Awards, community events, council decisions, new businesses opening and elections all were part of a memorable 2025 for the Ceres community.

Picking the most significant news articles of any year is a subjective undertaking but we took a stab at it. The year 2025 left a number of memorable items to report about so here is a month-by-month look back at some noteworthy events the Ceres Courier covered.

January

Retiring Ceres Planning Commission members Bob Kachel and Gary Del Nero received plaques from the Ceres City Council as a sendoff for their years of service. Both decided it was time to step down after each served about two decades. Their final meeting occurred on Dec. 16, 2024.

Bret Durosette’s decades of service to the community earned him the “Citizen of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award” at the Jan. 17 Ceres Chamber of Commerce’s 56th annual Community Service Awards & Installation Dinner Banquet. Durossette was selected from among other nominees including former Mayor Louie Arrollo, former state Assemblyman and grape grower Bill Berryhill and Bob Gobble, an active member and former president of the Ceres Lions Club. Other awards doled out were: Distinguished Service – Doug Wallick; Nasson Sanchez –“Volunteer of the Year”; Young Citizen of the Year – Evette Garcia; Small Business of the Year –Ceres Pediatric Dentistry; Large Business of the Year – Howard Prep; and Legacy Award – Lou Toste.

Ceres Police Chief Chris Perry was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 28 but City Manager Doug Dunford couldn’t discuss the reasons behind the action, saying it was a confidential personnel matter. Police Captain Trenton Johnson was placed in charge of the Ceres Police Department for the interim.

Perry has been police chief since February 2024 after Rick Collins retired the prior month.

The Ceres City Council decided in 2025 that it won’t accommodate the property owners who have put up carports in violation of city ordinance. In 2024 the Code Enforcement team issued citations for residents who illegally putting up carports but the council initially signaled it might relax city code so they could keep their structures. In November Councilman Daniel Martinez suggested city staff to review the ordinance “and see how we can amend it to be more modern and help support the citizens that it’s affecting at the current time.” He also hinted at forming a council subcommittee to delve into changing the rules. But all councilmembers backed away from the idea of any modifications, much to the protest of those who put on carports illegally.

Sheriff Jeff Dirkse’s efforts to partner with a new cloud-based dispatch center survived when the Board of Supervisors begrudgingly voted 3-2 to allow the sheriff more time to crunch the numbers and bring back a more detailed financial picture regarding the proposed computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system offered by Oracle.

The Sheriff’s Office is part of the Joint Powers Authority that utilizes the SR911 dispatch center, which services multiple county agencies. The city of Modesto’s police and fire departments, also part of that JPA, are looking to switch to the CentralSquare CAD system. Dirkse said he feels CentralSquare is inadequate for his department’s needs. In addition to dispatch services, the sheriff also has to integrate a record-management system (RMS) and the jail-management system (JMS). 

February

Ishwar Gill was appointed to serve on the Ceres Planning Commission to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Cerina Otero after she was elected in November to the Ceres City Council. However, Gil would resign suddenly on Nov.10, short of completing his term which would have ended on Dec. 31, 2026.

Dr. Dorie Perez took her oath as a new planning commissioner on Feb. 17.

Bronco Winery in rural Ceres announced permanent layoff notices to 81 workers due to a significant downturn in wine sales, triggering the reorganization in operations and workforce. The jobs were cut on April 8, including truck drivers, mechanics, lift truck operators, security, cellar supervisors, viticulturists and microbiology technicians. The layoffs were due to the wine industry facing tough economic challenges due to flagging sales in recent years. According to the annual release of the Silicon Valley Bank Wine Report, total wine volumes were down 2.4% in 2024 and likely to continue declining this year. Reasons include the economy, an oversupply of wholesale inventory, a robust worldwide anti-alcohol movement, and because Millennials and Gen Z people prefer to drink alcoholic seltzers and cocktails or abstain from alcoholic beverages altogether.

The Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 7 announced their winners of the Administrator of the Year awards for Region 7. Three recipients from Ceres Unified School District (CUSD) were:

• Sinclear Elementary Assistant Principal Maggie Hartung has been selected as “Elementary Co-Administrator of the Year.”

• Matthew Hutsell selected the “Middle Grades Principal of the Year.”

• Sharon Carter has been awarded in the “Director of MTSS” award.

In addition, Mary La Rosa, principal of Emilie J. Ross Middle School in Hughson, was honored as a “Secondary Principal of the Year.”

March

Members of the Ceres Planning Commission and the Ceres City Council voted to approve the city’s new Housing Element to replace the one last crafted in January 2016.

State law requires cities to regularly update their Housing Elements within their General Plans to ensure planning is taken place to accommodate the house numbers set by the state, called the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation.

