The New Year has arrived which not only has many people looking forward and setting goals but it also gives people time to reflect on the year that has passed. This week, The News reflects on some highlights that occurred in the City of Action from July through December 2018.

JULY

Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department officials released the identity of the person found near Jacob Myers Park in the Stanislaus River – the man was identified as John Denys, 48. County coroner’s officials listed his residence as Riverbank.

The Riverbank City Council took care of a number of yearly housekeeping type actions and extended its freeze on new applications for cannabis dispensaries for another six months. The pot moratorium was first established in January 2018, but was set to expire at the end of June. The council approved the extension for another six months.

What the Save The Stan organization has advocated against for years occurred Friday, as the State Water Resources Control Board announced plans to divert billions of gallons of water a year from the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers.

A warm, sunny afternoon greeted participants as the annual Bicycle Rodeo and Health and Safety Fair returned to Community Center Park on July 11. Although not part of Farmers Market in Riverbank this year, the youth-oriented event was successful, nonetheless.

After an 18-month battle to acquire a 501(c) (3) designation, American Veterans First (AVF) has finally achieved their goal of becoming a tax-exempt public charity. The veteran and first responder refuge that CEO Duke Cooper created around this time two years ago has seen many faces come and go, including those serving on the board of directors. There has been a restructuring and remodeling going on at AVF and Cooper said he wants the community to know that they are back and better than ever.

A new four-week pilot program called Sensory Sharks and Mermaids was created and hosted by the City of Riverbank’s Parks and Recreation Department. The free program was open to children under 18 years of age with special aquatic needs. The idea for the program was created by Alyssa Bauman who brought it to Parks and Recreation Director Sue Fitzpatrick to help youth in the community that have special needs.

Family Fun Night on Wednesday in the Community Center Park was warm on July 18. The Community Center Park filled up with music, activities and people on Wednesdays, with the third and final edition scheduled for tonight.

AUGUST

An eager-to-learn group of youngsters from around the area were exposed to the daily activities of law enforcement at Riverbank Police Services Junior Police Academy. The 15 students from Riverbank, Oakdale, Modesto, Waterford, and Turlock made their way each day to the station from 8 a.m. until noon to participate in the week long academy, July 23 through 27. The age range of the students was from sixth through eighth grades.

A Riverbank eatery, a nearly 10-year staple of the local restaurant scene, was closed. According to social media reports, employees received virtually no advance warning. Cool Hand Luke’s, a steakhouse and bar on Patterson Road, abruptly closed its doors in late July.

The smoke has cleared, the dust has settled, and it has been decided. There will be no Junior Bruins Youth Football in Riverbank this year. The main cause, according to team board president Casey Blevins, there were not enough players signed up ahead of the scheduled beginning of practice a few weeks ago. Sign-ups had been held on an almost weekly basis throughout the summer.

Driving into the Crossroads Shopping Center in Riverbank there were several flags and signs that read “California Valley Patriots,” “Donation Items,” and “Fire Victims Donations.” The group called California Valley Patriots and President Dan Fagundes and Vice President Lew Conley were on hand collecting items and cash donations for the victims of the current fires in Northern California.

During a regular meeting, the Riverbank City Council seemed to struggle selecting an option on the first reading of the proposed ordinance regulating personal skate ramps in single family residential yards. The skate ramp became an issue between neighbors a while ago and the Riverbank City Council had to step in and get involved after the complaints were brought to their attention.

Maybe it was all three, but the conspiracy of conditions was evident in the light turnout for what has, in the past, been a busy community get together, the local edition of National Night Out. It’s a country-wide evening set aside for public service organizations to make themselves available to residents to answer questions and get to know each other.

Though the star of the show was missing in action, the City of Riverbank and the Historical Society still took time on Friday, Aug. 17 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Community Center dedication. The contents of the 50-year-old time capsule may still be gone, but that didn’t put much of a damper on the celebration at the Riverbank Community Center. It was a recognition of the anniversary of the original dedication of the center, back on Aug. 17, 1968.

Riverbank parents got their own taste of back to school, as local campuses in town each hosted a back to school night. On Tuesday, both elementary schools, California Avenue and Mesa Verde, opened their classroom doors to parents, who were able to get a taste of the courses their students would be studying.

There’s good news for diners in the Riverbank area. Cool Hand Luke’s is coming back. Recent rumblings on social media, much like those that indicated the steakhouse was closing, now show it’s coming back. A company called Heritage Restaurant Brands, based in San Luis Obispo, is working on the reopening. CEO Greg Graber said progress is continuing.

