We hope everyone will take the opportunity to honor a local hero on Tuesday, April 7 when Gene Benedix receives the Purple Heart medal. The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the Gladys Lemmons Senior Center. This is such an amazing honor for someone very deserving!
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Here comes Peter Cottontail ... it’s Easter time and our annual Community Easter Egg Hunt is this Saturday, April 4. The Easter Egg Hunt is sponsored by Valley Home 4-H. The 4-Hers will meet on Friday evening to decorate several hundred eggs. The Easter Hunt will take place at 12:30 p.m. SHARP on the “old” school campus (Texas Avenue). Bring your Easter basket and come have a great time! All are welcome!
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Remember tomorrow, April 2 is our Valley Home School Jog-A-Thon. Our students are excited to participate in many activities this week! All students were given a white T-shirt on which they could design their own jog-a-thon contest entry. School spirit is at an all-time high and so is spring fever. Spring break starts this Friday, April 3. We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.
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The month of April has many special birthdays ... the celebrations start with Marybeth Carpenter, Gunter Brisi, Brian Brodoski, and will be followed by Gracie Verdegaal, Jessica Hatfield, Luke Pouncey, Jordan McCain, Cody Bartholomew, Richard Mullins and our 4-H Archery leader, Ray Weaver. We also would like to send a very special “Happy Birthday” to former Valley Home resident, Tayler Denman of Bells, Texas. We wish each of you the very best of birthdays and many happy returns of your special day! Happy Birthday to all!
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Our Valley Home students are busy working on their Science projects and seeing some of their ideas, this will be a very exciting and educational hands on Science Fair. Special thanks to Science teacher Holly Benkula for sparking such a tremendous interest in Science among our students!
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At this week’s Oakdale Garden Club meeting we were presented with a framed certificate showing that the U.S. National Forest & the Stanislaus National Forest Commend the Oakdale Garden Club for its 72nd Penny Pines donation, this time in honor of Glenn and Laura Burghardt, to the future of National Forests in California.
The club has been making donations as long as the Penny Pines Program has been in operation. They are made for special activities or memorials.
Laura has been a member of the Oakdale Garden Club since May 1975 and has served as president 17 times (not consecutive). Glenn joined the garden club in May 1993 upon retirement from the U.S. Navy, also serving as President of the Club and as Director of the Valley Lode District of the Calif. State Garden Clubs.
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We end this week’s column with a tribute to the memory of our dear friend, Claire Taro. Claire was a long time Valley Home resident and the loving wife of well-respected rancher, Tony Taro. Claire’s son, Don Taro is chairman of the Valley Home Community Park. We miss our good friend who passed away two years ago on April 4.
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As always you may reach me by calling 985-5233 or email winniemullins51@gmail.com. Until next time, “Happy Trails to All!”
