WEST SIDERS PROMOTE HEALTH. Some West Siders will be flocking to Modesto tonight in support of the Doctors Medical Center (DMC) Foundation’s Culinary Clash Chefs Competition, featuring Culinary Commentator Jeff Mall (son of Gary Mall and Barbara McBride), chef/owner at renowned Zen Restaurant in Healdsburg. Mall will give the play-by-play as three top (local) chefs create four delectable dishes using a “secret ingredient” that will be announced with one hour left in the cook-off. Judges include Stan Dimond, former owner/chef at Mallard’s; Irene Angelo, one of the first foodies in the Valley, and Tom Bender, wine expert from the Columbia Culinary College. Various wineries will pour their special wines and 15 local restaurants and caterers will offer appetizers.

West Siders pouring wine includes farmers Gary Mall and David Gonzalves.  One lucky chef will win the title of the area’s own “Ultimate Chef.” Five hundred people are expected, and few tickets are left, so if you are interested, phone Jeanie Miller at 527-3412. Each year the DMC Foundation serves nearly 50,000 residents of Stanislaus County with educational programs and services that provide the opportunity to improve the overall health and well being of individuals of all ages.

SOMETIMES IT’S BEST TO ENTICE FAMILY COMPANIES TO TOWN. Newman’s neighbor on the east side of the county, Oakdale, was devastated almost two years ago when the Hershey Candy Company announced it would be closing and moving its operations to Mexico and elsewhere. That prompted many locals to urge their friends and families to boycott Hershey and buy from American candy companies.

To some, that was a rather provincial and “local yokel” thing to do, but to West Siders it was the “right” thing to encourage. Sometimes the big, publicly-owned companies we entice to move to our communities don’t always bring us what we want. They come to a small town thinking they are going to do whatever they want, because we “just can’t live without them.”

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I’m happy to report that the people of Oakdale are smiling again… and for good reason. A California Italian family company is moving their operation from Oakland to Oakdale, and this could be the best thing to happen to that city in years. While the new company, Sconza Candy Company, will hire less than half of the people once employed by Hershey, there is an opportunity to grow in Oakdale (and our county) and they like living and working in California.

The Sconzas make candy the old-fashioned way, and they’ve been doing it that way for almost 70 years. Even former Hershey employees (now retired) are elated. One retired mechanic offered his services free of charge if the company needed him in the transition.

Sconza Candy Co. is run by the son of its founder, President James Sconza and third generation Sconzas who serve as vice presidents. James Sconza’s father, Vincent Sconza was 17 when he left Italy and immigrated to the United States in 1922. He started the company making peanut brittle in the kitchen with his wife in Oakland. The company moved to Berkeley, then back to Oakland where they operated for more than 40 years. Now they will be making Oakdale (and OUR County) their home. We welcome them to the Valley!