5-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
|

For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.

|
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February
27 , 2021
Proposed
Zoning Ordinance Amendments to Commercial Districts
and for Accessory Dwelling Units to be Considered
by the City Council
The
City Council will consider proposed Zoning Ordinance
Amendments to the Shopping Center Commercial, Regional/Central
Commercial Zoning Districts, and other various Zones.
The Zoning Ordinance Amendment would make several
changes to the “Commercial Zoning District”
contained in Chapter 20 of the Merced Municipal Code.
Another Zoning Ordinance Amendment would modify the
City’s requirements for “accessory dwelling
units” (ADUs) to meet the modified requirements
of State Law.
The regular meeting of Monday, March 1, 2021, will
be held at 6 p.m. telephonically, pursuant to Governor’s
Order in order to protect the public, City staff and
Council from the coronavirus. The meeting will be
broadcast on Facebook Live at City of Merced, on the
City’s website, www.cityofmerced.org, and Comcast
Public Access Channel 96.
Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order
N-29-20, there will be no in-person public access
to the meeting location, except, Essential Critical
Infrastructure Workers specifically those covered
by the Communications Sector including, but not limited
to, workers who support media services. All votes
for this meeting will be taken via rollcall.
Please submit your public comment to the City Council
electronically no later than 1 p.m. on the day of
the meeting. Comments received before the deadline
will be sent to the City Council and will be part
of the record and mentioned as part of the Written
Petitions and Communications portion of the agenda.
Material may be emailed to cityclerk@cityofmerced.org
and should be limited to 300 words or less. Please
specify which portion of the agenda you are commenting
on, for example, Closed Session, item # or Oral Communications.
Your comments will be presented to the City Council
at the appropriate time. Any correspondence received
after 1 p.m. will be distributed to the City Council
and retained for the official record.
You may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Public Hearing item #, Consent item #, or Oral Communications.
Your comments will be played during the City Council
meeting at the appropriate time.
For Public Hearing items, if you wish to speak live
during the meeting, please leave callback information
and you will be contacted with further details.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at (209)
388-8650. Assisted hearing devices are available for
meetings held in the Council
Chamber.
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On
the agenda:
• The City Council is being asked to consider
a Zoning Ordinance Amendment that would make several
changes to the “Commercial Zoning District”
list including uses allowed in the Shopping Center
Commercial Zone and Regional/Central Commercial Zone.
• Another Zoning Ordinance Amendment will be
presented would modify the City’s requirements
for “accessory dwelling units” (ADUs)
to meet the modified requirements of State Law which
have gone into effect in 2020 and 2021.
• Staff will provide an overview and status
report on the Public Facilities Impact Fees Update,
and request direction from the City Council on the
update implementation.
A link to the live meeting is on the City’s
website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
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February
27 , 2021
Los
Angeles County District Attorney Gasco´n Defends
Law That Puts Guns in the Hands of Criminals, While
Los Angeles Descends Into Gun Violence
February
26, 2021—Yesterday, Los Angeles County District
Attorney George Gascón defended a law that
puts guns in the hands of criminals at the exact moment
that Los Angeles County is descending into gun violence.
AB 3234, which was passed last year by the California
Legislature, created a diversion program allowing
criminals—including those who bring guns to
schools or to the Capitol—to continue to own
or possess guns.
“It’s a reckless law, but yesterday, George
Gascón defended it,” said Vern Pierson,
President of the California District Attorneys Association
(CDAA), an organization that represents almost all
of the elected district attorneys in California and
is committed to reforms, but not to the decriminalization
of dangerous crimes.
Meanwhile, gun violence in Los Angeles is soaring.
Murders in Los Angeles County are up 136.4% and shootings
are up 261.5%. Attacks on police officers are up 300%
from January 1 through January 18, 2021 when compared
to the same time period in 2020. The chance of becoming
a victim of any firearm crime (violent or property)
in Los Angeles is now 1 in 33.
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On
this past Wednesday, February 24, 2021, pop icon Lady
Gaga’s dog walker was brutally shot in Hollywood
while walking Lady Gaga’s two dogs. She is now
offering a $500,000, “no questions asked”
reward for their safe return. But Gascón has
implemented new policies that remove long-standing
deterrents to criminals for using guns during the
commission of crimes. “Under Gascón’s
policies, even if the assailants in this case are
captured, they will face up to 20 years less time
in prison for the crime than they otherwise would
have,” said Pierson.
With the reckless removal of gun crime deterrents,
it is no surprise that gun crimes under Gascón
are soaring. Today, CDAA calls on Gascón to
abandon his reckless, soft-on-gun-crime policies.
“The results of the Gascón experiment
are in,” said Greg Totten, CDAA’s Chief
Executive Officer, “and it’s no surprise
that when you remove consequences for committing crimes
with guns—gun crimes soar, and that’s
exactly what’s happening Los Angeles.”
The California District Attorneys Association is a
statewide training and advocacy organization representing
elected district attorneys, city attorneys with criminal
divisions, and more than 3,500 prosecutors, including
deputy district attorneys in Los Angeles County.
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February
26 , 2021
Delhi
Unified, United Way Help Provide Ongoing Support
A
partnership has been developed between the Delhi
Unified School District and United Way of Merced
County that is seeing the dire needs of students
and their families met through multiple fronts.
When Dr. Cristian Miley, Delhi High School principal,
visited some of his students’ homes, what
he saw was troubling. And he reported this to Adolfo
Melara, district superintendent, which set into
motion an ongoing program of philanthropy.
When the 2020-2021 school year started, Dr. Miley
came to realize there was a “significant food
insecurity” among low-income needy families
and that triggered outreach to supply food items.
“I think it’s a phenomenal endeavor,
our partnership with United Way. Dr. Miley told
me about some very dire, gut-wrenching circumstances.
Through United Way, we were able to put Omni Cart
debit cards in the hands of about 25 families and
we started a campaign to do outreach in fringe areas
of town,” Melara said.
The opening target was to provide 25 Omni Cart cards
of $250 each to needy families and that has continued
for more than three months. Melara and Miley are
hoping to see the program continue.
Dr. Miley said a lot of wonderful connections have
been made through this program. The “Dollars
for Delhi” campaign was launched. Receipts
of expenditures were collected from needy families
and given back to United Way.
“It’s very emotional to see the outright
gratitude of these families in helping them get
by. A lot of folks were literally on their last
dollar. Some were homeless or living out of their
cars,” Miley said. “Without this program
how are people going to get through this moment?”
Robert Hypes, community impact manager for United
Way, said it’s been a great relationship with
Delhi. In August and September, United Way also
gave $15,000 grants to Delhi, Ballico-Cressey and
Planada school districts to provide direct support
for students, including large-screen television
screens for learning programs.
Another facet of the Delhi outreach involves food
distribution facilitated by Dr. Steven Roussos,
a professor at the University of California, Merced.
Twenty-pound food boxes were given to needy families
containing meat, cheese, eggs and vegetables. Dr.
Roussos is involved in UC Merced community research
and service projects.
Dr. Roussos said the Community Initiatives for Collective
Impact, which involves UC Merced students, has come
up with an additional program - placement of refrigerators
through the community where needy families can get
the foodstuffs they need.
“Our refrigerator program started in September.
We now have a refrigerator at Delhi High School
with a second one to come. We go to farmer’s
markets, grocery stories, flea markets and local
gardens for the food items. The refrigerators are
open all hours and it’s easy and accessible.
The food disappears quickly,” Roussos said.
But he is heartened to report the refrigerators
are quickly restocked from a number of community
sources.
Citrus, lettuce, lemons, grapefruit, avocados, mangoes,
and potatoes are among the items available in the
community refrigerators.
“They are pretty consistently stocked. It’s
incredible how people are dropping off the vegetables
and the people are appreciating it. This is likely
going to grow and we hope to have another one in
Planada. Extra refrigerators are being donated and
we are glad to set them up,” Roussos said.
Dr. Miley said there is a genuine sense of altruism
in Delhi. He said there are some areas of Delhi
that many people may not be aware of, where things
are very desperate. It’s poverty exacerbated
with the coronavirus.
Dr. Miley said they are trying to develop connections
with students and their families and it’s
special to go out to the people needing help.
|

From left, United Way of Merced County Community Impact
Manager Robert Hypes, Delhi Unified School District
Superintendent Adolfo Melara and Delhi Unified School
District Coordinator of English Language Development
and Assessment Juan Garcia have worked together since
last fall to provide ongoing support for the Delhi
community.
PHOTO
COURTESY UNITED WAY OF MERCED COUNTY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melara
said he is very thankful to United Way for keeping
Delhi in mind.
“I am proud of our staff and Dr. Miley for reaching
out and being able to help these families even more.
I am thankful to the school board for supporting this
work. We want to help find ways to partner with United
Way,” Melara said.
Dr. Roussos said UC Merced’s Bobcat Eats and
the People’s Garden also have been involved
in the food distribution efforts. This helps avoid
food waste. He said 10 to 12 visits a day are being
made to the refrigerators; they are getting emptied
out but quickly refilled, too.
Roussos said it’s been a fun undertaking and
more volunteers are always needed. If interested,
call (209) 769-3231.

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February
26 , 2021
UC
Merced Men's and Women's Volleyball Sweep Pacific
Union College, Madera Native Jared Guglielmana Turns
in Stellar Debut
The University of California, Merced and women’s
volleyball teams both earned a sweep over Pacific
Union College on Wednesday night.
The women won 3-0 (25-10, 25-11, 25-19) and held Pacific
Union College to a -.086 hitting percentage. Olivia
Harden led the Bobcats offensive efforts with a three-set
career-high 12 kills and three service aces, while
Valentina Evans was good for eight kills on a .467
hitting percentage. Freshman Olanasaze Ojo also had
eight kills and it marked a career-high for both Evans
and Ojo. Madison Mayoralgo had eleven digs.
The men won 3-0 (25-14, 25-9, 26-24) and are 3-0 for
the first time in program history. Head coach Ai Prachumsri’s
team hit .437 in the match, their second time hitting
over .400 this season. Madera native Jared Guglielmana
turned in one of the best debut’s in program
history and finished with eleven kills, a block and
a service ace. Ryan Kilgore also had double figure
kills and finished with a career-high ten. Kilgore
didn’t have an error in 14 attempts. Tyler Vincelli
earned his first career start at the setter position
and was good for a career-high 43 assists.
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February
26 , 2021
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
RAMP CLOSURE
STATE ROUTE 99 AT 16th STREET IN MERCED
\MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various ramp and lane closures on State Route 99 (SR-99)
for maintenance and
construction operations. Work will occur as follows;
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to southbound
SR-99 for utility work on
Wednesday, March 3, 2021, from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00
p.m.
Motorists should expect 5-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
|

For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.

|
back to top
February
24, 2021
Carlos
Vieira Foundation $2,000 Race to End the Stigma Scholarship
LIVINGSTON,
CALIF.,- The “Race to End the Stigma”
campaign was created to not only change the way people
perceive those who are living with mental illness,
but also how those who are affected perceive themselves.
At the Carlos Vieira Foundation, we strive to support
the mental health community through education, fundraising
and facilitating resources.
The
Race to End the Stigma Scholarship was created by
the Carlos Vieira Foundation in efforts to begin the
conversation about mental health. The $2,000 scholarship
is granted annually to graduating high school seniors
within our twenty-one counties who have expressed
interest in raising mental health awareness or who
have shared their story about mental health. Recipients
are selected on the basis of academics, extra-curricular
activities and their essay on one of three topics
about mental health.
In
recognition of receiving the scholarship, the Carlos
Vieira Foundation will be sharing the winner’s
scholarship essays on its website and social media
platforms. Recipients will also have the opportunity
to share their story on the KDD podcast. For more
information on the organization or scholarship, follow
the Carlos Vieira Foundation on Facebook (@CVFoundation)
and Instagram (@carlosvieirafoundation) or visit their
website at carlosvieirafoundation.org!
|

About
Carlos Vieira Foundation
The Carlos Vieira Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization that focuses on the following three campaigns:
Race for Autism, Race 2B Drug-Free, and Race to End
the Stigma. Through local support, the foundation
is able to assist families and individuals across
21 counties within Central California. Our mission
is to assist in strengthening communities by directly
helping the individuals that live in them. We do this
by providing key resources, awarding direct-help grants,
fundraising, and collaborating with other dynamic
organizations that help make a difference. For more
information, please call (209) 394-1444 or email info@carlosvieirafoundation.org.
Carlos
Vieira Foundation
6079 Washington Blvd, Livingston, CA. 95334
www.carlosvieirafoundation.org
Phone – 209.394.1444 Fax – 209.394.3964
info@carlosvieirafoundation.org |
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February
23, 2021
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
JOHN C. ERRECA REST AREA CLOSURE
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will close the
John C. Erreca Rest Areas on northbound and southbound
Interstate 5 in southern
Merced County for maintenance operations. Work will
occur as follows;
• Full closure of the John C. Erreca Rest Areas
for utility work beginning
Wednesday, February 24, through Thursday, February
25, 2021, from 9:00 a.m.
until 5:00 p.m.
Caltrans apologizes for any inconvenience this might
create and would like to remind
motorists that the Westley Rest Area in Stanislaus
County is just 70 miles north of the
Erreca Rest Area and is also located on I-5.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
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For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.

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February
18, 2021
The
District Attorney for the County of Merced has filed
a charge of Murder against the 14-year-old male arrested
on February 10, 2021, in connection with the killing
of Adrian Llamas in Merced. The charges in this matter
were filed in juvenile delinquency court; however,
the District Attorney has petitioned the court to
transfer the minor to adult criminal court. The alleged
perpetrator of the shooting remains in custody.
A major factor in the determination to seek transfer
to adult court is that, under current juvenile laws,
if the minor is prosecuted in juvenile court, jurisdiction
over him could only last between 3 years and 5 months
and 8 years and 5 months. Our understanding of the
law is that most likely the minor would be released
when he turns 18. Proposition 57, passed by the voters
in 2016, removed the long-standing ability of a District
Attorney directly file qualifying crimes in adult
court. Our decision today to request transfer to adult
court in no way means the case will automatically
be tried in adult court. Rather, this request means
the juvenile court will thoroughly assess the circumstances
and render a decision in consideration of a wide range
of elements. Only then will we know if this case will
ultimately be handled in juvenile or adult court.
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Due
to confidentiality rules surrounding the proceedings
in juvenile delinquency court, no further information
can be released publically at this time.
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February
17, 2021
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
LANE & RAMP CLOSURES
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various ramp and lane closures on State Route 59 and
State Route 99 (SR-99) for
maintenance and construction operations. Work will
occur as follows;
• One-way traffic control on SR-59 from Turlock
Road to South Ingalsbe Slough for
utility work beginning Wednesday, February 17, through
Friday, February 19, 2021,
from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from Mission Avenue to
southbound SR-99 for drainage work
on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, from 7:30 a.m. until
3:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
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For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.

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February
16 , 2021
UC
Merced Cross Country Restarts UC Merced Athletics
Competition, Hughson Native Elizette Ysais Wins Dominican
Tri-Meet
The University of California, Merced men’s and
women’s cross country teams competed today,
becoming the first teams to compete since the COVID-19
pandemic halted all UC Merced athletic activities
on March 12, 2020.
UC Merced’s first event and the head coaching
debut of Vicente Velarde was in San Rafael, Calif.,
at the Dominican Tri-Meet. The Dominican Tri-Meet
featured an 8K course for the men and 6K for the women.
Hughson native and Hughson High product Elizette Ysais
made UC Merced history as she became the first woman
in program history to earn a first-place finish in
her collegiate debut. Ysais (25:36) is also just the
third runner on the women’s side to ever win
a race. Ysais joins Madera natives and UC Merced greats
Sofia Rios and Karina Martinez.
Atwater native and Buhach Colony product Kate Larios
also made her collegiate debut and crossed the finish
line in 30:09.
Sophomore Corbin Farais led the men’s team with
a fourth place finish (30:27.0)
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February
13 , 2021
Budget
review, UC annexation on Council agenda
The Mid-Year Budget Review, and a presentation on
the potential UC Merced annexation are on the agenda
for Tuesday night’s Merced City Council meeting.
Council meetings are usually held on Monday night,
but because of the Presidents Day holiday it is being
held on Tuesday.
The Mid-Year Budget Review gives Council a revenue
update and also seeks approval of additions and changes
in positions. In addition, Council will be asked to
prioritize a number of road projects in the planning
stages.
The regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. telephonically,
pursuant to Governor’s Order in order to protect
the public, City staff and Council from the coronavirus.
The meeting will be broadcast on Facebook Live at
City of Merced, on the City’s website, www.cityofmerced.org,
and Comcast Public Access Channel 96.
Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order
N-29-20, there will be no in-person public access
to the meeting location, except, Essential Critical
Infrastructure Workers specifically those covered
by the Communications Sector including, but not limited
to, workers who support media services. All votes
for this meeting will be taken via rollcall.
Please submit your public comment to the City Council
electronically no later than 1 p.m. on the
day of the meeting. Comments received before the deadline
will be sent to the City Council and
will be part of the record and mentioned as part of
the Written Petitions and Communications
portion of the agenda. Material may be emailed to
cityclerk@cityofmerced.org and should be
limited to 300 words or less. Please specify which
portion of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Closed Session, item # or Oral Communications. Your
comments will be presented to the City Council at
the appropriate time. Any correspondence received
after 1 p.m. will be distributed to the City Council
and retained for the official record.
You may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Public Hearing item #, Consent item #, or Oral Communications.
Your comments will be played during the City Council
meeting at the appropriate time.
For Public Hearing items, if you wish to speak live
during the meeting, please leave callback information
and you will be contacted with further details.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650. Assisted hearing devices are available
for meetings held in the Council
Chamber.
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On
the agenda:
• The Mid-Year Budget Review will give Council
an update of City revenues during the coronavirus
pandemic. It provides Council will a reconciliation
of how the Fiscal Year 2019-20 ended , a General Plan
Update for the current year, and to request changes
to the budget that have been identified.
• Staff will present an overview of the relationship
with UC Merced and the pros and cons of annexing the
campus. Adding the campus into the City would allow
several adjacent property owners to annex into Merced
under the provisions of SB 3312 .
• Staff is seeking direction from the Council
on the format for the Sat., Feb. 27 City Council Strategic
Planning Session. Council will hold the session to
discuss the development of the Goals & Priorities
for the Fiscal Year 2021/22.
• A public hearing to allocate Community Development
Block Grant – Coronavirus Funds for rent, mortgage,
utility, food assistance and other activities.
A link to the live meeting is on the City’s
website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day.
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February
13 , 2021
R
Street opening delayed until next week
The
opening of R Street will be delayed, as the overnight
rains revealed a punctured storm drain pipe at the
site.
“We
are sorry about the delay in opening,” said
City Engineer Michael Beltran, “We will have
crews working on it quickly so we can open the street
by the middle of next week.”
The
City has been renovating R Street between Loughborough
Drive and Buena Vista Drive for several months. The
original construction schedule called for the street
to be reopened March 1, but opening day had been moved
up to today until the problem was discovered.
The
storm drain pipe was punctured while crews were cement
treating the dirt beneath the asphalt. Beltran said
the contractor miscalculated and went to deep. The
error wasn’t discovered until the rains sent
water flowing through the pipe and there was minor
flooding in the street.
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Crews will
begin working at 7 a.m. Saturday to replace a 20-foot
section of the storm drain pipe, Beltran said.
“The
error will not cost the City anything except the inconvenience
to motorists and residents. We apologize for that,”
Beltran said.
The
construction work does come with a one-year warranty
in case other issues are discovered, Beltran said.
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February
12 , 2021
My
name is Alex
and......
in 2019 my kids were put in foster care by their
Mother. Unfortunately, I started drinking and ended
up homeless, due to my poor decisions I was making.
I
was looking for an opportunity to find a stable
and positive environment for my children so I moved
from Massachusetts to Merced, I was trying everything
I could to get my kids back and needed some furniture.
I
contacted Love INC and they helped me get the furniture
I needed. I wanted to volunteer because I believe
in service work because when you help others, you
help yourself. I called Love INC and they needed
help in the furniture ministry which is my background,
I began to help deliver furniture, my experience
has been amazing. I can honestly say I didn’t
find Love INC, Love INC found me! My children are
back home with me, I am an usher at Yosemite Church
and I am so grateful to God!
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February
10 , 2021
Buhach
Colony High School Wins First Merced County Academic
Decathlon
Students from seven Merced County high schools competed
virtually on Jan. 30 and Feb 6 for the Merced County
Academic Decathlon, and for the first year in its
history, Buhach Colony High School took the top
spot.
Celebrating its 40th year in Merced County, the
Academic Decathlon pits area high schools against
each other in a contest of academics. Students compete
in the areas of art, economics, language and literature,
mathematics, music, social science and science.
Students also participate in communication events
to showcase their Speech, Interview and Essay skills.
This year’s theme was “The Cold War.”
Merced High School held the title for the past 12
consecutive years.
High schools that participated this year: Buhach
Colony High, Merced High, Golden Valley High, Livingston
High, El Capitan High, Delhi High and Le Grand High.
Each decathlon team has nine students. They include
three students each from the Honors Division for
students in the “A” GPA range, the Scholastic
Division for students in the “B” GPA
range and the Varsity Division for those with a
“C”-level GPA and below.
Merced High was the highest scoring team for the
Super Quiz held live on Zoom and Merced High team
member Daniel Chen was the top-scoring student of
the competition.
Buhach Colony will go on to represent Merced County
in March at the State Academic Decathlon. The State
Academic Decathlon will also be virtual this year.
Sponsorship partners for the Academic Decathlon
are Educational Employees Credit Union, Hattie Givens
Testamentary Trust, Community Foundation of Merced
County and the Merced County Office of Education.
In addition, Merced School Employees Federal Credit
Union sponsors the Robert Wayne Scholarship Program.
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Participating schools pay a $750 participation fee.
Of that, $500 is matched by the Robert Wayne Scholarship
Program. This brings the scholarships to $1,000 for
each school. All participating teams are awarded that
in scholarship money, two scholarships at $250 each
and one scholarship at $500.
Wayne, who founded MSEFCU and served on the MCAD Board
for many years, passed away on Nov. 9, 2009.
Click here
the complete list awards.

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February
10 , 2021
High-Speed
Rail Authority Issues Revised Draft Business Plan
– Presents Proposal for Project Advancement
Sacramento,
Calif. – As part of the state’s commitment
to deliver a sustainable, reliable, and accessible
transportation system, the California High-Speed Rail
Authority (Authority) today issued its Revised Draft
2020 Business Plan for public review and comment.
The plan presents a path forward for completing construction
in the Central Valley and highlights continued progress
to get high-speed trains running in California as
soon as possible, and despite the notable impacts
from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At
a time when job growth is needed most, California
high-speed rail is putting thousands to work in good
paying labor jobs in the Central Valley and making
tremendous progress on construction of the nation’s
first high-speed rail,” said Governor Gavin
Newsom. “Our goal is to get fast, electrified
trains up and running in the Central Valley as soon
as possible while leveraging other sources of funding
to advance important, clean rail and transit work
statewide. We’re confident that our federal
partners in the Biden administration share our vision
for electrified rail – we look forward to working
with them to get it done.”
The
plan affirms the policy recommendation to the Authority’s
Board of Directors to develop a clean, electrified
Merced-Fresno-Bakersfield high-speed rail interim
service line in California’s Central Valley,
while continuing to advance environmental reviews
and current investments in local and regional infrastructure
projects in Northern and Southern California.
Like
other transit systems around the state, the Authority
has and still is experiencing dynamic and unpredictable
conditions due to COVID-19 that affect every aspect
of daily work. The plan lays out these challenges
in detail and how the Authority has overcome and is
working to mitigate for ongoing impacts to move the
program forward.
The
revised plan outlines the following priorities:
• Complete the 119-mile Central Valley construction
segment and lay track pursuant to our federal funding
grant agreements with the Federal Railroad Administration
(FRA);
• Expand the 119-mile Central Valley segment
to 171 miles of operable electrified high-speed rail
connecting Merced-Fresno-Bakersfield, three of the
fastest growing areas in California;
• Commence testing of electrified high-speed
trains by 2026-2027 and put those trains in service
by the end of the decade;
• Environmentally clear all segments of the
Phase 1 system between San Francisco and Los Angeles/Anaheim;
• Advance construction on the “bookend”
projects we have committed funding to in Los Angeles
and the Bay Area—projects valued at more than
$3 billion;
• Pursue additional funding opportunities to
prospectively “close the gaps” and expand
electrified high-speed rail service to the Bay Area
and Los Angeles/Anaheim as soon as possible.
The Administration has communicated with the federal
government on the need for flexibility on the ARRA
grant agreement timelines and emphasized the importance
of settling existing litigation to restore nearly
a billion dollars in grant funding de-obligated by
the Trump Administration.
“America
has a chance to lead the world once more through innovation
in infrastructure—connecting our communities,
creating good jobs, addressing climate change
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and
ensuring equity,” said Acting Federal Railroad
Administrator Amit Bose. “Passenger rail development,
including world-class high-speed rail, can and must
be a part of our strategy to accomplish these goals.
As in many other arenas, California has taken the
lead nationally to advance high-speed rail, starting
an economically transformative project in the Central
Valley and assuming the challenges that come with
that leadership. The U.S. Department of Transportation
looks forward to partnering with California as it
leads the way to build back better.”
“Historically,
during times of economic uncertainty, it’s labor
jobs and investment in transportation that spur economic
growth. We’re fortunate to be in a position
where we’re creating a clean and fast mobility
option in California and putting California men and
women to work to get it done,” said Authority
CEO Brian Kelly. “Through hard work, we’ve
seen significant progress over the past two years,
and we intend to keep that going.”
High-speed
rail averages 1,100 construction workers a day at
35 construction sites in the Central Valley. Nearly
77 percent of these workers come from eight counties
in the Central Valley, with workers from 43 different
California counties participating overall. To date,
55% of total high-speed rail program expenditures
occurred in disadvantaged communities throughout California.
The
final 2020 Business Plan was scheduled to be issued
to the California Legislature last December. However,
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Administration and
the Authority worked with legislative leadership to
extend the adoption of the Business Plan. Final submission
to the Legislature is expected in April 2021.
With
the release of today’s draft business plan,
the Authority is now seeking input as part of a 30-day
public comment period that closes March 12, 2021.
The Authority is providing the following options for
submitting comments:
• Online comment form through the Revised Draft
2020 Business Plan website at: https://hsr.ca.gov/about/business_plans/business_plan_2020_comment_form.aspx
• By email at: DraftBP2020@hsr.ca.gov
• U.S. mail to the Authority:
• California High-Speed Rail Authority
• Attn: Draft 2020 Business Plan
• 770 L Street, Suite 620 MS-1
• Sacramento, CA 95814
• Voicemail comment at: (916) 384-9516
The Revised Draft 2020 Business Plan, required by
Assembly Bill 528 (Lowenthal, Chapter 237, Statutes
of 2013), can be found online www.hsr.ca.gov
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February
9, 2021
CDAA
Commends Superior Court Ruling Enjoining Special Directives
of Los Angeles County District Attorney Gasco´n
February
8, 2021—The California District Attorneys Association
(CDAA) commends the ruling by Los Angeles County Superior
Court Judge James C. Chalfant in favor of the Association
of Deputy District Attorneys for Los Angeles County
(ADDA). CDAA filed an amicus brief supporting the
ADDA in its civil lawsuit against District Attorney
Gasco´n, believing his Special Directives violate
the legal and ethical obligations of Los Angeles County’s
deputy district attorneys.
In his ruling, Judge Chalfant said, “A district
attorney’s discretion is not unlimited. He or
she must work within the framework of the criminal
justice system.”
“Today’s ruling makes clear that District
Attorney Gasco´n cannot ignore the law or prosecutor
ethics in his rush to impose dangerous so-called criminal
justice reforms in Los Angeles County. We are very
grateful for Judge Chalfant’s thorough and thoughtful
decision — a decision that we believe well serves
the cause of justice and public safety,” said
CDAA Chief Executive Officer Greg Totten.
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CDAA
is not a regulatory body and does not typically address
policy differences among the 58 elected District Attorneys.
However, CDAA believes it must act when policies implemented
by an individual district attorney go beyond the exercise
of discretion to contravene the state constitution
and prosecutor ethics.
“We support true criminal justice reform, but
you cannot simply dispense with existing laws that
protect crime victims because you decide you disagree
with them,” said Vern Pierson, El Dorado County
District Attorney and CDAA President.
The California District Attorneys Association is a
statewide training and advocacy organization representing
elected district attorneys, city attorneys with criminal
divisions, and more than 3,500 prosecutors, including
deputy district attorneys in Los Angeles County.
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February
5, 2021
Carlos
Vieira Foundation $2,000 Race to End the Stigma Scholarship
LIVINGSTON,
CALIF.,- The “Race to End the Stigma”
campaign was created to not only change the way people
perceive those who are living with mental illness,
but also how those who are affected perceive themselves.
At the Carlos Vieira Foundation, we strive to support
the mental health community through education, fundraising
and facilitating resources.
The
Race to End the Stigma Scholarship was created by
the Carlos Vieira Foundation in efforts to begin the
conversation about mental health. The $2,000 scholarship
is granted annually to graduating high school seniors
within our twenty-one counties who have expressed
interest in raising mental health awareness or who
have shared their story about mental health. Recipients
are selected on the basis of academics, extra-curricular
activities and their essay on one of three topics
about mental health.
In
recognition of receiving the scholarship, the Carlos
Vieira Foundation will be sharing the winner’s
scholarship essays on its website and social media
platforms. Recipients will also have the opportunity
to share their story on the KDD podcast. For more
information on the organization or scholarship, follow
the Carlos Vieira Foundation on Facebook (@CVFoundation)
and Instagram (@carlosvieirafoundation) or visit their
website at carlosvieirafoundation.org!
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About
Carlos Vieira Foundation
The Carlos Vieira Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization that focuses on the following three campaigns:
Race for Autism, Race 2B Drug-Free, and Race to End
the Stigma. Through local support, the foundation
is able to assist families and individuals across
21 counties within Central California. Our mission
is to assist in strengthening communities by directly
helping the individuals that live in them. We do this
by providing key resources, awarding direct-help grants,
fundraising, and collaborating with other dynamic
organizations that help make a difference. For more
information, please call (209) 394-1444 or email info@carlosvieirafoundation.org.
Carlos
Vieira Foundation
6079 Washington Blvd, Livingston, CA. 95334
www.carlosvieirafoundation.org
Phone – 209.394.1444 Fax – 209.394.3964
info@carlosvieirafoundation.org
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February
5 , 2021
CDAA
Applauds the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Plan to Support Victims at Lifer Parole Hearings
District Attorney Gascón’s Special
Directive 20-14 institutes the “default policy
… that we will not attend parole hearings.”
February 4, 2021—In a video released today,
the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA)
applauds Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva
and his support of crime victims with his announcement
that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
(LASD) will attend parole hearings to represent the
victims in place of Los Angeles County deputy district
attorneys.
In a letter to Los Angeles County District Attorney
George Gascón, Sheriff Villanueva wrote, “We
believe [it] is important to give a voice for the
voiceless and keep our commitment in good standing
in support of those who have been victimized by violent
crime … I cannot understand why your office
is barring prosecutors from attending parole hearings.”
He added, “[I]f prosecutors will no longer be
allowed to attend parole hearings, the LASD will attend
… in the absence of your prosecutors. At the
request of family members, the LASD will do everything
possible to give victims a voice at the table to address
their concerns. … I strongly believe this is
the right thing to do.”
“Prosecutors are committed to keeping communities
safe and to serving as a voice for crime victims.
Crime victims should be a powerful force in California,
but we are now seeing leaders trying to achieve their
goals for criminal justice reform by silencing the
voices of victims,” said Greg Totten, Chief
Executive Officer of the California District Attorneys
Association. “We must find a balance between
reforms that make sense for public safety and curtailing
the rights of victims.”
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To
that end, CDAA is working with its members and retired
prosecutors to ensure victims are represented at parole
hearings for Los Angeles County cases. “Under
Marsy’s Law, the California Constitution was
amended to specifically recognize victims’ rights
in criminal proceedings, including parole proceedings,”
said Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe, co-chair
of CDAA’s Lifer/Parole Committee. “Prosecutors
are specifically designated as an appropriate person
to represent the interests of victims at parole hearings,
and they do so in every other county in the state,
so we feel compelled to step in to help navigate the
process for victims.”
The California District Attorneys Association is a
statewide training and advocacy organization representing
elected district attorneys, city attorneys with criminal
divisions, and more than 3,500 prosecutors, including
deputy district attorneys in Los Angeles County.
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February
3, 2021
MCAG
SEEKS SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
MERCED
- Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG)
is currently seeking applicants for a Senior Accountant
in its downtown Merced office location. This full-time,
supervisory position requires a Bachelor’s degree,
or higher, in Accounting, Business Administration,
Finance, or a related field. Interested individuals
should have a knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles (GAAP) and basic principles of accounting
as applied to Governmental Accounting Standards Board
(GASB). In addition, candidates should be familiar
with the principles and practices of municipal government
accounting, auditing and budgeting, as well as of
automated financial systems.
This position is open until filled. The annual salary
for this position ranges from $64,147 to $85,966 depending
on experience; health, dental, and vision benefits
provided. Applications will only be accepted through
the MCAG website. To apply, or for more information,
visit: www.mcagov.org/jobs.
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MCAG
is the regional transportation planning agency and
metropolitan planning organization for Merced County.
In addition to regional transportation planning, MCAG
also manages The Bus, YARTS, the Merced County Regional
Waste Management Authority and administers Measure
V funds. For more information, visit www.mcagov.org.
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Februaru
2, 2021
Atwater
FFA Students Qualify for Regional Speaking Finals
Written
by : Liliana Boesch, Atwater FFA
The
Atwater High School FFA joined over 180 FFA speaking
contestants, representing fifteen high school agriculture
programs throughout Merced and Mariposa counties
at the annual Merced-Mariposa FFA Public Speaking
Sectional Finals held virtually on January 23rd.
The top four individual finalists in each speaking
contest advance to the regional prelims in February.
Atwater FFA had two of the twenty sectional finalists
advancing to the regional prelims later this year.
Atwater High School agriculture students Simarjot
Gandhoke, Gabriella Lucas, America Lara, and Gabriela
Moreno competed in the Job Interview contest. Gabriela
Moreno placed 2nd, qualifying her for regional finals.
Simarjot Gandhoke made it to the final round, and
placed 10th overall. The Job Interview contest involves
students completing a cover letter, resume, job
application, and panel interview. This event emphasizes
developing, practicing, and demonstrating skills
needed when seeking employment.
Atwater High School agriculture program senior Nandani
Patel placed 4th overall in Prepared Public Speaking,
qualifying her for the regional prelims. Student
speeches covered topics that included gene editing,
Colony Collapse Disorder, and nanotechnology within
the agriculture industry. The contest for all participants
involves a 6-8 minute speech on an agriculture related
topic/issue, a written manuscript which is scored,
and a question and answer period between the contestant
and judges following the speech. Hunter Boyenga
and Celeste Chargoy also competed in the sectional
finals.
Atwater High School agriculture students Gurkirath
Gandhok, Julia Callahan, Daniel Lopez and Hayley
Hultgren competed in the Extemporaneous Speaking
contest. Contestants are presented with a choice
of three questions related to agricultural current
events and, in 30 minutes, prepare a seven-minute
speech answering the selected question. Students
may consult articles and evidence they gather prior
to the contest, but may not use the Internet during
preparation. Topics range from local-specific issues
to national-world concerns relating to agriculture.
Atwater High School agriculture program students
Shayleigh Miller, Katrina Andujar, Teela Armenta
and Sonia Valdez competed in the Impromptu speaking
contest. The impromptu speech is given without any
preparation, any notes or other additional materials;
it is a spontaneous reaction to an agriculture-related
topic at hand which may introduce an interesting
turn to the discussion.
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Atwater High School agriculture student and FFA member
Gabriela Morena placed 2nd overall at the Merced-Mariposa
FFA Sectional Public Speaking Finals in the Job Interview
contest and will move onto the regional finals in
the coming months.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Atwater
High School agriculture freshman student Jacqueline
Velazquez participated in the FFA Creed. This event
is designed to recognize outstanding FFA members for
their ability to present the FFA Creed from memory
and answer questions on the meaning and purpose of
the FFA Creed. The event is just one way FFA members
can develop their ability to communicate in a powerful,
organized and professional manner. Members boost their
self- confidence and earn recognition.
“Being a good communicator is one of the foundations
of success towards personal and career development,”
says Atwater FFA Advisor Kim Mesa. “Our agriculture
program is very proud of our students’ efforts,
participation, courage, and enthusiasm in this event,
even with it going virtual this year!”
For
more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture
Department and Atwater FFA, please log on the website
www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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January
30, 2021
Dine
Out For a Cause at the Mainzer
and Support the MAC!
Mainzer,
the newly restored dining and entertainment complex
in downtown Merced, will host a fundraiser to benefit
the Merced Multicultural Arts Center (MAC) on Saturday,
January 30 and Sunday, January 31. During the two-day
event, the MAC will receive $5 from each dine in,
takeout and delivery order placed, up to a maximum
of $500. The fundraiser is part of a monthly series
of Dine Out for a Cause events at Mainzer to benefit
local nonprofit organizations.
“We are excited to be selected as the partner
for Mainzer’s January Dine Out for a Cause series,”
said Colton Dennis, executive Director of Merced County
Arts Council at and the Merced Multicultural Arts
Center. “We are a community-funded organization
and donations like this go a long way to ensuring
that we can continue to sustain the many programs
we provide that have added to the quality of life
here in Merced.”
“We are so pleased to help support our downtown
neighbor the MAC,” said Sara Cribari Hill, director
of people and community impact at Mainzer, The Tioga
and El Capitan, a Joie de Vivre Hotel. “Their
dynamic programming and experiences are a big part
of what make downtown Merced such a growing and vibrant
destination for residents and visitors alike.”
The newly restored Mainzer launched in August with
a menu of elevated American comfort food, currently
available on the restaurant’s delivery and takeout
menu. Each month, Mainzer hosts a Dine Out for a Cause
event to benefit local nonprofit partners. Mainzer
is open for outdoor dining as well as takeout and
delivery from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through
Friday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Executive Chef Quentin Garcia’s lunch and dinner
menu, available weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
and weekends from 3-8 p.m., incorporates ingredients
from Merced area farms and purveyors to ensure a locally
inspired dining experience. The restaurant’s
signature buttermilk fried chicken is served in family
friendly buckets with three levels of spice including
the No-spice Southern, Getting Hotter Valley and the
Fire-starter Hot Nashville. Mainzer also offers a
variety of hearty burgers ranging from the Anything
but Standard Royale with Cheese, accented with a chipotle
mayonnaise sauce to the BBQ Burger topped with short
ribs, pickled red onion rings and aged cheddar. All
of the burgers are made with hand packed patties using
beef from Central Valley’s Harris Ranch and
locally sourced buns. Creative milkshakes using house
made ice cream are offered in boozy adult and kid-friendly
non-alcoholic options in fun flavors like Tropical
Paradise made with toasted coconut, crushed pineapple
and pineapple juice.
For
more information on Mainzer please call (209) 446-4001,
visit themainzer.com or follow along on Instagram
and Facebook.
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On
Saturdays and Sundays, Mainzer offers a twist on the
classic brunch menu from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant’s
fried chicken makes an appearance in Chicken N’
Waffles served with house smoked maple syrup on the
side. The Mainzer Flatbread is breakfast friendly
with bacon, sausage and a fried egg atop a parmesan
white sauce and mozzarella, goat cheese and smoked
gouda from Laura Chenel Cheese. A variety of brunch
tacos are offered including the Street Taco served
with house made turkey sausage, scrambled eggs, cheese,
red onions, avocado and sour cream on a freshly made
tortilla. The kid’s brunch menu includes everything
from Buttermilk-Pancakes to Chicken Tenders served
with homemade ranch sauce on the side.
About
Mainzer
Located
next door to the MAC on Main and N St. in downtown
Merced, Mainzer offers entertainment and dining in
a restored historic theatre, originally built in 1920.
The restaurant at Mainzer serves elevated American
comfort food seven days a week including daily lunch
and dinner service and weekend brunch. Mainzer’s
theater and cinema provide the perfect venue for live
music, movies and more. Fun interactive elements at
Mainzer include a retro gaming area, tabletop board
games and a self-serve beer bar that offers free-spirited
guests the ability to pour their own cold beer from
a selection of local and regional breweries.
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January
30, 2021
Fire
grants, County partnership on Council agenda
Three FEMA grants for the Merced Fire Department,
and an agreement with Merced County that will help
clean up the City are on the agenda for Monday night’s
Merced City Council meeting.
The Fire Department has applied for three grants with
the Federal Emergency Management Agency that would
assist in buying a range of equipment and also help
hire additional firefighters.
The regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday
telephonically, pursuant to Governor’s Order
in order to protect the public, City staff and Council
from the coronavirus. The meeting will be broadcast
on Facebook Live at City of Merced, on the City’s
website, www.cityofmerced.org, and Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order
N-29-20, there will be no in-person public access
to the meeting location, except, Essential Critical
Infrastructure Workers specifically those covered
by the Communications Sector including, but not limited
to, workers who support media services. All votes
for this meeting will be taken via rollcall.
Please submit your public comment to the City Council
electronically no later than 1 p.m. on the
day of the meeting. Comments received before the deadline
will be sent to the City Council and
will be part of the record and mentioned as part of
the Written Petitions and Communications
portion of the agenda. Material may be emailed to
cityclerk@cityofmerced.org and should be
limited to 300 words or less. Please specify which
portion of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Closed Session, item # or Oral Communications. Your
comments will be presented to the City Council at
the appropriate time. Any correspondence received
after 1 p.m. will be distributed to the City Council
and retained for the official record.
You may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Public Hearing item #, Consent item #, or Oral Communications.
Your comments will be played during the City Council
meeting at the appropriate time.
For Public Hearing items, if you wish to speak live
during the meeting, please leave callback information
and you will be contacted with further details.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650. Assisted hearing devices are available
for meetings held in the Council
Chamber.
|