While cities plan for housing needs, construction of new units is completely dependent on the private sector, which is currently hamstrung by a number of factors. They include the high cost of materials, land, and building fees, interest rates that are still higher than they were years ago, an inadequate supply of construction workers and state regulations.

Kylie Pope of EMC Planning Group, Inc., the consultant hired by the city to prepare the 2023-31 Housing Element, said California needs an estimated 2.5 million new housing units to play catch-up and an estimated 34,344 units need to be built in Stanislaus County over the next eight years. Ceres would need to build 3,361 units for its part in meeting regional housing demand.

The community of Ceres mourned the death of Mary Fenton, who retired nearly five years ago from her city employment that set a longevity record. Fenton finished her 52 years of employment with the city and entered retirement during coronavirus restrictions.

April

After a year of service, Lea Simvoulakis left the city of Ceres as its director of Community Development on April 14 to move into the private sector and work for Northstar Engineering. With Senior Planner Teddie Hernandez out on a maternity leave, the city had no planning staff and contracted with Northstar to keep Simvoulakis working on Ceres matters on a 10-hour-per-week basis.

Saying he doesn’t fit the mold of a typical suit-wearing politician but as “Valley as you get,” Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez announced his candidacy for Congress at a rally at the Doghouse Tap Room. Before approximately 75 supporters, Lopez became the first Republican to announce he will try unseating Democrat Adam Gray in the 13th Congressional District. 

Lopez introduced himself as the mayor of Ceres, a football coach and a small business owner, and said his “wasn’t an easy decision, but I know it’s the right one, because I believe in the future of this Valley. I believe in America and I know I can be a part of the solution to the challenges we’re facing today.

By year’s end however, Lopez was talking about ending his candidacy following the entry of fellow Republican Kevin Lincoln, former Stockton mayor who received the endorsement of President Trump.

Women in the community were singled out for special honors by the Soroptimist International of Ceres at the “Women of Distinction” ceremony. The club honored Ceres business women Reyana Burciaga of Cupcake Boutique; Connie Escobedo of Doghouse Taproom; Vickie Gonzales of a Ceres-based Kona Ice franchise; Kim Parsons of Embroidery Plus; and Yelena Tsymbal of Loza’s.

Also honored were three Ceres Unified School District employees who assist in putting on workshops for junior high school girls in a program called Soroptimist Empowering Teens (SET): Ann Perez, the learning director at Blaker Kinser Junior High School; Lorena Rivas, Cesar Chavez Junior High School’s learning director; and Gina Louis, Mae Hensley Junior High School’s learning director. SET allows members to offer a variety of presentations, workshops and activities with the girls to help in their lives.

The Ceres City Council gave its blessings to a proposed 81-unit senior assisted living complex to be constructed south of the Evanshire Mansion. The 4-0 vote of support came just weeks after the Ceres Planning Commission approved the project by Evanshire Senior Living LLC. The council approved rezoning a two-acre site at 1748 Evans Road from Administrative Professional (AP) to High Density Residential (HDR) to allow the project to happen.

May

Following months of controversy and delay, an agreement was approved between the city of Ceres and Ceres Youth Baseball organization over fees and the use of the George Costa Baseball Complex at Smyrna Park. Approval of the three-year agreement still leaves open the matter of the city correcting poor lighting conditions on Field #3.

The agreement offers CYB full access to Costa Fields from January through November for their recreational and competitive games, practices and tournaments. This access includes any practices, games, tournaments and all concession stand revenue. The city Recreation Department grants CYB priority access to Costa Fields from January to November each year but if external entities wish to rent the field during this period, the city may allow rentals based on CYB’s schedules and availability.

The contract is expected to generate $38,880 in revenue to the city annually to offset the estimated costs for water, electricity, lighting, and janitorial services totaling $36,736.

The contract calls for CYB to keep all gate fees and registration fees during the recreational league and tournaments and all concession revenues. CYB assumes all lawn maintenance as well as irrigation system maintenance and liability for players and spectators.

CYB will pay the city a $40 per player fee to offset the operation and maintenance cost associated with Costa Fields. The fee applies to all recreational league, Blaze and Sizzle players.

Their staunch support of agriculture prompted the Ceres Chamber of Commerce to honor Bob Marchy as “Agribusiness Man of the Year” and Kim Parson as “Agribusiness Woman of the Year” at the annual Agribusiness Luncheon held at the May 20 luncheon at Diamond Bar Arena. The Chamber also presented Westport 4-H with the 2022 Grant and Mildred Lucas Memorial Award and I.J. Larsen Pump with the “Agribusiness of the Year” award. 

Former longtime local businesswoman Lana Casey, 63, of Hughson, pleaded “no contest” to a series of felony counts in Stanislaus County Superior Court on May 19. The former owner of Lana’s Spur of the Moment shop in Oakdale was indicted last year on 79 counts of grand theft, money laundering and tax evasion in what Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laguero described as a $1.4 million embezzlement scheme, the largest white-collar criminal indictment ever sought by the office. Casey also admitted an aggravated white collar crime enhancement that her crimes involved planning and sophistication.

