July at The Little House: Come Cool Off and Connect
Samantha West, The Little House Supervisor
This summer, The Little House is your place to beat the heat and feel the heartbeat of our community.
Whether you're escaping the sun or just looking for a little company, The Little House welcomes you Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Stop by to read a book, play a game, or enjoy a quiet cup of coffee. We’re more than a building, we’re a hub for community, connection, and curiosity.
Looking to stay productive during the summer months? Explore our free Learning Library, where you can pick up a new hobby, practice a language, or dive into video lessons on topics like photography, drawing, and sustainable living. Everything is self-paced and free to use.
And don’t forget: if you're planning a group meet-up, game night, or neighborhood meeting, The Little House is available for use. We have a flexible, comfortable space ready to host your next group.
July is the perfect time to lean into community. Whether you're a longtime resident or new to town, stop by and see how The Little House can be a place for you.
For more information or to reserve space, call (209) 962-7303 or visit us at 11699 Merrell Road.
Two Vehicles, Twice the Service: How the WAVE Expanded—And How You Can Help
by Beth Martin, Transportation Coordinator
Thanks to the addition of a second vehicle in 2022, Southside Community Connections’ WAVE program was able to significantly expand transportation options for residents in Groveland, Big Oak Flat, and surrounding communities.
With only one vehicle, the WAVE bus, we were limited to traveling to Sonora three days a week and Modesto two days a week. The second vehicle, a mini-van, allowed us to offer much more:
· Trips to Jamestown/Sonora six days a week, while also serving other locations like Oakdale/Modesto, Sacramento, or Stockton on the same day
· Two runs to Sonora in a single day if needed, helping riders get to morning and afternoon medical appointments
· Backup coverage when one vehicle needs scheduled maintenance—no service interruptions
However, due to a recent maintenance issue, we are currently back down to one vehicle, which limits our flexibility and reach. We are actively looking to acquire another SUV or van-type vehicle to restore full service.
We would gratefully accept a donated vehicle, and we’re also open to reasonably priced offers. The vehicle must be mechanically sound and in good condition to safely transport our riders.
If you or someone you know may be able to help, please contact Southside Community Connections at (209) 962-7303.
Together, we can keep our community connected and moving forward.
WAVE PROGRAM AT SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
NANCY A. REGGIO – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support from the Groveland, Big Oak Flat, and surrounding communities. Thanks to you, Southside Community Connections (SCC) has been able to provide vital services through our WAVE transportation program—including free rides to medical appointments and shopping trips off the hill.
While operational costs are mostly covered by grants, these funds don’t include the cost of purchasing new vehicles. Despite this, we’ve managed to keep two vehicles on the road most days.
In fact, ridership has increased by 50% in 2025 compared to last year! That’s why the recent mechanical issues with our WAVE van have been especially challenging. Although it’s scheduled for repair we know it needs to be replaced soon to keep up with the growing demand.
Many community members ask how they can support SCC. Right now, one way to help would be by donating a new or gently used multi-passenger vehicle. Donating not only helps SCC—it may benefit you as well. Even if you’re unable to donate directly, perhaps you know someone who can, or you have corporate connections who might sponsor a purchase.
Please consider sharing our mission and impact with your network. Your support keeps us moving—literally. Thank you for believing in our work and being part of the difference.
HELPING HANDS HAPPENINGS
Patti Beaulieu
We’ve just about hit mid-summer and, so far, it’s been a busy one for Helping Hands. Thank goodness we have air-conditioning to make shopping and working comfortable. We held our annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Pine Mountain Lake Grill in mid-June. It was a fantastic day with wonderful food, lots of prizes given away and wonderful fellowship with our group of stellar volunteers. We look forward thanking our volunteers this way each year and we appreciate the PML GRILL for the excellent food and super service they give us.
We have some great news to share with the community. We are now selling Gift Certificates for the Thrift Store. If you have someone who shops there and you want to thank them for something they’ve done for you, or just because, get them a gift certificate at Helping Hands. They don’t expire and they can continue to be used until the amount is depleted. They’re sold, tax free, in $10 increments, and $10 at the Thrift Store can really go far!
Our Helping Hands organization is sponsoring the September 20th, 49’r Festival Parade this year. Our beloved landlord, Leonard Cassaretto is posthumously the Grand Marshall this year, so we’re extremely proud to support this event in his honor. We’ll be marching proudly right behind the Grand Marshall entry that will have the Cassaretto family members riding to honor their patriarch, Leonard.