On
the agenda:
• Three FEMA grants that would assist in purchasing
$1,060,000 in portable radios and accessories and
$9,374 for acquiring fire investigation/arson equipment.
The third grant would create a relief pool of staff
to fill shift vacancies while reducing overtime costs,
with an estimated project cost of $4,258,668.
• A memorandum of understanding with Merced
County and the Probation Department, which would supply
personnel to help clean up areas of the City in need
of beautification.
• A proclamation celebrating Black History Month
in the City of Merced.
A link to the live meeting is on the City’s
website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day.
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January
28, 2021
Virtual
Town Hall meetings coming in February
Merced residents are encouraged to participate in
the two upcoming Town Hall virtual meetings in February.
Interested persons can express their views, offer
their recommendations, and ask questions at the meetings
held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 11 and Feb.
18.
The Town Halls are being held virtually to protect
public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. In past
years, the sessions were held in auditoriums throughout
the City.
There are opportunities for the community to get involved
before the Town Hall meetings to learn about the City
Council’s goals and priorities. An online survey
at www.cityofmerced.org/townhall is being used to
poll the residents on a range of matters, and help
focus the meetings on topics of importance to residents.
Videos are also on the website that highlight the
mission of City Departments and their accomplishments.
Questions can also be submitted online at the website.
|

“We
really want to hear from our residents, to use the
Town Halls to give them a chance to share their thoughts,
ideas and opinions,” said Mayor Matt Serratto.
“This community has a lot to say, and it’s
our job as the City Council to listen to them, especially
now during the pandemic when opportunities to engage
are limited due to social distancing restrictions.
“The Council uses the information from the Town
Halls and the survey to craft our annual budget,”
Serratto said. “It’s essential that people
take part in these meetings, and the survey, so we
know what people want and need as far as City services
and programs.”
The Town Hall meetings will be available for viewing
on all platforms available to City public meetings,
including Facebook Live. The Town Halls will be on:
www.facebook.com/cityofmerced, Comcast Channel 96
and ATT Channel 99.
Translation into Spanish and Hmong is available. |
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January
28, 2021
Storm
downs 200-plus trees, more rain coming
The
storm that arrived in Merced Tuesday night closed
streets and downed trees and branches in Merced, resulting
in more than 200 calls to the Public Works Department.
More rain and wind are forecast through Friday, with
rain totals expected to range between 3 and 4 inches.
The overnight winds downed trees and branches throughout
the City. Public Works Department crews started clearing
streets around midnight and continued throughout the
day.
Childs Avenue between G Street to Martin Luther King,
Jr. Way was closed for much of the morning due to
flooding. Downed trees closed the southbound lanes
of M Street between Lehigh Drive to Buena Vista and
crews worked to clear it this morning.
While the storm is expected to bring heavy rain to
the region, forecasters from the National Weather
Service do not expect Bear Creek to overflow. Creek
levels are expected to rise about 10 feet to the 14-foot
level, which is below the 17-foot monitoring level
and well below the 23-foot flood stage.
People who want to report down trees should call Public
Works at 209-385-6800.
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For
more information on the storm forecast, check with
the National Weather Service at https://bit.ly/2YmanD4.
Information on sandbags is available at https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/public-works/flood-storm-information

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January
28, 2021
Merced
County Academic Decathlon Celebrates 40th Year,
Moves to Virtual Platform
Rounds of the Merced County Academic Decathlon begin
this week, although the format of the longstanding
test of student knowledge is much different this
year.
Because of COVID-19, the decathlon events will be
held virtually rather than in person, according
to Stacie Arancibia, events and community engagement
specialist for the Merced County Office of Education,
which conducts the events.
Arancibia said the speech and interview process
starts Saturday, beginning at 10:30 a.m., through
the zFairs software.
This is the 40th year the decathlon has been held
in Merced County. The theme this year is “The
Cold War.”
On Feb. 6, students will compete in seven multiple-choice
tests in Math, Science, Social Science, Music, Art,
Economics and Literature. This takes place remotely
through software provided by the United States Academic
Decathlon. That afternoon, students will participate
in the Super Quiz through the Zoom virtual platform.
Eighty high school students from Golden Valley,
Merced, El Capitan, Livingston, Delhi, Le Grand
and Buhach Colony high school campuses will compete.
“Thank you to the MCOE and school district
staff for adapting and modifying this event to make
it as safe as possible for everyone involved,”
said Merced County Superintendent of Schools Dr.
Steve Tietjen. “I’d also like to thank
the decathletes for participating in what will be
a unique competition.”
|

On
Feb. 9, the awards ceremony will be livestreamed in
the evening, tentatively on YouTube, according to
Arancibia.
“It’s exciting, but we definitely have
to adjust this year,” Arancibia said.
The winning decathlon team will advance to the state
championships, representing Merced County, which will
be conducted March 18-21, also in a virtual format.
Three scholarships will be awarded to members of each
team through sponsorship from the Merced School Employees
Federal Credit Union and many other generous donations.
The event is run by the non-profit Merced County Academic
Decathlon Association board. Volunteers to help run
the event — including reading the essays and
judging speeches and interviews — are staff,
teachers, principals, school trustees from MCOE and
participating schools and districts and community
members.
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January
27, 2021
City
construction records not affected by COVID-19
Merced’s building industry hasn’t been
slowed down by the coronavirus, as construction continued
to set records in 2020.
There were 1,974,217 square feet of construction added
last year, 600,000 sf more than last year’s
record. The total number of building permits was 3,727,
second only to the record set last year.
The year 2020 saw the most single-family dwelling
permits – 723 – and multi-family building
permits – 20 – pulled in the last decade.
There were 389 multi-family units added last year.
“This is great news in a year that definitely
needed some,” said Mayor Matt Serratto. “This
brought us jobs, incomes, new housing and new businesses.”
“It’s a tribute to the strength of our
local economy, our construction industry, and our
City staff that can efficiently process the permits
and inspections without hindering the builders,”
said City Manager Stephanie Dietz. “Everyone
did a great job and deserves credit.”
Scott McBride, the director of Development Services,
believes the City is “still riding the wave
of applications from 2019.”
He said along with Building Code changes that went
into effect, local builders have multi-year planning
cycles and 2020 was just part of it.
“In some respects, we are still recovering from
when we had no housing growth,” McBride said.
“We’re now getting back to a new activity
level.”
One important factor during the pandemic was the designation
of construction being deemed an “essential”
activity,” McBride said.
“We had a lot of questions about if construction
was considered essential,” he said. “In
reality, builders understood construction was necessary
and they sustained the momentum.”
“COVID is not affecting the growth for construction,”
said Denise Frazier, the City’s Chief Building
Official. “We are still getting lots of tenant
improvements and commercial construction.”
“Commercial construction is not slowing,”
she said. “They seem to be building in anticipation
of the virus changing.” Frazier said the construction
is going on all over the City.
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The
City’s early adaption of the electronic permit
approval process has helped with the building boom,
and dealing with the pandemic. When the coronavirus
arrived, many building departments were forced to
convert overnight from a process that had been dependent
on submitting paper plans and applications to an all-electronic
procedure.
“We have a new plan checker who came from an
all paper department,” Frazier said. “He
said we can do 75 percent more plan reviews because
it’s electronic, not paper.”
Brody Peterson, a senior project designer for CoreStates
Group, is working with the City as he designs the
improvements for the new Best Buy building. Based
out of Minnesota, his firm has worked all over the
nation, but Merced stands out for him.
“You, as a City, are able to work with the customer,
and you do it very well and it’s very appreciated,”
he said.
“We work all over the country, and typically
California is a little tougher to work with due to
the stricter codes,” Peterson said, “Having
a City to work with is a little hard to come by in
this state, but we are thankful.”
District 6 Council Member Delray Shelton said 2020
required the City to be flexible during these uncertain
times. “In some ways we defied the odds by having
new businesses come to town, and others expand or
make plans for the future.”
“Pizza Hut and Coconut Cafe made tenant improvements,
while Ashley Brothers Furniture and Bag ‘O’
Crab decided to make Merced their home,” Shelton
said. “We have a new Starbuck’s getting
ready to open, and an ARCO that located at our Gateway
Marketplace shopping center at Highway 99 and Campus
Parkway. We even had industrial activity at the Airport
Industrial Park.
“COVID caused the City to re-think how we do
business,” Shelton said. “We met the challenge,
and it’s paying off with on-going development.”
“Nobody knew how the coronavirus would affect
the building industry at all,” Frazier said.
“We all went through the economic downturn of
2008. We were all, ‘Here is comes again,”
but the building just keeps going and it hasn’t
slowed. This is a different kind of economic downturn
and the world of construction isn’t affected.”
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January
27, 2021
CDAA
Has Filed an Amicus Brief Supporting Lawsuit
Against Los Angeles County District Attorney
The amicus brief focuses on the foundations of
the California Constitution and
its guarantees of the rights of victims, as well as
the role of prosecutors in making
certain that those rights remain recognized within
the criminal justice system
January 26, 2021—The California District Attorneys
Association (CDAA) announced today that it filed an
amicus brief in Los Angeles County Superior Court
supporting a lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles Association
of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA) against Los Angeles
County District Attorney George Gascón. CDAA’s
actions are in response to a request from the ADDA,
the union representing Los Angeles County prosecutors,
which asked CDAA to weigh in on the directives.
CDAA Chief Executive Officer Greg Totten said in remarks
today, “We take this action regretfully, and
mindful of the broad authority and independence of
elected district attorneys. We also note this is an
extraordinary step for an association that has long
cherished diversity of opinions as well as spirited
debate of the criminal justice policy issues of the
day.”
|

He
added: “No constitutional provision and no statute
vests any district attorney with veto power over the
law. We are also dedicated to the ethical duties every
prosecutor holds and the oath each takes to ‘support
and defend’ and ‘bear true faith and allegiance’
to the California Constitution. No prosecutor—elected
or otherwise—may disregard these solemn responsibilities
nor direct his subordinates to do so.”
The case will be heard in Los Angeles County Superior
Court, Department 85, on Tuesday, February 2, 2021,
at 1:30 p.m. |
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January
22, 2021
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
LANE & RAMP CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 99 – FROM HAMMATT AVENUE TO MERCED
RIVER
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will close
various ramps and lanes on State Route 99 (SR-99)
for maintenance and construction
work. Work will occur as follows:
• Closure of the #3 (right) lane of northbound
SR-99 from Stein Way/Steinberg
Road to Hammatt Avenue for accident investigations
on Monday, January 25,
2021, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound
SR-99 at Sultana Drive for accident
investigations on Monday, January 25, 2021, from 9:00
a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
• Closure of the #1 (left) lane of northbound
SR-99 from Hunter Road to the
Merced River for k-rail installation beginning Sunday,
January 24, through Friday,
January 29, 2021, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
|

For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.

|
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January
16, 2021
Town
Halls, youth grant application on Council agenda
The preparations for the upcoming virtual Town Hall
meetings and a youth mentorship grant application
are on the Merced City Council agenda for Tuesday,
Jan. 19. Council meetings are usually held on Mondays,
but because of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday,
the meeting is postponed a day.
The Council will be holding two virtual Town Hall
meetings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 11 and
Thurs., Feb. 18. Council is being asked to review
the contents of an online survey being conducted to
help organize topics for discussion.
The regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday
telephonically, pursuant to Governor’s Order
in order to protect the public, City staff and Council
from the coronavirus. The meeting will be broadcast
on Facebook Live at City of Merced, on the City’s
website, www.cityofmerced.org, and Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order
N-29-20, there will be no in-person public access
to the meeting location, except, Essential Critical
Infrastructure Workers specifically those covered
by the Communications Sector including, but not limited
to, workers who support media services. All votes
for this meeting will be taken via rollcall.
Please submit your public comment to the City Council
electronically no later than 1 p.m. on the
day of the meeting. Comments received before the deadline
will be sent to the City Council and
will be part of the record and mentioned as part of
the Written Petitions and Communications
portion of the agenda. Material may be emailed to
cityclerk@cityofmerced.org and should be
limited to 300 words or less. Please specify which
portion of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Closed Session, item # or Oral Communications. Your
comments will be presented to the City Council at
the appropriate time. Any correspondence received
after 1 p.m. will be distributed to the City Council
and retained for the official record.
You may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Public Hearing item #, Consent item #, or Oral Communications.
Your comments will be played during the City Council
meeting at the appropriate time.
For Public Hearing items, if you wish to speak live
during the meeting, please leave callback information
and you will be contacted with further details.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650. Assisted hearing devices are available
for meetings held in the Council
Chamber.
|

On
the agenda:
• Council will hold two Town Hall meetings to
gather public input before beginning the budget process.
Council is being asked to review the content and format
of a survey and the Town Hall landing page to gather
information from residents for the sessions.
• The City is applying to the Proposition 64
Public Health and Safety Grant Program to create a
3-year youth mentorship pilot program with Merced
County. Mentors from the City and job partners will
be placed in all Departments.
• The Recreation and Parks Commission has recommended
to the City Council the creation of a 2- to 3-year
pilot program to use a portion of Measure Y funds
on a participatory budget process. Measure Y funds
are taxes collected locally from the sales of cannabis
products and funds go to the Parks and Recreation,
Police and Fire Departments, and general fund.
A link to the live meeting is on the City’s
website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day. |
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January
15, 2021
CALTRANS
TO BEGIN CURB RAMP IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
ON STATE ROUTE 165 IN LOS BANOS
MERCED
COUNTY – Caltrans is preparing to begin a Curb
Ramp Improvement Project
that will improve safety and mobility for pedestrians
at several locations on State Route
165 (SR-165) between SR-152 and Santa Cruz Way in
the city of Los Banos in Merced
County.
The project will see improvements of sidewalks and
driveway approaches with the
installation of A.D.A. (American Disabilities Act)
curb ramps. Improvements will also be
made to drainage inlets and storm drains. New traffic
signals and traffic loops will also
be installed at the intersection of SR-165 and SR-152.
Work is scheduled to occur during day and night-time
hours and will include one-way
traffic control lane closures. Flaggers will assist
motorists during these lane closures and
Caltrans will also have changeable message signs alerting
motorists of the potential
delays.
Motorists can expect 15-minute delays and are encouraged
to seek alternate routes.
This estimated $6.02 million project has been awarded
to George Reed Construction,
Inc. of Modesto, CA. Work is scheduled to begin February
1, 2021, with completion
expected in Fall 2021.
Schedules are subject to change due to traffic incidents,
weather, availability of
equipment and/or materials and construction related
issues.
|

For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.

|
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January
14, 2021
City
offices closed Monday for holiday
City offices will be closed on Mon., Jan. 18 to observe
the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
There will be no garbage pickup that day. All trash
collection will be delayed one day during the week.
The normally scheduled City Council meeting on the
third Monday of the month will be held at 6 p.m. Tues,
Jan. 19. For more details and the Council meeting
agenda, go to cityofmerced.org.
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January
13, 2021
CDAA
Will File Amicus Brief Supporting Lawsuit Against
Los Angeles County District Attorney
The Association has grave concerns that some of
the policies established by George Gascón violate
the state’s constitutional protection of crime
victims
January 12, 2021—The California District Attorneys
Association (CDAA) announced today it will file an
amicus brief supporting a lawsuit filed by the Los
Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA)
against Los Angeles County District Attorney George
Gascón.
CDAA’s actions are in response to a request
from the ADDA, the union representing Los Angeles
County prosecutors, which asked CDAA to weigh in on
the directives.
CDAA responded with an open ethics letter to the ADDA
expressing grave concerns regarding some of the new
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s policies,
including one that compels prosecutors to read a blanket
statement in court which, in some cases, violates
the state’s constitutional protection of crime
victims.
New sentencing guidelines, issued by Gascón
on his first day in office, force Los Angeles County
prosecutors to read a statement in court that asks
for the removal of certain sentencing enhancements,
such as possession of a firearm in the commission
of a crime.
“By prohibiting the gun enhancement, this new
policy seeks to punish a gun-wielding robber the same
as a defendant who snatches a purse from a victim’s
shoulder,” CDAA said in its letter.
|

CDAA
is a training and advocacy group for state prosecutors
that Mr. Gascón was a member of when he served
as San Francisco District Attorney, and it rarely
addresses policy differences among elected District
Attorneys. As the letter notes, however, CDAA believes
it must take a position when policies implemented
by an individual District Attorney go beyond the exercise
of discretion and contravene both the state constitution
and prosecutor ethics.
“The District Attorney does not possess the
legal power to dispense with his deputies’ constitutional
and statutory obligations to crime victims or the
duty of candor by imposing a mandate to read a script,”
said CDAA president Vern Pierson.
The amicus brief, a legal document showing support
for the lawsuit, will be filed later this month in
accordance with the superior court deadlines and procedures. |
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January
9, 2021
Assemblymember
Gray’s Statement on 2021-22 Budget Proposal
(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Adam C. Gray (D-Merced)
released the following statement in response to Governor
Newsom’s 2021 State Budget proposal:
“The State Budget is an expression of California’s
priorities. While there is plenty of detail left to
be worked out, Governor Newsom continues to make good
on his promise to keep the San Joaquin Valley a priority.
“Last year, the Governor made a commitment to
permanently fund a new UC medical school in the Valley.
True to his word, the budget maintains funding for
our medical school, and we remain on track to enroll
our first class of future Valley doctors in 2023.
As we continue to struggle with 0% ICU capacity in
no small part because of our doctor and nursing shortage,
this is a truly transformational and long-overdue
investment in the health and wellbeing of everyone
who calls the Valley home.
“The Valley also has a disproportionate number
of people enrolled in Medi-Cal and elevated rates
of diabetes impacting our most vulnerable communities.
I have fought for years to expand Medi-Cal to cover
continuous glucose monitors. It’s a common-sense
reform that 40 other states, Medicare, and every commercial
health plan in the state have already adopted. More
than 20 other legislators joined me last month in
urging the Governor to make this happen in the budget
after revelations that over one-third of COVID-19
deaths are linked to patients with diabetes. Today,
the Governor took decisive action to provide Medi-Cal
patients with diabetes the same standard of care as
everyone else. This cannot be overstated; chronic
illness and premature death will be prevented because
of this reform.
|

“Finally, I was glad to hear the Governor rebuke
those who have called for tax increases to make up
for a budget deficit that simply has not materialized.
Increasing taxes during a global pandemic and economic
recession is moronic. We should be looking for opportunities
to lower taxes as families continue to struggle to
make ends meet. I hope Congress was paying attention
to the Governor’s comments as well. Tax increases
are off the table.”
UC Merced Chancellor Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz
applauded the Governor and Assemblymember Gray for
their ongoing commitment to address the Valley’s
longstanding shortage of health care providers:
“This pandemic has made clarion clear the importance
of the state’s continued investment in bringing
reliable access to health care to its most underserved
regions. UC Merced’s collaboration with UCSF
Fresno is critical to building a pipeline of physicians
for the region who come from the communities they
will serve. We are grateful to the Governor for his
ongoing commitment and to Assemblymember Gray for
his steadfast dedication to keeping UC Merced’s
medical education aspirations and the San Joaquin
Valley front and center in Sacramento.”
|
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January
7, 2021
Bulky
Item Drop-Off Site open for all City residents
and a Community Cleanup Program is on the way
The Bulky Item Drop-Off Site is now open to all City
of Merced residents who need help getting rid of their
extra trash, with an extra Saturday of operation.
The Merced City Council made the change Monday night.
Residents no longer need to show they are City utility
customers, but they will need to provide two forms
of identification to show they live within the City
limits. Suitable forms of ID include a driver’s
license, state identification card, and any kind of
monthly bill or statement.
The site isn’t for the usual household waste,
but for things that don’t fit into the household
container such as couches, mattresses, and appliances.
The site also will take e-waste.
The Bulky Item Drop-Off Site is located at the corner
of No. Hwy 59 and Yosemite Ave. The Drop-Off Site
is open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 3 p.m.
Starting in 2021, the site is open the first and third
Saturdays of the month from 8 to noon.
Beautification is a Council priority, so making the
facility available to all residents helps achieve
this goal and is a key service to residents.
Also Monday night the Council directed staff to develop
a Community Cleanup Program to partner with neighborhoods,
volunteer groups and non-profit organizations who
want to help cleanup specific areas. The cleanup program
was initiated by Mayor Matt Serratto. Participating
groups can post their cleanup event on the City’s
website MercedCommunityCalendar.org and coordinate
services through the Public Works Department.
The Bulky Item Drop Off Site was opened in late 2019
to help curb illegal dumping within the City.
|

Recycling
Coordinator Monique Gama said staff analyzed what
was being picked up at the illegal dump sites. “A
lot of it was sofas, chairs, tires or random things
they couldn’t put in their containers at home,
and they didn’t want to take it to the landfill,”
she said.
Gama
said the usual household garbage, the recycling and
the leaves, grass clippings, tree branches and other
green waste still needs to go into the regular containers
at a resident’s house. People can also take
it down the road to the Highway 59 Landfill. Household
hazardous waste is another item not accepted at the
Drop-Off site but can be taken to the landfill.
Many of the items will be diverted to other uses,
like the e-waste and metals. The things that can’t
be recycled will be hauled to the landfill.
If the Bulky Item Drop-Off site doesn’t solve
a resident’s refuse problems, Gama said there
are other solutions. The landfill is about four miles
down the road, and it can handle all the disposal
needs, including hazardous waste.
The City also has options that include renting dumpsters
and roll-offs, depending on the size of the project
and how much stuff a resident will need hauled away.
Another option is to order an extra collection for
the trash container. Contact the Public Works Department
for more information on those options.
For questions about the site or to talk about trash
pickup options, call the Public Works Department at
209-385-6800 or got to the “Got Trash?”
tab under the Public Works Department at www.cityofmerced.org.
|
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January
5, 2021
Travis
Credit Union Announces New Financial Education Webinars
Available for Free in January
Vacaville,
CA – January is Financial Wellness month,
and Travis Credit Union has all the tools necessary
to help those who are looking to reassess and reboot
their relationship with money at the start of the
New Year and the beginning of tax-filing season.
As the pandemic has extended beyond a health crisis
into an economic crisis, as well, a recent Harris
Poll survey indicated many Americans wished they
had better money management skills.
For those seeking much needed support in their personal
financial management resolutions, Travis Credit
Union is offering free online financial education
on a variety of topics for many ages. This month’s
line-up also features first-in-series webinars targeting
teens and money management, as well as the Driving
Clean Assistance Program grant information.
Webinar Topic Date/Info Registration
Ten Steps to Financial Success Jan 6/11a.m. (PST)
Saving with a Purpose Jan 12/11a.m. (PST)
Part 1/Driving Clean Assistance Pgrm Jan 13/11a.m.
(PST)
Part 2/Driving Clean Assistance Pgrm Jan 21/11a.m.
(PST)
Let’s Talk Money (13-18 y/o) Session 1 Jan
21/4p.m. (PST)
Car Buying 101 Jan 26/6p.m. (PST)
10 Steps to Financial Success (Spanish) Jan 27/11a.m.
(PST)
|

In
2021 and beyond, TCU will continue to be defined by
our Awesome Cause – which is to change lives
and lift communities through financial wellness. For
more free financial education opportunities, please
visit traviscu.org/webinars.
Headquartered
in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a
not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving
those who live, work, worship, or attend school in
Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Merced, Napa, Placer,
Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus,
and Yolo Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union
is the 13th largest credit union in California with
more than 214,000 members and more than $3.9 billion
in assets.
|
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January
1, 2021
COVID-19
business help, N Street on Council agenda
An update on the City’s efforts to support businesses
during the coronavirus pandemic, and a design review
and direction from Council on the future N Street
road construction project are on the agenda for the
Monday night Merced City Council meeting.
The City has more than a dozen programs designed to
help businesses that are experiencing difficulties
due to the pandemic, ranging from loans to building
permit extensions. The Council will receive a report
on the programs and how they are being utilized by
businesses and the public.
The regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday
telephonically, pursuant to Governor’s Order
in order to protect the public, City staff and Council
from the coronavirus. The meeting will be broadcast
on Facebook Live at City of Merced, on the City’s
website, www.cityofmerced.org, and Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order
N-29-20, there will be no in-person public access
to the meeting location, except, Essential Critical
Infrastructure Workers specifically those covered
by the Communications Sector including, but not limited
to, workers who support media services. All votes
for this meeting will be taken via rollcall.
Please submit your public comment to the City Council
electronically no later than 1 p.m. on the
day of the meeting. Comments received before the deadline
will be sent to the City Council and
will be part of the record and mentioned as part of
the Written Petitions and Communications
portion of the agenda. Material may be emailed to
cityclerk@cityofmerced.org and should be
limited to 300 words or less. Please specify which
portion of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Closed Session, item # or Oral Communications. Your
comments will be presented to the City Council at
the appropriate time. Any correspondence received
after 1 p.m. will be distributed to the City Council
and retained for the official record.
You may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Public Hearing item #, Consent item #, or Oral Communications.
Your comments will be played during the City Council
meeting at the appropriate time.
For Public Hearing items, if you wish to speak live
during the meeting, please leave callback information
and you will be contacted with further details.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650. Assisted hearing devices are available
for meetings held in the Council
Chamber.
|
On
the agenda:
• When the pandemic struck, the City Council
implemented a series of programs to assist businesses
and the public, including creating a business outreach
team, establishing a sewer and water bill rebate and
starting a small business grant program. Council will
receive a report on the programs that have been initiated
since the pandemic began.
• Council is being asked for direction on design
elements for the N Street Project, and will receive
an update on upcoming Capital Improvement Projects
for 2021.
• Seeking Council’s direction on the format
and dates for the 2021 Community Town Halls and Strategic
Planning Session. Due to the current restrictions
due to the pandemic, the sessions will be held virtually.
A link to the live meeting is on the City’s
website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day.

|
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January
1, 2021
Merced native
Derek Parker named Merced Fire Chief
Derek
Parker has been named the City of Merced Fire Chief
by City Manager Stephanie Dietz. He will start Jan.
4.
This is a homecoming for Parker, and his wife, Kimberly,
since both grew up in Merced. He is returning to the
community after working his way up through the Sacramento
Fire Department.
“We are fortunate not only in having Derek’s
experience but also in that he is closely connected
to our community,” Dietz said. “In addition
to his strong administrative and leadership skills,
Derek brings a strong work ethic and commitment to
excellence that will serve the department well.”
Parker, 44, started his career in 1995 at the McKee
Fire Station working as a firefighter for the Merced
County Fire Department. He left Sacramento as a battalion
chief overseeing a $33 million budget.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity
to come home and bring the experience that I’ve
been able obtain from larger agencies back to the
City of Merced and move forward with it,” Parker
said.
“The Merced Fire Department has a great history
of providing community-based services at a very high
level,” Parker said. “The opportunity
to expand on previous successes is an opportunity
which I can’t pass up.”
In Sacramento, Parker oversaw the Emergency Medical
Services Division and the Special Operations Division,
which includes the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task
Force 7.
6 7 8 W e s t 18 t h S t r e e t, M e r c e d, C A
9 5 3 4 0
C I T Y O F M E R C E D
|
Derek Parker
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For
the past nine years he has been a Federal Emergency
Management Agency section chief and has responded
to incidents across the country. Most recently, he
has been called out on Hurricanes Florence, Michael,
Delta and Dorian to serve as the section planning
chief.
Parker started out in Sacramento as a firefighter/paramedic
and worked his way up as an engineer/paramedic before
being promoted to captain/paramedic. Even as battalion
chief, Parker said, “I am still a paramedic.
One of my goals is to bring paramedics to the Merced
Fire Department.”
A 1994 graduate of Merced High, his family owned Parker’s
Hardware for decades. After high school, he worked
for Riggs Ambulance for four years, then briefly in
Selma, before heading north to Sacramento.
Parker started studying to be a firefighter at Merced
College under former Fire Chief Ken Mitten. He holds
a bachelor’s degree from Sacramento State and
is working on a master’s degree in fire and
emergency management from Oklahoma State University.
Parker is married to the former Kimberly Williams,
and they have two sons, Aiden, 16, and Brett, 13.
He is a sports enthusiast, with football being his
favorite, but, he said, “I follow lots of sports.”
He likes to run and ride bikes to stay active.
Spending time with his family is a priority, and that
includes traveling with them during vacation. “Unfortunately,
we haven’t done much of that this year,”
he said.
The annual salary for fire chief is $126,865.68 to
$154,205.79.
|
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January
1, 2021
VIE-DEL
COMPANY COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF CONSTELLATION BRANDS’
HIGH-COLOR AND STANDARD GRAPE CONCENTRATE BUSINESS
LINES
SOLIDIFYING POSITION AS LEADING NORTH AMERICAN SUPPLIER
A
multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art facility expansion
will support this extensive growth.
Fresno, California, December 30, 2020 - Vie-Del Company
(Vie-Del), the oldest family-owned grape processor
and supplier of bulk juices, concentrates, brandy,
wine and spirits in California, announced today the
completion on December 29, 2020 of the acquisition
of the Canandaigua Concentrate High-Color Concentrate
(HCC) and standard grape concentrate business lines
from Constellation Brands U.S. Operations, Inc. (CBUSO),
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Constellation Brands,
Inc. (Constellation). The transaction was approved
by the Federal Trade Commission on December 23, 2020.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The acquisition is comprised of the Canandaigua Concentrate
MegaNatural HCC, Mega Purple and Mega Red, and standard
grape concentrates, which will be incorporated under
the Vie-Del Company brand. Additionally, the acquisition
included certain intellectual property, inventory,
goodwill, interests in certain contracts and other
assets.
“The Canandaigua Concentrate acquisition enhances
our already expansive lines of grape juice concentrates
and takes Vie-Del into the High-Color Concentrate
business with immense opportunity for growth,”
said Dianne S. Nury, President of Vie-Del. “Our
team of specialists will continue to serve our industry
partners, existing and new, with quality products
to fuel their growth and the same personalized business
approach our family-owned company has delivered for
the past 70 years.”
The acquisition expands Vie-Del’s product offerings
and solidifies the company as a leading supplier of
High-Color and standard grape concentrates in North
America. Together with Vie-Del’s existing concentrate
business, these new capabilities will further enhance
the company’s ability to serve the needs of
the marketplace – domestically and internationally.
This is complemented by Vie-Del’s other products
that include wine, brandy, grape and fruit spirits,
purée and custom fruit concentrates, natural
wine flavors and wine reductions. To support this
growth, Vie-Del is embarking on a multi-million dollar,
state-of-the-art facility expansion in the heart of
California’s agribusiness region, Fresno County.
|
About Vie-Del Company
Founded in 1946, Vie-Del Company is owned and operated
by the Nury family and is one of the oldest California-based
grape processors and suppliers of bulk juices, concentrates,
brandy, wine and spirits. Led by President, Dianne
S. Nury for the past 30 years, Vie-Del also holds
title as the largest woman-owned bulk winery, distiller,
and fruit juice processor in the United States. The
company operates out of two California facilities
in Fresno and Kingsburg; its vineyard and winery are
certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing
Alliance, acknowledging adherence to international
sustainability standards and continuous improvement.
Vie-Del additionally produces a variety of other products
for the wine, spirit, food and beverage industries
– domestically and internationally.
For more information about Vie-Del Company visit www.vie-del.com
and follow on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/vie-del-company)
and Facebook (www.facebook.com/viedelcompany).
|
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December
20, 2020
CARES
Act update, funds on agenda Monday night
An update on the federal CARES Act spending, and accepting
additional coronavirus funding is on the agenda for
the Monday night Merced City Council meeting.
The City has received more than $1 million in federal
funds to help deal with the effects of the pandemic
on the City and its residents. Funds have been used
to assist small businesses and to provide rent relief
and utility and food bank support.
The regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday
telephonically, pursuant to Governor’s Order
in order to protect the public, City staff and Council
from the coronavirus. The meeting will be broadcast
at 6 p.m. Monday on Facebook Live at City of Merced,
on the City’s website, www.cityofmerced.org,
and Comcast Public Access Channel 96.
Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order
N-29-20, there will be no in-person public access
to the meeting location, except, Essential Critical
Infrastructure Workers specifically those covered
by the Communications Sector including, but not limited
to, workers who support media services. All votes
for this meeting will be taken via rollcall.
Please submit your public comment to the City Council
electronically no later than 1 p.m. on the
day of the meeting. Comments received before the deadline
will be sent to the City Council and
will be part of the record and mentioned as part of
the Written Petitions and Communications
portion of the agenda. Material may be emailed to
cityclerk@cityofmerced.org and should be
limited to 300 words or less. Please specify which
portion of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Closed Session, item # or Oral Communications. Your
comments will be presented to the City Council at
the appropriate time. Any correspondence received
after 1 p.m. will be distributed to the City Council
and retained for the official record.
You may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Public Hearing item #, Consent item #, or Oral Communications.
Your comments will be played during the City Council
meeting at the appropriate time.
For Public Hearing items, if you wish to speak live
during the meeting, please leave callback information
and you will be contacted with further details.
|
On
the agenda:
• Provide an update on the Coronavirus Relief
Fund Utilization and request the approval of an increase
to revenue in the amount of $1,088,029 for Coronavirus
Relief Funds from the State of California Department
of Finance and appropriating $697,000 to reimburse
expenditures due to COVID-19.
• Provide an update on the HUD Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - Community
Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Programs
approved by Council on June 1, 2020; request Council
direction regarding the best use of new CARES Act
Third-Round funding allocated to the City by HUD in
the amount of $532,327; and, requesting Council direction
to begin the required citizen participation and substantial
amendment process necessary to receive the new HUD
allocation.
• A public hearing to allow Merrill Place, east
of G Street, to be constructed temporarily as a partial-width
street. The Council also is being asked to modify
a previously adopted Conditional Use Permit.
A link to the live meeting is on the City’s
website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting. For those needing translation
services for virtual meetings please call 209-888-0720.
For Spanish Translation use Meeting ID 311 905 92#.
For Hmong Translation use Meeting ID 278 398 018#.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day. |
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December
20, 2020
COVID-19
Business Assistance Program
The
City of Merced is providing financial assistance to
businesses directly impacted with the return to the
Purple Tier, which closes most indoor services.
“We know that our local merchants have endured
great financial hardships because of the pandemic,”
said City Manager Stephanie Dietz. “The City
Council is focused on helping businesses get through
these difficult times. Our small businesses do more
than provide goods and services, they provide jobs
and income to our friends and neighbors.”
Businesses who may be eligible for financial assistance
through this program include, but are not limited
to:
• Hair salons, nail salons and barbershops
• Churches and places of worship
• Restaurants
• Dance studios
• Family entertainment centers
• Gyms and fitness clubs
• Movie theaters
• Museums
• Yoga studios
|
The
funds are used to reimburse purchases of items such
as heaters, fire-rated tents, lighting and rent or
mortgage payments. As businesses and establishments
such as places of worship transition to outdoor operations,
they will need items such as canopies, umbrellas and
other equipment like cameras and transmitters to broadcast
services in parking lots.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Dec. 23,
or until the funds are exhausted, whichever comes
first. The maximum grant amount allocated per business
is $3,000, and does not require repayment.
To apply for the COVID-19 Business Assistance Program,
please visit: www.cityofmerced.org.
To determine eligibility, you will need to provide
proof of current City business license, W-9, and supporting
documentation for reimbursement.
For more information, please contact citymanager@cityofmerced.org
or (209) 385-6834. |
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December
20, 2020
Atwater FFA
Generates Holiday Canned Food Drive
Written
by : Liliana Boesch, Atwater FFA
Just
prior to the Christmas holiday, the entire 1100+
Atwater High School agriculture student body participated
in a week-long canned food drive where nearly 1000
canned food items were collected by students just
prior to the semester/winter break. The cans were
donated to the Merced County Food Bank and distributed
to families throughout the local community.
“I think the experience of delivering the
food to families in need throughout the community
was a powerful impact with our students as they
understood firsthand how fortunate they are in comparison
to the challenges many in our community face,”
said FFA advisor Kim Mesa. “The enthusiasm
and efforts of our students towards the gift of
“giving” is really what the holiday
season is all about.”
For
more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture
Department and Atwater FFA, please log on the website
www.AtwaterFFA.org .
|