The Woodspring Inn & Suites – the tallest commercial building in Ceres – opened for the first time on May 30. The hotel, located along Highway 99 inside the Ceres Gateway Center, offers 122 rooms for guests. It was officially welcomed to Ceres at a September ribbon cutting by the Ceres Chamber of Commerce. 

June

On June 9 ground broke on the $16.2 million stadium at Central Valley High School. It is expected to open in the fall of 2026. Phase I of the project consists of a 1,800-seat home grandstand and press box made of steel; 1,000-seat visitor grandstand; ticket/restroom/concessions building; extended bus loading zone and sidewalk; artificial turf field and all-weather track; and fencing and improvements to the parking lot and the entrance to the stadium.

Three members of the Ceres City Council approved the city’s new budget while two were opposed and suggested spending cuts need to be made rather than taking $2 million from reserves. Mayor Javier Lopez, Vice Mayor Daniel Martinez and Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra cast the deciding vote against the wishes of Councilmembers James Casey and Cerina Otero.

The city’s General Fund is expected to receive $27.5 million in revenue but spend $29.5 million, resulting in a $2 million deficit. To cover the shortfall, then Finance Director Shannon Esenwein said the city plans to use $2 million in reserves. That leaves the city with a “rainy day” fund of $4.8 million, which is 16.3 percent of the General Fund and below the 18 percent minimum established by prior councils. Esenwein said that at fiscal year’s end, Ceres’ reserves will be a bit lower than the recommended 17 percent from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The $2 million budget gap, she said, “reflects growing financial pressures, high pension obligations, insurance, animal services, inflation, and stagnant growth in core revenue streams.”

Six balloons launched at the crack of dawn on June 14 for the third annual Ceres “Skies the Limit” Balloon Festival at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park but stubborn winds grounded tethered flights for the public for a third consecutive year. This year’s event saw the launching of six balloons, compared to one in 2024 due to strong winds.

Ceres Police confirmed that the gun which resulted in the June 24 accidental shooting of a School Resource Officer at Blaker-Kinser Junior High School was a Sig Sauer P320 which has been known elsewhere to malfunction. The department released surveillance video from the school which shows Officer Salin Chrim in the parking lot when the gun went off on Tuesday, June 24. She sustained a leg wound which was treated at a local hospital.

Police officers throughout Stanislaus County put on their running shoes on June 24 to run about three miles throughout Ceres for a good cause – Special Olympics of Northern California. Special Olympics are designed to support and encourage intellectually disabled persons. The Ceres run took place just days before the 2025 Summer Games at Santa Clara University.

July

Work was completed on a re-roofing project at Mae Hensley Junior High School through funding from the voters’ passage of Measure Y in November 2024. The new roof on the 600 classroom wing is the first in a lineup of district-wide improvements made possible by the “Ceres Unified School District Campus Safety / Classroom Repair Measure” which authorized the issuance of $114 million in bonds.

A grand jury investigation revealed that Rosa De Leon Park, the executive director of the Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) used taxpayer funds to pay for expensive hotel rooms and room service, renting luxury cars – often while failing to produce receipts. The fallout is that the StanCOG policy board dismissed Park.

A large July 31 ceremony saw the official swearing-in of Ceres’ new police chief, the introduction of three new patrol officers and special awards for standout employees. Trenton Johnson had served as interim police chief since the departure of Chief Perry in late January. He officially became police chief as of July 1 but took the oath in public.

At the same event, Sergeant Jon Blount was honored as the 2024 “Sergeant of the Year,” Tyler Wilson was named “Officer of the Year,” Patty Godfrey was named “Volunteer of the Year,” Celine Gaitan Naranjo was honored as “Dispatcher of the Year” and Giovana Pineda was selected as “Professional Staff of the Year.” The new chief gave a special honor to Renee Howerton, who is in charge of the Property and Evidence Room, special recognition for her 35 years of service to CPD as she anticipates retirement.

July saw the completion of the first new apartment complex in years when Harinder Toor began renting his 28 multiple-family unit apartment complex behind the Richland Shopping Center. The 1.2-acre project located at 2125 Moffet Road broke ground in September 2024. The $6.8 million complex consists of four two-story buildings with each apartment occupying approximately 875 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

August

To help parents/guardians prepare for the new school year which began on Aug. 13, the Ceres Unified School District provided free shoes, socks, backpacks and haircut vouchers during the second annual Back-to-School Bash on Aug. 6.

