News Briefs – Jan. 26

Kindergarten registration in NCLUSD

The Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District will host kindergarten registration Feb. 15-17 at the L.J. Newman Building.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Children who turn 5 on or before Nov. 1, 2012, are eligible to enter kindergarten this fall.

Registration appointments are required and may be made by calling any of the district’s elementary schools.

Registration packets may be picked up beginning Jan. 30. Parents are asked to bring a birth certificate and immunization records when picking up packets.

Public health will be at registration Wednesday, Feb. 15, to provide immunizations and physical for eligible students. Call 862-0295 for additional information or an appointment.

Parent education program

The Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District will host a nine-week parent education program beginning Thursday, Feb. 2.

Sessions meet each Thursday through April 5 (no session on Feb. 23) from 6-7:30 p.m. at Von Renner Elementary School.

There is no cost to parents. Child care, refreshments and materials are provided.

The program begins with an orientation session Feb. 2 and concludes with a graduation program April 5.

Topics range from establishing home-to-school partnerships to becoming familiar with college requirements.

The program is sponsored by the local school district, California State University Stanislaus Partners and the Parinte Institute for Quality Education.

Call 862-2868 for additional information.

Community garden meeting

A second meeting of people interested in being involved in a Gustine community garden association is scheduled to be held Sunday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. at Pizza Factory.

Organizer Lori Atkins said that, based on the initial response, she is proceeding with the process of incorporating the association as a registered non-profit.

Community members seeking additional information about the project may contact Atkins at 628-6301.

Local link to court system

West Side residents with business before Stanislaus County courts may have to travel no further than a downtown Newman store to handle the matter.

A kiosk which provides a link to on-line services provided by Stanislaus County Superior Court has been installed in Newman’s Pioneer Drug store.

The public can use the kiosk to look up cases pending before the court, confirm hearing or trial dates, times and location, pay a traffic ticket using a credit card or check on the disposition or outcome of any case open or pending before the court, according to a court press release.

Tax filing assistance

The Center for Human Services will be hosting income tax filing assistance at the Newman Family Resource Center this filing season.

IRS-certified volunteers will assist with filing of tax returns.

Interested community members may call 862-0295 for program qualifications and to make an appointment.

Outstanding Woman nominees due

The Stanislaus County Commission for Women is accepting nominations for its annual Outstanding Women awards.

Nominees are being accepted in the categories of women of history, living pioneers and young women (high school seniors to age 24, which includes a cash scholarship).

The awards recognize women who have made a meaningful contribution to the quality of life for all women and children.

Nominees may be a trail-blazer who took on a challenging cause or began an important program, a woman who was first to achieve a significant accomplishment in her field, an inspirational role model, a woman representative in government who stands up for the issues of women and children or who otherwise made a significant impact.

Nomination forms are available at all Stanislaus County libraries, by email to sccw01@gmail.com or on line at www.StanislausWomen.org.

Nominations must be postmarked or arrive by email no later than Jan. 31.

Awards will be presented March 31.

Historical Society luncheon meeting

The Gustine Historical Society will host its annual luncheon meeting Tuesday, Jan. 31, at noon in the social hall of the Gustine Community Presbyterian Church.

Merced County historian and token collector John Hofmann will be the guest speaker.

The community is invited to attend. Cost is $12. Reservations are required.

Call 854-2221 for additional information.

Safe Seniors

The Safe Seniors Community Project, a program of United Cerebral Palsy of Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties, is offering a home safety inspection for seniors 62 and older who own their own home.

The program also provides a work crew for cleanup and minor repairs needed to foster a safe home environment.

Services may include clearing debris around the home, identifying trip hazards, changing outdoor light bulbs and cleaning rain gutters.

Call 577-2122 for additional information.

The program is open to those in most parts of Stanislaus County, including Newman.

GHS Centennial planning

The Gustine High Centennial committee is seeking class representatives to help organize contact information for their classmates in preparation of the Gustine High centennial celebration in 2013-14.  Interested parties are asked to send information to GHS alum Glennis Kidder, 936 Inyo Ave, Newman 95360.

The next committee meeting is Monday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the GHS library.

Centennial cookbooks are still available for purchase at a cost of $25 each. Call Pat Rocha, 854-3052.

Art at the McConnell Center

Student artwork from the Von Renner fifth-grade classes of Mrs. Roe and Mrs. Manriquez is being featured in the January exhibit at the McConnell Adult Education Center.

Newman Rec offering fitness program

The city of Newman Recreation Department is sponsoring a “Newman Fit Club,” with Monday evening sessions offering a variety of workouts.

People of all fitness levels are invited to join the weekly workouts, which cost $1.

Cardio X is offered Jan. 30.

Sessions meet Mondays at 6:15 at the Newman Youth Center on Hardin Road.

Call Stephanie House, 862-4440, or Adrian Zavala, 648-0631, for additional information.

Path of the Padres

Staff members at the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area will again be leading the popular “Path of the Padres” hikes weekends March 3 through April 29.

The hike begins at the Los Banos Creek Reservoir boat launch at 8 a.m. and returns at about 3:30 p.m.

A pontoon boat carries passengers for about 30-40 minutes to the west end of the reservoir, where they embark on a five-mile round-trip hike.

While on the path, hikers will see the area where Spanish padres from Mission San Juan Bautista camped on their way to the Central Valley, see clues left by Native California Indians who lived along the creek and view wildflowers and wildlife native to the area.

Participants must be at least 6 years of age and in good physical condition for the moderately strenuous hike.

Hikes must carry a minimum of two quarts of water, lunch and snacks. Layered clothing, comfortable, durable hiking shoes (which may get wet), a hat and sunscreen are recommended.

Fee is $12 for adults and $7 for children 6-12. Family fees of $30 include participation for two adults and three children.

A state park day use parking fee of $10 per car also applies.

Reservations are required and may be made beginning Feb. 1. Call 826-1197 Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for reservations or additional information.