Atwater High School agriculture sophomore Yairen Pineda-Rodriguez
checks in fellow FFA member Alany Guzman-Alvarez's
donated cans during the annual Atwater FFA Canned
Food Drive where the food was later donated to the
Merced County Food Bank.
|
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December
20, 2020
Atwater FFA
Students Embark on Public Speaking Opportunities
Written
by : Atwater FFA
Two Atwater High School agriculture students participated
and competed in the annual Mariposa FFA Public Speaking
contest through a virtual / online venue sponsored
by Mariposa High School earlier this month. The
opportunity is one of numerous public speaking opportunities
and competitions that will take place in the coming
months for agriculture students.
“Being
a good communicator is one of the foundations of
success towards personal and career development,”
says Atwater FFA advisor Jose Vargas. “I’m
very proud of our students’ efforts, participation,
courage, and enthusiasm in this event!”
Atwater
High School Agriculture program senior Simarjot
Gandhoke placed 1st overall in the Job Interview
contest which involved students completing a cover
letter, resume, job application, and panel interview.
This event emphasizes developing, practicing, and
demonstrating skills needed when seeking employment.
Gabriela Moreno also competed in the contest.
Thirty-eight
students representing thirteen central valley schools
participated in the event which was geared towards
allowing students an opportunity to practice and
prepare for the sectional finals in late January.
“This is an opportunity for students to develop,
build, and strengthen critical thinking and speaking
skills,” said Vargas. “Opportunities
for students such as this establish foundation skills
for success.”
For more information on the Atwater High School
Agriculture Department and Atwater FFA, please log
on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .
|

Atwater
High School agriculture senior Simarjot Gandhoke placed
1st overall in the virtual annual Mariposa High School
FFA Public Speaking Job Interview contest held earlier
this month with over thirteen local area schools competing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For
more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture
Department and Atwater FFA, please log on the website
www.AtwaterFFA.org .
|
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December
5 , 2020
Thomas
Cavallero named Merced Police Chief
Thomas
Cavallero has been named Merced Police Chief by City
Manager Stephanie Dietz. Cavallero had served as the
interim police chief since February 2020.
“Chief Cavallero has consistently demonstrated
his skills and abilities in the Department and the
community,” Dietz said. “He is a tremendous
asset to the City and I look forward to his continued
success.”
“I am flattered to be Chief,” Cavallero
said. “I am pleased to accept and honored to
lead the unselfish and service-oriented men and women
of this Department.”
Cavallero is the former Merced County Sheriff. He
served in that Department for 35 years, rising from
the ranks of deputy, becoming a sergeant, commander,
undersheriff, until he became Sheriff-Coroner in 2013.
Chief Cavallero and his wife, Wendy are well established
in the community and have raised their two children,
Nathaniel and Teresa here for over 35 years.
Cavallero’s starting annual salary will be $165,339.72
and will officially begin his role as Police Chief
on November 30, 2020.

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Thomas Cavallero
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December
5 , 2020
New
Council gets sworn in Monday night
A new Mayor and three new Council members will be
sworn in at the Monday night Merced City Council meeting.
Matt Serratto will take the gavel as Mayor, replacing
Mike Murphy. Jesse F. Ornelas will be sworn in to
represent District 1, replacing Anthony Martinez.
Bertha A. Perez will replace Jill McLeod in the District
3 seat. Sarah Boyle will be the representative for
District 5, replacing Serratto.
The regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday
in person, with social distancing being practiced
in the Merced Civic Center in order to protect the
public, City staff and Council from the coronavirus.
The meeting will be broadcast at 6 p.m. Monday on
Facebook Live at City of Merced, on the City’s
website, www.cityofmerced.org, and Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Members of the audience who wish to address the City
Council are requested to complete a speaker card available
at the podium against the right-hand side of the Council
Chamber. Please submit the completed card to the City
Clerk before the item is called, preferably before
the meeting begins.
You may also submit your public comment to the City
Council electronically no later than 1 p.m. on the
day of the meeting. Comments received before the deadline
will be sent to the City Council and will be part
of the record and will be mentioned as part of the
Written Petitions and Communications portion of the
agenda.
Material may be emailed to cityclerk@cityofmerced.org
and should be limited to 300 words or less. Please
specify which portion of the agenda you are commenting
on, for example, Closed Session, item # or Oral Communications.
Comments will be presented to the City Council at
the appropriate time. Any correspondence received
after 1 p.m. will be distributed to the City Council
and retained for the official record.
People may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Public Hearing item #, Consent item #, or Oral Communications.
Comments will be played during the meeting to the
City Council at the appropriate time.
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On
the agenda:
• Certification of municipal election results,
resolutions for outgoing Council members, election
of mayor pro-tempore and appointment of members to
Council committees.
• Seeking Council direction regarding a pilot
program for Downtown Merced that would include transitioning
Main Street between K and M to one-way traffic and
adding diagonal parking.
• Conduct a public hearing on the annual compliance
report for development impact fees (AB 1600).
A link to the live meeting is on the City’s
website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day.
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December
5 , 2020
Schools
That Have Opened May Remain Open in New Stay-at-Home
Order
Governor Newsom on Thursday announced a regional
stay-at-home order based on ICU capacity at local
hospitals. Positivity rates for COVID-19 in Merced
County and across the state and nation hit record
highs in the past week. Public health officials,
along with local and state leaders, have very real
concerns about hospital capacity with this surge.
Unlike the stay-at-home order issued earlier this
year, schools that have opened may remain open,
along with child care centers and preschools.
“We will continue to operate schools in Merced
County as we have since they reopened this fall,
by following public health guidelines to keep staff
and students safe,” said Merced County Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen.
Working with public health experts, schools have
developed protocols and procedures to notify staff,
students and any close contacts quickly and effectively
of a positive COVID-19 case. There are also specific
guidelines when to close classrooms, schools and
a school district.
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“Our
schools remain a safe place for our students and we
will all continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19
while practicing public health guidelines, like wearing
a face covering, maintaining physical and social distance
and regular handwashing,” Tietjen added. “While
I know this new stay-at-home order is not what any
of us wanted, especially entering the holiday season,
our efforts to limit mixing with people outside of
our households and follow public health guidelines
is paramount to reducing the spread of COVID-19 in
our communities.”
For more information on the state’s new executive
order, visit www.covid19.ca.gov. |
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December
5 , 2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL
STATE ROUTE 140 - FROM INTERSTATE 5 TO PLAINSBURG
ROAD
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
one-way traffic control at several locations on State
Route 140 (SR-140) from Interstate 5
(I-5) to Plainsburg Road in Planada for various maintenance
and construction work.
Work will begin as follows:
• One-way traffic control on SR-140 from I-5
to Delta Mendota Canal for bridge
inspection beginning Thursday, December 10, through
Thursday, December 11,
2020, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
• One-way traffic control on SR-140 from Los
Banos Creek to San Joaquin River for
bridge inspection Thursday, December 10, through Thursday,
December 11,
2020, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
• One-way traffic control on SR-140 from Van
Clief Road to East Side Irrigation
Canal for bridge inspection Thursday, December 10,
through Thursday,
December 11, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
• One-way traffic control on SR-140 from Black
Rascal Creek to El Capitan Canal
for bridge inspection Thursday, December 10, through
Thursday, December 11,
2020, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
• One-way traffic control on SR-140 from Arboldea
Road to Plainsburg/Planada
Road for bridge inspection on Thursday, December 10,
2020, from 8:00 a.m. until
5:00 p.m.
• One-way traffic control on SR-140 at Plainsburg/Planada
Road for striping
operations on Thursday, December 10, 2020, from 8:00
a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
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For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.

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November
25 , 2020
Atwater FFA
Students Earn Their FFA Degrees
Written
by : Liliana Boesch, Atwater FFA
The Atwater FFA Chapter held its 42nd annual Greenhand
- Chapter FFA Degree Ceremony this month at Atwater
High School. The purpose of this annual event was
to recognize 685 Atwater High School agriculture
students who earned their FFA Greenhand and Chapter
FFA degrees. As students advance in FFA and their
agricultural education, they can earn a series of
“degrees” that represent their accomplishments.
Each FFA degree recognizes a student’s progress
in leadership, agricultural education, and their
supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program
which represent(s) an ownership and/or work experience
project(s) in agriculture.
Students attended the ceremony virtually online
through their school Zoom accounts. Atwater FFA
Chapter President, Gaby Moreno opened the meeting
and welcomed students to the ceremony. In addition
to the presentation of the FFA degrees, the 2010-2021
FFA Greenhand officer team was announced with President:
Hannah Slate, Vice Presidents: Alejandra Espinoza-Mendez
and Alden Hansard, Secretary: Alexa Bracamontes,
Treasurer: Caden Hultgren, Reporter: Anna Brasil,
Sentinel: Salvador Abeja, Historian: Ella Boyenga,
and Parliamentarian: Katie Bizzack.
FFA Greenhand degrees are awarded with a bronze
pin to first year agriculture students. Requirements
of this degree include enrollment in an agriculture
class, plans for an SAE program or project, and
knowledge and understanding of the FFA organization.
Three hundred ninety three FFA Chapter Farmer degrees
were eligible to be awarded with a silver pin to
second year agriculture students. Requirements for
this degree include being an FFA member for at least
one year, being active in a SAE program or project,
involvement in group discussions and parliamentary
law, progress toward individual achievement in the
FFA awards program, and a satisfactory scholastic
record.
The Atwater FFA advisors are committed to building
a strong program that gets students involved and
providing them with opportunities for scholastic
achievement, personal growth, and career success.
Although not every student is planning to pursue
an education and career directly related to agriculture,
the AHS Agriculture Program and FFA provides students
the opportunity to gain valuable skills and experience
that will benefit ANY educational path and career.
“We provide our students with opportunities
to grow and develop personally, academically, and
professionally,” says FFA advisor Kim Mesa,
“We challenge our students to take advantage
of those opportunities and pursue their interests
towards colleges, universities, and a successful
career.”
Atwater High School agriculture students who earned
their FFA Greenhand degrees were Salvador Abeja
Ornelas , Christian Acosta, Estephanie Aguayo- Santos
, Yoceline Aguila, Nathan Alarcon, Camilo Alejandre,
Nayeli Alejandre, Jerry Alejo, Mohamed Ali, Brayden
Alvarado, Karina Alvarado , Louis Alvarado, Maria
Alvarado Sanchez , Aidan Alvarez, Roberto Alvarez,
Juliana Alves, Lizet Amador, Jonathan Amaya, Gildardo
Ambriz, Fernando Amezcua, Teodulo Aquino, Jayro
Arellano, Renzo Arellano, Daniel Arevalo, Enrique
Arias, Angel Arias Bernal, Adriana Arroyo-Lupian,
Jhordy Asparren, Irony Avalos, Carlos Avila, Jesus
Avila, Jesus Avila, Austin Balloue, Jesus Barajas,
Calvin Barnes, Jose Alejandro Barreto, Gabriella
Barriga, Ricky Barrios, Lyra Barton, Mia Bautista,
Raymond Bautista, Alondra Benavidez, Hayvn Bender,
Olivia Bergin , Katie Bizzack , Spencer Bodily,
Kate Boesch, Madelyn Borba, Caleb Borba Pitchford,
Ella Boyenga, Alexa Bracamontes, Anna Brasil, Uriel
Bravo, Raymond Brown, Cloie Burkett, Dulce Campos
- Rodriguez , Cesar Carillo, Ramiro Carlos, Zameer
Carminer, Christian Carranza, Laysha Carreras-Mendoza,
Natalie Carrillo, Yahaira Carrillo-Robles, Angel
Castillo, Brandon Castillo, Bridget Castillo, Danyelle
Castillo, Gabriella Castillo, Marleen Castillo,
Miguel Castillo, Ahliya Castro, Diana Castro, Dulce
Ceballos- Perez , Alexa Ceja, Alondra Ceja, Patrycia
Cerqueda , Angel Cervantes, Leah Charriez, Arturo
Chavez, Bryan Chavez, Ismael Chavez, Ramon Chavez,
Jesus Chavira, Dakarai Coleman, Jocelyn Colmenares,
Nathan Condon, Angel Contreras, Damien Contreras,
Teaghan Conway, Juan Cornejo, Jairo Cortes, Isabella
Cortez, Giovanni Cruz, Jessica Cruz, Clement Dalia,
David Davis, Jose De-Leon, Destiny Deleon, Julian
Delgadillo Virrey, Osmar Delgado, Audrey Dores,
Miranda Dores, Adrian Duran, Uriel Duran, Xavier
Duran, Jonathan Duran-Flores, Mackenzie Eagles,
Arlyn Esau, Aiden Escamilla, Jacob Escarzega, Andres
Espinosa - Vega , Alejandra Espinosa-Mendez , Jacob
Espinoza, Tamazjah Ewing , Angel Farias, Ruben Farias-Figueroa,
Adamariz Fernandez, Melissa Fernandez, Victor Fernandez,
Rebecca Fisk , Guillermo Flores, Valeria Flores,
Victoria Foster, Omar Franco-Hernandez, Andres Gallegos,
Lexi Gallegos, Roman Galvan, Alexander Garcia, Alexia
Garcia, Dayanara Garcia, Devan Garcia, Emanuel Garcia,
Karina Garcia, Leonardo Garcia, Lizbeth Garcia,
Marco Garcia, Nayelli Garcia, Noel Garcia, Daniel
Garibay, Jesus Garibay, Maria Garibay, Melissa Garibay,
Luis Garibay Arroyo , Kaylee Gonzales, Nicole Gonzales,
Anthony Gonzalez , Isaiah Gonzalez, Jacqueline Gonzalez,
Kevin Gonzalez, Martin Gonzalez, Yoan Gonzalez,
Lopez Gonzalez, Nathanael Griggs, Grace Grissom,
Jiovanni Gudino, Natalia Gutierrez, Alany Guzman,
Trinity Guzman-Rodarte, David Hall, Nate Hall, Alden
Hansard, Samantha Harcksen, Alexis Hernandez, Edgar
Hernandez, Jorge Hernandez, Jorge Hernandez, Yukary
Hernandez, Chloe Herrera, Devin Hopkins, Valeria
Huerta, Caden Hultgren, Damian Hurtado, Kevin Hurtado,
Carlos Inestroza, Ruben Jabalera, Dhenym Jackson,
Keiunandra Jackson, Jesus Jacobo-Celis, Sarah Jenkins,
Diego Jeronimo, Alexander Jimenez, Zoe Jolly, Kirandeep
Kandola, Trevor Knapp, Victoria Lagunas, Makayla
Laws , Thaisen Lawson, Kristmas Lee, Osvaldo Leon,
Tristan Libecki, Kaitlyn Lopes, Alondra Lopez, Briana
Lopez, Giovanni Lopez, Jeremy Lopez, Luis Lopez,
Marlen Lopez, Nataly Lopez, Maricela Lopez-Santiago,
Gerardo Lozano, Angelo Lua, Alexis Lupian-Villagomez,
Jonathan Macias-Pulido, Lorenzo Madrid, Alejandro
Madrigal, Antonio Madrigal, Jonathan Madrigal, Rosalio
Madrigal, Destiny Madriz Santiago, Daniel Magana,
Mateo Magana, Adrian Magdaleno, Cristal Maldonado,
Marryah Maldonado, Vanessa Maldonado, Kevin Mancio,
Angel Manuel, Nayeli Manzo, Jesus Marcial, Miguel
Marron, Joseph Martens, Alejandro Martinez, Alfredo
Martinez, Anthony Martinez , Daisy Martinez, Marissa
Martinez , Ruben Martinez, Juan Martinez Hernandez,
Marisol Martinez-Duran, Sydney Mason, Anaya Mathis,
Michael McHenry, Carlos Medina, Alexa Melendez,
Ariel Melendez , Dominic Melendez, Lesly Melgarejo,
Brian Mendoza, Daniel Mendoza, Jose Mendoza, Robert
Menezes, Dominque Meza, Esmeralda Meza, Jacqueline
Meza, Leesly Molina , Jose Mondragon, Jasmine Monge
, AB Montoya, Isabel Montoya , Jenna Mora, Alexander
Morales, Roberto Morales, Abraham Moreno, Hugo Moreno,
Ricardo Moreno, Yessica Muniz , Christian Munoz,
Jamin Munoz, Brody Mussano, Alberto Nava, Adrian
Navarro, Jonathan Navarro, Darrien NIeto, Gabrielle
O'Reilly, Evelyn Ochoa, Camila Olivera, Angel Ordonez,
Juan Orozco, Martin Ortega, Elijah Ortiz, Jorge
Pacheco, Liandro Padilla, Marcos Padilla, Lizuli
Pahua-Aguilera, Daniel Palomino, Carlos Paramo,
Esmeralda Paramo, Travis Park, Riley Parr, Sylvester
Perales Jr., Christian Perez, Jose Perez, Maricela
Perez, Perla Perez, Ramon Perez, Jacquelin Perez
- Sanchez , Faith Peters, Issaiah Pineda, Ryan Pittman,
Emilio Placencia, Gabriel Ponce, Eric Prado, Kevin
Pulido, Peyton Quinn, Romelia Quirarte, Zayden Ragsdale
, Araceli Ramirez, Ariyana Ramirez , Brandon Ramirez,
Christian
Ramirez,
Gia Ramirez, Hector Ramirez, Manuel Ramirez , Evelyn
Ramirez Juarez, Abdiel Ramirez-Ahumada, Julianna
Ramos, Victor Razo, Victor Rea, Alondra Recio-Guereca,
Natalia Reyes, Reyes-Campos, Crystal A Reyes-Chavez,
Anastasia Reyna, Esmeralda Rios, Isaac Rios, Luis
Rios Garcia, Viviana Roach, Anthony Rodriguez, Zuleyka
Rodriguez, Cesar Rodriguez Calderon, Marissa Rojas,
Brenda Romero, Javier Romero, Jeovanny Romero,
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Atwater High School freshman Jacky Velazquez places
her painted green hand on a poster board in between
chapter officers Nandani Patel and Gabby Lucas in
recognition of her 1st year as an agriculture student
and FFA member.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jordan Romero, Layla Romero, Yaredsi Romero, Jose
Romo, Jose Ruelas, Oscar Ruvalcaba, Luis Salas, Ivan
Salcedo, Isidro Salido, William Salmeron, Emmanuel
Sanchez, Garrett Sanchez, Hannah Sanchez, Isaac Sanchez,
Jose Luis Sanchez, Ruben Sanchez, Julissa Sanchez-Guzman,
Jesus Sandoval, Brandon Santiago, Lisban Serrano,
Adrian Silva, Noah Silva, Ayden Silveira, Orlando
Silvestre , Hannah Slate, Brian Soto, Grayson Soto
, Trace Stockam, Freddy Tafolla, Kaiden Tapley, James
Thomas, Kasandra Tinoco, Luis Torres, Nicholas Trejo,
Thanya Trujillo, Kimberly Valdovinos-Burgueno, Adrian
Valencia, Gerardo Valencia, Uziel Valencia, Adrian
Valentine, Nathan Valenzuela, Charlotte Valladao,
Giselle Varela, Stephany Vargas, Fernando Vargas-Virgen,
Marvin Vasquez, Joel Vasquez Jr, Diana Vazquez, Arianna
Velazquez, Irvin Velazquez, Jacqueline Velazquez,
Paulina Veloz , Jocelyn Vera, Ramon Vicente, Cynthia
Villa, Christopher Villalobos, Rebekah Villalobos,
Ramzey Villarreal, Angel Villegas, Nathaniel Vizcarra,
Landon Wagner, Tristyn Ward, Henry Warden , Romie
White, Jacob Yang , Esmeralda Ybarra, Karla Zapien,
Brianna Zavala, Giulia Zen, Adrian Zendejas, Vidal
Zepeda, Zitlaly Zepeda-Robles, and Marc Zuniga.
Atwater High School agriculture students who earned
their FFA Chapter Farmer degrees were Nidia Aguilar,
Everardo Aguirre Martinez , Stephanie Agundis, Autumn
Akahori, Antonio Alcauter, David Alfaro, Angelo Alvarado,
Brandon Alvarado, Jarel Alvarado, Natalie Alvarado
- Vargas , Natasha Amezcua, Rosalie Anagnos, Katrina
Andujar, Moncerrat Arellano, Teela Armenta, Emma Avalos,
Guillermo Avila, Javier Avila, Lucas Avila, Santiago
Avila, Narely Ayala, Jorge Barajas, Abraham Becerra,
Rosalinda Becerra, Devin Belton, Paola Benitez, Ian
Bennison, Serrina Bhogel, Hunter Birmingham, Litzy
Bojorje, Lizette Bojorje, Kenneth Bolanos, Sean Bollinger,
Kendall Borba, Julian Brown, Zoey Brown, Kadyn Buehner,
Carlos Caballero, Jose Juan Campos, Brooklyn Canela,
Xavier Cardenas, Leandra Cardenaz, Cassidy Carrillo,
Dylan Matthew Castro, Giselle Castro, Jatziry Castro,
Ariana Ceja, Rene Ceja-Chavez, Jonathan Celis, Adrian
Cervantes, Kathya Chairez, Quandre Charles, Alicia
Chavez, Josue Chavez, Nolan Chavez, Rosendo Chavez,
Eli Chavez Robles, Mayrie Chua, Bryan Cisneros, Jair
Cisneros, Jazmin Cisneros, Devin Clay, Elisabeth Conn,
Steven Connell, Ivan Contreras , Ashly Corona, Caleb
Correa , Lesly Cortes, Alexandrew Cortez, Jose Cortez,
Alec Crigger, Fabian Davalos, Daniel Del Rio, Icessys
Delacruz, Ricardo DeLaTorre, Pedro DeLeon, Angel Diaz,
Kassandra Diaz, Patrick Diaz Sheehan, Colton Dukes,
Emanuel Duran, Mateo Duran , Ulises Duran, Jonathan
Duran-Lopez, Alejandro Duran-Marquez, Dominic Ekkelboom,
Oswaldo Escobedo, Ashley Flores, Brian Galvan-Moreno,
Jared Gamble, Alyssa Gamboa , Adrian Garcia, Alessandra
Garcia, Alexis Garcia, Josue Garcia, Allison Garner,
Ivan Gaytan, Diego George, Alfonso Gomez, Lydia Gonzales,
Abigail Gonzalez, Oscar Gonzalez, Isaac Gonzalez Arce,
Antonio Gonzalez Guzman, Jessica Govea, Eduardo Gudino,
Tyce Gunnin, Mason Hall, Trenton Hall, Corey Hardin,
Zachery Hardin, Nathan Harding, Nayeli Heredia, Ana
Hernandez , Daniel Hernandez, Jeslie Hernandez, Omar
Hernandez, Natalie Hernnandez, Tatiana Huerta, Rosalia
Huitron, Javier Hurtado, Tyler Ivie, Adrian Jaime,
octavio jimenez, Jocelyn Juarez, Mathew Kamykowski,
Maximus LaJeunesse, Emilio Lara, Braden Lawrence,
Fernando Ledezma, Jin Lee, Ashley Leon, Jamal Lewis,
Aliene Lopez, Cecelia Lopez, Jennifer Lopez, Mary
Jane Lopez, Salvador Lopez, Maria Lua, Princessa Luna,
Emmanuel Macias, Matthew Macias, Jonathan Magallanes
Leal , Rachel Magallon, Jasmine Magana, Maritza Magana,
Melvin Mahaffey, Michael Maki, Lisa Maloney, Angel
Marron, Alexis Martin, Saul Martinez, Guadalupe Martinez
Lopez , Jesus Martinez Tinoco, Jacqueline Martinez-
Avina , Juliana Martinez-Avina, Dylan Mason, Giselle
Mauleon, Caden McDaniel, Joshaua Medeiros, Brayan
Medina , Lucas Medina Lozano, Nayeli Medrano, Erik
Melgoza, Jackeline Mendoza, Nicholas Mendoza, Rosendo
Mendoza, Arianna Mestaz, Jasline Mestaz, Nate Metz,
Erik Meza-Garcia , Jordon Miles, Guadalupe Millan,
Shayleigh Miller, Luis Mojica, Fidel Molina, Christian
Molina Castro , Jesus Mondragon, Kennedy Mooney, Reyna
Morales, Casandra Moreno, Vidal Morquecho, Cody Moua,
Jatzihri Munoz-Ramirez, Angel Naranjo, Johnathon Navarrete,
Sydney Nickelson, Maria Nieto, Carlos Ochoa, Richard
Ochoa-Rocha, Maria Olivera, Guadalupe Olmos, Angelina
Ordaz, Francisco Orozco, Josue Orozco, Pedro Orozco,
Ianna Ortega, Evelyn Padilla, Madison Palafox, Salvador
Pantoja, Lacey Pedranti, Juan Pedrizco, Taylor Pelton,
Fatima Peralta, Alexis Perez, Samuel Perez, Yairen
Pineda, Gabriella Pisacco, Xxavier Ponce, Julia Portillo,
Fernando Prado-Perez, Gianna Pursley, Jesus Quezada,
Lovinger Quintero, Christopher Quirarte, Talya Quirarte,
Adrian Ramirez, Christopher Ramirez, George Ramirez,
Ishmael Ramirez, Omar Ramirez, Victor Ramirez, Anally
Ramos, Tanna Reed, Emanuel Reyes, Marissa Reyes, Michael
Reyes, Rafael Reyes-Arroyo, Angelina Rochin, Alvaro
Rodriguez, Dalia Rodriguez, Kaleb Rogers, Christopher
Rojas, Alondra Romo-Pimentel, Daniel Saavedra, Nathan
Salas, Damian Salcedo, Jovanni Salcedo, Jesus Santana,
Maria Serrano, Kyleigh Sheldahl, Caden Siegel, Luis
Sillas Jiménez , LaShae Smith, Christopher
Sotelo, Adrian Soto, Valerie Soto, Arianna Soto Valencia,
Steven Stone, Alexis Stubbs, Xithlali Suarez Ceballos,
Jordan Thomas, Courtney Thompson, Christopher Torres,
Juan Torres, Samantha Trejo, Bryan Trillo, Emma Uribe,
Faith Uwnawich-Harris , Sonia Valdez, Angel Valencia,
Ernestina Valencia, Paris Valenzuela, Angel Valera,
Donovan Valerio, Nachia Vang, Adam Vargas, Johnny
Vargas, Ricardo Vargas, Juan Vazquez, Alex Vega, Jose
Velasco, Natalie Veloz, Soleil Ventura, Julian Villa,
Olga Villanueva, Jose Villegas, Matthew Villegas,
Hannah (Alex) Wagner, Kaden Wagner, Kayce Weathers,
Spencer Wilde, Mckenzie Williams, Race Woodruff, Esmeralda
Zapien, Montserrat Zapien, and Marisol Zuniga.
For
more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture
Department and Atwater FFA, please log on the website
www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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November
25 , 2020
The
Big Fresno Fair Is Bringing A New Drive-Thru Holiday
Fantasy of Lights Show
to Fresno Fairgrounds for Community to Enjoy
Will Feature Christmas Music, Food and a Winter
Wonderland of 450 light displays
FRESNO,
CALIFORNIA, November 23, 2020…The Fresno Fairgrounds
is transforming into a magical Winter Wonderland this
holiday season for the first-ever Big Fresno Fair’s
Holiday Fantasy of Lights Show! Attendees will drive
through the Fairgrounds and enjoy more than 450 holiday
lights displays as they listen to Christmas music,
sip on hot cocoa and more. The Fair has partnered
with Lightasmic, to bring this holiday light show
to the Fresno Fairgrounds Thursday, December 3 through
Sunday, January 3; closed Christmas Day. Daily hours
are 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.; gates open at 4:00
p.m.
“We are extremely excited to bring this holiday
event to the Fairgrounds for the community to enjoy,”
said Lauri King, Deputy Manager II, The Big Fresno
Fair. “With COVID-19 impacting this year’s
Hmong New Year Celebration, we shifted to bring this
holiday drive-thru to spread some much needed holiday
cheer in the safest way possible. These light displays
are incredible and will truly transport attendees
to a magical winter wonderland. We hope our community
is as excited as we are to come out and enjoy it!”
Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.FresnoFair.com/HolidayLights
or at the Fair’s Box Office located at 1121
S. Chance Ave. Monday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $20 per vehicle Monday
– Thursday and $25 Friday – Sunday. Tickets
can be purchased at the gate, but the cost increases
by $5 so be sure to get yours in advance.
There will be a special treat for attendees Friday
– Sunday, as Santa will be out there waving
to guests as they drive through. At the Holiday Fantasy
of Lights Show, there will be an area to drive up
and purchase tasty treats, hot cocoa and more before
starting your drive-thru holiday adventure. For a
complete list of treats, including menu pricing, go
to www.FresnoFair.com/HolidayLights.
Want to save on tickets? Then head to any Central
California Blood Center or mobile drive from November
30 through January 1, and you’ll get a $5 off
voucher good for a Holiday Fantasy of Lights Show
ticket for Monday - Thursday. Not only can you save
money, but you can save up to three lives with your
donation and the Central California Blood Center is
in dire need of blood this holiday season! To find
out where to donate, go to www.donateblood.org.
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The
Central California Blood Center provides blood and
services to patients who receive care at 30 hospitals
and their network of facilities in Fresno, Tulare,
Madera, Kings and Mariposa Counties. 5,000 to 6,000
pints of blood must be collected per month to meet
the needs of patients in our Central Valley community.
Stay connected with the Central California Blood Center
on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Donating blood is safe and essential. The Central
California Blood Center is taking all the precautions
required to guarantee the safety of blood donors and
staff.
About The Big Fresno Fair:
The Big Fresno Fair, founded in 1884, is the fourth
largest fair in the state of California and represents
the 21st District Agricultural Association. More than
600,000 people from throughout the State visit The
Big Fresno Fair each year making it the largest annual
event in the Central Valley. Members of the Board
of Directors include: Larry Serpa, President; Jerry
Pacheco, Vice President; Charles Riojas, Secretary/Treasurer;
Linda Mae Balakian Hunsucker; Gary Chahil; Frank Flores;
Terry Gonsalves; Annalisa Perea and Lawrence Salinas.
Deputy Managers, Stacy Rianda and Lauri King oversee
the daily operations of the Fair. For more information
about The Big Fresno Fair, please visit www.FresnoFair.com.
Stay connect with The Big Fresno Fair on Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter.
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November
25 , 2020
City
seeks applicants for Measure C Committee
The City of Merced is accepting applications for the
Citizens’ Oversight Committee-Measure C. Applicants
must be registered to vote in the City of Merced.
Vacancies are available in the South, Central and
North Police District. A map is available at the City
Clerk’s Office or at www.cityofmerced.org.
The purpose of this Committee is to review projected
revenues created by the voter approved Measure C,
a one-half cent sales tax. The Committee recommends
proposed expenditures to City Council. The Committee
consists of three voting members from each of the
three existing Policing Districts of the City, for
a total of nine voting members. There are also ex-officio
members representing the various recognized municipal
employee bargaining units.
The Committee meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday
in February, May, August and November.
Applications are available at the City Clerk’s
Office, 678 W. 18th Street, Merced, or at www.cityofmerced.org.
Call 388-8650 for more information.
|

