Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008

New businesses in Stanislaus off to exciting start

While the news on the economic landscape has been mostly bleak in recent weeks, we're grateful to note some encouraging signs in Stanislaus County. At last, the Sconza Candy Co. will begin production in Oakdale next week in the factory Hershey abandoned in February.

Meanwhile, the retail sector has been particularly active. The long-anticipated expansion of the Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto was celebrated last night. The big regional center showed off several new stores, including an Apple outlet that will bring joy to those enamored of iPods, iPhones and other shiny devices. Today, Tractor Supply opens a store in the new Ripon Crossing shopping plaza, where a Les Schwab Tire Center is being built. At midweek, crowds thronged to the new Wal-Mart Supercenter on north McHenry Avenue in Modesto.

Most of these companies committed to expanding here when the economy was robust. We salute them for following through with those commitments, and we wish them every success in these uncertain times.

The new Wal-Mart and the expanded mall will be magnets for eager shoppers. We ask them, and all drivers navigating the parking lots and surrounding streets, to use extra caution. As the holiday shopping season approaches, vehicle and pedestrian traffic will grow in both places. As of Friday, Modesto police had not received any reports of accidents associated with the new Wal-Mart, which is a relief. There is no traffic light on McHenry to manage vehicles entering and exiting the North Point Landing shopping center, and we worry about that. A signal was installed on Sisk Road near Carino's restaurant at the mall, and another will be installed near J.C. Penney. Lights or no lights, it's still up to drivers and pedestrians to make travel safe. Let's be careful out there.

Democracy is alive and well in America, as the huge turnout on Election Day proved. For a change, poll workers were kept busy checking in a steady stream of voters. Although they are paid, the compensation is not a lot, and some contribute their pay to nonprofit organizations. We thank the nearly 1,000 Stanislaus County poll workers in the general election for their service.

If you commute or otherwise regularly drive to the Bay Area, here's a bit of good news: Drawing on funding approved in statewide Proposition 1B in 2006, the California Transportation Commission has allocated $75.3 million for upgrades on Interstate 580 in Livermore. The money will be used to repave the freeway, build a carpool lane and add an interchange.

Not everyone is behind the wheel. Amtrak and Caltrans reported this week that a record 5.5 million passengers rode California's state-supported intercity passenger trains in federal fiscal year 2008. The San Joaquin service running from Bakersfield to Oakland and Sacramento had just shy of a million passengers. The surge in gasoline prices earlier this year no doubt drove some people to the rails. We hope they enjoyed the ride and will continue to take the train.

The Court Appointed Special Advocates program in Stanislaus County seeks volunteers to help foster children in the state court system. CASA provides training to advocates, who help courts determine what's best for the children. For information, call CASA at 567-4230, or visit the agency's Web site at www.casaofstanco.org.