What a wonderful time a year, as the

temperature cools, much needed rain descends upon us, and we welcome

the holiday season. During this time many turn their attention of a time to

celebrate family, embrace togetherness, and count there many

blessings in their lives. As we embrace the season many of us will brave local

stores shopping for holiday gifts. What a great environment our local

boutiques and eateries provide for shoppers. Can anyone ask for a safer and a more friendly community to

shop in?

As we are all out in the hustle and

bustle here are some helpful tips that everyone can use during the holidays

or any time of year to assist in keeping you, you’re family, and your property

safe.

While out shopping:

•Contact the police department if you observe or suspect anything that is

suspicious. (Ripon Police Department non-emergency telephone number is

599-2102).

•Shop during daylight hours whenever

possible. If you must shop at night, go

with a friend or family member.

•Dress casually and comfortably.

•Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

•Even though you are rushed and

thinking about a thousand things, stay

alert to your surroundings.

•Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime

targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation

terminals, bus stops, on buses and

other rapid transit.

•Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.

•Keep cash in your front pocket.

•Pay for purchases with a check or

credit card when possible.

•Notify the credit card issuer

immediately if your credit card is lost,

stolen or misused.

•Keep a record of all of your credit

The past few days have been most

interesting watching congressional

testimony on the health care law

implementation. Beginning in 2014,

nearly everyone in America must

either be covered by health insurance

or pay a tax penalty. To facilitate this

program, either your state or the

federal government must provide a

“Marketplace” (also known as the

health insurance exchange) that

enables you to compare and buy

health policies from any of several

different companies.

You can also use the program to find

out if you qualify for a tax credit to

help pay for the insurance or if you

qualify for Medicaid assistance. The

promise is that you may someday

reach the Marketplace through a

website, through the mail, or by

telephone.

The plans in the Marketplace are

offered by private insurance

companies. All must provide a set of

core benefits, and none may reject you

because of an existing illness or other

medical condition.

If you already have a health care

policy, you needn’t do anything at all.

You may someday use the

Marketplace to seek out and purchase

cheaper and/or better coverage if

available, unless you’re age 65 or

older. In the latter case, you’ll

generally be covered by Medicare and

will not be subject to the new law.

If you don’t have health insurance, you

can buy a policy directly from a

provider, or you can use the

Marketplace to find the coverage that

suits you best. The cost will depend

on the desired benefits, your income,

and the size of your family.

Marketplace information about prices

and benefits will be provided so that

you will be able to compare policies

before you enroll.

To access the program, compare

options, and/or sign up, visit the

federal website at

www.healthcare.gov. (If your state is

running its own program, you’ll be

directed to the appropriate website.)

You can also call 1-800-318-2596 for

options, instructions, and answers to

questions.

Contributed by Vermeulen & Company

The Communicator D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3

I N T E R E S T E D

I N G O I N G

P A P E R L E S S ?

The monthly

Communicator is

now available

online and via

email! If you are

interested in

receiving the

Communicator via

email instead of a

snail mail, hard

copy, let us know!

The Chamber is

happy to send you

a digital version of

the Communicator

on a monthly basis.

Director’s Corner: Shopping Safe During the Holidays

What You Need to Know About the New Health Care Law

M E R R Y

C H R I S T M A S

D E C . 2 5

card numbers in a safe place at home.

•Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear

visibility and freedom of motion to

avoid mishaps.

•Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year,

"con-artists" may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of

taking your money or belongings.

•Do not leave packages or valuables on

the seat of your car. This creates a temptation for thieves. If you must leave something in the car, lock it in the

trunk or put it out of sight.

• Teach your child to go to a store

clerk and ask for help in case your child

is separated from you.

•If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a police station,

mall, or well-lighted location. Withdraw

only the amount of cash you need.

• Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is

standing near you.

•Do not throw your ATM receipt away

at the ATM location

I hope these tips accentuate your

holiday shopping season and help you

enjoy a very Merry Christmas!

Written by Chief Ed Ormonde

P A G E 2

American Legion Crab Feed Sat., January 11, 2014

6 p.m. Drinks

7 p.m. Dinner

Ripon Community

Center

$45 per person

The area’s longest-

running and best-of-the-

best crab feed is

presented again this year

by none other than

Ripon’s American Legion

Post 190! The Crab Feed

will be held on Saturday,

January 11, 2014 - a great

way to begin your new year!