City
offices closed for Thanksgiving holiday
The City of Merced offices will be closed Thurs. and
Fri., Nov. 26 and 27, for the Thanksgiving holiday.
There will be no trash collection Thursday. Collection
will be delayed one day the rest of the week.
During the Thanksgiving holidays, people are encouraged
to observe coronavirus safety protocols, including
wearing a mask when in public and maintaining social
distance.
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November
25 , 2020
MCOE
Works to Help Keep Schools Running, Staff and Students
Safe
The coronavirus pandemic that has thrust itself
upon Merced County’s schools last spring is
something Eva Chavez never expected and something
she said has tested her mettle going forward.
But it’s truly something that has made school
employees more resilient, she believes. Chavez is
deputy superintendent of the Merced County Office
of Education in charge of human relations functions.
The county schools office has 1,300 employees, about
900 of them full-time.
The word of the year, Chavez said, is unprecedented.
She contracted COVID-19 in July and recovered.
“I felt awful, but all is well now,”
she said. “Our goal has been to get students
back in school, but we have to do it safely and
responsibly. It is truly something that has made
us stronger.”
A lot of Merced County Office of Education business
is being done remotely, through Zoom, telephone
calls and virtual-digital means. Chavez said Merced
County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen
meets weekly with the 20 school superintendents
throughout the county to determine future developments
and responses to changing requirements.
Chavez stresses MCOE employees are observing public
health guidelines, including regular hand washing
and social-distancing practices.
MCOE provides additional sick leave when employees
are diagnosed with COVID-19. It’s part of
a federal law from this spring, the Family First
Coronavirus Response Act.
Chavez said her office has been working with employee
unions to work through concerns related to safety.
Employees are being strongly encouraged to take
part in surveillance testing offered at no cost
to the employee by MCOE and the Merced County Department
of Public
Health.
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“At the beginning of the pandemic we allowed
all employees to work from home. By June, many were
back at the work site,” Chavez said. “Staff
with children whose schools were closed have been
allowed to work from home when possible. Through it
all, we strive to be an empathetic employer,”
By and large, Chavez said, most employees have come
back to the worksite, but MCOE continues to work with
some home-bound employees at higher risk of contracting
the coronavirus to ensure their safe return.
“I believe we’re managing well but it’s
an ever-changing landscape. Employees must complete
a daily self-assessment form before coming to work.
They are asked if they have typical COVID-19 symptoms
or a fever. We work to stay on top of the latest local
health department information and respond accordingly,”
Chavez said
Her role has been to help employees safely do their
job and make sure they are comfortable.
“It has changed the way we do business,”
she said. “It’s exhausting to consistently
make the right calls while showing people that they
matter. What is the new normal? Daily we are faced
with questions we must answer to manage this pandemic.
Mainly, it’s about keeping the workplace safe
so staff are able to do the work we were all hired
to do. We genuinely care about employees and the public
we were hired to serve,” Chavez said.
All staff members have done the heavy lifting to adapt
to changing conditions since the start of the pandemic,
she said.
“We were required to learn many things quickly
and I’d say most throughout the organization
have exceeded expectations when it comes to figuring
out ways to get the work done,” Chavez said.
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November
19 , 2020
Merced
City Council Appoints Stephanie Dietz as City Manager
The
Merced City Council is pleased to announce the selection
of Mrs. Stephanie Dietz as its next City Manager,
and confirmed her appointment at the November 16,
2020 meeting. The City Council conducted an extensive
search, resulting in nineteen applicants from across
seven states.
As the City Manager, Dietz serves at the pleasure
of the City Council. She is one of three Charter Officers,
managing operational functions within the City, including
Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks and Recreation,
Economic Development, Engineering, Development Services,
Information Technology, Human Resources while also
serving as the City Clerk.
“Merced wanted to hire a leader familiar with
the unique inner workings of the City and community,”
said Mayor Mike Murphy. We knew that we wanted someone
with good judgment, someone in tune with our city.
The Council unanimously agreed that her demonstration
of critical decision-making and leadership made it
apparent that she was the correct candidate.”
Dietz, 40, has spent the past four years as Merced’s
Assistant City Manager, most recently serving as Interim
City Manager. Dietz’s accomplishments include
implementing the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission,
developing a Legislative Program to advocate for grant
funding and resources, and working with community
leaders to complete beautification projects. As Assistant
City Manager, Dietz spent much of her time shaping
the work environment, enhancing department functions
and service delivery, and leading labor negotiations.
“I am honored to be selected by the City Council
as the City Manager of Merced,” Dietz said.
“Merced is resilient, and has the strength to
overcome any challenge by taking advantage of opportunities.
Furthering the City Council’s goals and priorities
and developing a strong culture of customer service
will be my focus. Our leadership team and staff are
eager to meet the needs of this great community”.
Prior to coming to the City, Dietz spent 10 years
working for Merced County, interrupted by almost three
years of work at UC Merced. Expanding partnerships
was a primary focus for Dietz when first joining the
City. Using her existing network, she built new relationships
elevating the City’s presence at the state and
regional levels.
Dietz has served as a co-chair of the Northern San
Joaquin Valley Regions Rise program which is part
of the State’s economic development initiative.
Coordinating regional planning efforts, she was able
to secure additional resources to address homelessness.
Working closely with law enforcement officials, Dietz
helped identify creative ways to support the Police
department through the Merced Crisis Response Team.
During the early COVID-19 pandemic crisis, she brought
together non-profit and faith-based organizations
to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.
“These are challenging times requiring us all
to find innovative ways to sustain the local economy.
Mrs. Dietz is a collaborator and will respond to the
needs of the community by surrounding herself with
the right people and resources,” Mayor Pro Tempore
Matt Serratto said.
Dietz holds a bachelor’s degree from Fresno
State, a master’s from National University and
is a graduate of the California State Association
of Counties Senior Executive credential program. Well
established and rooted in Merced, she and her husband
Teddy Dietz have two children, Tyler and Madysen.
Dietz’s starting annual salary will be $214,966.13
and will officially begin her role as City Manager
on November 17, 2020.
|

Stephanie
Dietz

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November
19 , 2020
FFA Initiates
Holiday Giving Through Operation Christmas Child
Written
by : Atwater FFA
The holiday season is associated with “giving”
and as a time to help others. A highlighted example
of this spirit is Atwater High School’s FFA
program that was originally inspired a few years
ago by Atwater FFA graduate Amanda Skidmore who
inspired and led the students at Atwater High School
in “Operation Christmas Child. The program
is coordinated through an organization called Samaritan’s
Purse where school supplies, toys, and hygiene items
are collected and placed in shoe boxes and distributed
globally to impoverished countries.
“We wanted to continue the tradition that
was started,” said Atwater High School senior
and Chapter Secretary Celeste Chargoy Velasco. “Knowing
you can touch someone else’s life and make
a difference is truly the best feeling one can have.
Celeste’s goal was to get over 100 boxes organized
prior to the Christmas holiday. She communicated
with the Atwater High School Leadership class and
Atwater High School Agriculture Leadership class
in organizing the event. When it was all completed,
over one hundred boxes of various items will be
delivered to Gateway Church, loaded on a semi-truck,
and shipped off to various countries where the boxes
will travel via boat, plane, train, camel, and foot
to various children and families.
“This was a school-wide and community effort,”
said Atwater High School agriculture student Alexa
Melendez. “It’s about making a positive
difference in the lives of people and the effort
of implementing the holiday spirit of giving.”
We partnered with the leadership class on campus
in order to fill over 100 boxes, so this was truly
a school wide effort.
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Atwater High School agriculture students and FFA members
Jacky Velazquez, Gabby Lucas, Alexa Melendez, Perla
Caballero, Nandani Patel, and Sarai Duran work together
in collecting the Operation Christmas Child boxes
submitted by Atwater High School students over the
past couple weeks.
For
more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture
Department and Atwater FFA, please log on the website
www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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November
19 , 2020
Section
of R Street is getting a brand new roadway
R
Street is undergoing a major reconstruction between
Loughborough and Buena Vista Drive. The work will
keep the road closed to vehicles and pedestrians until
March 1.
“We
are sorry that trips that used to be quick and easy
will take a bit more time for a few months, but we
believe the result will be worth it,” said Interim
City Manager Stephanie Dietz. “R Street is a
section in the City’s street network that has
experienced the greatest degradation in recent years.”
During
the reconstruction, the entire road surface is being
removed, new roadbed is being installed and new asphalt
poured. In addition, the Black Rascal Creek drainage
system is being rebuilt because it was causing the
roadway to sink in its current condition.
The
project was designed after consulting with emergency
responders to ensure they would be able to move through
the construction zone safely and smoothly. The City
Engineering staff also worked with school district
officials to designate safe routes for students, teachers,
staff and buses.
“The
school district was very supportive of this project
as the roadway and sidewalks in their current condition
create hazards for students, teachers, staff, parents
and buses,” Dietz said.
City
Engineer Michael Beltran said his Department evaluated
a construction schedule that allowed for quick construction
and efficient use of resources. “Phasing the
project may allow for limited access but it does have
a negative impact on two areas,” Beltran said,
“the time of construction and the overall cost
of the project due to the need for additional hours
in staff time.”
The
March 1 date is the maximum closure date, Beltran
said. “We are working to complete this project
faster. We have worked with the contractor, and they
have a record of excellent work and early completion
of projects.”
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Beltran
said there are a number of other major projects affecting
roads going on in the City. Some of these are City
projects, others are Merced Irrigation District or
Pacific Gas and Electric projects.
Information
on all road closures and street work is available
through Subscribe Merced. Notifications can be sent
by text or email. Sign up for it at www.cityofmerced.org.
Roadwork
scheduled for the upcoming months includes:
City
of Merced:
R Street, Loughborough to Yosemite, now to March 2021,
full closure
M Street, 8th to 13th, now to Jan. 2021, full closure
Alpine Dr., G to Wainwright, now to Feb. 2021, full
closure
Gerard Ave., Kibby to Parsons, now to March 2021,
full closure
Merced
Irrigation District
G Street, Bear Creek to Farmland, now to Dec. 2021,
signalized intersections at night
Pacific
Gas & Electric
G Street & Cardella Rd. - M Street & Bellevue
(high impact areas): Arrow Wood, Bancroft, Tolman,
Mandeville, Barclay, now to Jan. 2021, full closure
BNSF
Railroad
K Street, 23rd to 26th, now to May 2021, full closure
Private
contractor
Main Street, M to N, Dec. 10 - 31 2020, full closure
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October
2 , 2020
Gift
card notices are being mailed out
Merced
households are receiving postcards in the mail announcing
the kickoff of the City’s $25 gift card program.
Residents will be able to spend their gift cards at
a variety of businesses ranging from clothing shops
to restaurants by redeeming them at www.MercedCares.com.
The $500,000 gift card program was approved by the
City Council in June to benefit local businesses hard-hit
by the COVID-19 pandemic and City residents hurt by
the economic fallout.
The gift card program was part of the City’s
COVID-19 Recovery Program that also includes assistance
to renters, small businesses, the Food Bank, hotel
operators and a one-time utility bill rebate for all
customers for a total of $2.37 million in aid.
“This gives a boost to local businesses that
have been suffering during the pandemic,” said
Mayor Mike Murphy, “At the same time, it will
be of assistance to our residents who have been deeply
affected during the last six months.”
The notice includes a code and instructions on how
to redeem it at www.MercedCares.com. Residents are
urged to redeem the code as soon as possible to allow
the program to quickly help support local, small businesses.
Codes can be redeemed at any business registered on
the www.MercedCares.com website.
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There is a wide variety of businesses to select from.
There are more than 20 different restaurants listed,
along with coffee and dessert shops. Households can
select from florists, tire shops, auto body shops,
salons, fitness centers, clothing stores, even a photo
studio and a newspaper.
“Both our residents and our businesses have
been through difficult times due to the pandemic,”
said Council Member Kevin Blake. “This program
ultimately benefits the City, by strengthening our
business community and assisting Merced households.”
The Central Valley Opportunity Fund provided $250,000
for the program, and the City matched it with another
$250,000. There is a $37,000 cost to administer the
program. Only households located in the Merced City
limits will receive the gift cards.
To partner in the program, the City turned to Giftbar,
LLC , which reduced its fees while working with the
City.
Businesses that offer goods or services in the City
of Merced, can still sign up to take advantage of
this program. Merced merchants can sign up to join
the program at www.MercedCares.com.
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October
2 , 2020
MUHSD
Wins Teacher, School Employee; Dos Palos Earns Admin
at
Excellence in Education Awards
The annual Merced County Excellence in Education
winners were announced during a virtual event on
Oct. 1 hosted by the Merced County Office of Education
and Educational Employees Credit Union.
Samantha Johnston and Maricela Perez from the Merced
Union High School District received the top awards
for teacher and school employee categories, and
Rhonda Sullivan from the Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint
Unified School District received the top school
administrator award.
Due to restrictions on in-person gatherings to slow
the spread of COVID-19, this year’s event
was held virtually with simultaneous broadcasts
on Merced Educational Television (METV) and MCOE
social media.
EECU has sponsored the Excellence in Education awards
for the past 15 years in Merced County, and supports
similar events in Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare
Counties.
“Educators and other school employees play
such a vital role in the lives of our students,
and it is important to recognize and celebrate their
work,” said Merced County Superintendent of
Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen. “Thank you to EECU
for sponsoring this event and congratulations to
the winners, the honorees and all of our school
employees across Merced County.”
Johnston is a resource teacher with MUHSD. She is
considered a specialized academic instructor and
works with ninth through 12th grade students at
Independence High, which is part of the East Campus
Educational Center in Merced.
Johnston said she never wanted to be a teacher but
knew she wanted to help adolescents and make a difference
in their lives. She focuses on building relationships
with students, helping them toward their ultimate
goal of walking across the stage with a diploma.
“I’m honored and grateful and overwhelmed
as well – it was unexpected,” Johnston
said. “In my work I take a student-centered
approach. Last year I had 28 students and I currently
have 15 from ninth through 12th grade but the number
varies.”
Sullivan is the director of food services with the
Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District.
She has been with the district for 26 years and
directs preparation of breakfasts and lunch for
2,400 students from preschool to high school. She
supervises a staff of 18 employees who work in four
cooking kitchens and a serving kitchen.
Sullivan said the schools’ cafeterias are
still cooking from scratch and busy feeding students.
“I was shocked to get this award. There are
so many good administrators throughout Merced County
so I am very excited and honored,” Sullivan
said. She started out in Dos Palos as a dishwasher
and has been in her current position for six years.
Perez is a school-community resource liaison at
Atwater High School. Perez said she wants to help
students who are struggling and help students and
parents cope with conditions brought on by the COVID-19
pandemic.
Perez said being named the top classified employee
was amazing and an incredible honor. She said she
loves to help people, particularly those from migrant
families. She said she absolutely loves what she
does and her work in education is her life’s
calling.
Perez said in this pandemic students are struggling
every day and many students do not have Internet
service. She is in her 30th year in education.
The virtual awards ceremony featured a spotlight
on the 22 honorees, remarks from the three county
winners, videos vignettes featuring interviews from
them and their colleagues, along with remarks from
EECU CEO Beth Dooley and Tietjen.
There were five honorees for administrator of the
year, seven honorees for school employee of the
year and 10 honorees for teacher of the year. The
winner of the Merced County Teacher of the Year
and School Employee of the Year are eligible to
move on to apply at the state awards program.
For more information on the Excellence in Education
program, call Stacie Arancibia at (209) 381-5910
or email events@mcoe.org.
District nominees this year were:
TEACHERS:
Samantha Johnston Merced Union High School District
- Winner
Thomas Westerdoll Atwater Elementary School District
Carie Haley Atwater Elementary School District –
Preschool
Amy Valladao Ballico-Cressey Elementary School District
Jenny Hunger Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School
District
Ernestina “Ernie” Diaz El Nido Elementary
School District
Melody Noceti Gustine Unified School District
Stefanie Wedde Livingston Union School District
Lucia Olguin Merced County Office of Education –
Educational Services
Lisa Weber Weaver Union School District
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES:
Maricela Perez Merced Union High School District
- Winner
Nelson Vieira-Dennys Atwater Elementary School District
Donna McDaniels Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified
School District
Carolina “Karo” Ojeda El Nido Elementary
School District
Andrea Verdin Gustine Unified School District
Lorena Burrola Merced County Office of Education
– Early Education
Dorothy Calvino Weaver Union School District
ADMINISTRATORS:
Rhonda Sullivan Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified
School District - Winner
Lyndsay Olds Atwater Elementary School District
Alma De Luna Livingston Union School District
Cindy Heaton Merced County Office of Education –
Special Education
Barbara Tanzillo Merced Union High School District
|

Maricela Perez

Rhonda Sullivan

Maricela Perez

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October
2 , 2020
YARTS
BEGINS WINTER SERVICE THIS WEEK
MERCED
– The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation
System (YARTS) will transition to a winter schedule
on October 1, 2020 for the service running on the
Highway 140 corridor from Merced and Mariposa to Yosemite
National Park. The 140 line operates year-round but
fluctuates the number of runs to and from the Park
when the seasons change. Other YARTS routes into Yosemite
are seasonal in nature and operate only in the summer
months. This includes the service along Highway 120
from Sonora which will end on September 30, as well
as the service along the Highway 395/120 corridor
from Mammoth Lakes which will finish for the year
on October 15. The summer service between Fresno and
Yosemite on Highway 41 concluded early this year due
to area wildfires in early September.
The YARTS 2020 summer service was abbreviated due
to a late start caused by the COVID-19 shutdown which
resulted in the temporary closure of Yosemite. YARTS’
summer service will resume from Sonora and Fresno
in May 2021 and the route into Mammoth Lakes will
resume in June 2021.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, YARTS has made
several operational adjustments to increase the safety
of passengers that continue to be in effect. In addition
to increased sanitation measures, all passengers are
required to wear face masks when riding YARTS. In
order to promote social distancing, capacity on all
buses is limited to a maximum of 30 passengers. With
most of the 30 seats able to be reserved in advance,
there is very limited space for walk-on passengers.
Therefore, reservations are highly encouraged.
Reservations can be made for YARTS tickets on the
YARTS website at: www.yarts.com. There are no additional
charges to get into Yosemite beyond the YARTS fare,
and passengers do not have to have a day-use permit
issued by the National Park Service to ride. For more
information about YARTS schedules, routes, COVID-19
safety measures, or to book tickets, please visit
www.yarts.com or call (877) 989-2787.
|

YARTS is
a California Joint Powers Authority comprised of Merced,
Mariposa and Mono Counties in partnership with Caltrans,
Federal Highway Administration, National Park Service
and the United States Forest Service. The Merced County
Association of Governments provides administrative
services and operational support for YARTS.

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October
2 , 2020
Merced
landowner donates easement to mitigate for school
building
(ELK GROVE, CA – September 22, 2020) - The California
Farmland Trust (CFT) is pleased to share that another
property in Merced County has been permanently protected.
Simon and Christine Vander Woude, have donated a conservation
easement on their property in Merced. The Vander Woude’s
nearly 65-acre parcel of farmland is currently planted
in field crops for their dairy operation and will
forever remain in agriculture.
“I served on the building committee for the
development of Stone Ridge Christian High School,”
shared Simon Vander Woude. “The school is a
project we were very passionate about. When it was
determined that the school would need to mitigate
for the land they were building on, I was pleased
that we had a parcel that could be utilized for such
purposes. Given our interest in the school, we were
happy to donate the value of the easement and know
that the land would forever be protected,” Vander
Woude added.
The property, located on the westside of Merced, met
the mitigation requirement as defined by Merced County,
and that’s where CFT stepped in. As a land trust
focused on farmland, CFT worked with the Vander Woude’s
and the school, to ensure this property would be protected
and monitored forever. The agricultural conservation
easement (ACE) complimented the Vander Woude’s
other sustainability efforts, which include a solar
field, as well as other efficient and regenerative
water and farm management practices.
“No two easement projects are the same, but
this is unique because Simon and Christine felt so
strongly about donating the value of the easement
to help the school fulfill the mitigation requirement.
Foregoing compensation for the development rights
isn’t an easy choice, but we commend their decision,”
said Charlotte Mitchell CFT Executive Director.
|

The
Vander Woude property compliments the existing 34
easements and more than 11,000 acres, that CFT has
worked with landowners to permanently protect in Merced
County.
###
The California Farmland Trust is a California Non-Profit
501(c)(3). Our mission is to help farmers protect
the best farmland in the world. To date, we have protected
16,708 acres of farmland on 77 family farms. To learn
more visit us: www.cafarmtrust.org.
For more information or photos, please contact:
Aundriea Montzingo, amontzingo@cafarmtrust.org or
(916) 687-3178
Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @cafarmtrust
|
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October
2 , 2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
FULL HIGHWAY CLOSURE (SOUTHBOUND)
SOUTHBOUND STATE ROUTE 59 IN CITY OF MERCED
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will close
southbound State Route 59 (SR-59) between West Olive
Avenue and Cooper Avenue in
the city of Merced for utility work.
Closures will continue Sunday, October 4, through
Thursday, October 8, 2020, from 10:00
p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
Motorists are advised to use R Street as a detour
during these nightly closures.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
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For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.
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September
22 , 2020
MCOE,
EECU to Host Virtual 15th Annual Excellence in Education
Awards
The Merced County Office of Education and Educational
Employees Credit Union invite the community to celebrate
the annual Excellence in Education awards ceremony
with a televised event on Oct. 1. Due to restrictions
on in-person gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19,
this year’s event will be virtual with simultaneous
broadcasts on Merced Educational Television (METV)
and MCOE social media.
The statewide program has three categories that
recognize teachers, school administrators and school
employees.
The virtual awards ceremony will broadcast at 6
p.m. on Oct. 1 and feature remarks from the three
county winners, videos vignettes featuring interviews
from them and their colleagues, along with remarks
from EECU CEO Beth Dooley and Merced County Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen.
METV broadcasts on Comcast channel 97, AT&T
U-Verse channel 99 and the event will stream on
MCOE’s Facebook and YouTube accounts as well
as mcoe.org/metv.
There are five nominees for administrator of the
year, seven nominees for school employee of the
year and ten nominees for teacher of the year.
The winner of the Merced County Teacher of the Year
and School Employee of the Year are eligible to
move on to apply at the state awards program.
|

District
nominees this year are:
TEACHERS:
Thomas Westerdoll Atwater Elementary School District
Carie Haley Atwater Elementary School District –
Preschool
Amy Valladao Ballico-Cressey Elementary School District
Jenny Hunger Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School
District
Ernestina “Ernie” Diaz El Nido Elementary
School District
Melody Noceti Gustine Unified School District
Stefanie Wedde Livingston Union Elementary School
District
Lucia Olguin Merced County Office of Education –
Educational Services
Samantha Johnston Merced Union High School District
Lisa Weber Weaver Union School District
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES:
Nelson Vieira-Dennys Atwater Elementary School District
Donna McDaniels Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School
District
Carolina “Karo” Ojeda El Nido Elementary
School District
Andrea Verdin Gustine Unified School District
Lorena Burrola Merced County Office of Education –
Early Education
Maricela Perez Merced Union High School District
Dorothy Calvino Weaver Union School District
ADMINISTRATORS:
Lyndsay Olds Atwater Elementary School District
Rhonda Sullivan Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School
District
Alma De Luna Livingston Union Elementary School District
Cindy Heaton Merced County Office of Education –
Special Education
Barbara Tanzillo Merced Union High School District
For more information on the Excellence in Education
program, call Stacie Arancibia at (209) 381-5910 or
email events@mcoe.org. |
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September
22 , 2020
Travis
Credit Union Foundation Opens Application for Fire
Relief Funds
WHAT:
The Travis Credit Union Foundation is now accepting
applications from people residing in Solano, Yolo
and Napa counties who lost their homes or experienced
damage to their properties as a result of the LNU
Lightning Complex Fire. The application is available
at https://tcufund.org/lnu-fire-relief.
WHERE:
Completed applications can be emailed to Dimpel
Sandhu, Fundraising and Development Director at
dsandhu@tcufund.org
or mailed to:
Travis Credit Union Foundation
PO Box 1086
Vacaville, CA, 95687-9998
|

WHEN:
Applications will be processed from October 1 through
December 31, 2020. The Travis Credit Union Foundation
is dedicated to ensuring that the funds are distributed
through a transparent and equitable process. A volunteer
committee with representatives from Yolo, Solano and
Napa counties will use public records to verify and
evaluate the applications.
To make a secure, tax-deductible donation online,
please visit: https://tcufund.org/lnu-fire-relief.
100 percent of all donations go directly towards supporting
recovery efforts in the local service area.
|
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Aug
26, 2020
MERCED
LANDFILL OFFERS CARPET RECYCLING
Merced
– Merced County residents and businesses are
able to bring old carpet to the Highway 59 landfill
in Merced for it to be recycled. The program is made
possible by a grant from the Carpet America Recovery
Effort (CARE), which operates a carpet stewardship
program in California designed to increase the amount
of carpet kept out of landfills in the state. The
grant from CARE allowed for the installation of a
shelter, pad and equipment needed to be able to properly
receive and store the carpet at the landfill. The
Merced facility is among 75 carpet recycling drop-off
locations in California currently participating in
the program.
In order for carpet to be accepted for recycling,
it must be dry, free from debris and cut into manageable
sections that have been separated from the carpet
pad and rolled. Carpet pads that are clean and rolled
are also accepted. Customers should bring the carpet
to the landfill located at 7040 N. Highway 59 in Merced
and stop at the scale house for instructions on where
to drop it off at the site.
The carpet recycling program started in Merced last
fall. Since then, more than 27,000 pounds of carpet
have been diverted from the local landfill and recycled
for other purposes. Recycled carpet fiber is made
into useful new products like insulation, construction
materials, rubber mats, as well as new carpet and
carpet padding. Disposal costs for carpet brought
to the Merced landfill for recycling start at $19;
this rate usually applies to the average load brought
from a single-family residence. Larger loads, usually
brought by businesses, are charged at a higher rate
depending on the volume.
“Keeping carpet out of the landfill by participating
in this recycling program provides a great benefit
to the communities of Merced County,” said Eric
Zetz, Director of the Regional Waste Management Authority.
“By getting bulky items like carpet out of our
landfill, the lifetime of the site is extended which
saves rate payers a lot of money in the long run.”
About CARE
Carpet
America Recovery Effort (CARE) is a non-profit 501(c)3
organization in charge of implementing the California
Carpet Stewardship Program as required by California
laws AB 2398 and AB 1158. The purpose of the laws
is to increase the diversion and recycling of carpet
in the state of California. The Program is funded
by an assessment of 35 cents per square yard paid
by everyone who purchases carpet in the state, as
required by AB 2398. CARE works to advance market-based
solutions that increase landfill diversion and recycling
of post-consumer carpet and encourage design for recyclability.
Visit the CARE website at www.carpetrecovery.org for
more information.
|

About Merced Count Regional Waste Management
Authority (RWA)
Both landfill sites in Merced and Los Banos allow
for disposal of a range of items at no cost and have
recycling and diversion programs for things such as
mattresses, carpet, e-waste, household hazardous waste
and more. Disposal fees apply to most material brought
to the landfill, but some recycling programs accept
specific items for free or a reduced rate. For more
information, visit www.mcrwma.org or the /MCRWMA Facebook
page.
Merced County Association of Governments is a joint
powers authority responsible for administering the
Merced County Regional Waste Management Authority.
The Regional Waste Authority operates two regional
landfills, one in Merced on North Highway 59 and the
Billy Wright landfill in Los Banos.

|

|
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Aug
26, 2020
Travis
Credit Union Foundation Launches
Local Wildfires Relief Effort
‘Funds will support local relief efforts
now and through the remainder of the fire season’
VACAVILLE,
CA – The Travis Credit Union Foundation is
immediately accepting donations to address urgent
local needs due to the LNU Complex Fire, the second
largest in California history. With four more months
of potential fire season to go, many of our community
members have already been forced to evacuate or
have lost their homes.
The donations will bring immediate financial assistance
to the victims, firefighters and communities that
have been affected by the wildfires. Travis Credit
Union is covering all administrative costs, so that
100 percent of all donations will go directly towards
supporting recovery efforts in the local service
area.
“The wildfires are taking a massive toll on
our communities and residents of Solano, Yolo and
Napa counties,” said Barry Nelson, president
and CEO of Travis Credit Union. “The generosity
of those who wish to give will help as we continue
to support the needs of the most affected.”
Donations will provide funding for those in need
of shelter, food, clothing and cash for necessities.
The TCU Foundation will support both immediate disaster
relief as well as recovery efforts for the remainder
of the wildfire season.
“We are proud to be an organization that operates
under the philosophy of ‘people helping people,’
and encourage all who are moved to contribute, to
do so,” said Nelson. “Our hearts go
out to all who have experienced such devastation.
We know their needs are great, and will continue
to grow.”
|

To
make a secure, tax-deductible donation online, please
visit: https://tcufund.org/lnu-fire-relief
Individuals may also send checks payable to the Travis
Credit Union Foundation, noting that the donation
is for the Wildfires Relief Fund. Checks should be
mailed to:
Travis Credit Union Foundation
PO Box 1086
Vacaville, CA. 95687-9998
Headquartered
in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a
not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving
those who live, work, worship, or attend school in
Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Merced Napa, Placer,
Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus,
and Yolo Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union
is the 13th largest credit union in California with
more than 214,000 members and more than $3.9 billion
in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions
in Solano, Contra Costa, Napa, Yolo and Merced Counties,
Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful
commitment to its members and the community; its solid,
secure history; and its long-standing track record
of dedicated service.
|
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Aug
25, 2020
CARES
Act Gives Head Start Additional Funding
The Merced County Office of Education’s Head
Start and Early Head Start programs have received
approximately $1 million through the Coronavirus
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
These funds will support Head Start services to
low-income children under the age of 5 in the county.
Nationally, $750 million has been designated for
Head Start programs to support preventative, preparedness,
and response activities related to the coronavirus
through the CARES Act.
“The CARES Act funding will provide critical
support to offset additional expenses related to
providing services in a county heavily impacted
by COVID-19,” said Head Start Director Linda
Kaercher.
Head Start provides education and family support
services to children ages 0 to 5 years old. Services
are also available for pregnant women. Head Start
has center-based, home-based and family childcare
options available throughout Merced County. In order
to ensure uninterrupted educational services to
children, all children will begin the year in a
distance learning format. “Our teachers have
quickly adapted to a distance learning format and
are enjoying interacting with children and families
in this new way as much as children and families
are enjoying interacting with them,” said
Head Start Education Manager Paula Smith.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary
Alex Azar said the additional funding for Head Start
will help ensure that children and families who
rely on the program continue receiving services
like meals, health screenings and Pre-K education.
“As we move toward safely reopening, it only
grows more important that we support vulnerable
families and children whose lives have been disrupted
by the virus and its economic effects,” he
said.
MCOE Head Start will use the funds to purchase personal
protective equipment needed to keep children and
staff safe, technology needed to support distance
learning, and learning materials to support individualization
and safe physical distancing as children learn at
home, and as they return to the classroom.
MCOE Head Start is currently recruiting children
and families for fall enrollment. Contact Head Start
at 209-381-5170 or go to www.mcoe.org and enter
Head Start in the search box.
Find additional information about Head Start programming
specific to this public health crisis on the Early
Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center website:
https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/coronavirus
|

Merced County Head Start students interact with their
teacher at the Shattuck Park Head Start in Delhi in
2019. Merced County Head Start and Early Head Start
have received approximately $1 million through the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)
Act.
FILE
PHOTO BY DYLAN MCMULLEN COURTESY MERCED COUNTY OFFICE
OF EDUCATION
|
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Aug
25 , 2020
Though
the Campus is Closed, Camp Green Meadows Continues
With Virtual Lessons
The traditional week-long outdoor education program
offered by Camp Green Meadows is another causality
of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean
students can’t learn about the outdoors in a
virtual format.
Camp Green Meadows Principal Bob Bassett confirmed
that the outdoor school program and other activities
have been cancelled through the fall season. The Merced
County Office of Education, which operates the school,
will reassess later this year if the outdoor school
will operate during the spring semester.
Bassett said, “If students are not able come
to Camp Green Meadows we will bring Camp Green Meadows
to the students. We are developing a rich, standards-based
distance learning curriculum for our students.”
Camp Green Meadows is located in the Sierra National
Forest outside the town of Fish Camp on Highway 41
just 2 miles from the southern entry to Yosemite National
Park. The 5,000-foot elevation offers a very different
environment than what Merced County students normally
experience. The summers are warm and during the winters,
the campus is covered in snow. Camp Green Meadows
has been serving the students of Merced and surrounding
counties for nearly 60 years.
According to Bassett, who is starting his 11th year
as principal of the outdoor school, the last school
program ended March 13. During the spring, Camp Green
Meadows staff created outdoor videos to aid teachers
delivering distance learning curriculum. That will
differ from the lessons they are working on now.
The school staff if going to not only recreate the
outdoor school program’s Next Generation Science
Standard Based lessons in a distant learning format;
they are also working to recreate some of the camp
experiences through the use of technology. “We
know it won’t be the same as being here but
we hope that it will be rewarding, fun and students
will learn about the outdoors,” Bassett said.
Camp Green Meadows had 37 weeks of outdoor school
programs scheduled for the 20/21 school year with
almost 5,000 6th grade students and 600 high school
students set to attend during those weeks. Bassett
followed up with, “If we are able to open in
the spring, we will run shorter programs so that we
can give as many kids as possible this learning experience
and the Merced County tradition of Camp Green Meadows,”
Basset said.
For more information on the outdoor school, visit
campgreenmeadows.com.

|


Camp Green Meadows Intern Naturalist Katie “Teton”
Curry is teaching about riparian habitat while Naturalist
Chris “Creek” Moua records her for a virtual
lesson.