SEPTEMBER

California Avenue Elementary has welcomed several new teachers to the campus for the 2018-19 school year.

Although the new school year just began a few weeks ago, Riverbank High School will be celebrating Fall Homecoming this week, Sept. 4 through Sept. 7, with a theme of “Road trip to SoCal.”

Before its first home varsity football game this past Friday night, the Riverbank Bruin coaches and players took time to recognize four families who represented relatives whose lives were lost in service to their nation or local community.

Acting on recognition it began at a City Council meeting earlier this summer, city officials last week unveiled a sign dedicating the trail in Jacob Myers Park. It recognizes the two decades of effort by a resident to improve life here in Riverbank, especially in the park. The brief ceremony honored Scott McRitchie for his service on a number of city panels, including the Budget Committee and years of service on the Planning Commission, including terms as its Chair.

Igor Ventreschi and Gisselle Caratachea are the 2018 Homecoming King and Queen, crowned at halftime of the Riverbank High varsity football game on Friday night, Sept. 7.

Although the streets of downtown Riverbank were not packed with people, there was still a feeling of energy that was swirling around Santa Fe Street between Third and Fourth streets during the Sip-n- Stroll on Friday, Sept. 14. With efforts to create some excitement in the downtown area and promoting local business, Pete DeMattos with Kiwi’s Custom Guns along with assistance from City Councilmember Leanne Jones Cruz hosted the event, where guests could have a beverage while perusing through downtown.

The Riverbank City Council and its Planning Commission gathered in a special joint session to hear about plans to develop the Crossroads West shopping and residential areas west of Oakdale Road. The meeting was held just prior to the Planning Commission’s regular third Tuesday gathering on Sept. 18.

After weeks of speculation as to whether or not Republican Congressman Jeff Denham and his Democratic challenger Josh Harder would ever meet in public to argue the issues, the two came face-to-face in front of a live audience for a debate on Saturday in Turlock.

OCTOBER

The Stanislaus County Veterans Advisory Commission gathered for its September meeting in Riverbank held in the Scout Hall building on High Street. In addition to commissioners representing each of the five Supervisorial Districts in the county, there were also attendees who work with other governmental and volunteer agencies that deal with issues affecting local veterans.

The Walter Brother Circus came to town, entertaining parents and children of all ages under a big top tent set up on Patterson Road. Based in Tracy, the traveling performers entertained at eight shows over five days last week.

It started back in summer, in July to be exact, the long, long path to victory for the Bruin Marching Band and Colorguard of Riverbank High School. This past Saturday, all the hard work paid off, with a second place finish for the band, and first place for the colorguard. After having been dormant for about 10 years, the group was reinstated last summer by band director Joey Aguilar. New uniforms and new instruments attracted a good turnout of musicians willing to begin work in the heat of the summer, in music camp, long before classes began.

People from all over attended the 42nd Annual Cheese and Wine Expo that is hosted by the City of Riverbank, taking up a few blocks downtown. There is no charge to attend the festival, which included live music on different stages throughout the event, food vendors, and activities for the kids like the Waterballerz, train rides, and carnival.

In a visit that included stops along the river and ended with a roundtable discussion at Jacob Myers Park, U.S. Representative Jeff Denham brought the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator to the Central Valley on Thursday, Oct. 11 to see firsthand the devastation that Sacramento’s planned water grab would have on communities, farms and the economy. Denham and Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler visited weir traps on the Stanislaus River, hosted a field hearing with irrigation districts in Riverbank, and met with the local agriculture leaders at Stanislaus County Farm Bureau in Modesto.

Candidates in the upcoming city municipal election for seats on the Riverbank City Council met in a public forum, sponsored by the local branch of the League of Women Voters. The group traditionally hosts similar events all over Stanislaus County prior to contested elections. The Wednesday, Oct. 17 event featured all five of the candidates for the two seats up for election on the November ballot. Vying for the District 1 seat are Vernon ‘Jack’ Whorton, Jr., Luis Uribe and Eva Nash. Contesting the District 3 seat are sitting council members Calvin ‘Cal’ Campbell and Leanne Jones-Cruz.

Riverbank City Manager Sean Scully made a special presentation to the city council at its regular Oct. 23 meeting, describing the effects of a recent court decision on how Riverbank manages the homeless situation. He said the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision on the matter. Scully described the background on the case. It was originally filed in 2009, he said, and “centered around a challenge to a City of Boise anticamping law, which prohibited sleeping or camping in public spaces (sidewalks, parks, streets etc.) without permission.”