There will be no host

cocktails from 6:00 p.m. -

7:00 p.m. followed by dinner

at 7:00 p.m. featuring all-you-

can-eat crab, green salad,

baked potato, fresh & fancy

French bread, dessert, wine,

& coffee. Raffle and spirited

dancing to take place after

dinner (to work off all of

that crab you overindulged

in!). The event will be held at

the Ripon Community

Center. Tickets are $45 per

person and must be

purchased in advance - no

tickets at the door. Must be

21& over to attend. Tickets

are available from Darryl

Bartels, State Farm Insurance

(201 S. Stockton Ave., 599-

2174). For more info, please

contact Ken Lawson (599-

4714).

Now Available: Pick-Up & Delivery Pet Grooming Debbie’s Pet

Grooming is now

offering pet pick-up and

delivery services in

Ripon! For just a mere

$10 charge, Debbie’s

will pick up your cute

doggy pal in need of a

good bath and groom

and drop your pet back

off - all clean and spiffy!

Service is currently only

available on Wednesdays

and Thursdays. Small and

medium dogs only please.

For more information, call

Debbie’s Pet Grooming at

599.5572 or stop in at their

Main Street location and

chat about options in

person - 433 W. Main

Street.

T H E C O M M U N I C A T O R

P A G E 3 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3

The holiday season presents many

opportunities to help the less

fortunate among us who also call

Ripon home. Through the

generosity of the community, we

can ensure these citizens receive

the dignity and support they need

to also have a beautiful holiday

season. Please keep reading for two

amazing opportunities to help those

in need.

Ripon FFA Giving Tree

Ripon FFA presents Christmas Giving

Tree. To participate, select a tag

from one the Giving Trees. Purchase

a gift (not to exceed $35) for the tag

you choose. Tape the tag from the

tree onto the new, unwrapped gift. If

gifting clothes, gift receipts are

mandatory. Next, drop off new,

tagged, unwrapped gifts to the drop-

off locations. Gift drop-off will start

December 2 and end on December

17. Be sure and “like” Ripon FFA on

Facebook. Thank you for your

generosity during this holiday

season!

offering their time, friendship, and

assistance with light chores or

errands. Training for this volunteer

position consists of instruction and

shared discussions with our

experienced Hospice of San Joaquin

staff and outside speakers on the

following topics and more:

♥ Hospice History & Philosophy

♥ Spiritual Care & Support

♥ Communication & Listening Skills

♥ Cultural Diversity

♥ Concepts of Death & Dying

♥ Needs of the Dying

♥ Hospice Family

♥ Grief & Loss

♥ Care & Comfort Measures

♥ Role of the Volunteer

Volunteers Needed in

Manteca, Ripon & Lathrop

Areas. Also looking for

help in the following areas:

pet therapy, music therapy,

hair dressers, garden &

house maintenance.

Experience the rewards and

satisfaction of making a difference in

the lives of others! Caring men and

women are needed to provide

support and companionship 2-4

hours per week to our hospice

patients & their families and

patients in our Transitions

Program. Volunteers provide

compassionate care and comfort by

Volunteers Needed: Hospice San Joaquin Or provide behind the scenes

support by volunteering in our

administrative office helping with

mailings, clerical, data input & other

administrative tasks.

For information, please call 209-

957-3888.

Hospice of San Joaquin 3888 Pacific Ave.

Stockton, CA 95204

www.hospicesj.org

Opportunities for Charity in the Ripon Community Giving Tree Locations:

Save Mart

Schemper’s ACE Hardware

Tractor Supply Co.

Ripon High Main Office

Gift Drop-off Locations:

Ripon Chamber of Commerce

Ripon FD Main Office

Ripon High Main Office

Ripon Rotary Coat Drive

Warming Our Community, One

Coat at a Time! During the month of

November, the Ripon Rotary would

like to ask for your support in their

annual coat drive. Help keep

everyone warm this winter by

dropping off your lightly used coats

to the bucket located in front of the

Ripon Chamber and elsewhere

throughout town. Questions?

Contact Chad DeGraff at 595.1811.

Thank you in advance for your

commitment to keeping those in

need warm.