Camp Green Meadows Naturalist Chris “Creek”
Moua and Katie “Teton” Curry record a
lesson on rainbow trout for use in an upcoming video
on stream ecology.
PHOTOS
COURTESY CAMP GREEN MEADOWS
|
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Aug
14 , 2020
Annexation
study, apartment appeal on agenda
The City Council will hear an update on the North
Merced Annexation Feasibility Study and an appeal
on an apartment project at its virtual Monday night
meeting.
The regular meeting will be held telephonically at
6 p.m. Monday pursuant to Governor Newsom’s
Executive Order N-29-20. There will be no in-person
public access to the meeting location. All votes for
this meeting will be taken via rollcall.
There will be no meeting held in the Merced Civic
Center in order to protect the public, City staff
and Council from the coronavirus. The meeting will
be broadcast at 6 p.m. Monday on Facebook Live at
City of Merced, on the City’s website, www.cityofmerced.org,
and Comcast Public Access Channel 96.
For telephonic or virtual meetings, Spanish and Hmong
interpreters can be arranged by calling the City Clerk's
Office at (209) 388-8650 at least 72 hours in advance
of the meeting.
Please submit public comments to the City Council
electronically no later than 1 p.m. on the day of
the meeting. Comments received before the deadline
will be read as part of the record. Material may be
emailed to cityclerk@cityofmerced.org and should be
limited to 300 words or less. Please specify which
portion of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Closed Session, item # or Oral Communications. Comments
will be presented to the City Council at the appropriate
time. Any correspondence received after 1 p.m. will
be distributed to the City Council and retained for
the official record.
People may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example,
Public Hearing item #, Consent item #, or Oral Communications.
Comments will be played during the meeting to the
City Council at the appropriate time.

|

On
the agenda:
• Receive an update from staff on the North
Merced Annexation Feasibility Study that has been
performed since a joint meeting with the Planning
Commission in January.
• Hold a public hearing regarding the appeal
of a 218 apartment project at Yosemite Avenue and
McKee Road.
• Consideration of a request by the United Way,
NAACP, the Hispanic Chamber and WeCed to install a
Black Lives Matter mural in the Downtown.
• Appoint three members to the Citizen’s
Stipend Setting Commission that will recommend what
monthly stipend Council should receive. There are
still positions available in Districts 2, 3, 4.
The Council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m.
with real property negotiators and labor negotiators.
A link to the live meeting is on the City’s
website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at (209)
388-8650.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day.
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Aug
14 , 2020
Caltrans
Announces More Than $1.6 Billion for Transportation
Projects
SACRAMENTO
— The California Transportation Commission (CTC)
today allocated more than $1.6 billion for transportation
projects throughout the state, including about $1.3
billion for State Highway Operation and Protection
Program (SHOPP) projects, Caltrans’ “fix-it-first”
program aimed at preserving the condition of the State
Highway System.
“Our maintenance and construction crews remain
hard at work improving California’s transportation
infrastructure,” said Caltrans Director Toks
Omishakin. “The $1.6 billion allocated will
allow the department to continue with critical repairs
and upgrades to roads and highways, and will support
thousands of jobs that are essential for our economy.”
These were among the local road projects in District
10 that were approved:
• The Fyffe Avenue Grade Separation project
in Stockton received $8 million from the Trade Corridor
Enhancement Program. The work will construct a grade-separated
rail crossing, a four-lane overcrossing and realign
McCoy Avenue.
• A project that will rehabilitate pavement
on State Route 99 from Childs Avenue to Franklin Road
in Merced received $61.3 million. Workers will replace
the existing roadway, replace guardrail and upgrade
drainage systems.
• A project that will rehabilitate pavement
on Interstate 5 at various locations in Stockton received
$36.7 million. By rebuilding the pavement, workers
will extend the pavement’s service life and
improve its ride quality.
• A project that will rehabilitate drainage
systems, replace culverts, and create erosion protections
in Alpine, Amador and Tuolumne counties received $5.3
million. A similar project in Alpine County received
an additional $4.3 million.
The CTC also approved more than $118 million in funds
for rail and mass transit projects, including freight,
intercity rail and bus services. This allocation expands
access to public transportation and helps reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and traffic congestion. This investment
includes $77 million for the Trade Corridor Enhancement
Program, which is dedicated to projects that enhance
the movement of goods along corridors with high freight
volume by making improvements to state highways, local
roads, freight rail systems, port facilities and truck
corridors.
|

In
addition, the CTC approved nearly $14 million for
17 projects that will improve bicycle and pedestrian
overcrossings, repair sidewalks and bike lanes, and
provide safer routes to school for children.
Project funding is derived from federal and state
gas taxes, including $1.2 billion from Senate Bill
(SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of
2017. The state’s portion of SB 1 funds are
used for the ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation
of the State Highway System. By 2027, these funds
will enable Caltrans to fix more than 17,000 lane
miles of pavement, 500 bridges, 55,000 culverts, and
7,700 traffic operating systems that help reduce highway
congestion, such as ramp meters, traffic cameras and
electric highway message signs.
For details on SB 1, visit Rebuilding California -
Senate Bill 1.
For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone. |
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Aug
12 , 2020
Temporary
schedule changes for The Bus start Monday
MERCED
– Due to the impact of COVID-19, The Bus will
move to a weekend schedule starting on Monday, August
17. The weekend service schedule will be operating
daily and will apply to all of the fixed-routes throughout
the County, except for the UC route which will not
change. All fares to ride The Bus continue to be suspended
and masks are required to be worn in order to ride.
Dial-a-Ride service will be provided to those who
need it during the hours of 6:00-8:00 am and 6:00-8:00
pm Monday-Friday when the fixed-route service will
not be operating. To receive assistance with trip
planning, including making reservations for Dial-a-Ride,
passengers may call customer service at 1-800-345-3111.
Paratransit service will continue as normal.
“We are fortunate that we have been able to
avoid changes to our service levels for the past five
months for our passengers who depend on The Bus to
access essential jobs and services,” said Christine
Chavez, MCAG Transit Manager. “It has now reached
a point where we are seeing significant impacts to
The Bus’ operations, maintenance, and ridership
levels and we have to respond accordingly.”
The temporary service reduction will be in place until
further notice with operational capacity being re-assessed
on a weekly basis. The Bus is experiencing a 45 percent
decrease in ridership from this time last year.
All bus schedules and hours of operation can be found
at www.mercedthebus.com or by calling (209) 723-3100.
Real-time information regarding bus locations, services
and arrival times can be found at www.thebuslive.com
or by downloading ‘The Bus Live’ app on
your smart phone for free. All fares are currently
suspended due to the COVID-19 emergency. Passengers
are asked to only use The Bus to provide or receive
essential services and to wear a mask while on board
as well as comply with social distancing requirements
when possible. All buses are equipped with bike racks
and are wheelchair accessible.
|

The Bus
is the single public transportation service provider
for all of Merced County and is administered by the
Transit Joint Powers Authority for Merced County and
managed by the Merced County Association of Governments
(MCAG). For more information, please visit www.mercedthebus.com
or www.mcagov.org.

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Aug
12 , 2020
Atwater
Valley Community School Student Advocate Makes a
Difference
Taylor Alandzes has a unique role at Valley Community
School in Atwater, one that would be difficult or
nearly impossible for most people to handle.
Alandzes is the Student Advocate at the Atwater
campus, which has 120 students enrolled and another
100 in independent studies. Her role at the campus,
which operated by the Merced County Office of Education,
is through the local sexual assault and domestic
violence advocacy organization Valley Crisis Center.
She sees her role as an advocate for students in
a social and emotional capacity. Principal Crystal
Sousa says her students have not had a lot of success
in traditional school settings for various reasons.
About 35 percent of them are on probation and some
of them are entrenched in gang violence, while others
deal with anxiety or just didn’t fit in to
the traditional school environment.
“This is her first year with us,” Sousa
says. “We are a ‘last chance’
school for students who get expelled from other
campuses. Many have suffered trauma that they are
trying to learn to deal with. She (Taylor) is very
welcoming and doesn’t show any biases. Her
job is to be there if the kids have a tough day
and can’t handle their classes.”
Alandzes, 24, is a master’s degree student
at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. She wants
to become a mental health clinician, focusing on
clinical mental health counseling with an emphasis
on trauma. It will take her three years to finish
the master’s program.
“Our kids’ haven’t always been
afforded the opportunities that others have and
face significant barriers to succeeding in a traditional
academic environment. I feel they (students) are
part of my extended family. These students have
never been given the skills to express themselves
and my job is to bridge that gap, help them through
that process,” Alandzes says.
Alandzes says she just “hears them out”
and the students traditionally are under-represented
and frequently disregarded. When a student acts
up, Alandzes will take a walk with them, going to
a safe place, where they can take space to process
the issues going on in their lives.
Often students are dealing with adversities like
teen pregnancies, homelessness, poverty and may
need resources like food or clothing. She has worked
with a number of businesses and community agencies
to provide for their needs. Alandzes praises Save
Mart, Valley Crisis Center, Wal-Mart and Target
in Atwater and Ross Dress for Less for helping meet
these students’ needs. She says a lot of their
success is due to the donations from community partners.
In one instance, a student’s home burned to
the ground and she was able to help raise funds
to help that family.
Sousa said they call their students “at-promise”
and not at-risk. She says Alandzes takes her role
as an advocate very seriously. She encourages students
not to make the wrong decisions, particularly avoiding
fights with others. The students learn about restorative
justice practices and how to deal with others.
As the students make progress in working with the
advocate, they see significant results like conflict
resolution with teachers and classmates without
resorting to explosive behavior or violence.
“I like to think of myself as a source of
unwavering support for our kids— The person
who will always be there for them, there to guide
them through their hardships and successes. I teach
them how to deal with their emotions in a healthy
way,” Alandzes says.
Alandzes notes part of her job is working with staff
members and parents to give them the tools to work
with the students. Every day is different and she
never knows what to expect next but always welcomes
the challenge.
With distance learning becoming the norm for the
time being because of COVID-19, Alandzes says she
misses meeting in-person with the students, but
tries to check in with them regularly by telephone
or computer video sessions.
Sousa says Alandzes has helped with the school’s
clothes closet and has been instrumental in getting
funding from community partners.
“This girl has gone above and beyond expectations
to reach out to the community for donations. She
figures out ways to help them. She’s just
a gem,” Sousa says.
Valley Community School’s discipline rates
have gone down 60 percent and Sousa credits Alandzes
for part of that success. She says her student advocate
calls the students on a daily basis.
“I feel like we’ve made a lot of strides
with our students in developing a school culture
and community in which they feel safe and respected.”
Alandzes says. She ascribes their success not only
to her work with the students and that of the staff
but also highlights the efforts of the students
themselves. “All of the work I do with our
students is only half of the picture. The other
half is what I get to see on a daily basis which
is their motivation to change — to become
the best version of themselves.”
|

Taylor Alandzes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outreach
is Crucial for Migrant Workers and Their Families
The Migrant Education Program, which serves Madera,
Merced and Stanislaus counties, along with the Merced
County Office of Education and other community partners,
have coordinated outreach efforts to migrant Latino
communities with information to assist them in coping
with the COVID-19 pandemic.
This outreach includes commercials and interviews
from Spanish-speaking radio and television stations
along with providing face masks at various locations.
The Migrant Education Program also helps with food
distributions, mental health workshops for parents,
collaboration with local school districts in student
enrollment and partnerships with the Merced County
Family Services Division.
Salvador Vazquez, health services supervisor with
the Migrant Education Region 3 Program, said the outreach
targets the migrant Latino community and the farm
workers harvesting the county's crops. He said these
families comprise the group most impacted by COVID-19
issues due to a lack of necessary information, services
and economic assistance.
Through a partnership with the Binational Health Week
Committee, which Vazquez chairs, approximately 550
face masks were distributed at Merced, Atwater, Los
Banos, Planada and the Merced migrant worker camps.
An additional 450 masks were distributed directly
by the Migrant Education Program at the Westley farm
labor camp in Stanislaus County, La Vina Community
in rural Madera County and the Cuadrilla de la Semana
events, which are held in partnership with the Central
Valley Opportunity Center and Radio Lobo. Approximately
200 masks were also distributed to families who receive
tutoring services by the MEP staff throughout the
3 counties.
Through the Radio Lobo radio station, informational
spots promoting the use of coronavirus prevention
strategies were aired, along with radio interviews
from local experts on topics such as COVID-19 infection
and symptoms, prevention efforts from Department of
Public Health and information on students returning
to school. A UC Merced professor, the Merced County
Health Officer Dr. Salvador Sandoval and the Le Grand
High School principal were interviewed for the radio
spots.
Vazquez stated that two live Facebook interviews regarding
COVID-19 with nurses from the Livingston Community
Health clinic, as well as a presentation by Dr. Sandoval
also aired.
"The Migrant Education Program also directly
reached out to our families to check in on them and
see how they were doing and what their needs might
be,” Vazquez said. “We were connecting
families with different opportunities for resources
including funds from private donors, the state, P-EBT
and free food distributions. We had mental health
workshops for parents, and assisted them with connecting
new arrivals to the school districts in order to enroll
their children for the fall and obtain technology
for summer school programs.”
Vazquez said the coronavirus epidemic is a real predicament
for farm workers who feel they must keep working to
support their families.
The Migrant Education Program will continue its work
and efforts to help the Central Valley migrant families
to increase the reach and effectiveness of our services,
Vazquez said.
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Aug
8 , 2020
California
High-Speed Rail Authority Advances Environmental Work
in Central Valley
SACRAMENTO,
Calif. – Today, the California High-Speed Rail
Authority (Authority) released the Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement
(EIR/EIS) for the approximately 50-mile project alignment
section referred to as the “Central Valley Wye”
part of the Merced to Fresno Section. The document
will be presented to the Authority Board of Directors
for adoption at the Sept. 10 board meeting, marking
the second certification of an environmental document
in less than a year. The action will provide for full
environmental clearance for 171 miles of alignment
between Merced and Bakersfield.
The
Authority prepared and released the Draft Supplemental
EIR/EIS as the lead agency for both the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the federal equivalent
known as NEPA. Responses to public comments received
during the CEQA and NEPA review periods are part of
this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS.
This
Final Supplemental EIR/EIS evaluates the No Project
Alternative and four Central Valley Wye alternatives:
the State Route (SR) 152 (North) to Road 11 Wye Alternative,
SR 152 (North) to Road 13 Wye Alternative, SR 152
(North) to Road 19 Wye Alternative, and Avenue 21
to Road 13 Wye Alternative. The Authority’s
“Preferred Alternative” in this Final
Supplemental EIR/EIS is the SR 152 (North) to Road
11 Wye Alternative.
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The
Final Supplemental EIR/EIS has been posted to the
Authority’s website and printed and/or made
available electronically at the following locations
(open days/hours may be reduced for compliance with
coronavirus public health and safety directives):
• Chowchilla Branch Library (300 Kings Ave.,
Chowchilla)
• Madera County Library (121 N. G St., Madera)
• Merced County Library (2100 O St., Merced)
• Madera County Clerk (200 W. Fourth St., Madera)
• Merced County Clerk (2222 M St., Merced)
Printed and electronic copies of the Final Supplemental
EIR/EIS, along with electronic copies of the associated
technical reports, are available for review during
business hours at the Authority’s Sacramento
and Fresno offices:
• 770 L St., Suite 620 MS-1, Sacramento
• 1111 H St., Fresno
You may also request an electronic copy of the Final
Supplemental EIR/EIS by calling (916) 324-1541.
To
view the contents of the Final Supplemental EIR/EIS,
please visit https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental/eis_eir/draft_supplemental_merced_fresno.aspx
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Aug
8 , 2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
LANE & RAMP CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 99 FROM PLAINSBURG ROAD TO SOUTH AVENUE
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various lane and ramp closures on State Route (SR-99)
for maintenance and
construction work. Closures are as follows:
• Closure of the #2 (middle) and #3 (right)
lanes of northbound SR-99 from
Plainsburg Road to Buchanan Hollow Road for paving
operations beginning
Wednesday, August 12, through Thursday, August 13,
2020, from 8:00 a.m. until
8:00 p.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from G Street to southbound
SR-99 for paving operations on
Friday, August 14, 2020, from 6:30 a.m. until 2:00
p.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from Westside Boulevard/Central
Avenue to southbound SR-
99 for pavement work on Wednesday, August 12, 2020,
from 6:30 a.m. until 2:00
p.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound
SR-99 at Arena Way for paving work
on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, from 6:30 a.m. until
2:00 p.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99
to South Avenue for landscape work
beginning Monday, August 10, through Tuesday, August
11, 2020, from 8:00 a.m.
until 2:30 p.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from South Avenue to
northbound SR-99 for landscape work
beginning Tuesday, August 11, through Thursday, August
13, 2020, from 8:00 a.m.
until 2:30 p.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
LANE CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 152 FROM PASSING LANE TO MERCED/SANTA
CLARA COUNTY LINE
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various lane closures on State Route 152 (SR-152)
from Interstate 5 (I-5) to the
Merced/Santa Clara County line for maintenance work.
Work will occur as follows:
• Closure of the #2 (middle) and #3 (right)
lanes of westbound SR-152 from the San
Luis Dam/Passing Lane to the Merced/Santa Clara County
line for paving
operations on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, from 7:00
a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or
materials, and construction related
issues.
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TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
24-HOUR LANE CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 99 NORTH OF PLAINSBURG ROAD IN MERCED
COUNTY
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform a
24-hour lane closure of the #2 (middle) and #3 (right)
lanes of northbound State Route
99, just north of Plainsburg Road, for pavement repairs.
The #1 (left) lane will remain
open during this repair work. Work will occur as follows;
• Closure of the #2 (middle) and #3 (right)
lanes of northbound SR-99, just north of
Plainsburg Road, beginning Wednesday, August 12, through
Thursday, August 13,
2020, from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. Overhead
and roadside message signs will
be in place to alert motorists of the lane closures.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROL
STATE ROUTE 165 FROM STATE ROUTE 99 IN STANISLAUS
COUNTY
TO RIVER ROAD IN MERCED COUNTY FOR PAVING PROJECT
STANISLAUS/MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans)
will perform one-way traffic control on northbound
and southbound State Route 165
(SR-165) from SR-99 in Stanislaus County to River
Road in Merced County for paving.
Work begins Sunday, August 9, 2020. Crews will work
primarily Sunday through Thursday
nights, 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The project is scheduled
to finish in November 2020.
The off- and on-ramps connecting SR-165 to SR-99 will
also be closed from Sunday,
August 9, 2020, through Thursday, August 13, 2020,
from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
Motorists should expect 20-minute delays and seek
alternate routes during work hours.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone. |
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Aug
4 , 2020
VIIRTUAL
TOWN HALL
Please join us for a
on Small Business Resources during the COVID-19 pandemic
ASSEMBLYMEMBER ADAM C. GRAY
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|
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July31,
2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
CONNECTOR RAMP & LANE CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 140 NEAR THE CITIES OF GUSTINE, MERCED
AND PLANDA
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various lane and ramp closures on State Route 140
(SR-140) for construction and
maintenance work. No two consecutive ramps will be
closed at the same time. Work
will occur as follows:
• Full connector ramp closure from eastbound
SR-140 to northbound SR-99 for
striping operations beginning Monday, August 2, through
Tuesday, August 3,
2020, from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full connector ramp closure from westbound
SR-140 to northbound SR-99 for
striping operations beginning Sunday, August 2, through
Friday, August 7, 2020,
from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from SR-33 to the Gustine Railroad Crossing beginning
Sunday, August 2, through
Friday, August 7, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00
a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from SR-99 to Kibby Road beginning Sunday, August
2, through Friday, August 7,
2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from Plainsburg/Planada Road to Watts Street beginning
Monday, August 3,
through Friday, August 7, 2020, from 6:00 a.m. until
6:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or
materials, and construction related
issues.
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TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
LANE CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 152 – FROM INTERSTATE 5 TO MERCED/SANTA
CLARA COUNTY LINE
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various lane closures on State Route 152 (SR-152)
from Interstate 5 (I-5) to the
Merced/Santa Clara County line for maintenance work.
Work will occur as follows:
• Closure of the #2 (right) lane of eastbound
SR-152 from the Merced/Santa Clara
County line to Upper Cotton Wood Road for paving operations
beginning
Thursday, August 6, through Friday, August 7, 2020,
from 6:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
• Closure of the #2 (middle) and #3 (right)
lanes of westbound SR-152 from the San
Luis Dam Service Road to the Merced/Santa Clara County
line for paving
operations beginning Wednesday, August 5, through
Thursday, August 6, 2020,
from 6:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
• Closure of the #2 (right) lane of westbound
SR-152 from I-5 to Hillsdale Avenue for
paving operations beginning Monday, August 3, through
Wednesday, August 5,
2020, from 6:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or
materials, and construction related
issues.
For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.
|
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July
29, 2020
Big
Fresno Fair Reimagined as a Series of Drive-Thru &
Virtual Fair Experiences
Fair continues to work with the Fresno County
Department of Public Health on operational plans
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, July 28, 2020… The Big Fresno
Fair reinvents itself, adapting the traditional Fair
into a series of drive-thru and virtual experiences
in light of the current state of COVID-19 in Fresno
County.
During the course of the past few months, Fair Management
and staff have been monitoring the situation with
COVID-19 and working through a spectrum of operational
plans to align with local, state and CDC guidelines
and be able to provide the community some aspect of
this longstanding tradition.
“Our goal has always been to bring an aspect
of this beloved tradition to our community in a healthy
and safe manner as guided by our health officials,”
said Lauri King, Deputy Manager II, The Big Fresno
Fair. “Now, as we are just two months away from
October, we have centered on the decision to move
forward with plans for a drive-thru and virtual Fair
experience format as it’s the most prudent option
to bring our community a bit of Fair fun, while doing
our part to protect public health and safety.”
The Big Fresno Fair Management and staff continue
to work with the Fresno County Department of Public
Health on approval of operational plans.
The Big Fresno Fair is more than a community tradition;
it is an economic engine in Fresno County that provides
opportunity for all its vendors, many of which are
small, local businesses to operate. This drive-thru
and virtual hybrid format is already being utilized
by other large fairs throughout California –
like the San Diego Fair, OC Fair and California State
Fair.
While plans continue to be developed, the drive-thru
Fair will be an expansion of “Fair Food Feature”
events held earlier in the year. It will include a
more extensive line-up of Fair food favorites, along
with entertainment and other elements to enjoy as
vehicles will safely drive
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through the Fairgrounds. There will also be virtual
components like competitive exhibits, the Jr. Livestock
Auction and more. As more details are finalized, the
Fair will update its website here: www.fresnofair.com/reimaginedfair
“While this year’s Fair experience will
be nothing like year’s past, it will still be
a fun, worthwhile experience that we hope will bring
smiles to the faces of our community – all while
continuing to work together to keep everyone safe,”
said King.
The Table Mountain Concert Series in the Paul Paul
Theater was put on pause earlier this month due to
COVID-19 health concerns and tickets have already
been refunded. Admission, Season Passes and Brew Fest
tickets purchased for 2020 will be honored for 2021,
or purchasers may request a refund by emailing info@fresnofair.com.
About The Big Fresno Fair:
The Big Fresno Fair, founded in 1884, is the fourth
largest fair in the state of California and represents
the 21st District Agricultural Association. More than
600,000 people from throughout the State visit The
Big Fresno Fair each year making it the largest event
in the Central Valley. Members of the Board
of Directors include: Larry Serpa, President; Jerry
Pacheco, Vice President; Charles Riojas, Secretary/Treasurer;
Leta Ciavaglia; Gabriel Hernandez; Linda Mae Balakian
Hunsucker; and Lawrence Salinas. John C. Alkire heads
the daily operations in his role as CEO. For more
information about The Big Fresno Fair, please visit
www.FresnoFair.com.
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July
29, 2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
CONNECTOR RAMP & LANE CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 140 NEAR THE CITIES OF GUSTINE, MERCED
AND PLANDA
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various lane and ramp closures on State Route 140
(SR-140) for construction and
maintenance work. No two consecutive ramps will be
closed at the same time. Work
will occur as follows:
• Full connector ramp closure from eastbound
SR-140 to northbound SR-99 for
striping operations beginning Sunday, July 26, through
Friday, July 31, 2020, from
7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full connector ramp closure from eastbound
SR-140 to southbound SR-99 for
striping operations beginning Sunday, July 26, through
Friday, July 31, 2020, from
8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from SR-33 to the Gustine Railroad Crossing beginning
Sunday, July 26, through
Friday, July 31, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from SR-99 to Kibby Road beginning Sunday, July 26,
through Friday, July 31,
2020, from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from Plainsburg/Planada Road to Watts Street beginning
Monday, July 27,
through Friday, July 31, 2020, from 6:00 a.m. until
6:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or
materials, and construction related
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For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone. |
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July
22, 2020
Stephanie
Dietz will serve as Merced’s Acting City Manager
MERCED,
CA – Following a closed session discussion on
Monday July 20, 2020, and pursuant to the Brown Act,
Mayor Murphy reported that the City Council had terminated
the employment of the City Manager by a 6-1 vote.
Assistant City Manager Stephanie Dietz will serve
as Acting City Manager, until August 3, 2020 when
the City Council will appoint her as Interim City
Manager. Dietz started her career with the City of
Merced on January 3, 2017. Prior to working for the
City of Merced, Dietz spent ten-years with Merced
County and close to three years with the University
of California, Merced.
Mayor Mike Murphy shared, “The City Council
and I have the utmost confidence in Ms. Dietz’s
ability to serve in the position of Acting City Manager.
She brings a lot of experience and a strong understanding
of our community to this important position.”
Under Dietz’s leadership as Acting City Manager,
department heads will remain in place and will focus
on furthering the City Council’s goals and priorities,
strengthening community relationships, and providing
the high-level of quality services expected by the
public.
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As Assistant City Manager, Dietz has served as the
City’s point person on issues such as groundwater
recharging and legislative affairs. Raised in Winton
and now residing in Merced with her family, Dietz
noted about the appointment that she is, “Humbled
by the City Council’s trust, and honored to
serve the residents of this great and growing city.”
Dietz holds a bachelor’s degree from Fresno
State and a master’s degree from National University.
The transition of Assistant City Manager Stephanie
Dietz to Acting City Manager is effective immediately.
It is anticipated that the search for a new City Manager
will take place later this fall.
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July
22, 2020
MCOE,
METV, Disney Partner for ‘The Lion King Experience:
At Home’
The Merced County Office Education’s free
educational access channel Merced Educational Television
(METV) has a new arts education opportunity thanks
to a collaboration with Disney Theatrical Production.
“Disney’s The Lion King Experience:
At Home,” will begin a 13-part set of virtual
lessons on July 27 facilitated by arts education
consultant Noelle D.W. Chandler — also known
as Miss Noelle — and it will air on METV.
Disney Theatrical Productions has offered the free,
virtually accessible version of “The Lion
King Experience” since April as stay-at-home
orders went into effect across the nation. The fully
virtual curriculum is a unique holistic arts education
program that provides students and educators an
immersive introduction to theater-making through
the lens of the Broadway production of “The
Lion King.”
“Visual and performing arts are an important
component for students to build creative thinking
and teamwork skills,” said Merced County Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen. “This partnership
with Disney will give all students access to a fun
and unique arts experience.”
The web-based, multimedia curriculum was originally
designed for in-person classroom facilitation by
an instructor as an enhancement for schools producing
adaptations of “The Lion King,” but
with new step-by-step instructions, students can
explore the full experience at home.
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“Equity
and accessibility are key components of education
opportunities through MCOE and will help ensure a
wide-reaching experience for students of all abilities,”
said Chandler. “We are so excited to share this
learning experience with the community and thank Disney
Theatrical Productions for this unique partnership.”
Episodes will air at 11 a.m. each day with an encore
presentation at 3 p.m. Videos will be available at
www.mcoe.org after they air on METV.
While touring Broadway performers walk students through
learning opportunities, Miss Noelle will facilitate
additional warm-ups and games, assignments, examples,
craft projects and more. Any scripts, design inspirations
or challenge sheets needed to complete assignments
can be accessed by emailing NChandler@mcoe.org.
METV broadcasts on Comcast channel 97, AT&T U-Verse
channel 99 and a livestream is available at mcoe.org/metv.
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July
21, 2020
Atwater FFA
Member Earns National Scholarship
Written
by : Atwater FFA
Colby Flatt, a recent graduate of Atwater High School,
(Class of 2020), has recently been recognized as
a scholarship recipient for the Mike Rowe’s
WORKS Foundation scholarship. This scholarship is
designed for students who are going to a vocational
or trade school. This scholarship was established
by Mike Rowe, in 2008. You may have heard of Mike
Rowe, as he has traveled around the United States
to find and experience the “dirtiest”
jobs and even made a TV show about them, “Dirty
Jobs.” In 2008, Mike Rowe launched this scholarship
foundation as a platform to create more knowledge
about skilled labor and jobs that are needed. “The
Work Ethic Scholarship Program is about recognizing
the people who understand the importance of personal
responsibility, delayed gratification, a positive
attitude, and, of course, work ethic. The hardworking
men and women who keep the lights on, water running,
and air flowing—the next generation of skilled
workers who will work smart and hard.” - Mike
Rowe. Colby has been involved with the Atwater FFA
program since his freshman year, in a variety of
ways. Colby has immersed himself in all that agriculture
education has to offer, from a variety of classes,
but he found his passion in the
welding and fabrication shop. Colby has been an
instrumental part of the shop programs on campus,
where he spent the majority of his time, even taking
at least four shop classes his senior year. “
Each year I have 1 student that stands out above
all the rest, for the past two years its been the
same student, Colby. Of all my past 200 plus students,
he is the top 1%, “ said Sam Meredith, Colby’s
Welding and Fabrication instructor. Colby helps
with all of the BBQ fundraisers, trains younger
FFA members on how to use the BBQ, attends FFA meetings,
and his senior year, he joined the Farm Power judging
team, that was unfortunately cut short because of
COVID-19; Colby would have been incredibly successful
if the season had continued as planned. There is
no job that Colby cannot do, and he was commonly
referred to as the “11th Ag Teacher”
by the department.
This year, over 1000 students applied for this scholarship,
and Colby Flatt was one of the only 240 students
selected. In order to earn this scholarship, Colby
had to complete an application, answer short answer
questions, and complete a video submission, high
lighting his work ethic. “I have had the privilege
of knowing and working with Colby over the past
four years, specifically with FFA events and in
the dairy barn. You will not find a harder worker
than Colby. I know that I can always count on him
to get the job done, and get it done right the first
time,” Kim Mesa, FFA Advisor. Colby is planning
on attending the Northwest Lineman College in Denton,
Texas, and will start his education and training
there this August. Colby’s ultimate career
goal is to become a lineman - a lineworker is a
tradesman who constructs and maintains electric
power transmission, telecommunications lines and
distribution lines. Colby has always wanted to go
into a vocational field after high school, he says
“This scholarship is not only the bread and
butter of who I am, but it is a reflection that
shows my hard work has paid off. I am honored to
be receiving this scholarship and thankful for all
of the people who have given me opportunities to
learn all that I know, and for instilling hard work
into who I am.”
For
more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture
Department and Atwater FFA, please log on the website
www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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Colby
Flatt

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July
21, 2020
Travis
Credit Union Launches Free
Financial Education Webinar Series
Vacaville,
CA – Travis Credit Union has launched a new
webinar series, focused on the financial wellness
pillars of Plan, Save, Spend and Borrow. These free
financial education presentations will address timely
and relevant issues, including ‘Budgeting
through Covid-19’ and ‘Rebuilding after
a Financial Crisis.’ The webinars offered
(also available in Spanish) are available for adults
as well as youth.
The live webinars are free to attend and will feature
informative and practical information through presentations,
as well as opportunities to engage and interact
through questions and polls. The sessions will be
recorded and available ‘on-demand’ for
those unable to attend the live event. The full
list of upcoming scheduled webinars, including registration
links, can be found at traviscu.org/webinars.
“We remain committed to the Awesome Cause
of free financial education and making a difference
in the lives of the people we serve,” said
Barry Nelson, president and CEO of Travis Credit
Union. “We believe that in this era of ‘social
distancing,’ our webinar series will continue
to support our efforts to provide free, invaluable
financial resources to our members and community.”
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Headquartered
in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a
not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving
those who live, work, worship, or attend school in
in Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Merced Napa, Placer,
Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus,
and Yolo Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union
is the 13th largest credit union in California with
more than 214,000 members and more than $3.3 billion
in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions
in Solano, Contra Costa, Napa, Yolo and Merced Counties,
Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful
commitment to its members and the community; its solid,
secure history; and its long-standing track record
of dedicated service. |
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July
21, 2020
We
Must Work Together to Get Our Students Back in the
Classroom
Steve M. Tietjen, Ed.D.
Merced County Superintendent of Schools
With the start of the school year less than one
month away for most Merced County school districts,
the announcement from Governor Newsom on Friday
makes a physical reopening of school sites unlikely
in that timeline.
While these new guidelines were disappointing, they
were not a surprise given the increased rates of
infection across the state. The Governor’s
action took away the local control from elected
school boards and superintendents across the county
to give parents the option of sending their children
to school or learning through an online platform.
We recognize that not all parents agree on the best
and safest option for in-person instruction at a
school site and our goal is to give parents options.
As in every situation, the health and well-being
of our students, families and school communities
is our top priority.
Since March, I have worked collaboratively with
all 20 school district superintendents and the Merced
County Department of Public Health to identify the
safest ways for students and staff to return to
school for in-person instruction. We developed hybrid
models with A/B schedules and student cohorts that
would reduce the number of people present on campus
to allow for social distancing.
When we made the difficult decision to close school
sites in March, schools were not as prepared as
they are today for distance learning. The Merced
County Office of Education has worked with school
districts to ensure that students have a rigorous
curriculum that includes daily live lessons, check-ins
with teachers and access to rigorous coursework.
Now, more than ever, we must work together to slow
the spread of COVID-19 in our county so that we
can meet the guidelines to reopen our schools to
in-person instruction. We must
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wear
face coverings, maintain social distance, wash our
hands regularly and minimize mixing of people we do
not live with. As a community, it is essential that
we abide by this public health guidance for our positivity
rate to decrease to the threshold where we can open
school sites.
It is crucial that our school sites open to serve
the students of highest need, including children of
essential workers. For some families, especially those
with young children and where remote work is not an
option, attending school is essential.
As a longtime educator, parent with adult children
that work in education and grandparent of children
who attend public schools, I understand how difficult
and complicated the past few months have been.
Know that school leaders are working hard to create
safe environments for students and staff, but we need
your help to slow the spread of COVID-19. Together,
we can ensure our students have the tools to succeed.
It is up to all of us here in Merced County to slow
the growth rates of infection. Wearing a mask is not
just polite; it’s what we need to do to get
our schools back open. Wear a mask every time you
go out, wash your hands and keep your social distance. |
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July
21, 2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
CONNECTOR RAMP & LANE CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 140 NEAR THE CITIES OF GUSTINE, MERCED
AND PLANDA
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various lane and ramp closures on State Route 140
(SR-140) for construction and
maintenance work. No two consecutive ramps will be
closed at the same time. Work
will occur as follows:
• Full connector ramp closure from eastbound
SR-140 to northbound SR-99 for
striping operations beginning Tuesday, July 21, through
Friday, July 24, 2020, from
7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full connector ramp closure from westbound
SR-140 to southbound SR-99 for
striping operations beginning Tuesday, July 21, through
Friday, July 24, 2020, from
7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from SR-33 to the Gustine Railroad Crossing beginning
Tuesday, July 21, through
Friday, July 24, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from SR-99 to Kibby Road beginning Tuesday, July 21,
through Friday, July 24,
2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from Plainsburg/Planada Road to Watts Street beginning
Tuesday, July 21,
through Friday, July 24, 2020, from 6:00 a.m. until
6:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or
materials, and construction related
issues.
|

For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone. |
back to top
July
18 , 2020
Governor,
State Public Health Restrict In-Person Instruction
in Merced County
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced updated guidance
from the California Department of Public Health
for school reopening and set the metrics that all
schools and county public health officials must
use to determine whether to reopen schools to in-person
instruction.
California Department of Public Health officials
placed Merced County on the California County Monitoring
List in early July in response to elevated COVID-19
transmission as indicated by Merced County exceeding
state thresholds for positivity rates.
Because of this new guidance and Merced County’s
status on the monitoring list, all Merced County
schools must begin the 2020-2021 school year in
distance learning.
“We recognize the significant impact school
closures have on our school communities, students,
families and staff,” said Merced County Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen. “The health
of our students and staff is our top priority and
MCOE will continue to work with the county’s
20 school districts toward a safe reopening of schools
to in-person instruction when health conditions
allow. It is crucial that we all follow public health
guidelines — like wearing face coverings,
practicing good hygiene and social distancing —
to reduce the spread of COVID-19 so our schools
can resume in-person instruction.”
Merced County school districts have worked closely
with the Merced County Department of Public Health
to create reopening plans with safety precautions
and a modified attendance schedule. School districts
had planned to give families the option of in-person
instruction or distance learning prior to the governor’s
announcement.
|

For
more information on your school’s start date
and plans for Distance Learning, contact your local
school. Information on Merced County’s 20 school
districts is located here: https://www.mcoe.org/school/Pages/default.aspx
The guidance released today also addresses face coverings,
social distancing, increased hygiene practices and
cleaning. More information can be found here: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-schools.pdf
|
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July
18 , 2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
CONNECTOR RAMP & LANE CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 140 NEAR THE CITIES OF GUSTINE, MERCED
AND PLANDA
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various lane and ramp closures on State Route 140
(SR-140) for construction and
maintenance work. No two consecutive ramps will be
closed at the same time. Work
will occur as follows:
• Full connector ramp closure from eastbound
SR-140 to northbound SR-99 for
striping operations beginning Tuesday, July 21, through
Friday, July 24, 2020, from
7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full connector ramp closure from westbound
SR-140 to southbound SR-99 for
striping operations beginning Tuesday, July 21, through
Friday, July 24, 2020, from
7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from SR-33 to the Gustine Railroad Crossing beginning
Tuesday, July 21, through
Friday, July 24, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from SR-99 to Kibby Road beginning Tuesday, July 21,
through Friday, July 24,
2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• One-way traffic control for striping work
on eastbound and westbound SR-140
from Plainsburg/Planada Road to Watts Street beginning
Tuesday, July 21,
through Friday, July 24, 2020, from 6:00 a.m. until
6:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or
materials, and construction related
issues.
|

For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.
|
back to top
July
14, 2020
MERCED
COUNTY, CITIES ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO “MASK
UP”
MERCED—Due
to a rapid increase of COVID-19 cases, Merced County
and its six cities are encouraging residents to wear
face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19 and
reopen the economy.
The campaign, known as “Mask-Up,” is intended
to educate the public on the importance of face coverings
and address “hotspots” throughout the
County that are experiencing spikes of cases. The
campaign will include public education efforts, materials
promoting mask wearing, and mask distribution in various
locations.
The use of face coverings is now mandated by the State
and County. Wear a face covering whenever you’re
out in public—it’s the safe thing to do,
it’s the courteous thing to do, and it’s
the right thing to do.
Face coverings are a proven way to reduce the spread
of COVID-19 and are required to be worn:
• Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor
public space;
• When obtaining healthcare services;
• Waiting for or riding on public transportation
or while in any private or ride-sharing vehicle including
operators of the transportation;
• When at the workplace or performing work off-site;
• While outdoors in public spaces when physical
distancing is not feasible.
The more face coverings are used, the faster we can
collectively stem the spread of COVID-19 and reopen
parts of the economy. The alternative is the State
imposing an extended shutdown on more sectors of our
economy due to the rising infection rate. Please do
your part so we can stop the spread and reopen.
|

