JARDINE: German's road to fame led through Modesto

From the e-mails, voice mails and whatnot:

MODESTO REVISITED — In 1954, German exchange student Uelo Salm walked as a member of Downey High School's first graduating class.

Last week, he returned to Modesto with a film crew, retracing his steps toward becoming a well-known attorney in Berlin. He is one of several people profiled in a documentary series that began in the mid-1980s.

Salm, who will be in town through Thursday, came to The Bee last week to get a copy of the story about him published Dec. 12, 1953.

REVERSE TRACK — More often, people become lawyers and then run for public office.

William Broderick-Villa took the opposite path. Elected to the Waterford City Council at 24, he became mayor at 26 before leaving in 2008 to attend Georgetown Law School in Washington, D.C.

Now he's back in the valley, where he works for the Curtis Legal Group in Modesto and awaits word on whether he passed the bar exam. He'll know in a couple of weeks. Villa, 31, handles tax and estate planning, business and other forms of law.

THANKS, PARDS — When Pakistani reporter Samia Saleem came to The Bee as a visiting journalist last month, her "to-do" list included learning to ride a horse. She'd never ridden. So thanks to the folks at Modesto's Boots and Saddles, a nonprofit, for helping to make that happen. The group provides therapeutic riding not only for youths but also to military veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Visit the organization on the Web at www.bootsandsaddles.org.

PURE LOSS — A note in Marijke Rowland's business column last week detailed the Oct. 22 closings of the Pure Joy Bakery and Lunch Pail restaurant, yet another casualty of the economy. It's too bad. I first met and wrote owner Bryan Ehrenholm when he operated Pure Joy at the Bloomingcamp Ranch east of Oakdale.

In the late 1990s, a Walt Disney Co. executive passing through stopped at the pie shop and liked the pieman's wares so much that he later sent a private plane to Oakdale to pick up several to serve at a Disney staff meeting. That turned into sending more pies to Disney HQ in Southern California and also to Walt Disney World in Florida, including some for a New Year's Eve party hosted by then-CEO Michael Eisner.

In 2005, Ehrenholm entered three of his pies in a contest in Florida. All won awards.

HEARTFELT THANKS — John and Amelia Bell of Modesto want to thank the unknown person who came to the side of their son, Michael Scott Bell, on Oct. 15. He was killed riding his motorcycle.

"Thank you for being by his side and staying until the CHP and the medical responders arrived. It was such a blessing … to know that he was not alone. May God truly bless you."

MAKING THEIR WAY — A pair of Johansen High grads, Iboni James (2005) and Glynnyale Shiel (2004) now live in Los Angeles, where they created "The Bizness Magazine." The quarterly magazine includes interviews with celebrities and focuses on music, fashion and health. For more information, including subscriptions, visit www. thebiznessmagazine.org.

MORE 11-11 MANIA — Forty-one descendants of Josie Kidd will mark the 100th anniversary of her arrival — a widow with four sons — in the valley on Nov. 11, 1911. They'll meet at her grave in Modesto, followed by a dinner. Among Josie Kidd's grandchildren is Marsha Kidd, a retired Modesto Junior College coach and also the granddaughter of Pop Swallow, remembered in September for being an MJC sports booster who created the "Wa-hoo" cheer and was heralded on the TV show "What's My Line" in 1958.

And 70 years ago come Friday — 11-11-1941 — Charles and Audrey Duerner of Modesto met on a blind date. They were married a year later and remain so to this day, and have lived in the same home since 1947. At 91, he still has his contractor's license.

Jeff Jardine's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in Local News. He can be reached at jjardine@modbee.com or (209) 578-2383.