Photo 1: Chris, Abbey, Becky and Madison Murphy
Photo 2: Ringing the bell for the Central Valley Professional Exchange at the Kettle Kick Off
Greetings Modesto Fans!
I love the Christmas Holiday spirit. I love the feeling you get, the friendship, the colors, the smells and the camaraderie that you feel through the season and into New years is amazing. I love baking in the kitchen with my girls, watching Christmas Vacation for the 1,000th time and walking and driving around Modesto looking at lights. It is especially nice this year as our beloved McHenry Mansion is back and our hometown has its house back again. Looking back on 2012, it is amazing how much a part of our loves the mansion is and how much the history of Modesto is really becoming important.
This year saw the 100-year anniversary of the Modesto Arch, the McHenry Museum, and the Chamber of Commerce with a variety of 100 year old companies. It was amazing that Modesto has always been at the front of culture over the years. In 1912, we were quite amazing with our Modesto Theatre and our irrigation system bringing Water, Wealth, Contentment and Health to our city. As we turned on the new LED lights of the restored arch, it brought back all of the memories. American Graffiti turned 50 this year when “Where were you in ‘62” was actually happening and George Lucas returned to town for his 50th reunion with his childhood friends. The more you get to know the history of Modesto and the people that make Modesto happen, the more interesting it gets. That is why I started ModestoView back in 1997 and that is why it exists today. The more we know about our fellow citizens and how we all connect, makes our lives more interesting and more enjoyable. We really are a community and our wonderful writers share their lives and interests with you each month. You can never have too many friends and we really feel like our ModestoView readers, our 6250 Facebook friends and Twitter followers all feel like family in some way. We make and read ModestoView because we like the good things in Modesto.
Modesto is a giving city and we rally for each other, whether it was the Modesto Rocks show for 911 back in 2001 or the Concert for Hurricane Sandy this month, or raising $184,681 at the Salvation Army Kettle Kick off, our people look out for each other. We live local, give local, we eat, drink, learn and listen local and we realize how important it is to shop local and pump up our own economy. Now and most all year long I have shopped local and all of my holiday gifts will have some sort of interesting Modesto connection. It is amazing how easy it is to shop local if you love music, arts, food, and cool crafts, whether it is a McHenry Mansion tree ornament, or a new CD from a band you saw at the Thursday Ramble, a historical picture book at the Museum, olive oil gift pack from Sciabica, a bottle of Gallo wine or sip of Cold House Vodka there is really something for everyone.
This holiday season, my family wishes the very best to you and your family. We remember our friends here, abroad and those that are not with us anymore. We hope that your holiday experiences are joyful, warm and rich with friendship. Together we all make Modesto USA the place it can be.
Chris Murphy Published and Founder ModestoView Serving Civic Pride Daily since 1997 chrism@modestoview.com
On the cover: As we finish off a year full of centennial events, we brainstormed and thought about a truly dazzling way to see Modesto and the 2012 Snow Globe was born. Our ever intrepid designer Noel Rocha turned a cocktail napkin sketch and some photos into the gift that I wish I could get everyone this year. Someday we will make this a reality but now you have it on the cover of our December ModestoView. – Chris
