White No Show City Council Held 'Hostage'

Residents of Riverbank turned out for Monday night's regularly scheduled Riverbank City Council meeting ... but council member Jesse James White did not. That left only two council members - Mayor Virginia Madueno and Sandra Benitez - on the dais and, once again, the council was unable to conduct any official business. "There were people outside with signs that said 'Wanted - Jesse James White to attend council meetings'," said City Manager Rich Holmer. "We're sort of being held hostage right now by an individual that doesn't seem to care about Riverbank." Holmer said even though Jesse James White has indicated he would be attending regularly scheduled council meetings but not special sessions, he called in late Monday afternoon to say he was in Los Angles and would not be attending the meeting. With his grandfather Dave White recuperating in a convalescent home and former councilman Danny Fielder resigning his post, the attendance of Jesse James White is imperative for the council to have a quorum. "We couldn't do anything," Holmer said of the Monday night meeting, which basically included a presentation from local FFA members and a proclamation in their honor by the city. Other than that, the council could not officially conduct any business. Last week, the younger White reported he was out of town and unable to attend a special council meeting to decide whether to appoint someone to fill the council seat of Fielder, who resigned from the council last month. Dave White is on medical leave until September, according to City Clerk Linda Abid-Cummings. If the council does not appoint a replacement for Fielder within 30 days of his July 29 resignation, the seat will have to be filled via a special election. That could cost the city between $25,000 and $40,000, and would not be held until March of next year, according to Holmer. An option - if the council can get a quorum - is to appoint one of the nine people running for a seat this November, Holmer added. Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Runners Prep For Marine Corps Marathon

It was almost a year ago when the unthinkable happened ... the loss of one of the region's own overseas. Navy medical corpsman James 'Doc' Layton, a Petty Officer Third Class, was killed while tending to the wounds of an injured Marine in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. The 22-year-old medic died Sept. 8, 2009. He was a graduate of Vista High School in Escalon and had grown up in the Escalon and Riverbank areas. Now, in his honor and in recognition of the sacrifice of all service men and women, local runners Mike Pitassi and Gregg Churchill of Escalon are in training for the Marine Corps Marathon at the end of October. Both men are currently seeking donations in hopes of raising money for the Semper Fi Foundation. For Pitassi, whose own son was also involved in a military incident around the same time as James Layton, the run has an even more personal note. While his son, a Navy SEAL corpsman, was safe, the son of friend Brent Layton paid the ultimate price. "For a long time I couldn't even look Brent in the eye," Pitassi admitted, noting that as fathers with sons in the military, the two share that bond but Layton's loss is something Pitassi cannot even begin to comprehend. "Here they were, two boys from the same area of California, thousands of miles away (from home) and just a few miles apart ... " One lived through what easily could have been a deadly attack; the other was killed in the line of duty. James 'Doc' Layton was the son of Brent Layton of Escalon and Nikki Freitas of Riverbank. He was buried in a ceremony with full military honors at Burwood Cemetery in Escalon last Sept. 17. Pitassi said there is a special sense in preparing for this marathon. "I've never run for any other purpose other than to try to go faster," he said of working to reduce his times from race to race. Now, the goal is much bigger - honoring those lost in service to this country and raising $5,000 to give to the Semper Fi Foundation. Brent Layton, for his part, said the fact that Pitassi and Churchill are running in memory of his son means a great deal. "I'm honored my friends would run, not to honor just James, but all our Marines, all our veterans," Layton said. The former law enforcement officer has become an activist for veterans' issues and has made many trips to Sacramento, as well as the local offices of state and federal legislators. He has also been back to Washington, DC and has another trip to the East Coast planned for the fall, keeping tabs on several bills to benefit veterans. "Ninety-nine percent of the injuries aren't seen," Layton explained, noting that TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, may not be visible like the loss of an arm or a leg, but they are prevalent among vets returning from overseas. "Not only do these kids deserve the support, but the families as well," Pitassi added. Wednesday, August 25, 2010

