Miscellaneous
Despite some loss, heart of downtown continues to beat - the City has taken measures to ensure businesses stand a chance at making it through these difficult times. Next on our list, looking for a great place to pamper yourself? Diamond Brows is the perfect place for you— no matter your budget. With the season changing the City’s Winter Watering Schedule will be in full effect starting Nov. 1. Here’s a story to inspire you, Oscar Avila (owner) and the crew at the Turlock Cost Less grocery store have donned bright pink t-shirts in support of the Turlock Firefighters Local #2434 and their breast cancer fundraising campaign. Next, as the city of Turlock continues to grow, residents and visitors have seen a steady increase of different businesses. One of the newest is a Boba shop called Kung Fu Tea walking distance from Stan State. And now show some support to our local businesses especially during this pandemic as I give you 2 business highlights this week. Also sharing the latest updates bout COVID 19 in Stanislaus County. All that and more today in this week's Local Turlock podcast. Despite some loss, heart of downtown continues to beat Source: https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/local/despite-some-loss-heart-downtown-continues-beat/ Since the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a standstill in March, there has been plenty of movement in Turlock’s downtown core — from some longtime tenants who have closed down for good to out-of-town businesses making plans to open up shop. Despite recent economic setbacks both locally and nationwide, downtown Turlock has fared well since the pandemic began compared to past recessions. According to Assistant to the City Manager for Housing and Economic Development Maryn Pitt, the downtown vacancy rate was about 35 percent following the Great Recession. In the years that followed, a colorful revitalization took place complete with new boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops. While some businesses have closed due to the pandemic and rising rents, the progress made in the downtown core hasn’t been lost due to the shutdown. The vacancy rate is currently at about seven to 10 percent, and the City has taken measures to ensure businesses stand a chance at making it through the difficult climate. The weekly Downtown Turlock Street Vibe, which sees West Main Street closed between 1st Street and Broadway from Thursday to Sunday, has provided restaurants on that particular block to seat plenty of people outdoors. Throughout all of downtown, the City’s permits have allowed restaurants to get creative with their outdoor seating, utilizing sidewalks and creating ambience with lights and planter boxes. Commonwealth is currently working with architects to figure out a seating plan that can be safe and profitable during the pandemic. Though some businesses have been hit harder by the pandemic than others, different industries continue to support each other. New salon moves into Turlock Town Center Source: https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/local/new-salon-moves-turlock-town-center/ One of the newest tenants in the Turlock Town Center is a salon hoping to help everyone feel welcome — no matter their budget. Diamond Brows owner Maisa Safi opened her first salon in Salinas before moving to Turlock, where she has expanded her business to not only include the eyebrow services her longtime customers already know and love, but also other beauty necessities like hair, nail and pedicure appointments. Since opening on Sept. 5, Diamond Brows has provided these services to the community in a glammed-out space that helps customers feel welcome. Diamond Brows specializes in lash application as well as eyebrow threading, waxing and microblading — a semi-permanent makeup service that gives clients the illusion of full brows via small, tattooed strokes. While the procedure typically costs anywhere from $500 and up, Safi offers quality work — or as she likes to call it, “talent” — for a fraction of the price. It is Located at: 545 N Golden State Blvd., Turlock and open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; Closed Tuesdays. You can contact 209-250-2646 for more information. Winter Watering Schedule fast approaching Source: https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/government/winter-watering-schedule-fast-approaching/ With the season changing, the City’s Winter Watering Schedule will be in full effect starting Nov. 1. Make sure you reset your automatic sprinkler and irrigation timers to only turn on within the Winter Watering Schedule, which runs from Nov. 1 through Feb. 28. Even numbered addresses are allowed to water on Saturdays only and odd numbered addresses on Sundays only. No watering is allowed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. The City of Turlock strongly encourages customer to turn off sprinkler systems during the fall and winter months. As a reminder, there is no watering during or within 48 hours after measurable rainfall. As a part of the Water Conservation Program, the City does enforce the watering schedule and issue warnings and penalties to those customers who waste water and water on non-watering days. Please do your part to help ‘Save Our Water’ and conserve this season. For more information contact, Municipal Services at (209) 668-55or visit the City of Turlock website at: www.CityofTurlock.org. Local market supports firefighters with shirt sales Source: https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/local/local-market-supports-firefighters-shirt-sales/ With many of the area’s normal fall fundraisers cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, one local grocery store is doing its part to continue with its giving ways. Every October for the past eight years, Oscar Avila and the crew at the Turlock Cost Less grocery store on W. Main Street have donned bright pink t-shirts in support of the Turlock Firefighters Local #2434 and their breast cancer fundraising campaign. The specially designed pink t-shirts have helped raise over $100,000 during the past several years for the Bill and Elsie Ahlem Cancer Endowment, which assists local community members with their cancer treatments. When Avila heard there would be no pink t-shirts this year, he decided to take things in his own hands. Cost Less has designed its own t-shirt, with the help of artistically inclined employee Timothy Brown, as a tribute to firefighters. The red shirts — not pink, as Avila didn’t want to infringe on the firefighters’ signature fundraiser color — read “We Appreciate Firefighters” and feature firefighter equipment such as a helmet, axe and hose. It is important for Avila to show support to the firefighters who “are having a very rough year” and at the same time raise some funds for their breast cancer campaign. The t-shirts can be purchased for $20 at Cost Less, 255 W. Main St. in Turlock. Battle of the Bobas: Turlock Welcomes Another Boba Shop Source: https://www.csusignal.com/food/article_edf13cb0-0f69-11eb-9b01-ffcb80eb0935.html As the city of Turlock continues to grow, residents and visitors have seen a steady increase of different businesses. One of the newest is a Boba shop called Kung Fu Tea. Kung Fu Tea will join Quickly, which has been open in Turlock for nearly three years, as premier boba spots. These shops are not only within a short distance from Stan State, they are also within walking distance of one another. Both businesses expressed their thoughts on the two shops being so near each other. The Kung Fu Tea staff said that they are aware of Quickly being just a couple doors down. Their goal is to provide more options for Stan State students and Turlock and having competitors would help both businesses improve on their drink quality and customer service. They are currently offering FiveStars rewards, which means that after 12 drinks purchased, the customer can get one free drink. They are prepared for the new customers coming in. You can’t go wrong with any of their drinks, it’s just based on what type of flavor you are interested in. Coronavirus update, Oct. 22: Stanislaus announces 394th death. Cases reach 17,403 Source: https://www.modbee.com/news/coronavirus/article246625388.html Stanislaus County announced its 394th death to COVID-19 on Wednesday and 49 new cases. The total number of positive tests now stands at 17,403. It lists another 98,723 residents who have tested negative and 16,771 who are presumed recovered. The county’s five hospitals had 44 confirmed COVID-19 cases Wednesday, up from 41 on Tuesday. In the first update Tuesday since leaving the move restrictive purple tier a week ago, Stanislaus County was able to meet the criteria for staying in the red status of California’s “slow and stringent” coronavirus reopening program. Geographically: Modesto has 6,461 positive cases Turlock has 2,322, and Ceres with 2,160 cases Business Highlights Eating out has been a well-mourned commodity since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down. Many small businesses in the area have been severely impacted, and some have gone under due to the temporary shut-down and subsequent lack of indoor eating accommodations. Others have still managed to survive by delivering or offering outdoor seating options. But if you are a local resident from Turlock, I bet you wish to be informed of the numerous tasty and affordable places to eat. Willie’s Pizza and Wings + Lulu’s Ice Cream Parlor Run by the same owner, these two establishments have a variety of foods to offer, and at decent prices as well. Willie’s makes everything from scratch, pizza sauces, wing sauces, everything. They grate their own cheese and slice all of their vegetables. They also have a really cool ‘hella hella hot wing’ challenge.The menu ranges between $7.50 for 6-piece wings and about $27 for a specialty pizza. Lulu’s serves burgers, fries, shakes, sundaes and ice cream scoops. They serve 28 flavors of ice cream and what some say are the best burgers in town Lulu’s menu is broad in that it offers $12 gourmet burgers as well as a more readily affordable $2 menu. Willie’s Pizza and Wings Located in: The Village Corner Address: 2050 E Canal Dr, Turlock, CA 95380, United States Operation Hours: Monday to Thursday 11am to 10pm Thursday to Saturday 11am-11pm Sunday 11am-9pm Phone: +1 209-667-9455 Lulu’s Ice Cream Parlor Located in: The Village Corner Address: 2056 E Canal Dr, Turlock, CA 95380, United States Operation Hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday 11am-8pm; Friday to Saturday 11am-9pm Phone: +1 209-667-5858 Thank you for staying until the very end for this week’s podcast. Don’t forget to visit our website, localturlock.com, to stay up-to-date on our local news. You can always email me at turlock@localturlock.com and visit our Facebook at Facebook.com/localturlock and leave us some comments! Stay tuned for next week’s exciting episode! Have a great weekend and always stay safe.