News

Grayson’s bird book on display at Modesto library in June

Bee Staff Reports
Sal Salerno of the Stanislaus Audubon Society was amazed to learn the story of Andrew Jackson Grayson, founder of the small town on the county’s West Side whose love of birds and art led him to study birds on the West Coast much as Audubon did on the East Coast. Grayson, though, was a better artist. His works were stored for decades in UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library until they were turned into a two-volume book that costs $4,500. The Stanislaus organization raised money to buy a copy, and will offer a public showing June 11 at the Stanislaus County Library, beginning at 1 p.m.
Sal Salerno of the Stanislaus Audubon Society was amazed to learn the story of Andrew Jackson Grayson, founder of the small town on the county’s West Side whose love of birds and art led him to study birds on the West Coast much as Audubon did on the East Coast. Grayson, though, was a better artist. His works were stored for decades in UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library until they were turned into a two-volume book that costs $4,500. The Stanislaus organization raised money to buy a copy, and will offer a public showing June 11 at the Stanislaus County Library, beginning at 1 p.m. Jeff Jardine jjardine@modbee.com

It took eight months to raise the money, but Sal Salerno of Modesto finally was able to purchase a copy of Andrew Jackson Grayson’s “Birds of the Pacific Slope” for the Stanislaus Audubon Society and will offer a public showing at the Stanislaus County Library next month.

The event is scheduled for June 11 at 1 p.m. in the library’s auditorium.

Salerno was featured in a column by The Bee’s Jeff Jardine in September 2015, detailing the research Salerno performed to better understand the life and works of Grayson, who in 1849 founded the West Side community bearing his name. In addition to being an astute businessman, Grayson also loved art and birds and dreamed of being known as the “Audubon of the West,” in reference to John James Audubon, who was the world’s premier bird expert in the early 1800s.

After he died in 1869, Grayson’s wife, Frances, spent a decade in an unsuccessful attempt to have his drawings and paintings of birds published. She gave the collection to UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library, which in 1986 published 450 copies of the book that will be on display in Modesto.

Central Catholic students take firsts in robotics event

A team of Central Catholic High School students claimed two outright first-place awards and tied for another in the Navy Diversity STEM Outreach Program SeaPerch Regional competition in Saratoga. Nickolas Tran, Anthony Tan, Jack Zhang, Everett Sousa, David Cao and Erik Sandelin competed against 17 other Northern California high school teams and qualified for the national event May 21 in Louisiana. SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program that equips schools with the resources needed for students (and coaches) to build an underwater remotely operated vehicle. Students build the robot from a kit composed of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme. Central’s team is coached by Chuck Staley and Aracele Villapudua.

Old Romaggi House restoration fundraising underway

The nonprofit Romaggi Adobe Restoration Foundation is raising money to restore the two-story home that has been crumbling alongside Highway 49 south of Angels Camp for decades. James Romaggi, an Italian immigrant, built the home in 1851 after striking it rich during the Gold Rush. He returned to Italy to marry, then brought his wife to America and they began their family. The home has been vacant since the 1930s and has been vandalized. Area resident Adrian Nestor acquired the property in 2002 and began raising money through a local foundation. In 2006, he created the project’s own nonprofit foundation and established its board, enabling it to apply for grants, and he is in the process of hiring a professional grant writer. The board also is looking for contributors, with restoration costs expected to be in the $800,000 range. To see a video of the house and the project, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxmxA8pxCoY&feature=youtu.be. Donations can be sent to the Romaggi Adobe Association, P.O. Box 141, Angels Camp, CA 95222.

Soroptimists present $10,000 in awards to women

Soroptimist International of Modesto/North broke club-giving records by presenting five Live Your Dream Awards totaling $10,000. The awards provide funds for education and training to women. First-place winner Victoria Buttress and runner-ups Mimi Nguyen, Celia Arzate, Jilmirria Roberts and Vanessa Camacho all received money to pursue their educational goals.

Author! Author!

Stephen D. Mikesell, author of “Images of Rail: Sierra Railway,” will be the speaker at the Thursday’s meeting of the Tuolumne County Historical Society. Admission is free to the event, which begins at 7 p.m. and meets in the Community Room at the Tuolumne County Library, 480 Greenley Road in Sonora. Books will be for sale at the event and also through Amazon, $19.14 for paperback or $9.99 for Kindle.

Modesto resident Glen Denny is the author of “Valley Walls: A Memoir of Climbing and Living in Yosemite Valley,” published by the Yosemite Conservancy. The book is available through Amazon, $18.95 paperback.

Have an item for Success & Service? Submit it to local@modbee.com.

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Grayson’s bird book on display at Modesto library in June."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER