Thursday, Jun. 05, 2008

Community Briefing

STUDENT'S ART ON DISPLAY IN D.C.: A Central Valley High School senior will have her artwork displayed in Washington, D.C. Mercedes Martinez won this year's Congressional Art Competition for high school students in the district of Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced. Her winning entry, titled "Stanislaus Live in Color," is a digital photography mosaic featuring iconic images of Modesto that are recognizable to Central Valley residents. Later this month, Martinez and a member of her family will visit Washington to attend an award ceremony, participate in a workshop with professional artists, and see the picture hung in the tunnel connecting the Capitol with the Cannon House Office Building. The picture will remain on display for one year and then be returned to Martinez.

CAR WASH FUND-RAISER FOR NEWMAN WOMAN: Friends of a Newman woman suffering from a terminal heart condition will hold a car wash from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Burger King, 1955 N St. in Newman. Bonnie Arnel, 52, has been diagnosed with an inoperable heart problem. Her friends hope to raise enough money to bring family members, including a 2-year-old grandson she's never met, from Illinois for a final visit. "They told me there's nothing they can do except keep me on medication until the end," said Arnel, who has other health problems, including emphysema even though she's never been a smoker. She said working in oil refineries in her native Illinois and growing up in a home where her parents smoked likely exacerbated her condition. An older sister died in March from the same illness, Arnel said. Eleven-year-olds from Boy Scout Troop 80 of Crows Landing will donate their efforts to the car wash. A "Friends of Bonnie Arnel" account has been established, and donations can be made at any Bank of the West branch, a bank employee confirmed.