ROTA Making Route Adjustments

While the ROTA (Riverbank-Oakdale Transit Authority) trolley may no longer be in operation, the Dial-A-Ride bus is still tooling around Oakdale and Riverbank, making adjustments that reflect a sign of the current economic times. At the Aug. 10 ROTA meeting, several items were brought up for discussion, including the upcoming installation of surveillance cameras at three Oakdale and one Riverbank bus stop locations. The security cameras were purchased through a grant issued by the Homeland Security and should be installed within the next four weeks. The cameras will be mounted on poles and will have the ability to pan. Riverbank City Manager Rich Holmer said the installation of the cameras is an attempt to curb the vandalism and graffiti. "The cameras give a good view of the whole area," Holmer said. Law enforcement will also have access to the camera views so in the event a crime is committed, they will be able to react more swiftly. And in other discussions, a decision was made to allow passengers under the age of 9 to ride the ROTA bus to school when accompanied by an older sibling. According to Holmer, several parents voiced their frustration when their younger children were not able to ride due to the previous rule. The board approved a "curb to curb" agreement, which would allow the drivers to transport the children but would not require the drivers to walk students to their classrooms. Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Students Serve Up Slice Of Life

Toasting bagels and serving up specialty coffees isn't what students traditionally do at school, but it's exactly what some Riverbank High kids look forward to during their brunch period. The Culinary Arts ROP - Regional Occupational Program - class at RHS gives students some work experience and the chance to explore food career choices. "The class is a combination of advanced food production and work readiness, employability," explained teacher Hayley Ralston. "We have a basic (foods) level, this is the advanced class." Students take what they learned in the first level of the class and apply it here, in addition to learning how to do food orders and serving the public through the 'Bruin Café' on campus. Open briefly during the school's brunch period - about 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. daily - Ralston said it's a good opportunity for students to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom. "We do a variety of specialty coffees, muffins and bagels, hot chocolate and teas," Ralston said. "It's open to staff and students. There are some regulars." Outside the classroom, students in the Culinary Arts class are involved in catering, with the ROP kids able to prepare, deliver and serve hors d'oeuvres and desserts at special events. "They make to the customer demand," said Ralston, who is in her second year teaching at RHS. It's an excellent opportunity for students." The class has catered events including the city's Wine and Cheese Festival and various Chamber of Commerce and city-sponsored events in the downtown area, providing food platters for those, as well as handling large banquet diners. "We also do balloon bouquets, you can come in and order them," Ralston said of branching out. Between the basic and advanced classes, there are 55 students involved in the culinary arts at Riverbank High. "They will have a very good understanding of the food industry," when they complete the class, Ralston said, in addition to solid employment skills in that field. Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Local Drive In Serves Up Weekend Fun

Keying in on some favorites, the local Sno-White Drive In is pulling in auto and music enthusiasts on the weekends. The longtime Riverbank business, located along Atchison Street, has been playing host to the M&M Cruisers for car shows on Friday nights and offering up some karaoke and Elvis impersonators on Saturday nights. On hand for the recent Friday night car show were DJ Richard Bargas and wife Connie, who run the Cruisers. "We're here every Friday until Oct. 8," Richard said. "We have had beautiful weather, beautiful crowds." Locals bring their classic cars in to display and swap stories of their favorite rides, with one Friday evening drawing nearly two dozen cars for display. The two keep the music coming as well and typically offer a monthly theme. August is being celebrated with Hawaiian nights, with everyone attending receiving a lei, as well as fresh sliced fruit to enjoy while listening to the music. "This is our second year here and the crowd has doubled," Richard added of seeing the weekly gatherings increase in popularity. He offered thanks to owner Daryl Daniel of Sno-White for hosting the weekend specials. The Friday night festivities run from roughly 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the drive in is open for business as well, serving up their full menu of meals and ice cream treats. Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Turlock Teen Arrested In Riverbank Homicide

Detectives are still looking for two of the three teens suspected of killing a Riverbank man in the early morning hours of Thursday, Aug. 5 outside a Riverbank mini mart in the parking lot at Oakdale and Patterson Roads. Chaz Bettencourt, 21, of Riverbank died from multiple gunshot wounds. Police arrested Jah-Kari Phyall, 15, of Turlock on Friday, Aug. 13 in Modesto, but Daniel Pantoja, 18, of Riverbank and Turlock Diaz, 14, of Turlock are still at large. Ordinarily, The Riverbank News does not list the names of juveniles in criminal proceedings but since the two younger teens were and are suspects at large, an exception to the rule has been made. Pantoja, at 18, is no longer considered a juvenile. Phyall was booked into the Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall on a charge of murder and carjacking with gang-related enhancements to his charges. Sheriff's officials stated Pantoja and Diaz are both facing murder charges when caught and should be considered armed and dangerous. Wednesday, August 18, 2010