Some
masks, such as N95s, are more effective than others
in terms of preventing illness. However, the main
purpose of cloth face coverings or other types of
masks is to prevent respiratory droplets from infecting
others when you cough, sneeze or talk. It’s
important to remember that some people infected with
COVID-19 don’t show symptoms, while the disease
is deadly for others. Wearing a mask is a sign that
you’re being considerate of those around you
that may have compromised immune systems. Face coverings/masks
are not recommended for children younger than 2 years
old, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is incapacitated.
Please encourage your family and friends to wear face
coverings as well. You can do this by taking a photo
of yourself wearing a face covering in public and
posting it to social media using the #MaskMonday hashtag.
And feel free to tag the Merced County Department
of Public Health, Merced County, or your home city!
While face coverings are a critically important aspect
of reducing the infection rate in Merced County, it
should be combined with other protective measures
such as:
• Social distancing of six feet or more;
• Avoiding large group gatherings;
• Washing your hands often with soap and water;
• Avoiding close contact with people who are
sick;
• Staying home if you’re sick;
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth
with unwashed hands. |
back to top
July
11 , 2020
Cooling
zone open on Saturday and Sunday
The City of Merced will open its cooling zone Saturday
and Sunday as the National Weather Service issued
a heat advisory for the region.
The cooling zone for the City of Merced will be in
the Sam Pipes Room of the Merced Civic Center, (City
Hall), 678 W. 18th St. from 3 to 8 p.m. People can
bring their pets to the cooling zone as long as they
don’t disturb other people or pets.
Don’t leave your children or your pets in your
cars, even for a few minutes, and be sure to look
in on the people living around you. Be a good neighbor
and check on the vulnerable populations living around
you.
People are reminded to stay hydrated during the heat
wave, wear loose clothes and light colored fabrics.
Below are some tips from the state Office of Emergency
Services.
Tips to Prevent Heat Related Illness
• Never leave infants, children or the frail
elderly unattended in a parked car.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Don’t wait until
you’re thirsty.
• Dress in lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
Use a hat and sunscreen as needed.
• Drink fruit juice or a sports beverage to
replace salts and minerals lost during heavy sweating.
(If a client/resident is on a low-sodium diet, check
with his/her physician first.)
• During the hottest parts of the day, keep
physical activities to a minimum and stay indoors
in air-conditioning and out of the sun.
• Use fans as needed.
• Open windows to allow fresh air to circulate
when appropriate.
• Use cool compresses, misting, showers and
baths.
• Avoid hot foods and heavy meals—they
add heat to the body. Eat frozen treats.
Read more: Division of Occupational Safety & Health
(bilingual resources), Center for Disease Control
and Prevention Tips for Preventing Heat-related Illness
Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion
Heat stroke—which occurs when the body can’t
control its temperature—may result in disability
or death if emergency treatment is not given. Heat
exhaustion occurs when the body loses a large amount
of water and salt contained in sweat.
|

Warning
signs of heat stroke vary, but may include:
• An extremely high body temperature (above
103 degrees Fahrenheit, orally)
• Unconsciousness
• Dizziness, nausea and confusion
• Red, hot and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
Warning signs of heat exhaustion vary, but may include:
• Heavy sweating
• Muscle cramps
• Weakness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Paleness, tiredness, dizziness
What to Do
If you see any of these signs for heat stroke or heat
exhaustion, you may be dealing with a life-threatening
emergency and should do the following:
• Have someone call 911 while you begin cooling
the victim.
• Get the victim to a shady area.
• Cool the victim rapidly with a cool bath or
shower, or by sponging with cool water, until body
temperature drops to 101-102 degrees Fahrenheit, orally.
• If emergency medical personnel are delayed,
call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
• Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
• Again, get medical assistance as soon as possible.
If a victim’s muscles twitch uncontrollably
as a result of heat stroke, keep the victim from injuring
him/herself, but do not place any object in the mouth
and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make
sure the airway remains open by turning the victim
on his/her side.
http://www.cityofmerced.org |
|
back to top
July
10 , 2020
BUSINESSES
EXERCISE COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS WITH READY2OPEN CAMPAIGN
MERCED—In an effort to protect customers and
employees amidst increasing COVID-19 infections, Merced
County and its six cities are working with local businesses
on a self-certification safety process.
Branded as “Ready2Open,” the process allows
local businesses to complete an online checklist to
verify that they’ve taken steps to ensure the
safety of customers and employees. Steps include safety
signage, employee training, employee health screening,
physical distancing measures, and routine sanitation.
|

Once a business verifies its information through the
www.reopenmercedcounty.com/ready2open site, they’ll
receive an emblem to display near the entrance of
their store attesting to their self-certification.
The emblems will look like this:
|

Store
participation in this program is optional. While businesses
can begin self-certification immediately, the official
launch of the Ready2Open campaign is Monday.
In addition to the online self-certification process,
some jurisdictions, including the City of Merced,
City of Dos Palos, City of Gustine, City of Livingston
and Merced County, will also provide certified businesses
with a courtesy walk-through of their facilities to
further ensure that COVID-19 safety measures are met.
The Ready2Open campaign is in response to rapidly
increasing disease transmission, increased hospitalizations,
and a rise in the percentage of people testing positive
for COVID-19 in Merced County. The rapid increase
in those categories resulted in the State once again
shutting down indoor dining, bars, and various entertainment
centers throughout Merced County.
If numbers continue to rise, the current shutdown
could be extended by the State and additional business
sectors could be closed. This can be prevented by
basic safety measures including:
• Wearing face coverings in public;
• Social distancing of six feet or more;
• Avoiding large group gatherings;
• Washing your hands often with soap and water;
• Avoiding close contact with people who are
sick;
• Staying home if you’re sick;
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth
with unwashed hands.
|
back to top
July
10 , 2020
MERCED
COUNTY, CITIES ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO “MASK
UP”
MERCED—Due
to a rapid increase of COVID-19 cases, Merced County
and its six cities are encouraging residents to wear
face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19 and
reopen the economy.
The campaign, known as “Mask-Up,” is intended
to educate the public on the importance of face coverings
and address “hotspots” throughout the
County that are experiencing spikes of cases. The
campaign will include public education efforts, materials
promoting mask wearing, and mask distribution in various
locations.
The use of face coverings is now mandated by the State
and County. Wear a face covering whenever you’re
out in public—it’s the safe thing to do,
it’s the courteous thing to do, and it’s
the right thing to do.
Face coverings are a proven way to reduce the spread
of COVID-19 and are required to be worn:
• Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor
public space;
• When obtaining healthcare services;
• Waiting for or riding on public transportation
or while in any private or ride-sharing vehicle including
operators of the transportation;
• When at the workplace or performing work off-site;
• While outdoors in public spaces when physical
distancing is not feasible.
The more face coverings are used, the faster we can
collectively stem the spread of COVID-19 and reopen
parts of the economy. The alternative is the State
imposing an extended shutdown on more sectors of our
economy due to the rising infection rate. Please do
your part so we can stop the spread and reopen.
|

Some
masks, such as N95s, are more effective than others
in terms of preventing illness. However, the main
purpose of cloth face coverings or other types of
masks is to prevent respiratory droplets from infecting
others when you cough, sneeze or talk. It’s
important to remember that some people infected with
COVID-19 don’t show symptoms, while the disease
is deadly for others. Wearing a mask is a sign that
you’re being considerate of those around you
that may have compromised immune systems. Face coverings/masks
are not recommended for children younger than 2 years
old, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is incapacitated.
Please encourage your family and friends to wear face
coverings as well. You can do this by taking a photo
of yourself wearing a face covering in public and
posting it to social media using the #MaskMonday hashtag.
And feel free to tag the Merced County Department
of Public Health, Merced County, or your home city!
While face coverings are a critically important aspect
of reducing the infection rate in Merced County, it
should be combined with other protective measures
such as:
• Social distancing of six feet or more;
• Avoiding large group gatherings;
• Washing your hands often with soap and water;
• Avoiding close contact with people who are
sick;
• Staying home if you’re sick;
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth
with unwashed hands.
|
back to top
July
9 , 2020
Regional
Wildfire Safety WebinarYou’re invited to learn
more about our
Community Wildfire Safety Program (CWSP)July 22
| 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Merced, San Joaquin & Stanislaus Counties
As
we all work to fight coronavirus (COVID-19), we
also know wildfire season is around the corner.
PG&E is working to prevent wildfires and reduce
the impact of Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)
events. Our essential work for the safety of customers
and communities will continue as long as we can
perform it safely for both employees and customers.
The focus of these efforts, and the sole purpose
of a PSPS event, is to reduce the risk of catastrophic
wildfires during severe fire-risk weather.
We invite you to join us for an interactive webinar
with details about our plans for this year. You
will hear about work in your community, have the
opportunity to ask questions of PG&E subject
matter experts and share your feedback.
Topics
include:
Making
PSPS events smaller in size, shorter in duration
and smarter for customers
PG&E’s wildfire prevention plans
Progress on key safety initiatives in your community
Resources to prepare for wildfire season
|

For a list
of all the webinars that we have planned, visit pge.com/firesafetywebinars
»
To
learn more about our wildfire safety efforts and how
you can prepare, visit pge.com/wildfiresafety »
Event
notes
• While this event will focus on regional work
in the identified counties, any PG&E customers
are welcome to join.
• Closed captioning will be available in English,
Spanish and Chinese; related information in these
and other languages is available on PG&E’s
website at www.pge.com/wildfiresafety »•
The Webinar is being streamed. It is recommended that
you listen via your computer speakers
|
back to top
July
9, 2020
Travis
Credit Union Launches Free
Financial Education Webinar Series
Vacaville,
CA – Travis Credit Union has launched a new
webinar series, focused on the financial wellness
pillars of Plan, Save, Spend and Borrow. These free
financial education presentations will address timely
and relevant issues, including ‘Budgeting
through Covid-19’ and ‘Rebuilding after
a Financial Crisis.’ The webinars offered
(also available in Spanish) are available for adults
as well as youth.
The live webinars are free to attend and will feature
informative and practical information through presentations,
as well as opportunities to engage and interact
through questions and polls. The sessions will be
recorded and available ‘on-demand’ for
those unable to attend the live event. The full
list of upcoming scheduled webinars, including registration
links, can be found at traviscu.org/webinars.
“We remain committed to the Awesome Cause
of free financial education and making a difference
in the lives of the people we serve,” said
Barry Nelson, president and CEO of Travis Credit
Union. “We believe that in this era of ‘social
distancing,’ our webinar series will continue
to support our efforts to provide free, invaluable
financial resources to our members and community.”
|

Headquartered
in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a
not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving
those who live, work, worship, or attend school in
in Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Merced Napa, Placer,
Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus,
and Yolo Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union
is the 13th largest credit union in California with
more than 214,000 members and more than $3.3 billion
in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions
in Solano, Contra Costa, Napa, Yolo and Merced Counties,
Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful
commitment to its members and the community; its solid,
secure history; and its long-standing track record
of dedicated service.
|
back to top
July
8 , 2020
Family
Resource Center Utilizes State Grant Money to Help
Merced County Families
Families and individuals served by the Merced County
Family Resource Center have had a tough time making
ends meet and coping with the challenging conditions
brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is
a bright spot on the horizon.
Dennis Haines, family social services supervisor
with the Family Resource Center, said the center
has been able to help 127 individuals with a $11,828
grant from the state. Through the center’s
efforts, families have been provided with a sense
of safety and comfort and have received items that
will make their lives easier and brighter. Some
of these people were hard-hit by job losses and
caring for their children while schools were closed.
The Family Resource Center works through the Merced
County Office of Education.
Haines explained the center was able to place a
bulk order through Wal-Mart to purchase a wide variety
of items. These include food items such as canned
tomato sauce, disinfectant wipes, diapers, bottled
water, cleaning supplies, bicycle parts and bicycles,
camp stoves for the homeless, battery-operated fans,
air pumps for basketballs and footballs, portable
basketball hoops and courts, board games, outdoor
recreational games, volleyballs and badminton supplies.
Haines is overwhelmed by the good that has come
through this state grant, provided by the state’s
Office of Child Abuse Prevention.
In April, Haines received word through a webinar
program put on by a consortium that $3 million in
funds would be available statewide. He found out
in mid-May that the local group’s request
for funding was approved.
“Knowing that some of the items requested
can potentially save someone’s life, like
the window air conditioner for a lady who has had
a stroke, it is a little overwhelming. It is a lot
of work and at the same time rewarding that we are
providing something good for families and children,”
Haines said.
Haines said his office was closed during the last
two weeks of March in the initial phase of the state
stay-at-home order and panic ensued as clients worried
how some of their needs would be met. In April,
Haines and two family resource specialists, Shavon
Roach and Carrie Schaller, back to work and re-established
connections with their clients.
The center was established to strengthen children
and families, and reconnect them to local support
systems. This is especially important at present
to reduce the trauma and stress levels coming from
coronavirus restrictions and suspended programs.
“Most of the families were asking for outdoor
activities like bikes, badminton, basketball items
or family board games instead of electronic devices,”
Haines said. “Families wanted to be families
again and do things together. We were hearing parents
say that they are living in crowded environments
and limited access to the outside world and these
items provided an outlet to lower their stress levels
and become somewhat normal again and have fun.”
|

Through
online virtual platforms, the resource center has
been able to maintain parenting classes. Haines said
the center contacted more than 100 families, providing
them with services they wouldn’t have received
otherwise. The local center is affiliated with the
California Family Resource Association.
“We connect families and partners in a safe
environment,” Haines said. The center serves
at-risk families, children at-risk and the homeless.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phoenix
Project Continues to Serve Participants During Pandemic
The Phoenix Project, which helps individuals get a
fresh start following earlier setbacks in life, continues
to be active during social isolation and quarantine
mandated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A collaborative project between the Merced County
Office of Education and the Merced County Office of
Probation, the Phoenix Project gives adults who were
incarcerated skills and training in various career
pathways.
Toula Moua-Eccles, career educator through the Merced
County Office of Education’s Educational Services
department, said the Phoenix Project has held monthly
orientations in May and June and will continue these
sessions in July, for new referrals from the county
probation department.
Orientations and workshops are all done through online
Webex video conferencing meetings. In the meantime,
participants who are attending training are still
receiving assistance with gas stipends and mentoring.
Participants who are working on their GED certificates
are provided with GED practice tests and GED prep
booklets.
Moua-Eccles said currently she has 39 participants
in the program. So far in the 2019-2020 fiscal year
the program has 20 career-technical education (CTE)
graduates, three high school/GED graduates and 14
are employed. These graduates have completed one to
five months of career-technical education training.
For more information, visit https://www.mcoe.org/deptprog/edservices/CandC/phoenix/Pages/phoenix.aspx.
|
back to top
July
3 , 2020
Residents
Urged to Exercise COVID-19 Precautions Over Holiday
Weekend
MERCED
COUNTY, CA—With data from prior holiday weekends
showing spikes of COVID-19 cases, residents are strongly
advised to avoid mass gatherings, wear masks, and
exercise good hand hygiene over the Fourth of July
weekend.
This holiday weekend comes at a critical juncture
for Merced County. Rapidly increasing cases of COVID-19
coupled with increased hospitalizations and a greater
percentage of people testing positive for the disease
has resulted in Merced County being placed on a State
monitoring list and the closure of bars, indoor dining
and other entertainment venues for an expected minimum
of three weeks. If numbers continue to rise, that
closure timeframe could be extended by the State and
additional business sectors could be closed. If numbers
trend downward in the coming days, the three-week
closure could potentially be reduced.
This
extended shutdown can be prevented by avoiding crowds
or large family gatherings, practicing physical distancing,
washing your hands often with soap and water, staying
home if you’re sick, and wearing face coverings
when:
* Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor public
space;
* Obtaining healthcare services;
|

* Waiting for or riding on public transportation or
while in any private or ride-sharing vehicle including
operators of the transportation;
* At the workplace or performing work off-site;
* Outdoors in public spaces where physical distancing
is not possible.
Face coverings are a proven way to reduce the spread
of COVID-19, said Dr. Salvador Sandoval, Merced County’s
Public Health Officer.
“Face coverings protect those around you from
respiratory droplets when you cough, sneeze or talk,”
Dr. Sandoval said. “This is a deadly disease
that spreads rapidly. Also, it affects people differently—you
could be positive for COVID-19, but not have any symptoms.
That’s why it’s essential for everyone
to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth when
in public.”
For more information on COVID-19, please visit Merced
County Department of Public Health’s resource
website at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus.
|
As
evidenced by the table below, holiday weekends have
significantly contributed to the rise in cases due
to large family gatherings,
a lack of physical distancing, and an absence of masks
or face coverings:

If
the upcoming holiday weekend results in another rise
in cases,
Merced County will be at severe risk for an extended
shutdown of various parts of the economy. |
back to top
July
3 , 2020
Tree
plan, annual plan on Council agenda
The City Council will hear a report on its urban forestry
plan and hold a public hearing on the HUD Annual Action
Plan at its Monday night meeting.
The regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday,
in the Council Chambers on the second floor of the
Merced Civic Center (City Hall), 678 W. 18th St. It
is also available online.
The City received a $470,000 grant to create an urban
forestry plan for the City-owned trees. The plan includes
an inventory of all the trees, plus a management plan
for the next 8 years.
Also on the agenda:
• A public hearing on the Federal Housing and
Urban Development Department Annual Action Plan, a
document that outlines how the City will spend federal
funds over the next year. The Council also will be
asked to approve the Consolidated Action Plan, which
looks at a 5-year timeline. There is approximately
$2 million of HUD funding available.
• Consider a cooperative agreement with Caltrans
for Phase 1 of the Highway 59 widening project and
the Rascal Creek bridge project.
The Council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m.
regarding labor negotiations, real property negotiations
and existing litigation.
The meeting will be broadcast on Facebook Live at
City of Merced, on the City’s website, www.cityofmerced.org,
and Comcast Public Access Channel 96. A link to the
live meeting is on the City’s website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
In-person Council Meetings have strict social distancing
practices in place and the use of
face coverings is encouraged. Seating in the Council
Chamber will be limited and an overflow
room will be available in the Sam Pipes Room with
the same social distancing practices in place.
• Members of the audience who wish to address
the City Council are requested to complete a speaker
card available at the podium on the right-hand side
of the Council Chamber. Please submit the completed
card to the City Clerk before the item is called,
preferably before the meeting begins.
• For at-risk individuals or those not wanting
to attend an in-person meeting during the current
COVID-19 pandemic, please submit your public comment
to the City Council electronically no later than 1
p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments received
before the deadline will be provided to the City Council
prior to the meeting and will be part of the record.
Material may be emailed to cityclerk@cityofmerced.org
and should be limited to 300 words or less. Please
specify which portion of the agenda you are commenting
on, for example: Closed Session, Item Number or Oral
Communications. Your comments will be provided to
the City Council prior to the meeting and will be
part of the record. Any correspondence received after
1 p.m. will be distributed to the City Council and
retained for the official record.
• You may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example:
Public Hearing item number, Consent item number, or
Oral Communications. Your comments will be played
during the meeting to the City Council at the appropriate
time.
|

To
view video (if available) or listen to the City Council
meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650. Assisted hearing devices are available
for meetings held in the Council
Chamber.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Revised
Summer Program stresses healthy practices
The City of Merced Parks and Recreation Department
is now open to take Summer Playground Program registration
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch).
The Summer Playground Program begins Monday, July
6, and will run until July 31from 8 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday
for youngsters in grades K-6. Weekly activities will
include: crafts, hiking, outdoor activities and a
family color run. Cost is $25 a week, and all activities
will be modified to help prevent the spread of the
coronavirus and support social distancing.
Following federal, state, Merced County Public Health,
and new industry standards, the Parks and Recreation
Department has outlined new operating procedures for
the Summer Playground Program to ensure the safety
of our youth.
Activities will be modified to accommodate social
distancing, as well as additional preventative steps
to stop the spread of the coronavirus such as: regular
disinfecting, mask wearing, social distancing, skill
building activities rather than team building, small
cohorts of no more than 10 youths each, contactless
pick up and drop off for parents, health screenings,
no shared snacks, toys or equipment, and keeping family
groups together. There is a maximum of 25 campers.
Registration packets are available online at: https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/parks-community-services
The Zoo, rental facilities, Senior Center, playgrounds,
pools, splash pads and sports fields all remain closed
due to the coronavirus.
For information: Michelle Reid, Recreation Supervisor
385-6895.
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July
3 , 2020
Travis
Credit Union Awarded as One of Forbes’
Best-In-State Banks and Credit Unions 2020
Vacaville,
CA – Travis Credit Union has been recognized
as part of Forbes’ annual list of America’s
Best-In-State Banks and Credit Unions 2020. This
prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista
Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry
ranking provider. The awards list was announced
on June 23 and can currently be viewed on the Forbes
website, Forbes.com.
Forbes Best-In-State Banks and Credit Unions 2020
is comprised of the top banks and credit unions
based on the results of independent surveys involving
approximately 25,000 U.S. consumers who were asked
to rate the financial institutions at which they
have or have had checking accounts.
Participants
made recommendations regarding overall satisfaction;
they also assessed banks and credit unions in the
following areas: ‘Trust,’ ‘Terms
& Conditions,’ ‘Branch Services,’
‘Digital Services,’ and ‘Financial
Advice.’ Based on the results of the study,
Travis Credit Union is honored to be recognized
as one of Forbes’ 2020 list of America’s
Best-In-State Banks and Credit Unions.
|

“Travis
Credit Union continues to transform banking for our
members, creating more opportunities for them to bank
anywhere, anytime, and ensuring that our products
and advice help members make real financial progress,”
said Barry Nelson, president and CEO of Travis Credit
Union. “Being a responsible community partner
and a true advocate for our members’ financial
wellbeing reflect some of the core values we live
by as an organization. This achievement is a reflection
of our members’ loyalty and commitment to excellent
service by our team.”
Headquartered
in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a
not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving
those who live, work, worship, or attend school in
in Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Merced Napa, Placer,
Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus,
and Yolo Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union
is the 13th largest credit union in California with
more than 214,000 members and more than $3.3 billion
in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions
in Solano, Contra Costa, Napa, Yolo and Merced Counties,
Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful
commitment to its members and the community; its solid,
secure history; and its long-standing track record
of dedicated service.
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July
3 , 2020
Local,
State Agencies Provide Supplies to Child Care Facilities
More than 200 child care providers in Merced County
remain open during the COVID-19 Pandemic and continue
to serve children of essential workers. Many child
care providers have been forced to serve less children
in order to remain in compliance with state guidance
on serving smaller groups of children, making it
difficult for them to remain in business. Child
care providers (licensed child care home providers,
licensed-exempt and private centers) are getting
badly needed help providing for youngsters through
collaborative state and local programs.
Rosa Barragan, director of Early Education Support
Services for the Merced County Office of Education,
said child care providers are getting some much-needed
supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. These supplies
include hand sanitizer, thermometers, diapers, disinfectant
wipes, soap and masks. Child care providers who
remained open are also being provided with a monetary
stipend to purchase supplies.
“Child care is essential for working parents
and our communities,” said Merced County Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen. “MCOE’s
Early Education Department is committed to ensuring
child care providers have the tools to create the
safest environment for our youngest students.”
Funding to supply these materials and stipends is
coming from different funding sources, Barragan
said, including First 5 of California, the local
First 5 of Merced County, the California Department
of Education and the State Department of Social
Services.
|

Some of the supplies were dispersed in the first round
and more will be given out in the next few weeks during
the second round of deliveries. More supplies are
expected by the end of July.
Barragan stressed more licensed child care providers
are needed in the county. Before the recession of
2008-2013 there were 406 licensed home child care
providers in the county.
Now there are 206 licensed home child care providers,
this is not enough to meet the needs of working families.
“We have grants to help with the licensing process
and our staff are ready to provide technical assistance
for anyone interested in opening a child care business.
Child care providers are an essential part of our
infrastructure and are greatly needed as we reopen,
so families can go back to work and so parents can
have options,” Barragan said.
The Early Education Department also offers professional
development classes for licensed family child care
providers, private centers and families. For information
call (209) 381-4585.
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July
3 , 2020
ACE
trains will not operate on Friday, 7/3/20,
due to the Independence Day holiday. Service will
resume on Monday, 7/6/20.
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July
3 , 2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
RAMP CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 99 AT STATE ROUTE 59/MARTIN LUTHER KING
JR WAY
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various ramp closures on State Route (SR-99) for maintenance
and construction work.
Closures are as follows:
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99
to SR-59/Martin Luther King Jr. Way
for landscape work on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, from
7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from SR-59/Martin Luther
King Jr. Way to southbound SR-99
for landscape work on Thursday, July 9, 2020, from
7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone. |

CALTRANS
TO BEGIN STRIPING PROJECT ON STATE ROUTE 140
IN MERCED COUNTY
STOCKTON
– Caltrans is beginning a pavement delineation
project that will install new
six-inch wide lane striping and other marker improvements
on State Route 140 (SR-140)
at various locations throughout Merced County.
New striping improvements will be made on SR-140 at
the following locations;
• From SR-33/Sullivan Road to 2nd Street in
the City of Gustine
• From SR-99 to Kibby Road just east of the
City of Merced
• From Plainsburg Road to Watt Street in the
City of Planada
Work is scheduled to occur during both day and night-time
hours and will include oneway
traffic control lane closures. Flaggers will assist
motorists during lane closures and
Caltrans also will have changeable message signs in
this region advertising the project
and alerting motorists of the potential delays.
Motorists can expect 15-minute delays and are encouraged
to seek alternate routes.
This $611,000 project has been awarded to Pave-Tech
Inc., of Vista, CA. Work is
scheduled to begin the week of July 13-17, 2020, with
completion expected in
September 2020.
Schedules are subject to change due to traffic incidents,
weather, availability of
equipment and/or materials and construction related
issues.
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July
2 , 2020
Merced
County on Monitoring List with State-Mandated Closures
for Businesses
MERCED
COUNTY, CA – The California Department of Public
Health (CDPH) has flagged 19 counties, including Merced
County (County) based on increased transmission of
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As of July 1,
the County is now on the third day of not having met
state requirements listed in the attestation criteria
allowing the County to progress from Stage 2 to 2B.
The table below includes the metrics the state has
identified as not having been met.
“The
State has made it very clear that should the cases
continue to increase without change over the next
21-day period, they may have to intervene or require
that the County return to sheltering in place. We
have worked so hard for the past several months in
keeping numbers low. This is clearly not the case
and while the Department does its part, it will be
depending on residents in the community to do theirs,”
said Dr. Rebecca Nanyonjo-Kemp, Merced County’s
Public Health Director.
Due to the increased levels of transmission and hospitalizations,
local health officials are working closely with CDPH
and State officials to establish and implement steps
to mitigate spread. At the direction of the Governor,
Merced County Health Officials are mandating the closure
of higher risk business
sectors by Friday, July 3, 2020. All bars, brew pubs
and breweries must cease operations (indoor and outdoor).
In addition, the following business sectors must close
all indoor operations:
• Restaurants (socially-distanced outdoor dining
still permissible)
• Wineries and Tasting Rooms
• Family Entertainment Centers (e.g., bowling,
movie theaters, etc.)
• Zoos and Museums
• Cardrooms
The above sectors will remain impacted for a minimum
of 21 days, or until the County data monitored by
CDPH improves. The ability of Merced County to reopen
these sectors and prevent closure of other sectors
is dependent on collective community action to reduce
spread.
|

Further, to prevent further holiday-related spikes
in COVID-19 cases, Merced County’s regional
parks will be closed to the public over the Fourth
of July holiday weekend (Friday-Sunday). This includes
Lake Yosemite, Hagaman Park, and Henderson Park. These
parks will reopen Monday, but physical distancing
must be adhered to and group gatherings of greater
than 10 people will continue to be prohibited.
We cannot emphasize enough that if the community fails
to take the threat of COVID-19 seriously, the State
will not allow these sectors to reopen, and may close
additional sectors. As a reminder, it is a statewide
mandate to wear a cloth face covering inside of, or
in line to enter any indoor public space, or when
unable to maintain six feet of social distance outside.
Merced County Health Officials strongly recommends
all residents (including business sectors) to practice
the following safety measures to reduce the spread
of COVID-19:
* Wear a cloth face covering or face shield;
* Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
such as door handles and elevator buttons;
* Practice social distancing;
* Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds;
* When handwashing is not possible, use hand sanitizer
with 60% alcohol base; and
* If you experience any COVID-19 symptoms (available
here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html)
stay home and self-monitor.
For more information on COVID-19, please visit the
Department’s resource website at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus.
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July
1 , 2020
County
Health Officials Confirms Two COVID-19 Outbreaks
MERCED
COUNTY, CA – The Merced County Department of
Public Health (Department) has confirmed two outbreaks
of COVID-19 in Merced County. The first outbreak is
reported at New Bethany Residential Care located in
Los Banos, CA, with one resident and two employees
testing positive for the virus. State health officials
define a workplace outbreak as three or more laboratory
confirmed cases, or one positive case in a resident
living within a skilled nursing facility setting.
As these facilities operate 24 hours and are unable
to close, safety measures have been implemented to
prevent further transmission. The second outbreak
is reported at Dutch Bros Coffee located in Merced,
CA, with four employees testing positive for the virus.
“Due to the higher risk of severe illness among
the vulnerable populations that our skilled nursing
facilities serve, it is important that we continue
to reduce the risk of exposure to both health care
staff and the residents of our local nursing facilities.
As a reminder, we should all continue to practice
the safety measures that have been identified as effective
actions against the spread of COVID-19 to prevent
outbreaks in the community,” stated the Department’s
Health Officer, Dr. Salvador Sandoval.
As the County reopens, outbreaks in facilities such
as skilled nursing facilities and the service industry
will be more common. The Department will no longer
send out a press release for every outbreak, but will
post affected facilities on the Departments’s
coronavirus website.
|

To
reduce the spread of COVID-19, everyone should continue
to:
* Wear a cloth face covering when in public
* Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
* Practice social distancing
* Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.
* When handwashing is not possible, use hand sanitizer
with 60% alcohol base
For information pertaining to COVID-19, please visit
the Department’s resource website at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus. |
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June
25 , 2020
YARTS
SUMMER SERVICE STARTS MONDAY
MERCED
– The summer schedule for YARTS service to Yosemite
National Park begins on Monday, June 22, 2020. This
includes the routes from Fresno on Highway 41, from
Sonora on Highway 120, and from Mammoth Lakes on Highways
395/120 in addition to the Highway 140 route from
Merced. Although the Highway 140 service is year-round,
service had temporarily terminated in El Portal during
the closure of Yosemite due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reservations can be made for YARTS tickets on all
four routes and can be booked on the YARTS website
at: www.yarts.com starting on Monday. There are no
additional charges to get into Yosemite beyond the
YARTS fare and passengers do not have to have a day-use
permit issued by the National Park Service to ride.
There are some notable changes to the service this
year that have been made in response to the outbreak
of COVID-19. In addition to increased sanitation measures,
all passengers will be required to wear face masks
when riding YARTS and offered access to hand sanitizer
while on board. In order to promote social distancing,
capacity on all buses will be reduced to a maximum
of 30 passengers. With most of the 30 seats available
to those with reservations, there will be very limited
space to accommodate walk-on passengers. Therefore,
reservations are highly encouraged.
“We are excited to be offering service into
Yosemite once again,” said Transit Manager Christine
Chavez. “Although things will be a little different
on YARTS this year, the great rates and quality experience
have not changed.”
For more information about YARTS schedules, routes,
COVID-19 safety measures, or to reserve tickets, please
visit www.yarts.com or call (877) 989-2787.
|


YARTS
is a California Joint Powers Authority comprised of
Merced, Mariposa and Mono Counties in partnership
with Caltrans, Federal Highway Administration, National
Park Service and the United States Forest Service.
The Merced County Association of Governments provides
administrative services and operational support for
YARTS. |
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June
25 , 2020
Travis
Credit Union Names Dena Rothmann Senior Vice President,
Member Experience Chief Retail Officer
VACAVILLE,
CA - Barry Nelson, President and CEO of Travis Credit
Union, announced the appointment of Dena Rothmann
as the new SVP/Member Experience Chief Retail Officer.
Dena joined Travis Credit Union in 2019 as the vice
president of sales and service and was promoted
to senior vice president, member experience and
chief retail officer in May 2020.
Dena
will be responsible for defining the strategic priorities
and division initiatives to implement innovative
retail technology and member experience improvements
that align with Travis Credit Union’s mission,
vision and strategic initiatives. Additionally,
she will create, communicate, execute and sustain
high performing teams within the credit union retail
branch network to ensure “best practices”
to accomplish the mission and strategic plan while
meeting the financial needs of our members.
“This
realignment of responsibilities will add more depth
to the organization,” stated Nelson. “Dena’s
significant experience and collaborative leadership
skills will play a key role in expanding Travis
Credit Union’s member support and retail initiatives
to offer even greater value and convenience to our
members moving forward.”
As
a former banker with more than 32 years of experience
in financial services Dena is focused on achieving
organization goals by influencing and developing
an effective and disciplined retail leadership team
while monitoring competitive environment activities.
¾more¾
¾Travis
Credit Union Names Dena Rothmann Senior Vice President/Continued¾
She
is a powerful ally in Travis’ Awesome Cause
to promote financial education, financial literacy
and financial advocacy and looks forward to deepening
her community involvement in the footprint of Travis
Credit Union as well.
Dena
is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School
Executive Management Program.
Headquartered
in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is
a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution
serving those who live or work in Solano, Yolo,
Sacramento, Placer, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Napa,
Contra Costa, Alameda, Sonoma, Colusa and Merced
Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union is the
eleventh largest credit union in California with
more than 214,000 members and more than $3.3 billion
in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions
in Solano, Contra Costa, Yolo and Merced Counties,
Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its
faithful commitment to its members, its solid, secure
history, and its long-standing track record of dedicated
service.
|