A new $1.19 million four-story tower at the Service Road fire station in Ceres for training firefighters throughout Stanislaus County was dedicated. The ceremony included a surprise for retiring Modesto Fire Chief Kevin Wise when it was announced that the center will be named in his honor.

The tower is situated on Ceres city property – formerly the Ceres Fire Station – but is owned and operated by a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) with all its members contributing toward its cost. A host of city, county and fire officials came out for the July 30 dedication and ribbon cutting of what is the Station 17 Fire Training Tower named in Wise’s honor. Modesto Deputy Fire Chief Darin Jesberg, who is in charge of both the facility and the Modesto Junior College Regional Fire Training Center, said the new tower will “provide a variety of realistic training scenarios to our firefighters, current and new firefighters.” The four-story tactical training tower, comprised of large shipping containers, was assembled by American Fire Training Systems, Inc.

Ceres got a new book store in August. Brandy Meyer, president of the Ceres Chamber of Commerce, realized her dream of with the opening of BK Books & More at 2947 Fourth Street. Husband Keith is working to open Lil Papa’s Sandwiches & More.

September

The city of Ceres introduced Thursday Night Markets on Sept. 4 and offered it throughout the month. The Fourth Street event brought visitors to peruse a variety of vendors. The city plans to try the venue next year with produce vendors.

The Maverik station project approved by the Ceres Planning Commission in November 2024 and which survived an appeal at the Ceres City Council level in August was being held up by a lawsuit filed by the competing businessman who lost that appeal.

Diane Kindermann of the Sacramento law firm of Abbott & Kindermann who represents gas station owner Sunny Ghai, owner of the Popeye’s and Union 76 station on the other side of Mitchell Road, charged that the city of inadequate environmental review outlined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). City planners say her claim is bogus since the Maverik property underwent studies as part the previously approved Ceres Gateway Center and the Mitchell Ranch Shopping Center projects. They suggest the lawsuit is merely an attempt to block a competitor from coming in across the street.

Out of concerns that smoke shops in Ceres are selling illegal cannabis products and selling tobacco to minors, the Ceres City Council adopted tighter restrictions for their operations. Each smoke shop must submit a security plan on sale of age restricted materials. New security measures such reduced hours of operation, security guards, door monitors, burglar alarms may be required if harm, nuisance, or related problems are demonstrated to occur as a result of their business practices, said Ceres Police Chief Trenton Johnson. Shops will also be required to have video surveillance of all entrances, exits and points of sale.

Ann Montgomery, an administrative secretary for the city’s Community Development Department, for the past 14-1/2 years, retired.

October

Downtown Ceres was crowded on Oct. 25 with hundreds of residents who attended the Crosstown Showdown Parade, an annual event was created in 2022 to generate additional interest for the Ceres High-Central Valley varsity and junior-varsity football games.

November

Lazy Wheels Mobile Home Park, the bane of the city of Ceres for decades became history on Nov. 1 with a mandatory order to vacate the park, which was marked by squalor and health and safety violations for many years. City officials have made it clear to owner Anthony Nowaid that once the residents are gone, Lazy Wheels no longer exists as a mobile home park – and that it can’t ever be one again.

The city took steps over a decade ago to eliminate the park eyesore but the state of California, which has jurisdictions over mobile home parks, interfered.

The death of Freddy Morales, a Marine who fought in the Vietnam War veteran and an officer with the VFW and American Legion posts, left the Ceres veterans community in mourning. Morales, 76, passed away at his home in Ceres on Nov. 6 following a lengthy illness. He was laid to rest in the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella where he had performed countless honor guard ceremonies at the funerals of fellow veterans.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ceres stand-up comedian Anthony Krayenhagen, 38, for making threats against the life of Supervisor Channce Condit. Krayenhagen was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center in lieu of $750,000 bail.

Ceres joined in the mourners for Amari Peterson, 14, who was tragically gunned down at a Stockton banquet hall on Nov. 29. Peterson lived in Modesto but was a former youth football player with the Ceres Jr. Bulldogs. Three others were killed: Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, 8, Maya Lupian, 8, and Susano Archuleta, 21.

December

Kevin Wise officially retired from fire service on Dec. 1, leaving behind a distinguished 26 years of making safer the communities he served. Wise left his post as Modesto Fire chief but he also was the fire chief of Ceres and every city contracting with Modesto for fire services, including Oakdale. Serving as interim fire chief is Shanon Evans who began his fire career at Westport Fire Department in 1998 as a probationary firefighter. The Modesto City Council will deciding who to replace Wise in six to 11 months, according to Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Hunter.

Vanessa Portillo became the city’s new Finance Director in December. As a successor to Shannon Esenwein who resigned in November to be closer to family Portillo enters the role at a crucial time – helping to tackle Ceres’ budget challenges for the 2026-27 budget cycle.

Loza’s Restaurant in downtown Ceres announced it was closing at the end of the year.