Barnwood Restaurant: Now Offering Breakfast mention Bloody Marys and

Mimosas! Plus, all the usual

breakfast suspects everyone loves!

Be sure and try out Barnwood’s

new breakfast!

Barnwood Restaurant will serve

breakfast Monday through

Saturday from 6:30 a.m. – 10:30

a.m. starting Monday, December

2! Specials will include Build your

Own Omelette, Barnwood Waffle

-Wich, Grilled Breakfast Burrito,

and Ken’s Carne Guisada – not to

P A G E 4

Please note: there

is no December

Morning Coffee or

December Evening

Mixer.

Grief Support Workshop Beginning Soon Calvary Reformed Church is

offering a 13-week, biblically

-based grief support group to

begin Wednesday,

December 4, 2013, from

6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. It is

for people grieving the death

of someone close. It is a place

where you can be around

people who understand how

you feel and the pain of your

loss. At Grief Share you will

learn valuable information that

will help you through this

difficult time in your life. To

register, contact Carol, Parish

Nurse, at 599-4294 or

carol@calvaryripon.org.

Transportation is available.

Take advantage of this

opportunity to turn your

mourning into joy.

December Events Calendar & Housekeeping they are not receiving our

emails. If you are not getting

our emails, please check your

junk folder or add

tspade@riponchamber.org to

your list of approved email

addresses to make sure you

stay up to date on all the

Chamber happenings and

community-wide events.

• Did you know? On the

fourth Tuesday of every month

from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. at the

Ripon Chamber of Commerce

Congressman Denham holds

District Office Hours? His

aides are eager to answer and

address any of your inquiries.

Hours resume in January.

• Ripon’s mascot needs a

name! People of all ages who

live in Ripon are invited to

submit names for the mascot

in the Ripon Chamber of

Commerce’s “Name Ripon’s

Mascot!” contest. Submit

responses at http://tinyurl.com/

riponmascot. Winner will be

announced at the Almond

Blossom Festival, February 21-

23. Winner also receives a gift

certificate to Barnwood

Restaurant! Submissions

accepted until February 1,

2014. Good luck!

• The Ripon Chamber is in the

process of creating a Ripon

Community Calendar - a

resource for Ripon residents

that will list events happening

throughout the community.

Send us your events and we

would be happy to get them

on our calendar!

Monday, December 2

Ripon Christmas Tree

Lighting

Veteran’s Memorial

7:00 p.m.

Corner of Locust & First St.

Almond Blossom Queen/

Miss Ripon Application Due

Ripon Chamber

Due no later than 4 p.m.

Thursday, December 5

Taste of Ripon

$25.

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Housekeeping

• Are you getting our emails?

Some of our members have

mentioned that sometimes

T H E C O M M U N I C A T O R

I need a

name!

Contributed by San Joaquin County Enterprise Zone

Are You Taking Full Advantage of our Enterprise Zone?

P A G E 5 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3

The San Joaquin County

Enterprise Zone, established in

Ripon in July 2011 after a

competitive selection process, is

one of only 42 enterprise zones

designated throughout California.

The San Joaquin County

Enterprise Zone offers businesses

that locate or expand within the

zone substantial reductions in

operating costs by accessing a

variety of State tax incentives and

local benefits.

The San Joaquin County

Enterprise Zone covers more

than 656 square miles including

portions of Lathrop, Lodi, Ripon,

Manteca, Tracy, Stockton, and

the County. In Ripon, the benefits

of the San Joaquin County

Enterprise Zone will be available

to all businesses until December

31, 2013. However, businesses

will still be able submit vouchers

through 2014.

Enterprise zones are the only

areas within the State able to

offer actual State income tax

advantages to businesses located

within the zones. Reduced

income taxes translate into lower

operational costs and increased

profits!

In addition to the tax incentives

for business, the San Joaquin

County Enterprise Zone offers

favorably priced improved and

unimproved properties, a semi-

skilled and skilled workforce, and

a network of public and private

agencies and organizations

committed to providing

companies with a pro-business

environment.

All in all, the benefits and

incentives of the San Joaquin

County Enterprise Zone can help

your business grow and prosper!

Enterprise zones have been

established in California to

stimulate development in

selected economically distressed

areas.