Dena Rothmann
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Travis
Credit Union Awards 20 Scholarships
to College-Bound Seniors
VACAVILLE,
CA (June 22 , 2020) — Travis Credit Union recently
awarded 20 local high school students the Mary Keith
Duff Memorial Scholarship. TCU offers the annual scholarships
to assist its young members with the increasing cost
of higher education and to reinforce its commitment
to the financial success of our country’s future
leaders.
All of the winning students received a ‘Gala
in a Box,’ which included the scholarship award
announcement of $2,000 to help with college expenses,
as well as a $200 gift card that could be used towards
a family dinner celebration. TCU board members as
well as executive leadership members coordinated live
Zoom calls with the families to join with them virtually
in opening the ‘special delivery’ box
and celebrating their achievement.
“We’re so appreciative of the recognition
of all the hard work these kids put in,” says
Rikki Rivera, mother of scholarship winner, Kennedy
Rivera. “My husband and I were both recently
furloughed due to the pandemic – so financially
this scholarship has helped us out more than we anticipated
when she first applied. This is very helpful to our
family.”
The TCU Board of Directors established the scholarship
program in 2004 and named it the Mary Keith Duff Memorial
Scholarship Fund in honor of a long-time board member.
To date, TCU has contributed $437,000 to the program
and will continue to award $40,000 annually.
“As a credit union, we are founded on the philosophy
of ‘people helping people,’ and we stand
behind the principles that promote human development
and social responsibility,” says Patricia Moreno,
chairman of the board for TCU. “Offering these
scholarships is just one way we are assisting young
members.”
To apply for the scholarship, college-bound high school
seniors, who are TCU members in good standing, needed
a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) as well as
a 500 word personal statement essay, expressing their
plans for the future.
“These student’s achievements in school
and community signify that they have the dreams and
determination to make a difference in the lives of
others,” added Barry Nelson, president and CEO
of Travis Credit Union. “We are proud to honor
them and be part of their plans for the future.”
A video featuring the honored students can be found
here.
Headquartered in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit
Union is a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution
serving those who live, work, worship, or attend school
in in Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Merced Napa,
Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus,
and Yolo Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union
is the 13th largest credit union in California with
more than 214,000 members and more than $3.3 billion
in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions
in Solano, Contra Costa, Napa, Yolo and Merced Counties,
Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful
commitment to its members and the community; its solid,
secure history; and its long-standing track record
of dedicated service.
|
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June
25 , 2020
Testing
Location Opens in Los Banos
MERCED
COUNTY, CA – the Merced County Department of
Public Health and Golden Valley Health Centers (GVHC)
are partnering to set up a coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) test site in Los Banos. The additional
site will be offered on the westside of the County
to ensure testing is available to all county residents.
Testing will be available by appointment starting
on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, with hours of operations
between 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The new testing site
is located at the Community Center, 645 7th Street,
Los Banos. To schedule an appointment, please call
1-866-682-4842. For more information, please visit
GVHC’s website at www.gvhc.org.
“We believe that everyone deserves quality health
care, regardless of where you live, how much you earn,
and whether you have medical coverage. By making COVID-19
testing more widely available, we can quickly address
any positive cases and slow down the spread everywhere,
especially in our higher-risk groups. This is a situation
where we feel we could help make a difference for
our communities,” said Tony Weber, President
and CEO of Golden Valley Health Centers. “More
testing means more people can get the care they need
if any of those tests come back positive.”
If you are experiencing any symptoms associated with
COVID-19 or suspect you’ve been exposed to an
individual who tested positive for COVID-19, please
get tested. Test sites are available to Merced County
residents at most medical provider locations, as well
as the following sites:

|
Testing
Site
Location
Registration Golden Valley Health Centers 645 7th
St, Los Banos 1-866-682-4842 www.gvhc.org
Golden Valley Health Centers
857 W. Childs Ave., Merced
1-866-682-4842
www.gvhc.org State Site 900 Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr, Merced 1-888-634-1123 or online at www.lhi.care/covidtesting.
CVS – Merced
1970 Yosemite Pkwy, Merced
https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing?WT.ac=cvs-storelocator-searchpilot-header-covid-7206
CVS – Atwater 1651 Bellevue Rd, Atwater https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing?WT.ac=cvs-storelocator-searchpilot-header-covid-7206
“Our Department wants to ensure all Merced County
residents have access to testing within the County.
Testing for those individuals with symptoms, which
are often mild, is extremely important to prevent
the further transmission in our community. Even those
individuals without symptoms should be tested, if
a potential exposure has occurred. We must all continue
to follow the recommend safety measures to work towards
a healthier tomorrow,” says Dr. Salvador Sandoval,
Public Health Officer.
As a general reminder, EVERYONE SHOULD:
*Wear a cloth face covering while out in public
* Social distance, making sure to maintain at least
6 feet between you and others
* Frequently wash your hands with soap and water
For information on COVID-19, visit the Department’s
website at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus. |
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June
25 , 2020
MCOE
Releases Guidelines for Opening Schools in the 2020-21
School Year
The Merced County Office of Education, in collaboration
with the 20 local school districts and the Merced
County Department of Public Health, is releasing
a document of guiding principles and planning considerations
schools and districts should consider when making
plans for opening the 2020-2021 school year.
The document – “Academic Planning Guide:
A framework to address the challenges of COVID-19”
– has information on what families can expect
when schools reopen, athletic guidelines, a distance
learning framework, information on quarantine and
contact tracing, along with information for parents
about social emotional wellness and mental health.
The document can be viewed at mcoe.org/schoolguidance.
This document is based on recommended health and
safety guidance from Merced County Department of
Public Health.
“We have worked closely with school district
superintendents and the Merced County Department
of Public Health to create this guidance document,”
said Dr. Steve Tietjen, Merced County Superintendent
of Schools. “Making sure our students and
staff are safe is our top priority and these guidelines
lay out parameters where schools can operate in
safe ways and our students can learn.”
Schools will have hand washing and sanitizing stations
in classrooms and across campuses, and time will
be scheduled regularly for hand washing. Parents
are urged to keep students home who have flu-like
symptoms.
|

“It’s
important that health and safety protocols are followed
to keep students, families and school staff safe and
healthy,” said Merced County Health Officer
Dr. Salvador Sandoval. “The Merced County Department
of Public Health will work closely with schools to
monitor students or staff who may have symptoms or
test positive for COVID-19.”
To provide for social distancing, activities that
require students to congregate will not be permitted
or will need to be greatly limited.
“It is important to note that each school community
is unique and has its own needs, so by providing guidance
documents, schools can come up with plans that best
fit those needs,” Tietjen said. Each school
district is responsible for creating its own reopening
plan.
As the COVID-19 situation evolves, and as additional
guidance from the State and Merced County Department
Public Health is issued during the summer, this guidance
document and school districts will adjust as needed.
The document also includes guidance for special education,
preschool and after school programs.
|
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June
19, 2020
California
Mandates Use of Face Coverings in Public
MERCED
COUNTY, CA – As the number of COVID-19 cases
continues to rapidly increase throughout the state,
Governor Gavin Newsom announced a statewide mandate
for face coverings for all individuals while in public.
The mandate has been issued to limit the spread in
COVID-19 associated the increasing number of residents
leaving their homes for work and other needs while
out in the community. Several public health officials
have been met with significant opposition in implementing
face covering mandates locally. Adoption of a statewide
requirement is a significant step in helping control
the spread of COVID-19.
Per the state requirement, face coverings will now
be required to be worn for the following:
• Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor
public space
• When obtaining healthcare services
• Waiting for or riding on public transportation
or while in any private or ride-sharing vehicle including
operators of the transportation
• When at the workplace or performing work off-site
• While outdoors in public spaces when physical
distancing is not feasible
“The Public Health Department fully supports
and encourages all of our residents to follow the
State’s new guidance mandating face coverings
to be worn while out in public. This
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past
week has produced record case counts for several days
on end. Community spread by those who are asymptomatic
will continue to rise, if we do not do our part. I’ll
continue to say that you should protect yourselves,
your loved ones, and your neighbors by wearing a cloth
face covering,” says Dr. Sandoval, Public Health
Officer. The full statewide requirement can be found
attached at the end of this article.
In alignment with the #StaySafeStayOpen campaign,
EVERYONE SHOULD:
* Wear a cloth face covering while out in public
* Practice social distancing, making sure to maintain
at least 6 feet between you and others
* Frequently wash your hands with soap and water
Merced County residents, who would like to be tested
for COVID-19, may register for an appointment by calling
1-888-634-1123 or online at www.lhi.care/covidtesting.
For more information on COVID-19, visit the Department’s
website at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus. |
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June
19, 2020
City
creates ‘gift card’ program for residents,
merchants
Merced
households will soon be receiving a letter with a
code that can be redeemed for $25 worth of merchandise
at participating local businesses after the City Council
approved the program Monday night.
The $500,000 gift card program will benefit both the
local businesses that have been hard-hit by the COVID-19
pandemic and City residents who have been hurt by
the economic fallout.
“These are tough times for our residents and
our business community,” said Mayor Mike Murphy.
“Anything that we can do to help them out is
going to benefit the City in the long-term. This is
part of a package of financial assistance that the
City put together to help people out during this crisis.”
The City’s COVID-19 Recovery Program also includes
assistance to renters, small businesses, the Food
Bank, the Hotel Motel Association and a one-time utility
bill rebate for all customers for a total of $2.37
million in aid.
The Central Valley Opportunity Fund provided $250,000
for the program, and the City matched it with another
$250,000. There is a $37,000 cost to administer the
program.
Sam Geil of the Central Valley Opportunity Fund said,
“We like that this is a program assisting the
people of Merced who have been hurt economically during
the pandemic, but this also provides an economic boost
to the local businesses that are the bedrock of the
local economy.”
The City turned to Giftbar, LLC , as a partner in
the gift card program. Giftbar, which reduced its
fees while working with the City, operates a similar
gift card program with the City of Clovis.
Alex Minicucci, CEO of Giftbar said, “We are
thrilled to work with the City of Merced and bring
this innovative new local economic stimulus program
to its residents and businesses. We have a passion
for supporting small business owners, and this is
a great way to ensure local dollars get spent at local
merchants.”
The new program will be promoted heavily by the city,
including a letter sent to each household in Merced
describing how to receive their complimentary gift
card. They will go online to a unique website created
by Giftbar, find the local merchant offering the product
or service they want, register for their promotional
gift card, and instantly receive a text with $25 voucher
they can take to the merchant.
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Giftbar says that its goal is to have the funds returned
to merchants within 48 hours after redemption, about
the same time as a credit card pays them. Local small
businesses will choose to opt-in and will be featured
on a unique website that will stay active for at least
2 years.
Residents should be receiving information about the
program within the next 90 days.
Giftbar.com, owned and managed by RELENTLESS Management
Group out of San Luis Obispo, Ca., is the country’s
largest online marketplace for small business gift
cards. With almost 15,000 salons, spas and boutique
retail locations, consumers can find and send a personalized
gift card in minutes, ensuring a memorable experience
for everyone.
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June
19, 2020
State
Budget Makes the Valley’s Dream of a UC Medical
School a Reality
(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Adam C. Gray (D-Merced)
released the following statement in response to the
passage of the 2020 State Budget:
“Earlier this year, I said that a UC medical
school in the Valley should be the legacy of this
pandemic, not one of its victims. Today, that legacy
became a reality. The 2020 State Budget provides $15
million per year every year to support a medical school
at UCSF-Fresno and UC Merced. This represents the
culmination of decades of tireless work and advocacy
that will radically change the health care landscape
in the San Joaquin Valley.
“Just as UC Merced has redefined who can go
to college by enrolling more first-generation college
students than any other campus in the UC system, this
medical school will redefine who can be a doctor.
It makes medical school a more realistic option for
the thousands of Valley students who are qualified
to become doctors but who cannot afford to move to
places like San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Orange
County.
“We know the best way to address the Valley’s
shortage of medical providers is to recruit local
students, train them close to home, and match them
with local residencies. If we check
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all
three of those boxes, they are nearly guaranteed to
stay and practice medicine in the Valley. That dream
scenario is no longer just a good idea. It is now
something that will actually happen.
“When
I requested that $1 million be included in the 2015
State Budget to study how to establish a UC medical
school in the Valley, I could not have predicted we
would be as far along as we are today. By leveraging
the incredible resources already available at UCSF-Fresno
and UC Merced, we found a path to a medical school
in years instead of decades and for millions instead
of billions.
“The incredibly talented faculty working at
UCSF-Fresno are already graduating hundreds of medical
residents every year. Very soon, they and their UC
Merced counterparts will begin training our first
wave of medical students who will make the promise
of health care for all a reality.”
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June 19, 2020
Livingston,
CA. June 15, 2020 - Our community and the world
have been confronted with an unprecedented virus
that has caused fear, doubt, concerns and apprehensions.
As a committee, we struggled with the decision to
even pursue a celebration for this year with the
uncertainty this pandemic has brought. Initially
back in February we were still planning on holding
the normal yearly “Fair Type Festival”
with a giant carnival, food/merchandise vendors,
and concerts. With the introduction of COVID-19
in March, we scaled back the celebration to eventually
just include a shortened firework show with one
of the below options. We felt that the community
would need a sense of normality in extremely abnormal
times and we could offer that in a fireworks show
that not only celebrated our country, but held the
tradition this community has come to know and love
over the years. We had consulted with the Livingston
City Manager’s office and Livingston PD as
to what they thought of our two options. City officials
were ok with either option. Unfortunately, due to
a major sponsor pulling out and the extremely short
amount of time left to raise funds, it is with extremely
heavy hearts that we say that we must cancel this
year’s Livingston 4th of July Fireworks Show.
There may still be a small possibility of doing
one of the options below but about $15K would need
to be raised by the end of this week via sponsors
and donations to cover the show, security and police.
If enough is not raised, the money will be put towards
next year’s show.
Below is survey that was placed on social:
“Hello Livingston and surrounding communities,
we are debating on having a Fireworks Show this
year, of course we would need to RAISE Enough Money
to pay for the show (at least $15k). There would
be no Festival, just a smaller Fireworks Show. This
would be dependent on approval from the City of
Livingston and Merced County Health Department.
Option 1: Drive-in Style Show
You would be able to drive in to venue and watch
fireworks show from inside your car or back of your
pick-up truck.
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Option
2: Ariel Fireworks Show
Fireworks would be shot up higher than normal from
an undisclosed location so that most people can enjoy
from their own homes with their families.
Option 3: No Show!
Please give us your feedback and would you be willing
to donate for the show!”
The Livingston 4th of July Committee is and always
has been made up individuals dedicated to serving
this community. To our donors, sponsors and citizens
of this community, we will be back in 2021! From the
bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your support
Donations can be made via the GoFundMe link https://www.gofundme.com/f/livingston-4th-of-july-fireworks-show,
or mailed or dropped off at Livingston City Hall 1416
C Street Livingston, CA 95334. Make checks payable
to Livingston 4th of July Committee.
Julio Valadez, Chairman Livingston 4th of July Committee
Contact: 209-277-1402, livingston4thofjulyca@gmail.com
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June
13, 2020
Budget,
gift cards on Council agenda
The City Council will hold a public hearing on the
2020-21 budget, and hear a report on the City gift
card program at its Monday night meeting.
The proposed $265.3 million budget is an increase
of $10.8 million from last year to reflect the expansion
of housing developments and the need to renovate and
expand water and sewer services. The general fund
budget is $43.9 million, a slight increase related
to the $2 million Redevelopment Agency settlement
payment that is the second of five payments that changes
annually. The budget does include additional funding
for the City Summer Playground Program and the Boys
and Girls Club Summer Program.
The budget does not include any layoffs, but will
delete one position and keep five other positions
vacant. In addition, Department expenses were held
to last year’s levels, and $1.1 million in one-time
revenues were used to balance the general fund budget.
Also on the agenda are items that would:
• Approve spending $537,000 to establish a gift
card program that would benefit local businesses and
residents. The program would give a household a $25
card to spend at a Merced business, with $250,000
coming from the Central Valley Opportunity Fund.
• Present a report to Council on the City’s
efforts to combat illegal fireworks during the upcoming
celebration.
The Council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m.
regarding labor negotiations and anticipated litigation.
The regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday,
June 15, in the Council Chambers on the second floor
of the Merced Civic Center (City Hall), 678 W. 18th
St.
It will be broadcast on Facebook Live at City of Merced,
on the City’s website, www.cityofmerced.org,
and Comcast Public Access Channel 96. A link to the
live meeting is on the City’s website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
In-person
Council Meetings have strict social distancing practices
in place and the use of
face coverings is encouraged. Seating in the Council
Chamber will be limited and an overflow
room will be available in the Sam Pipes Room with
the same social distancing practices in place.
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• Members of the audience who wish to address
the City Council are requested to complete a speaker
card available at the podium on the right-hand side
of the Council Chamber. Please submit the completed
card to the City Clerk before the item is called,
preferably before the meeting begins.
• For at-risk individuals or those not wanting
to attend an in-person meeting during the current
COVID-19 pandemic, please submit your public comment
to the City Council electronically no later than 1
p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments received
before the deadline will be provided to the City Council
prior to the meeting and will be part of the record..
Material may be emailed to cityclerk@cityofmerced.org
and should be limited to 300 words or less. Please
specify which portion of the agenda you are commenting
on, for example: Closed Session, Item Number or Oral
Communications. Your comments will be provided to
the City Council prior to the meeting and will be
part of the record. Any correspondence received after
1 p.m. will be distributed to the City Council and
retained for the official record.
• You may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example:,
Public Hearing item number, Consent item number, or
Oral Communications. Your comments will be played
during the meeting to the City Council at the appropriate
time.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650. Assisted hearing devices are available
for meetings held in the Council
Chamber.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day.
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June
13, 2020
Merced
County Revises Stay-at-Home Order into the Stay Safe
Order
MERCED
COUNTY, CA – Merced County Health Officials
have issued a revised Health Officer Order which is
effective immediately. This order is based on state
guidance for further reopening of business sectors
and will allow additional activities to reopen in
Merced County following industry-specific guidelines
released under the Statewide Resilience Roadmap to
reopen. Further information on specific guidance can
be found at: www.reopenmercedcounty.com/guidelines/
The revised order does the following:
? Recommends all members of the public wear face coverings
where social distancing is difficult (i.e., during
worship, while conducting business, when surrounded
by groups of people, etc.) as recommended by the CDC.
* Allows for the reopening of the following sectors,
with appropriate safety modifications:
* Day camps and youth activities
* Campgrounds, RV parks, and outdoor recreation (including
public pools)
* Hotels for tourism (including public pools)
* Casinos, cardrooms, and racetracks (without spectators)
* Film, TV, and music production
* Professional sports without spectators
* Gyms and fitness centers (including public pools)
* Family entertainment centers including bowling,
mini-golf, batting cages, and movie theaters
* Bars and wineries
* Zoos and museums
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On
6/19/2020, the reopening of the following additional
sectors will be permitted guidance issued from the
state: aestheticians, skin care, and cosmetology services;
electrology, waxing, and threading; nail salons; tattoo
parlors and piercing shops; and massage therapy.
Private gatherings of over 10 people and mass gatherings
remain prohibited. “The Department is committed
to the community’s well-being in all aspects
of health, including economically. Everyone plays
a role in this recovery process and we can do our
part by adhering to the preventative safety measures.
Our collective action will help keep one another safe
and keep Merced County open,” says Dr. Sandoval,
County Health Officer.
As a general reminder, EVERYONE SHOULD:
* Wear a cloth face covering while out and about in
the community;
* Practice social distancing, making sure to maintain
at least 6 feet between you and others;
* Limit your social gatherings. The fewer the people,
the lower the likelihood of spread and last, but certainly
not least;
* Wash your hands with soap and water often.
If you are a Merced County resident who would like
to be tested for COVID-19, please register for an
appointment by calling 1-888-634-1123 or online at
www.lhi.care/covidtesting.
For more information on COVID-19 and the Stay Safe
Order, please visit the Department’s resource
website at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus or call
the Department’s information line at (209) 381-1180
(English, Spanish, Hmong).
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June
13, 2020
Assemblyman
Adam Gray schedules blood drive
MERCED
– With the need for blood urgent in communities
across America, Assemblyman Adam C. Gray, D-Merced,
will host a Merced Community Blood Drive on June 16
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Italo-American Lodge
at 1351 West 18th Street in Merced.
It
is the second blood drive this year that the Assemblymember
has hosted.
Blood
donations will be taken by appointment only and all
social-distancing rules will be followed. Every staff
member and potential donor will be screened for temperature
and general health before entering the donation area.
All donation stations are thoroughly sanitized between
donations, according to Red Cross officials.
At
the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak, blood donations
fell precipitously because the locations where many
drives were conducted – schools, churches, public
libraries, etc. -- were closed. Officials with the
American Red Cross reported at the time that they
had 86,000 fewer units than normal.
Because
so many Americans – like those in Merced --
responded, a crisis was averted. But now the blood
supply has once again dwindled just as summer –
which often sees a surge in demand – is beginning.
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While
treatment of COVID-19 seldom requires blood transfusions,
many routine hospital procedures do. “The need
for blood is constant,” said Dr. Pampee Young,
the chief medical officer of the American Red Cross.
This ongoing demand has prompted Assemblyman Gray
to act once again.
To
make an appointment, call 800 733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass
and fill out an easy form. If you already have an
account, you can visit www.redcrossblood.org/account-login.html
to make arrangements. You can get help at customercare@redcross.org
or by calling 866 236-3276.
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June
13, 2020
Join
Travis Credit Union Foundation’s COVID-19
Relief Initiative!
Vacaville, CA, June 4, 2020 – The Travis Credit
Union Foundation is giving non-profit organizations
in our communities an opportunity to raise funds
for their COVID-19 response!
Non-profit organizations will be listed on the Travis
Credit Union Foundation’s Community Funding
page until September 30, 2020. Each organization
will have an opportunity to raise up to $20,000
through the COVID-19 Relief Initiative and receive
matching funds of an equal amount from Travis Credit
Union.
Travis Credit Union is making $700,000 available
in matching funds for each of its core counties:
Contra Costa, Merced, Napa, Solano and Yolo. The
remaining matching funds will be made available
to healthcare organizations in the communities.
The Travis Credit Union Foundation is dedicated
to lifting communities through financial wellness.
Financial wellness looks different today than it
did earlier this year. While business shutdowns,
self-quarantines and “shelter in home”
orders have kept people safe from the virus, they
have also limited the capacity of families to access
income, food and much needed resources. Community
organizations are continuing to provide more services
with less resources. To meet this demand for support
in our communities, the Travis Credit Union Foundation
is raising funds for local charities.
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“We
appreciate Travis Credit Union’s generous commitment
to matching $4 million in donations for local COVID-19
relief efforts,” said Damian Alarcon, president,
Travis Credit Union Foundation. “Our COVID-19
Relief Initiative through community funding is a wonderful
opportunity for Travis Credit Union to double the
impact of individual donors. This initiative helps
us to accomplish even more together.”
Individuals and charities are welcome to learn more
about joining our COVID-19 Relief Initiative by visiting
TCUfund.org.
About the Travis Credit Union Foundation
The Travis Credit Union Foundation supports financial
education, literacy and wellness initiatives and is
the philanthropic arm of the Travis Credit Union.
The Foundation’s mission is to build financially
empowered communities and its vision is to create
philanthropic solutions for building sustainable financial
wellness in communities for generations to come. 100
percent of funds raised go back to the community.
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June
13, 2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
RAMP CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 99 - FROM CHILDS AVENUE TO
STATE ROUTE 59/MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAY
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform
various ramp closures on State Route (SR-99) for maintenance
and construction work.
Closures are as follows:
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99
to Childs Avenue for landscape work
on Monday, June 15, 2020, from 7:30 a.m. until 2:30
p.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99
to SR-59/Martin Luther King Jr. Way
for landscape work beginning Tuesday, June 16, through
Thursday, June 18, 2020,
from 7:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.
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TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
HIGHWAY CLOSURE
STATE ROUTE 59/V STREET BETWEEN 15TH AND 16TH STREET
IN MERCED
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform a
full closure of State Route 59/V Street between 15th
Street and 16th Street in Merced as
Union Pacific Railroad makes repairs and improvements
to the railroad crossing.
Closure details are as follows:
• Full closure of SR-59/V Street between 15th
Street and 16th Street beginning
Thursday, June 18 at 7:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. on
Friday, June 19, 2020.
DETOUR INFORMATION:
• Motorists are advised to exit State Route
99 at R Street and use R Street as the
detour route
Motorists should expect 5-minute delays. Alternate
routes should be taken whenever
possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or
materials and construction related
issues.
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May
23, 2020
City
offices closed for Memorial Day holiday
Offices
for the City of Merced will be closed Monday, May
25, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.
There will be no trash collection on Monday. All refuse
collection will be delayed one day during the week.
During the coronavirus pandemic, people are reminded
they should still observe social distancing guidelines,
even on holiday weekends.
City parks are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., but users
are cautioned against holding large gatherings. Park
restrooms are closed, as are other park facilities
including playgrounds and picnic shelters, per the
State and County orders.
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May
23, 2020
California
High-Speed Rail Extends Public Review Period and Changes
Public Hearing Format for the San Jose to Merced Project
Section
SAN
JOSE, Calif. – Today the California High-Speed
Rail Authority (Authority) announced the public review
period for the San Jose to Merced Draft Environmental
Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS)
has been extended. The public review period previously
scheduled to end on June 8, 2020 has been extended
by 15 days to Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The Authority
also announced that it will transition from an in-person
public hearing on May 27, 2020 to a “virtual”
public hearing format.
In
response to agency and stakeholder requests in consideration
of limitations caused by the outbreak of COVID-19,
the Authority has elected to extend the public review
period for the Draft EIR/EIS to provide additional
time for review and comments.
The
public hearing for the San Jose to Merced Project
Section Draft EIR/EIS will be held via teleconference
and online video conference, rather than in-person
meeting. The virtual public hearing will include a
webcast and moderated call-in number for the public
to submit oral comments. The date and time of the
public hearing remain the same. Interpretation will
be available in Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese.
This is the only opportunity to provide oral comment
on the Draft EIR/EIS.
San
Jose to Merced Draft EIR/EIS Virtual Public Hearing
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
To
view a live stream of the public hearing, please visit
http://videossc.com/HSR/
The
public can provide comments by joining the webinar
at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82252284338?pwd=TWZHSnBhMlRWdGhXYnVwV05ReUgwUT09
or by phone by dialing (669) 900-9128 and entering
the webinar ID: 822 5228 4338.
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The
public can continue to submit comments on the San
Jose to Merced Draft EIR/EIS the following ways:
• Via web comment form on the Authority’s
website: www.hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental/eis_eir/draft_san_jose_merced_comment.aspx
• Via email to San.Jose_Merced@hsr.ca.gov with
the subject line “Draft EIR/EIS Comment”
• Via conventional mail at the address below:
Attn: San Jose to Merced: Draft EIR/EIS
California High-Speed Rail Authority
100 Paseo de San Antonio, Suite 300
San Jose, CA 95113
After
the comment period closes on June 23, 2020 and the
comments received have been evaluated, staff will
prepare and issue the Final EIR/EIS document and present
it to the Board to consider certification and project
approval under the California Environmental Quality
Act and National Environmental Policy Act.
The
environmental review, consultation, and other actions
required by applicable Federal environmental laws
for this project are being or have been carried out
by the State of California pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327
and a Memorandum of Understanding dated July 23, 2019,
and executed by the Federal Railroad Administration
and the State of California.
To
view the contents of the Draft EIR/EIS, please visit:
www.hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental/eis_eir/draft_san_jose_merced.aspx
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May
22, 2020
Only
a Few Weekends Left to Get Your Fair Food Fix at the
Merced County Fair’s “Fair Food Fridays!”
Get Your Fair Food Fix and Support Valley Food Vendors
in May and June
MERCED, CALIFORNIA – May 21, 2020: The Merced
County Fair and Valley fair food vendors have gained
much success with the new “Fair Food Fridays”
event at the Merced County Fairgrounds! The event
series launched on Friday, May 1, drawing lines of
cars all waiting to get their fair food favorites
like corn dogs, kettle corn, Icees and cotton candy
at special pandemic pricing. Although this event draws
a long line of cars, last week’s event got people
through in less than 30 minutes!
Here’s a list what’s on the menu:
$5 Corn Dogs
$5 ICEE in souvenir cup with straw - 32 oz.
$3 Cotton Candy
$6 Small Kettle Corn
$10 Large Kettle Corn
$7 Caramel Kettle Corn
$5 French Bread Pepperoni Pizza
$8 Funnel cake w/powdered sugar
$9 Funnel Cake w/ fruit and whip cream
$10 Funnel Cake w/the chocolate, fruit, whip cream
$25 (6) Pack Frozen or Hot Cinnamon Roll with frosting
on the side
Despite the recent cancellation of the 2020 Merced
County Fair, CEO Teresa Burrola wanted to bring the
taste of the fair for the community to still enjoy,
while supporting the fair’s Valley food vendors
and their families who have been hit hard by COVID-19
and widespread cancellation of fairs and events throughout
the state.
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“We
wanted to bring something positive to the fairgrounds
and give the community something fun to do while still
aligning with the pandemic guidelines,” said
Burrola. “So we came up with the idea to have
a drive-thru food event! It has definitely put a smile
on people’s faces and our food vendors could
not be more thankful for the support. We look forward
to continuing our ‘Fair Food Fridays’
throughout the month and into June.”
The Merced County Fair’s “Fair Food Fridays”
is a drive-thru, to-go only food event with special
pandemic pricing. This event is cash only, with the
exception of Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls who will
accept card. For more details, call (209) 722-1506
or visit www.mercedcountyfair.com/fair-food-fridays.
WHEN:
11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
May 22 and 29; June 5, 11-13.
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May
22, 2020
Gray’s
Veteran Employment Bill Advances with Unanimous Bipartisan
Support
(Sacramento)
– A bill to increase job opportunities for veterans
and military spouses has cleared its first committee
hearing with unanimous bipartisan support.
Assembly
Bill 3045, authored by Assemblymember Adam Gray (D-Merced),
requires the California Department of Consumer Affairs
to grant professional licenses to veterans and military
spouses who hold an equivalent license in another
state. The bill would streamline the licensing process
for hundreds of state-regulated professions from appliance
and automotive repair to construction and security
officers.
“California
is home to more veterans than any other state in America,
yet we routinely lag behind in our treatment and accommodation
of veterans and their families,” said Assemblymember
Gray.
After
introducing a similar measure, Assemblymembers Jim
Patterson (R-Fresno) and James Gallagher (R-Yuba City)
agreed to unite with Assemblymember Gray and consolidate
their efforts behind AB 3045.
“Supporting
our veterans is not a Democrat or Republican issue,
it’s an American issue. Working across party
lines only increases our odds of success,” said
Assemblymember Gray, whose district includes the former
Castle Air Force Base in Atwater.
Gray’s
legislation is strongly supported by numerous veterans
organizations including the US Department of Defense,
the American Legion, AMVETS, the California State
Commanders Veterans Council, and the Military Officers
Association of America.
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“The patchwork of licensing requirements and
regulations that exist in all 50 states harms the
veterans and military families who want to work in
California,” said Assemblymember Gray. “Other
states have agreements in place to allow license portability
when veterans and their spouses move between states,
but California has not made similar accommodations.
That’s ridiculous. We need laws that help bring
veterans move into our state instead of keeping them
out.
“Especially
as we enter what is likely to be a period of economic
hardship, we must do all we can to support employment
opportunities for veterans and their spouses. Frankly,
it’s the least we can do to acknowledge their
service and sacrifice.”
AB
3045 now moves on to the Assembly Appropriations Committee
for consideration at a hearing to be scheduled later
this month.
#
# #
Assemblymember
Adam C. Gray represents the 21st Assembly District
which includes all of Merced County and portions of
Stanislaus County.
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May
22, 2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
RAMP & LANE CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 99 - FROM ATWATER BOULEVARD TO
MERCED/STANISLAUS COUNTY LINE
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform various ramp closures on State
Route (SR-99) for maintenance and construction work.
(No work will occur on Monday, May 25, 2020 due to
the Memorial Day Weekend.)
Closures are as follows:
• Full on and off-ramp closures at Atwater Boulevard
on southbound SR-99
beginning Thursday, May 28, through Saturday, May
30, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99
to East Atwater Overhead beginning Wednesday, May
28, through Saturday, May 30, 2020, from 7:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound
and southbound SR-99 at
Applegate Road beginning Thursday, May 28, through
Saturday, May 30, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00
a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from West Atwater Overhead
to northbound SR-99
beginning Wednesday, May 28, through Saturday, May
30, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and
#2 (right) lanes of northbound SR-99 from Hammatt
Avenue to the Merced/Stanislaus County line for grinding
operations beginning Tuesday, May 26, through Friday,
May 29, 2020, from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
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Motorists
should expect 10-minute delays. Alternate routes should
be taken whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather,
availability of equipment, and/or materials and construction
related issues.
For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.

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May
21, 2020
Merced County Department of Public Health Attestation
Approved to Move into Stage 2.5
MERCED COUNTY, CA – The Department of Public
Health (Department) is pleased to announce that Merced
County is now approved to move more quickly through
Stage 2 of California’s Roadmap for reopening.
The approval is posted on the California Department
of Public Health website and is available for public
review at: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/County_Variance_Attestation_Form.aspx
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“We
are pleased that several businesses will return to
a new sense of normalcy,” said Dr. Salvador
Sandoval, Merced County’s Public Health Officer.
“As we prepare to move forward and start to
slowly re-open, it is imperative that we all follow
the safety measures in place. This is a new normal
and the County cannot afford to let its guard down.
The Department is committed to the health and safety
of each individual in our County. This disease remains
prevalent in our community.” |

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May
21, 2020
Education
Leaders Work to Ensure Schools Are Safe for Students,
Staff
These are extraordinary times. I never thought as
County Superintendent I would work with our school
district superintendents on plans to close schools
and create distance learning plans across the county.
I want to thank the families, students and staff
for their cooperative spirit and flexibility to
overcome this pandemic and continue education for
our students. As in every situation, the health
and well-being of our students, families and school
communities is our top priority.
This entire experience is painful and isolating
and we know that some of our students are experiencing
both physical and emotional challenges. While all
school districts in Merced County have continued
the school breakfast and lunch program, for some
families, the food costs are mounting up.
In other homes, the isolation is beginning to create
anxiety and even depression. We know that schools
provide much more than access to knowledge and we
ache as educators to reopen our schools.
As you have likely heard, Merced County has been
approved to move into Stage 2.5, which allows for
offices, malls, dine-in restaurants, child care
facilities and schools to reopen. While this is
good news for our community and local economy, we
are cautiously optimistic and spending countless
hours planning for next school year and some of
the challenges we face.
Merced County’s Variance Attestation Form,
which was approved by the state of California late
Tuesday, is a 19-page document that outlines the
readiness to open businesses and includes safety
plans, timelines and much more.
Though schools are part of Stage 2.5, in the Variance
Attestation Form it states that schools will remain
closed for the remainder of this school year and
that a reopening task force is working to identify
new procedures and protocols under which schools
will operate to keep our students and staff safe.
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The
reality is schools will look different this fall.
To maintain social distance in our schools, we will
have to be flexible in our thinking and offer options
to parents and students. Some students will attend
school, some will continue with distance learning
and some might work in a blended model of attending
on specific days.
Some children need the support of a daily school experience.
Some children can thrive at home while they learn
at their own rate, but need content direction from
education professionals. We are working to identify
ways all students can succeed while keeping everyone
on our campuses safe.
There have been questions about graduations in June
and schools are identifying unique ways to honor graduating
classes without the traditional commencement.
We have worked closely with our partners at the Merced
County Department of Public Health to review different
graduation scenarios and we know that the gathering
of large crowds still endangers our children.
Simply put: In the current situation we cannot hold
mass gatherings.
There will be time again in the future to celebrate
the accomplishments of our children without putting
them and their families at risk of infection and causing
a spike in the virus that would cause us to delay
the reopening of our public schools.
As an educator of nearly 40 years, I understand how
difficult this is for our students and families and
we hope that we can celebrate our graduates in a more
traditional way.
Steve M. Tietjen, Ed.D.
Merced County Superintendent of Schools |
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May
19, 2020
Bulky
Item Drop-Off Site re-opening
The Bulky Item Drop-Off Site on the corner of Hwy.
59 and Yosemite Ave. will be open Thursdays and Fridays
from noon to 3 p.m.
The Bulky Item Drop-Off is for City Of Merced residential
refuse service customers only. No commercial sources,
such as apartment complexes or businesses are allowed.
Verification of service, such as a utility bill, will
need to be provided with matching ID at check-in.
This is for bulky items such as furniture and mattresses.
No general household waste, green waste or hazardous
waste will be accepted. For more information, call
209-385-6800.
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May
16, 2020
Budget on agenda for in-person Council meeting
The City Council will hold its first public in-person
meeting Monday since March to discuss the 2020-21
budget.
City Manager Steve Carrigan is proposing a $265.3
million budget, an increase of $10.8 million from
last year to reflect the expansion of housing developments
and the need to renovate and expand water and sewer
services. The general fund budget is $43.9 million,
a slight increase related to the $2 million Redevelopment
Agency settlement payment that is the second of five
payments.
The budget does not include any layoffs, but will
delete one position and keep five other positions
vacant. In addition, Department expenses were held
to last year’s levels, and $1.1 million in one-time
revenues were used to balance the general fund budget.
The meeting will be held Monday, May 18, in the Council
Chambers on the second floor of the Merced Civic Center
(City Hall), 678 W. 18th St.
It will be broadcast at 6 p.m. Monday on Facebook
Live at City of Merced, on the City’s website,
www.cityofmerced.org, and Comcast Public Access Channel
96. A link to the live meeting is on the City’s
website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item. The Council agenda
is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
In-person Council Meetings will have strict social
distancing practices in place and the use of
face coverings is encouraged. Seating in the Council
Chamber will be limited and an overflow
room will be available in the Sam Pipes Room with
the same social distancing practices in place.
• Members of the audience who wish to address
the City Council are requested to complete a speaker
card available at the podium on the right-hand side
of the Council Chamber. Please submit the completed
card to the City Clerk before the item is called,
preferably before the meeting begins.
• For at-risk individuals or those not wanting
to attend an in-person meeting during the current
COVID-19 pandemic, please submit your public comment
to the City Council electronically no later than 1
p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments received
before the deadline will be read as part of the record.
Material may be emailed to cityclerk@cityofmerced.org
and should be limited
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•
You may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 1 p.m.
on the day of the meeting to be added to the public
comment. Voicemails will be limited to a time limit
of three (3) minutes. Please specify which portion
of the agenda you are commenting on, for example:,
Public Hearing item number, Consent item number, or
Oral Communications. Your comments will be played
during the meeting to the City Council at the appropriate
time.
To view video (if available) or listen to the City
Council meeting live, go to the City’s website
www.cityofmerced.org, Facebook Live, or Comcast Public
Access Channel 96.
Accommodation for individuals with disabilities may
be arranged by contacting the City Clerk at
(209) 388-8650. Assisted hearing devices are available
for meetings held in the Council
Chamber.
At least 72 hours prior to each regular City Council
meeting, a complete agenda packet is
available for review on the City’s website at
www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk’s
Office,
678 W. 18th St. All public records relating to an
open session item that are distributed to a majority
of the Council will be available for public inspection
at the City Clerk’s Office during regular business
hours. Spanish and Hmong translation is available
at every regular meeting.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day.

