When the going gets tough, the tough ... file to run for public office

Modesto needs three city council members, Riverbank is replacing a mayor, Oakdale has openings for three school trustees, Empire is looking for sanitary district directors, and dozens of other councils and boards in Stanislaus County need dedicated men and women for some 160 seats.

So, starting next week, let the filing begin.

The filing period for the Nov. 3 election opens Monday. Between then and Aug. 7, persons interested in running for office must complete the required documents in order to appear on the fall ballot.

Filing information is available from the Stanislaus County Clerk Recorder and Registrar of Voters office at 1021 I St., Room 101, Modesto; 525-5200 (English) or 525-5230 (Spanish); www.stanvote.com.

A workshop for potential candidates is being held this morning at The Bee, 1325 H St. in downtown Modesto. Local experts will talk about everything from getting started to financing and reporting requirements to campaign strategies. The free workshop is from 9 a.m. to noon, with registration starting at 8:30.

In these toughest and most trying of times, we need people of character, competence, commitment and courage to answer the call to civic leadership.

For decades, shoppers have bought everything from lingerie to luggage at Gottschalks' stores in Vintage Faire Mall and Century Center. Sunday will be the final day for those Modesto locations, as the bankrupt retailer closes the last of its 58 stores. We're sad to see Gottschalks go, but look forward to Forever 21's plans for the three- story anchor store at the mall. And we wish the owners of Century Center all the best in finding a replacement tenant for the east Modesto complex.

Congratulations are in order for the agriculture programs at Modesto Junior College and CSU Stanislaus. MJC's program recently harvested the "best in the state" award from the California Agriculture Teachers Association. Down the road in Turlock, CSUS's Agricultural Studies Department graduated its largest-ever class last month. In seven years, the program has grown from five to 65 students; this year's outstanding student award went to Courtney Hannink.

In these painful economic times, most nonprofit agencies are seeing dramatic increases in requests for goods and services. For example, Lynis Chaffey of Inter-Faith Ministries tells us of a desperate need for children's clothing. "With school out, we have been swamped," she says, "and we have little to support them with." If you have clothing for boys and girls, sizes 2-8, contact Inter-Faith at 572-3177 or visit the agency at 120 Kerr Ave., Modesto. But don't stop with them. Other agencies have similar needs for cash, donated items and volunteers.

Life is about to get a little better for homeowners near MJC, where the residential streets turn into a student parking lot during the school year. At 10 a.m. July 21, the college will officially open a long-overdue expanded parking lot on the west side of Tully Road between Coldwell and Stoddard avenues. The lot includes 246 additional parking spaces — meaning that many cars won't be parked on streets in front of nearby homes. The project is the first at MJC to be completely funded by Measure E bonds. And, by switching from an original plan for a parking garage to an expanded lot, the cost of the project was lowered from nearly $12 million to just under $4 million.

As of last week, California chain restaurants are required to disclose the calorie counts of almost everything on their menus. It's intended to help people eat better — and less. The measure applies to restaurants with 20 or more eateries in California, but not to those with buffet serving. Initially, restaurants have to offer brochures that detail the calories, sodium, saturated fat and carbohydrates of the items on their menus. Starting in 2011, the calorie counts will have to be listed on menus or menu boards. Ignorance will no longer be an excuse for devouring hugely fattening meals.