The 12th Annual Lights On event to celebrate afterschool programs was held throughout the past week this year at Castleberg Park, with a specific day set aside for each school site to enjoy an afternoon at the park.

NOVEMBER

There are two young, giving twin brothers from Turlock named Jude and Jack Locke that have a love for animals and veterans. At a recent barbecue and rally in Modesto, the boys presented a check to American Veterans First (AVF) representative Duke Cooper in the amount of $476.91 for a new pilot program called Pets for Vets.

Though it was hosted by the Riverbank Royal Neighbors organization, this year the 11th annual Veterans Luncheon was served up in Modesto. The location was the Stanislaus County Veterans Foundation facility on Coffee Road. The Foundation was a co-sponsor this year for the Saturday, Nov. 3 event.

Although the official numbers have not been certified, with 2,098 in favor of Measure G and 1,254 no votes, Measure G has been approved for the Riverbank Unified School District. The midterm election on Nov. 6 was a success for the district as Measure G will authorize the district to issue 19.1 million in bonds for facility improvements. The percentage of voters in favor was roughly 63 percent.

Riverbank Parks and Recreation Department Director Sue Fitzpatrick, staff workers and members of the Friends of Jacob Myers Park gathered at the park this past Thursday to pay tribute to a local health practitioner and community and business activist. A new tree was planted in the park and dedicated to Dr. Dennis Zinner, Riverbank chiropractor, who passed away in July, 2017.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office reported that one of its deputies assisting Riverbank Police Services in a vehicle pursuit was killed in a collision with a power pole at the intersection of Terminal Avenue and Claribel Road, on the outskirts of town. Deputy Antonio “Tony” Hinostroza, 45, was killed in a vehicle collision just before 10 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, just outside of Riverbank.

Despite fears that rain might fall on participants, that jolly old elf made several appearances during Riverbank’s official kickoff of the Christmas season in downtown over the weekend. The showers had completed their run well ahead of time. Traditionally held on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, the holiday fun found itself tucked neatly between the nation’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday observances that are part of the seasonal sales this time of year. Riverbank’s Christmas Crafts Faire has become a relatively recent tradition for local residents, but the annual parade, always scheduled for the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, celebrated its 50th Anniversary this year, on Nov. 24.

DECEMBER

The Riverbank High School Culinary Class created a garden on campus that has several herbs, healthy greens, and flowers. They have used these items in several dishes that they have created in the kitchen for class. Not only have they used garden fresh ingredients in their creations but they also recently entered their garden in a nationwide contest on Instagram and won.

Incumbent Riverbank City Councilman Cal Campbell narrowly defeated fellow incumbent Leanne Jones Cruz to retain his seat on the panel, while Luis Uribe will be a newcomer to the dais. Campbell and Uribe are due to be sworn in to their council posts at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting, set for Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.

A pillar of the Riverbank community, and a friend to many here, Scott McRitchie passed away just before Thanksgiving. He was an icon of local volunteerism about whom Mayor Richard O’Brien said “he has had more impact on the city of Riverbank for good than any mayor or council member, ever.” McRitchie, 79, succumbed after a long battle with cancer, surrounded by family and friends, on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

People that have pets, whether it is a cat or a dog or a horse or a goat or whatever it may be, can grow a very strong emotional connection with them. Pet lovers like Duke Cooper with American Veterans First (AVF) and Scott Hicks with the ASTRO (Animal Shelter To Riverbank and Oakdale) Foundation had an organic collaboration of organizations creating a new Pets 4 Vets program.

The scene at the Crossroads Shopping Center on Friday, Dec. 14 had many people in wonder about what all the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department vehicles – including the S.W.A.T. truck – that were lined up in front of Kohl’s were doing there. In a world where people are almost used to hearing bad things, the first thought tends to be negative but not this time. For the past 10 years, Riverbank Police Services (RPS), Sheriff’s Deputies, and staff partnered together to bring a positive, warm, and cheerful interaction between the kids in the community and law enforcement through the Shop with a Cop program.

The annual holiday Food Distribution occurred at the St. Frances of Rome Church Hall, bringing food to 187 families and approximately 520 people for Christmas. Although Riverbank Christian Food Sharing and St. Vincent de Paul have been providing food for Christmas and throughout the year, for the past five years they combined forces with other organizations forming Riverbank Cares to continue the tradition. The food giveaway has been held at the Riverbank Community Center in past years and moved to the church this year due to renovations planned at the center.