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May
16, 2020
County
Partners Provide Homeless Support Amidst the Pandemic
MERCED
COUNTY, CA –In an effort to protect vulnerable
homeless individuals from COVID-19 and slow the spread
of the virus in our communities, 98 homeless individuals
have been sheltered in hotel rooms in Merced County.
This statewide initiative is known as “Project
Room Key.”
Merced County allocated $3.5 million in funding to
address housing, health care, toiletries and food
needs for unsheltered individuals who test positive
for COVID-19. In addition, services are available
to those who have symptoms and require isolation based
on medical advice, and those that are medically vulnerable
and highly susceptible to the virus. The funding,
originally allocated to address homelessness, was
made available through a partnership between the Merced
County Continuum of Care, Behavioral Health and Recovery
Services, Human Services Agency and funds provided
by state and federal COVID-19 response allocations.
No General Fund dollars are included in this effort.
In addition to the nearly 100 individuals housed,
staff with the Mass Care and Shelter Branch and community
organizations have contacted more than 300 homeless
individuals to provide immediate services, including
food and other essential items and services.
Housing and health care services are provided on a
priority basis, but food and toiletries are available
to all.
The program was coordinated locally by the Merced
County Human Services Agency, the Behavioral Health
and Recovery Services Department, Merced County Department
of Public Health, and community partners comprised
of faith-based and non-profit organizations.
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“We are taking a multi-agency approach to engaging
with unsheltered homeless individuals and identifying
those who need services and medical follow-ups due
to COVID-19,” said Yvonnia Brown, Director of
the Merced County Human Services Agency. “These
efforts will not only provide much needed assistance
to those individuals, it will also help contain the
spread of COVID-19 within the community at large.”
“We are excited about being a part of a program
that is providing basic needs for individuals with
some of the greatest need,” said Dr. Rebecca
Nanyonjo-Kemp, Director of the Merced County Department
of Public Health. “We care about the health
and safety of all residents, including the most vulnerable
in our community. This project highlights how Merced
County is advocating for the well-being of homeless
individuals by providing some of the most basic vital
needs. It is our hope that this project will be successful
in slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”
Please check the Department’s webpage at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus
for the most-up-to date information about the current
cases in Merced County.
For general information pertaining to COVID-19, please
contact the Merced County Public Health Department
information line at 209-381-1180 (English, Spanish,
Hmong).
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May
16, 2020
SEASONAL
ROUTES ON STATE HIGHWAYS IN THE CENTRAL SIERRA OPEN
FOR SUMMER SEASON
Stay-At-Home
Order Remains In Effect Alpine, Tuolumne, Mono and
Inyo Counties – The California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) announced today it has opened
seasonal highways in the Sierra after completing necessary
road repairs and removing winter snow and debris in
preparation for the summer season.
The opening of the Sierra routes comes at a time when
California’s “stay-at- home” order
remains in effect until further notice. All Californians
are reminded that it is critical to stay home during
this time in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Additionally, social distancing behaviors and other
preventive measures as recommended by the Centers
for Disease Control and the California Department
of Public Health help protect the health and well-being
of everyone. #StayHomeSaveLives
A comprehensive update on the status of the seasonal
passes is listed below:
• State Route 4 (Ebbetts Pass) Open for the
summer season
• State Route 89 (Monitor Pass) Open for the
summer season
• State Route 108 (Sonora Pass) Open for the
summer season
• State Route 120 (Tuolumne County) Open for
the summer season. Yosemite National Park remains
closed at this time. National Park Service officials
manage Tioga Road inside Yosemite National Park. Please
call the Park Service for updates at: (209) 372-0200
• State Route 120 (Mono County) Open for the
summer season. Yosemite National Park remains closed
at this time. National Park Service officials manage
Tioga Road inside Yosemite National Park. Please call
the Park Service for updates at: (209) 372-0200
• State Route 158 Open for the summer season
• State Route 168 West (Bishop Creek) Open for
the summer season
For the latest road condition information, call the
Caltrans Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD
(7623). Real time conditions are also available online
and for mobile phones at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov.
Changeable Message Signs with flashing beacons will
have information regarding the pass closures visible
along the highways.
Early season conditions exist and road conditions
can change rapidly. All vehicles, including those
with four-wheel drive or snow tires should, additionally,
carry chains when traveling during the spring season.
There are minimal services available and limited mobile
phone service along the high elevations of these Sierra
routes. Visitors are advised to have a full tank of
gas and to carry extra food, water and clothing to
be prepared for emergencies.
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TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
RAMP & LANE CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 99 - FROM ATWATER BOULEVARD TO
MERCED/STANISLAUS COUNTY LINE
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform various ramp closures on State
Route (SR-99) for maintenance and construction work.
Closures are as follows:
• Full on and off-ramp closures at Atwater Boulevard
on southbound SR-99
beginning Sunday, May 17, through Saturday, May 23,
2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99
to East Atwater Overhead beginning Sunday, May 17,
through Saturday, May 23, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until
6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound
and southbound SR-99 at
Applegate Road beginning Sunday, May 17, through Saturday,
May 23, 2020,
from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from West Atwater Overhead
to northbound SR-99
beginning Sunday, May 17, through Saturday, May 23,
2020, from 7:00 p.m. until southbound SR-99 for landscape
work beginning Tuesday, May 19, through Thursday,
May 21, 2020, from 7:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and
#2 (right) lanes of northbound SR-99 from Hammatt
Avenue to the Merced/Stanislaus County line for grinding
operations beginning Sunday, May 17, through Friday,
May 22, 2020, from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.
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May
14, 2020
Infant
Tests Positive for COVID-19
MERCED
COUNTY, CA – Merced County health officials
confirmed its first infant-related COVID-19 exposure
case in Merced County.
Health officials confirmed that a five-month-old infant
recently tested positive for the virus. The infant
is doing well and recovering at home. Due to protected
health information requirements and to maintain the
patient’s confidentiality, Public Health is
not able to disclose further information about this
case.
County Public Health officials have noticed an increase
in children’s cases over the past two weeks.
There have been nine confirmed cases of children under
18 years of age, making it 12 confirmed cases to date
(a four-fold increase in two weeks). Pediatric cases
have increased from 3% of the caseload to 7% of the
caseload. As of May 13, 2020, there are 180 confirmed
cases of COVID-19, 67 of which are active cases, 109
recovered and four deaths. This is an increase of
49 cases within a two-week span for the County.
“This case highlights the importance of following
local health orders and practicing safety measures
in our daily routines,” said Merced County Public
Health Officer Dr. Salvador Sandoval. “It is
crucial that we protect the vulnerable populations
in our community, which includes young children. Now
is not the time to become complacent. Transmission
levels will continue to rise and will affect our loved
ones unless we make a difference by doing our part.”

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.As
the spread of COVID-19 continues to increase locally,
Merced County health officials strongly urge the community
to continue following health orders and exercising
the following measures to help slow the spread of
the virus:
EVERYONE SHOULD:
* Stay home, especially if you’re sick
* Limit your time and trips out of your home
* Wear a cloth face covering when you leave home;
particularly when social distancing is not possible,
as in enclosed places.
* Practice social distancing, which means keeping
at least 6 feet between you and any person when outside
of your home
* Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for
at least 20 seconds as often as possible
* Not touch your eyes, nose or mouth
* Call your health care provider first if you think
you have COVID-19
All Merced County residents interested in being tested
for COVID-19, can register for an appointment online
at www.lhi.care/covidtesting.
For additional information pertaining to COVID-19,
please visit the Department’s resource website
at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus or call the
Department information line at 209-381-1180 (English,
Spanish, Hmong).
To schedule a phone interview, please contact the
Public Health Communication Office from Monday—Friday,
8 a.m.—5 p.m. at 209-381-1187. |
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May
13, 2020
Health
Officials Confirm Fourth Death Related to COVID-19
in Merced County
MERCED
COUNTY, CA – Today, the Merced County Department
of Public Health (Department) confirmed the fourth
death related to COVID-19, otherwise known as novel
coronavirus. The Merced County resident was a male
over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions.
“We are saddened by the confirmation of another
death in our community due to COVID-19, and the Department
sends its deepest condolences to the family,”
said Merced County Public Health Officer Dr. Salvador
Sandoval. “We want to remind the residents of
Merced County that we must remain united in preventing
the spread of this disease. Please do your part to
halt the spread.”
Merced County health officials strongly urge everyone
to continue following local health orders and practicing
safety measures in daily routines.

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It
is crucial that residents do not become complacent,
or transmission levels could increase. Please exercise
the following measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
EVERYONE SHOULD:
* Stay home, especially if you’re sick
* Limit your time and trips out of your home
* Wear a cloth face covering when you leave home;
particularly when social distancing is not possible,
as in enclosed places.
* Practice social distancing, which means keeping
at least 6 feet between you and any person when outside
of your home
* Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for
at least 20 seconds as often as possible
* Not touch your eyes, nose or mouth
* Call your health care provider first if you think
you have COVID-19
All Merced County residents interested in being tested
for COVID-19 can register for an appointment online
at www.lhi.care/covidtesting.
For additional information pertaining to COVID-19,
please visit the Department’s resource website
at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus or call the
Department information line at 209-381-1180 (English,
Spanish, Hmong).
To schedule a phone interview, please contact the
Public Health Communication Office from Monday-Friday,
8 a.m.—5 p.m. at 209-381-1187.
|
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May12,
2020
California
Employers Association - FREE! The Three R's to Getting
Back to Work During COVID-19
Worknet Merced County has partnered with the California
Employers Association (CEA) to provide Merced County
businesses with ongoing training opportunities. Let
the CEA help you prepare to get employees back to
work when operations can resume during the COVID-19
pandemic. CEA will cover the 3 R's of how to plan
and successfully bring your employees back to work
– Reconstruct, Reinstate, and Reconnect.
Learning Objectives:
• Reconstruct — Determine what your workplace
will look like under this "new normal."
Learn how to bring people back and what to do if some
of the workforce cannot be reinstated.
• Reinstate — Evaluate the effectiveness
of remote work for your team and if it can or should
continue. Be prepared for a variety of federal, state,
and local requirements regarding testing employees,
PPE, physical distancing and more.
• Reconnect — How to welcome employees
back and ensure a safe working environment.
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The webinar will take place Wednesday, May 13th, from
12:00pm-1:00pm.
Registration Link: https://www.employers.org/events/webinars/the-three-r-s-to-getting-back-to-work-during-covid-19/05/13/2020/
Mario Pena
Worknet Merced County
Merced County Dept. of Workforce Investment
1205 West 18th Street | Merced, CA 95340
P: 209.724.2046 |C: 209.291.8969 | F: 209.725.3592
Visit our website at https://worknetmerced.com
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May
9, 2020
Merced
City offices begin to reopen
Employees
who have been working remotely will be returning to
their offices Monday, May 11, as the City of Merced
prepares to resume operations with the public.
The goal is to open up City Hall -- the Merced Civic
Center at 678 W. 18th St. -- to the public on Monday,
May 18. Other City facilities, including the Police
Department and Public Works, will also open to the
public on that date. The Parks and Recreation Office
will open at a later date.
“With the governor reopening many businesses
in the state, it is time to begin moving the City
in the same direction,” said City Manager Steve
Carrigan. “We are opening City offices with
the health and safety of everyone -- City employees
and the public -- as the top priority.”
“This is a limited opening, because employee
wellness is really important to me,” Carrigan
said.
It won’t be business as usual, as a variety
of social distancing measures are being put in place
at City facilities.
Initially, only counter service on the first and second
floors will be available at City Hall. Other City
business will be conducted by telephone, email or
video conference.
City facilities were shut down to the public and employees
began working remotely March 20 to comply with the
governor’s stay-at-home order. Normal operations
of police, fire, refuse, sewer or water were not affected,
and most City functions continued.
The move follows Gov. Gavin Newsom’s modification
of the stay-at-home order of Thursday, May 7. That
moved the state to Stage 2, allowing the reopening
of some non-essential businesses with modifications.
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City Council meetings, along with board and commission
meetings, will continue to meet virtually and telephonically.
Parks are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. to encourage
people to get exercise and fresh air, but users are
cautioned to maintain social distance. Park restrooms
are closed, as are other park facilities including
playgrounds and picnic shelters, per the state and
county orders.
The air carrier for the Merced Regional Airport, Boutique
Airlines, has been operating and the airport is open
to general aviation users.
Even though the building is open next week, City customers
won’t have to come to City Hall to make payments.
Customers can make payments:
• By using the automated phone system at 209-388-7289
• Paying online at www.cityofmerced.org
• Using the drop box outside City Hall (check,
cashier’s check or money order, no cash, please)
• Mailing payments (check, cashier’s check
or money order, no cash, please)
Questions about utility bills can be emailed to utilitybillinquiry@cityofmerced.org
or people can phone 209-385-6841.
The City will not be charging people late fees and
no new water services will be shut off if people cannot
make their payments while the state of emergency is
declared. However, they still will be ultimately responsible
for the payment of all bills once the emergency order
is lifted.
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May
9, 2020
Revised
Health Order Allows for More Businesses to Reopen
MERCED
COUNTY, CA – After careful consideration, Merced
County health officials revised the local Health Order
(Order) issued on April 24, 2020. The revised Order
allows eligible businesses to resume modified operations
as long as they follow specific safety measures.
“After careful consideration and thorough discussions
with subject matter experts and Merced County health
officials, the Public Health Department is starting
to implement steps to reopen the County,” said
Dr. Rebecca Nanyonjo-Kemp, Director of the Merced
County Public Health Department. “The reopening
plan will promote public health and safety while allowing
for our community to take the necessary steps to start
the recovery process. The Department is committed
to the well-being of all individuals and want the
overall health and economy to thrive while keeping
protective measures in place.”
Businesses meeting criteria may resume modified operations.
Currently, in accordance with the State, curbside
retail and manufacturing of goods are able to open.
In addition, cemeteries, preventative medical appointments
(inclusive of dentistry), and baptisms are all allowed
to reopen or resume, with modifications. All businesses
in operation will be required to follow the Order,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
requirements, and the guidelines outlined in the Order.
Merced County also developed reopening guidelines
in partnership with business sectors. The Order also
allows additional businesses to open locally, with
modified operations, as the State allows.
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The
revised Order:
* Directs all businesses open to operate to designate
a Safety Officer
* Prohibits all non-essential gatherings (as detailed
in the Order)
* Limits activities in public areas
* Encourages outdoor activity with social distancing
requirements to the greatest extent possible
Merced County health officials strongly urge everyone
to continue following local health orders and practice
safety measures in our daily routines. It is crucial
that we do not become complacent, because transmission
levels will continue to rise.
If you are a Merced County resident who would like
to be tested for COVID-19, you will need to register
for an appointment either online at www.lhi.care/covidtesting
or by phone 1-888-634-1123.
For additional information pertaining to COVID-19,
please visit the Department’s resource website
at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus or call the
Department information line at 209-381-1180 (English,
Spanish, Hmong).
Click
here to see Revised Order
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May
8, 2020
Work
Continues on 2020 Merced County Fair Virtual Livestock
Sale
Community support already pouring in; Friends
of the Merced County Fair to underwrite all sale commissions
and the first $10,000 add-on donation received
MERCED,
CALIFORNIA, May 7, 2020 – Plans continue to
move forward on the 2020 Merced County Fair Virtual
Livestock Sale, supported by Merced Irrigation District
(MID), to support the more than 500 Merced County
Fair 4-H and FFA exhibitors through the utilization
of the StockShowAuctions.com (SSA) online sales platform.
The virtual sale will take place starting Thursday,
June 11 at 8 a.m. and go until Saturday, June 13 at
8 p.m. Buyers, both past and new, will need to register
as a buyer on www.stockshowauction.com/register either
in advance of the sale or during, then they can login
during the sale and place bids, add-ons and receive
notifications if they get outbid. Merced County Fair
livestock staff will be available to answer questions
at livestock@countyofmerced.com or (209) 722-1421.
Additionally, step-by-step instructions have been
posted on the fair’s website (www.mercedcountyfair.com/livestock-exhibits).
“Agriculture has long been the backbone of the
Merced County Fair and while today's world with COVID-19
is prohibiting us from having our annual fair, it
won’t stop us from holding a sale for our hard-working
4-H and FFA exhibitors. I look forward to their innovative
outreach in securing buyers for our new virtual livestock
sale,” said Teresa Burrola, CEO of the Merced
County Fair.
There is already one local business stepping up to
support the exhibitors in the Merced County Fair Virtual
Livestock Sale. Dr. J.L. Byerly D.V.M. owner of Sierra
Gateway Veterinary Clinic has donated $10,000 towards
add-ons to support those exhibitors who do not receive
adequate bids on their projects.
Dr. Byerly said he “is hopeful that our community
will help to support our 4-H and FFA exhibitors in
buying their animal projects or placing add-on bids.
It is a real call to action for our agricultural community
to step up for our youth in Merced County.”
Additionally, the fair’s non-profit foundation,
Friends of the Merced County Fair has committed to
covering the costs of the online sale platform, as
well as all sale commissions – so every dollar
spent by buyers will go directly to the students.
“We are so grateful for Friends of the Merced
County Fair who have always greatly supported our
annual auctions and through this latest act of generosity
– it will put every dollar bid during the virtual
sale into the pockets of these kids to use to recoup
their animal project expenses and invest in their
next project or save for school,” said Burrola.
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Merced
County Fair 4-H and FFA exhibitors who submitted animal
projects will be contacted by the Livestock Department
regarding the virtual sale with more details and resources.
Exhibitors will need to continue feeding and caring
for their animals and marketing to secure buyers,
just like they would if their animals were going to
the traditional auction. The Merced County Fair has
put together exhibitor information sheets by species
and an extensive Q&A so they can better understand
the new sale process. These resources are available
at www.mercedcountyfair.com/livestock-exhibits. More
information such as step-by-step instructions on how
to upload their project for the online sale will be
posted in the coming weeks. These details are also
available on the SSA website at www.stockshowauction.com/auctions.
Additionally, the Livestock Department will be available
to assist with online registration and address questions
at livestock@countyofmerced.com or (209) 722-1421.
Each year, the livestock competition at the Fair helps
to create the next generation of men and women in
agriculture and by participating, 4-H, FFA and Independent
students not only have the opportunity to showcase
and sell their animal projects, they also learn responsibility
and gain agribusiness experience. While this year
looks different, the life and business skills gained
through these experiences – and even more so
with the adaptation to an online sale – will
continue to serve these youth.
About The Merced County Fair:
The Merced County Fair, first founded in 1891, represents
the 35th District Agricultural Association. The fair’s
mission statement outlines that it “promises
to meet the needs of our community by providing a
fun, safe venue to celebrate our area’s agricultural
heritage, discover new technology and be entertained.”
Each June, the Merced County Fair welcomes more than
70,000 people from throughout Merced County and beyond
to attend the five-day event. Members of the Board
of Directors include: President, Carol Sartori-Silva;
First Vice President, Lee Lor; Second Vice President,
Kim Rogina; Vicky Banaga; Mark Erreca; Lori Gallo;
Emily Haden; Flip Hassett; and Luis Lara. Teresa Burrola
heads up the daily operations in her role as CEO.
The 2021 Merced County Fair will run June 9 - 13.
For more information about the Merced County Fair,
please visit www.MercedCountyFair.com. Connect with
the Fair on Facebook (@mercedfair), Twitter (@Merced_CA_Fair)
and Instagram (@mercedcountyfair).
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May
8, 2020
Essential
Workers May Be Eligible For Help Paying For Child
Care
Families
who are considered part of the essential workforce
and are currently working during the stay-at-home
order may be eligible to get help paying for child
care. This includes essential service workers who
work in the health care sector, such as public health
and emergency services, service workers in food
and agriculture sectors, teachers and educational
staff, producers of early learning and care services,
including kitchen and other support staff, state
and local government workers, information technology,
energy production, transportation and logistics,
chemical production and hazardous materials, along
with financial services.
Merced County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve
Tietjen said child care keeps our families working
and helps our economy. “It is crucial that
we provide child care and other services for the
essential workers who are on the front lines every
day,” he said. “MCOE continues to work
with child care providers to help provide safe child
care environments and is able to help offset costs
for more essential workers.”
Christie Hendricks, assistant superintendent of
the Early Education Department at the Merced County
Office of Education, says her agency specializes
in helping families pay for child care and providing
child care referrals to families for their specific
child care needs.
“We have been very busy in the last month,
setting up the staff to work remotely and enrolling
essential workers on this child care program. It
has been a little crazy and we very happy to be
able to help essential workers," she said.
"There are 300 child care slots or openings
for families of essential workers; they have already
had 150 applications from families seeking the service."
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Rosa Barragan,
program manager with the MCOE Early Education Department,
said these are additional child care slots due to
the COVID-19 pandemic and encourages families to apply.
Her office is working to get the word out to businesses
and the 20 local school districts serving Merced County.
“These are new funds, for families meeting the
eligibility criteria, to help pay for child care.
MCOE Child Care Resource and Referral is updating
child care supply at least twice a week. We also provide
child care referrals to licensed child care providers;
we are calling it an enhanced referral,” Hendricks
said.
Barragan said there are 169 family child care providers
and 11 centers open, ready to serve the children of
essential workers. MCOE works with the California
Department of Social Services, which handles community
care licensing, and are all working closely with child
care providers to ensure they are following the recommendations
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and best practices put in place by CDSS to ensure
the child care environments are safe and minimize
the spread of COVID-19.
For more information, call MCOE at (209) 381-4585
or email childcare@mcoe.org
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May
8, 2020
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
RAMP CLOSURES
STATE ROUTE 99 - FROM CHILDS AVENUE TO ATWATER BOULEVARD
MERCED
COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) will perform various ramp closures on State
Route (SR-99) for maintenance and construction work.
Closures are as follows:
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99
to Childs Avenue beginning
Monday, May 11, through Tuesday, May 12, 2020, from
7:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99
to SR-140 beginning Thursday, May 14, through Friday,
May 15, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to southbound
SR-99 beginning Monday, May 11, through Tuesday, May
12, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures at Atwater Boulevard
on northbound and
southbound SR-99 beginning Sunday, May 10, through
Saturday, May 16, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00
a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99
to East Atwater Overhead beginning Sunday, May 10,
through Saturday, May 16, 2020, from 7:00 p.m. until
6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound
and southbound SR-99 at
Applegate Road beginning Sunday, May 10, through Saturday,
May 16, 2020,
from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from West Atwater Overhead
to northbound SR-99
beginning Sunday, May 10, through Saturday, May 16,
2020, from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
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Motorists
should expect 10-minute delays. Alternate routes should
be taken whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is
subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather,
availability of equipment, and/or materials and construction
related issues.
For
the safety of workers and other motorists,please Slow
For the Cone Zone.

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May
7 , 2020
Castle
Air Museum Reopening to the Public
Friday,
May 8, the Castle Air Museum, 5050 Santa Fe Drive
in Atwater will be one of the first air museum's in
California to reopen it's gates to public admission
for the first time in nearly two months due to the
COVID 19 Pandemic. We are elated to be able to welcome
back all of our visitors from our communities, region,
state, nation, and world to once again walk through
our doors, roam our expansive outdoor exhits area
and witness where History Has Landed! Since the Museum
is an outdoor venue our destination is well suited
for social distancing, all the while being in awe
at the size and scope of the largest military aviation
museum on the West Coast!! Welcome back!! And Come
be Amazed!!!
We
feel that May 8th is a very fitting date to reopen,
as this date also commemorates VE Day, or Victory
in Europe Day 75 years ago, marking the end of World
War II on the European Continent.
For
more information please contact me at the information
below. Thank you for your support!
Joe Pruzzo
Executive Director
Castle Air Museum
209.723.2178 Main Ext. 304
209.723.0323 Fax
www.castleairmuseum.org
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May
7 , 2020
MERCED COUNTY, CITIES PREPARE FOR REOPENING OF
ECONOMY
MERCED—
Merced County and its six Cities are committed to
reopening our local economy in the safest way possible
and as quickly as possible.
That’s why today, we launched www.reopenmercedcounty.com—a
new website dedicated to assisting businesses and
preparing them for when the State decides to open
additional factions of the economy.
The site includes resources, guidelines, event information,
and a survey local businesses can take that will allow
the County and Cities to gather details that will
help us apply for grants and identify needs in the
business community.
“The idea of this site is to get our business
owners better prepared to reopen when that time comes,”
said Chairman Rodrigo Espinoza of the Merced County
Board of Supervisors. “When the Governor pulls
the trigger to reopen another group of businesses,
we don’t want them all at the starting line,
we want them as close to the finish line as possible.”
This website will be continuously updated moving forward
as the State releases additional information and as
more resources become available through local, State
and Federal programming.
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It
was earlier this week that Governor Newsom announced
that the State can begin moving into “Stage
2” of modifying the “Stay at Home”
Executive Order beginning this Friday if certain conditions
are met. This move, which is based on improving COVID-19
numbers and health indicators, will allow some retailers
to reopen with modifications, such as curbside pickup.
This includes bookstores, music stores, toy stores,
florists, sporting goods stores, and others. More
specifics as well as guidelines will be released by
the Governor’s Office later this week.
It’s important to note that local entities (such
as Merced County and its Cities) must operate within
the confines of the Governor’s Executive Order
and cannot supersede its directives. Any business
operating within a City that has taken stricter measures
than the County or State directives must adhere to
the stricter measures. As the Governor opens various
parts of the economy, Merced County Public Health
will continue to issue guidance documents to ensure
our business community can reopen in a timely manner.
For additional information about COVID-19 in Merced
County, please visit www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus.
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May
6, 2020
Merced
County Fair Launches ‘Fair Food Fridays’
Drive-Thru Fair Food Event Series
Get Your Fair Food Fix and Support Valley Food
Vendors in May and June
MERCED,
CALIFORNIA – May 5, 2020: The Merced County
Fair has teamed up with Valley fair food vendors to
bring the new drive-thru “Fair Food Fridays”
event to the Merced County Fairgrounds! The event
series launched on Friday, May 1, drawing lines of
cars all waiting to get their fair food favorites
like corn dogs, kettle corn, Icees and cotton candy
at special pandemic pricing.
Despite the recent cancellation of the 2020 Merced
County Fair, CEO Teresa Burrola wanted to bring the
taste of the fair for the community to still enjoy,
while supporting the fair’s Valley food vendors
and their families who have been hit hard by COVID-19
and widespread cancellation of fairs and events throughout
the state.
“We wanted to bring something positive to the
fairgrounds and give the community something fun to
do while still aligning with the pandemic guidelines,”
said Burrola. “So we came up with the idea to
have a drive-thru food event! It has definitely put
a smile on people’s faces and our food vendors
could not be more thankful for the support. We look
forward to continuing our ‘Fair Food Fridays’
throughout the month and into June.”
The Merced County Fair’s “Fair Food Fridays”
is a drive-thru, to-go only food event with special
pandemic pricing. This event is cash only to keep
the lines moving as quickly as possible.
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The
line-up has now been expanded to include cinnamon
rolls, funnel cake and pizza, along with the corn
dogs, kettle corn, Icees and cotton candy. For more
details, call (209) 722-1506 or visit www.mercedcountyfair.com/fair-food-fridays.
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. May 8, 15, 22 and
29; June 5, 11-13.
WHERE: Merced County Fairgrounds, 900 Martin Luther
King Jr. Way, Merced, California 95341
Enter the fairgrounds from 11th Street and exit
on Childs Avenue
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May
5 , 2020
COVID-19 Testing Available to All Merced County
Residents
MERCED
COUNTY, CA—On Monday, an additional COVID-19
testing site will open to all Merced County residents
who would like to be tested. PLEASE NOTE: Due to expected
high demand, testing availability was changed to by
appointment only in order to prevent unnecessarily-long
wait times for clients. Walk-ins will not be accepted
at this time.
* Registration is available online or by phone:
* www.lhi.care/covidtesting
* 1-888-634-1123
This new test site, which was made possible thanks
to a partnership with the State of California and
OptumServe (a private health services company contracted
by the State), will be one of 80 locations across
the State and will allow for more than 100 additional
tests a day for the community. The site does not include
antibody testing at this time.
Appointments at the testing site will be scheduled
Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the
Merced County Fairgrounds located at 900 Martin Luther
King Jr. Way, Merced.
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A
soft opening of the site was held Thursday and Friday
and provided testing for first responders, health
care personnel, and a limited number of individuals
from the public.
For additional information pertaining to COVID-19,
please visit the Department’s resource website
at www.countyofmerced.com/coronavirus or call the
Merced County Public Health Department Information
Line at 209-381-1180 (English, Spanish, Hmong).
For additional information, read Governor Newsom’s
announcement about the efforts to expand community
testing in underserved areas.
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May
5 , 2020
The
Bus welcomes First Transit as new operator for
countywide transit services
MERCED
– On May 1, 2020, First Transit, Inc. (First
Transit) became the new operations and maintenance
provider for The Bus as part of a 5-year, $51 million
contract with the Transit Joint Powers Authority for
Merced County (TJPA). Through this contract, First
Transit will maintain TJPA’s fleet of 76 vehicles
and will employ the drivers and staff necessary to
provide paratransit, demand response, and fixed route
transit services for The Bus.
Fares, routes, and the buses themselves will not change,
although passengers may notice bus drivers wearing
new uniforms as well as new ‘First Transit’
stickers affixed to buses. Passengers will still be
able to utilize the same phone numbers, website, and
social media sites for information regarding bus service
and how to purchase passes. “This change should
not be felt by passengers in any immediate way, but
we look forward to systemwide improvements that will
come with the high quality customer service and employee
training that First Transit is bringing to the Merced
County region,” said Christine Chavez, Transit
Manager for the Merced County Association of Governments,
the agency responsible for the administration of TJPA.
“We are excited about this new partnership with
First Transit,” said Stacie Guzman, Executive
Director of Merced County Association of Governments
(MCAG) and TJPA. “We are an agency that places
passenger safety and service reliability at a premium
and First Transit is a company that has demonstrated
the ability to deliver both.”
First Transit provides nearly six decades of experience
and professional skills to put to work for transit
operations and maintenance. They have operated fixed
route systems in cities across North America and around
the world. Their goal is to provide the safest, most
efficient passenger transportation service possible,
so bus patrons enjoy a safe, comfortable ride with
an operator who is courteous and understanding of
their needs.
TJPA’s contract with First Transit represents
100 jobs in Merced County and provides the opportunity
to work with a proven industry leader in the electrification
of bus fleets in the industry just as The Bus embarks
on the process of shifting its own fleet to zero-emission
vehicles.
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All bus schedules and hours of operation can be found
at www.mercedthebus.com or by calling (209) 723-3100.
Real-time information regarding bus locations, services
and arrival times can be found at www.thebuslive.com
or by downloading ‘The Bus Live’ app on
your smart phone for free. All fares are currently
suspended due to the COVID-19 emergency. Passengers
are asked to only use The Bus to provide or receive
essential services and to wear a mask while on board
as well as comply with social distancing requirements.
All buses are equipped with bike racks and are wheelchair
accessible.
The Bus is the single public transportation service
provider for all of Merced County and is administered
by the Transit Joint Powers Authority for Merced County
and managed by the Merced County Association of Governments
(MCAG). For more information, please visit www.mercedthebus.com
and www.mcagov.org.

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May
5 , 2020
Caring
Kids Play Group Moves to Digital Platform
While school sites are temporarily closed to slow
the spread of COVID-19, the Merced County Office
of Education is continuing its Caring Kids program
through online sessions, enabling children’s
play groups to continue.
Monica Adrian, a behavior support specialist with
MCOE, said these play group sessions started about
a month ago and will continue during California’s
stay-at-home order.
Adrian said they average eight to 10 families a
day taking advantage of the online play group sessions
Monday through Friday from noon until about 1 p.m.
“We still need social connections even more
and to have some sense of normalcy,” Adrian
said. “We reduce stress levels. They sing
songs and have stories read.”
Play groups are open to children of all abilities,
including those with special needs.
If play group sessions are full, Adrian said they
can create new times and sessions.
“It’s for anybody who wants to come.
It’s filling a big gap. They’re fun.
The goal is to keep stress levels low. It’s
intended for children typically age 6 or 7 and under,”
Adrian said.
There also are opportunities for the youngsters’
parents to have a daily break, talk with each other,
seek additional resources and make important connections.
Young children can learn important skills while
playing. That’s the focus of the inclusive
social skills play groups MCOE offers. The play
groups were offered year-round, open to anyone and
involving parents, grandparents and caregivers.
Adrian said there are few resources in Merced County
for young children and their families. The play
groups offer a safe and welcoming opportunity where
children learn not only about school readiness but
also gain key social skills.
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Caring
Kids was instituted in 2003 and the play groups were
added four years ago.
Christie Hendricks, assistant superintendent of the
Early Education Department of the Merced County Office
of Education, said the play groups give children a
chance to learn age-appropriate skills. The Caring
Kids program is funded through a Proposition 63 grant
through the Merced County Mental Health Services behavioral
health program.
Adrian said through the play groups young participants
can transition seamlessly into preschool or kindergarten
from these experiences.
For those interested in joining the program, contact
Adrian at (209) 261-4194.

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May
1 , 2020
Council
to consider COVID19 Recovery Program
The City Council will consider a COVID19 Recovery
Program during its Monday meeting.
Council will hear a report from its subcommittee on
potential measures to assist local businesses and
residents due to the COVID19 pandemic. The City has
received other requests, including one from the Merced
Hotel Motel Association asking to delay payment of
transient occupancy taxes until after July 1.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, and “stay home”
orders, the Merced City Council will hold its meeting
telephonically. The meeting format is allowed under
Gov. Newsom’s Executive Order N-29-20.
There will be no meeting held in the Civic Center
in order to protect the public, City staff and Council
from the coronavirus. The meeting will be broadcast
at 6 p.m. Monday on Facebook Live at City of Merced,
on the City’s website, www.cityofmerced.org,
and Comcast Public Access Channel 96.
People may submit public comments to the City Council
electronically no later than 3 p.m. on the day of
the meeting. Comments received before the deadline
will be read as part of the record. Material may be
emailed to cityclerk@cityofmerced.org and should be
limited to 500 words or less. Please specify which
portion of the agenda you are commenting on, i.e.
item number or Oral Communications. Comments will
be read to the City Council at the appropriate time.
Any correspondence received during or after the meeting
will be distributed to the City Council and retained
for the official record.
People may provide telephonic comments via voicemail
by calling (209) 388-8688 by no later than 3 p.m.
on the day of the meeting in order to be added to
the public comment. Voicemails will be limited to
three minutes. Please specify which portion of the
agenda you are commenting on. Your comments will be
read to the City Council at the appropriate time.
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For
public hearing items, if people want to speak live
during the meeting they need to leave callback information
in advance. They will be contacted with further details.
On the agenda:
• Report to Council on possible measures to
assist local businesses and residents through a proposed
COVID19 Recovery Program and provide direction to
staff.
• A Public Hearing on an appeal of a conditional
use permit for a mixed use development including 218
apartments and 14,000 square-feet of retail at Yosemite
Avenue and McKee Road.
• Consider a request from Mayor Pro Tem Serratto
to discuss eviction concerns.
The Council will meet in closed session at 5 p.m.
with real property negotiators and labor negotiators.
A link to the live meeting is also on the City’s
website at https://cityofmerced.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Videos of previous meetings can be found at that link,
and are tied to each agenda item.
The Council agenda is posted online at www.cityofmerced.org.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday
of the month, except when there is a holiday, then
it meets the following day.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merced
Fish & Game, Inc
proposes plans to develope a
Merced Public Range & Sporting Complex Olympic Training
Center with City Council. To see proposal, go to Merced
Fish & Game, Inc's website:
mfginc.org

Collyn Roper
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Click picture to enlarge
The undertaking the Merced
Fish & Game,Inc is proposing will be a professionally
designed project consisting of:
• 40 Trap fields, 12 of which will be overlaid with
Skeet fields,
• A sporting clays course in future plans,
• A meeting house,
• A registration building,
• Several bathroom facilities,
• The California Waterfowl Association Museum,
• RV parking with full hook-ups,
• Additional RV parking,
• Several storage facilities,
• One workshop,
• One pre-manufactured home for the resident manager,
• General parking for additional vehicles.
For Information or Questions:
Contact MERCED FISH & GAME, INC
by email:mercedfishandgame@yahoo.com
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