The Enterprise Zone Act

provides five business related tax

incentives which are fully

explained in the Franchise Tax

Board (FTB) Pub. 3805Z

Enterprise Zone Business

Booklet. These incentives are:

• Credit for hiring qualified

employees;

• Credit for sales and use tax paid

on certain machinery;

• Business expense deduction for

the cost of certain property;

• Net operating cost carryover;

and

• Net interest deduction for

lenders.

A sixth incentive is available only

to employees who work in a

designated enterprise zone.

Employees may claim a tax credit

to reduce the amount of their

income tax on wages earned in

an enterprise zone. See form FTB

3553, Enterprise Zone Employee

Credit.

Enterprise zone tax incentives

apply only to investments and

business activities that are

undertaken after an enterprise

zone has received final

designation. This requirement

also applies to any expansion of

existing enterprise zone

boundaries.

For more specific information on

any of the state tax credits,

contact your tax accountant, the

Franchise Tax Board Hotline at

916.845.3464, or the San Joaquin

County Enterprise Zone at

209.468.3615. Or, go online to

www.sjcex.org.

Jake’s Coffee, Tea, and

Sandwiches, one of Ripon’s local

gourmet coffee shops, is now

officially under new ownership. Lori Knight, Jake’s new

proprietor, is excited about this

opportunity. In the next few

months, Lori will be holding a naming contest for Jake’s. Lori is

passionate about community

building and wants the name of

Jake’s: Under New Ownership

“Reduced

income taxes

translate into

lower

operational

costs and

increased

profits!”

her new coffee shop to be

generated by the very

community it represents and

serves. The winner will receive daily coffee for six months.

What an amazing prize!

Welcome, Lori, to the Ripon

business community. Jake, you will be missed and we wish you

the best in your future

endeavors!

P A G E 6

Plan on visiting the

Tree lighting

ceremony

scheduled for

Friday, December 6

at 6:00 pm at

Mistlin Fountain

Park located at the

corner of E. Main

Street and Oak

Avenue.

Contributed by Hospice of San Joaquin

Tree of Lights Celebrates its 25th Anniversary

A year ago, the City

of Ripon’s

community gathered

at Mistlin Fountain

Park to witness

history — the first

lighting ceremony of

Hospice of San

Joaquin’s Tree of

Lights in the

City. While Tree

of Lights is young

locally, it has been

25 years since

Hospice of San

Joaquin lit the first

Tree at San Joaquin

Delta College.

During the 2013 Holiday

season, Hospice of San Joaquin,

the Ripon Chamber of

Commerce and friends invite

you to celebrate the 25th

Lighting Ceremony of Tree of

Lights. “We are pleased to

announce one of the most

commemorative Tree of Lights

Lighting Ceremonies in the

history Hospice of San

Joaquin,” noted Sandy

Stoddard, Director of Fund

Development at Hospice of San

Joaquin.

“For many families, the tree

lighting ceremonies mark the

beginning of the holiday

season,” explained Carolyn

Gomes, Event Coordinator at

the agency. And for others

Tree of Lights has a deeper

meaning. “I have donated to

Tree of Lights for more than

10-years in honor of my first

wife Loretta Abel,” noted

Richard Abel, Retired High

School Principal at Lodi Unified

School District, “Tree of Lights

keeps her memory alive every

year.” Abel explained that

Hospice of San Joaquin cared

for her following a brain tumor.

There are six other Trees

joining our Ripon Tree

throughout the county. Other

sister cities include Rio Vista,

Lodi, Lockeford, Stockton,

Manteca, and Tracy. Tree of

Lights is a community event,

promoting hospice awareness

and inclusion for individuals

who have lost a loved one by

honoring their memory during

the holiday season. “This event

serves as a bereavement

service which allows

participants to remember their

loved ones,” Carrie Lane,

Bereavement Manager stated

adding that “the holidays

without a special loved one are

difficult; however, the shining

light brings joy to many hearts.”

The trees are decorated for

the community, thanks to the

partnership of local

organizations, businesses,

community groups and

individual contributors. The

25th Anniversary of Tree of

Lights is an event not to be

missed.

“We encourage everyone to

Light Up a Light – Light Up a Life

by dedicating a light on the tree

of your choice this year,”

highlighted Sandy Stoddard,

Director of Fund Development

at Hospice of San Joaquin.

Plan on visiting the Tree

lighting ceremony scheduled

for Friday, December 6 at 6:00

pm at Mistlin Fountain Park

located at the corner of E. Main

Street and Oak Avenue. The

Ripon Tree of Lights is hosted

by the City of Ripon along with

Community and Youth Services

Commission.

To “Light-Up a Light… Light-

Up a Life” you may find the

forms at www.hospicesj.org.

You may purchase a light up to

December 31st. Boards are

updated throughout December.

T H E C O M M U N I C A T O R

P A G E 7 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3

A warm welcome to our new

members:

Ballatore Ranch

Kamps Propane

Elite Health Club (formerly

Ripon Athletic Club)

And a big thank you for our

members that renewed last

month:

Windmill Septic

PG&E

Grace Hogan

Fractal Dreams

Weaver Insurance Agency

Supervisor Ken Vogel

Doctors Hospital

ARCO AM/PM

Allen D. Hoek, O.D.

Scentsy Wickless

Candles/Melissa

Groom

Bank of the West

Be sure and welcome

new members to our

Ripon community and

to patronize fellow

Chamber businesses!

and enjoy the season, it will be

a way for the families we have

served in the past and present to

experience Deegan’s in a different

way and a way for all families who

have suffered a loss to memorialize

their loved ones. Deegan’s is

debuting their First

Annual Community Memorial

Tree. The community is invited to personalize and decorate a dove

ornament in remembrance of their

lost loved ones and place it on the

Memorial Tree where it will remain

Deegan Funeral Chapels

Holiday Open House in

Escalon

Friday, December 6, 2013

4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

1441 San Joaquin Street

Escalon, CA

Deegan Funeral Chapels is hosting

a Holiday Open House at their

Escalon location. Not only will it be

a fun social event to come mingle

throughout the holiday

season. Children will

have a visit from

Santa Claus from 6-7

p.m., hear a story,

and make an

ornament to take

home while the

adults enjoy music

and refreshments. All are welcome! For

more information,

please call (209) 838-

7321.

Taste of Ripon - Tickets are Flying! Need Childcare? to the rescue! Pretty in Pink will be

hosting a Rockstar Pajama Party for

children the night of Taste of Ripon

(Dec. 5) from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. They

will be offering rockstar makeovers

for boys and girls, pizza, drinks, Just

Dance, karaoke, and the Wii U!

Everything to make sure your child

has as much fun that night as you

do! This will be a drop-off event.

Contact Pretty in Pink at 607.3384,

at prettyinpinkripon@gmail.com, or

drop in to register your child(ren)

and for more info! Only $25 per

guest!

You are cordially invited to the 18th

annual Taste of Ripon on Thursday,

December 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Price is $25 per person and tickets

can be purchased at the Chamber

office or on the Chamber website.

Ticket sales are going strong so it

should be a fun night for all! As of

this writing, 29 Ripon businesses

are participating! What a

tremendous response from our

lovely community!

Are you having trouble finding

childcare for the evening of Taste of

Ripon? Never fear - Pretty in Pink

New Members and Member Renewals

Deegan Funeral Chapels Holiday Open House

Childcare by

Pretty in Pink

will be

available the

night of Taste

of Ripon!

Only $25 per

guest. Hours

are 6 p.m. to

8 p.m. or

until 9 p.m.

for Taste of

Ripon

participants!

Monday, December 2

7 p.m.

Veteran’s Memorial

(Corner of Locust & First)

Complementary Hot

Cocoa and Cookies

On Monday, December 2,

Ripon’s Christmas Tree Lighting

festivities will be held at the

Veteran’s Memorial beginning at

7 p.m. Evening will feature voices

from the Ripon Christian choir, a

season’s blessing from Pastor

Glen Shirk of Ripon Grace

Brethren Church, and of course,

hot cocoa and yummy cookies!

All are welcome so bring your

family and Christmas spirit!

929 West Main Street

Ripon, CA 95366

Phone: 209.599.7519

Fax: 888.556.4944

Website: riponchamber.org

info@riponchamber.org

Ripon Chamber of Commerce

Ripon Christmas Tree Lighting

Keeping Ripon’s Business

Community Vibrant

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RIPON, CA