We appreciate and continue to receive wonderful donations from our generous community, however, please be sure your donations are items that are in sellable condition. Many times, we receive dirty laundry, items that are old, ripped and torn, broken or just garbage. Even though we’re a registered 501c3 non-profit and sell mostly used items, we’re very selective about the merchandise we sell. We try to stock only items that are in the best condition. The more we have to throw away, the more that cuts into our profit, that, as everyone knows, goes back to our community.
Thank you for supporting Helping Hands with your purchases and donations. We, as volunteers, are very proud of how we’re able to assist the Community in the multitude of ways we do, and your purchases and donations make that all possible.
Enjoy the rest of the summer – stay safe and healthy and come into town often and visit the local businesses. Help to keep your town of GROVELAND STRONG and THRIVING!
Brainy Groveland Helps Tenaya Students
Virginia Richmond
Brainy Groveland, the program of volunteers who help third and fourth graders with their reading and math, has completed another successful year volunteering at Tenaya Elementary. In addition to the math and reading help, students especially enjoy spending time with caring adults.
Volunteers worked with third graders on Thursday afternoons to help them select and enjoy reading “just right” books. Meanwhile, on Mondays, another group of volunteers helped fourth graders learn how to think about math word problems and develop strategies to solve them.
At the end of the year we celebrated with the students and each received a math or reading book to take home.
Here are some photos of the students and volunteers at work. If you’d like to join this very rewarding program, please contact Virginia Richmond for more information: 962.6336. Each volunteer only commits to one one-hour session per month. We provide training and all materials.
FOGL Gives Books to Students
Virginia Richmond
Just before school closed for the summer, Friends of the Groveland Library (FOGL) arrived at Tenaya elementary school with hundreds of books to give away to all the students. The children were able to select a free book to take home and keep. They were pretty excited!
FOGL members Audrey Prouse, Michele Roberts, Cathy O’Connell and Virginia Richmond helped the kids select a “just right” book. We love seeing children excited about books. Research shows that being a good reader is the single most important indicator of future academic success.
Friends of the Groveland Library is dedicated to helping our children and community with multiple literacy projects at the school and library.
Be sure to bring your children and grandchildren to the Groveland Library for a great selection of books and movies for kids. Pre-school Storytime at the library is fun for the little ones on Fridays at 10:30am. In addition, come to the Book Nook Saturday mornings for a large selection of bargain-priced children’s books and movies. The library also offers STEM Club at 2:00pm on the first Friday of each month and the Summer Reading Program over six weeks in June/July. Stop by the library for more information on any of these programs.
Pine Cone Singers: Thanks for Celebrating Music With Us
Bob Swan
Thanks to all the folks who came to our Spring Concert: “Come Celebrate Music”. Despite the chorus being a little short-handed, due to late-breaking health issues, we had a great time performing a wide variety of tunes, familiar and not-so-familiar, upbeat and contemplative, and some just fun. We also had two great solos by Linelle Marshall and Frank Jablonski (who also had his maiden voyage as Master of Ceremonies).
We dedicated this performance to the memory of our friend Luke Sullivan.
As always, we thank the Gateway Community Church, and Pastor Bob Kandels, for allowing us to use their beautiful sanctuary for our performances, and the Fellowship Hall for rehearsals.
We thank Cris Todd and Nic Coffman for program design, and Nic again for our new banner; Tom Radanovich for sound management; Frank Perry for videography, and STCHS for the use of their video camera; and Paul Klahn, Holly Chandler, and Bob Shannon for box office, lobby, and ushering support.
Thanks to Zoo-phonics for printing our advertising flyers and programs, and thanks to all our generous donors. And, again, thanks to everyone who came to the show.
We particularly want to acknowledge our instrumentalists: Piano accompanist Jason Jeffrey; percussionist Amy Mannon; and newly on clarinet, Len Otley.
And, as always, we thank the man who manages to bring out our best, whether we want it or not – our Music Director, Dennis Brown.
We plan to reconvene on August 26 to begin preparing for this year’s Holiday concert. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 4:30 at the Gateway Community Church. We’re always looking new singers, and want to stress that you do not have to read music. We provide rehearsal CDs or mp3s for you to learn your part. For more information, please contact Bob Swan at (408)398-4731.
CAMP TUOLUMNE TRAILS
DORI JONES
CAMP DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
CTT’s summer sessions are in full swing, and our campers with disabilities are fully immersed in the fun and excitement of their unique camp experiences. For many, this is the only time each year they are able to step away from their daily routines at home or in group living situations. The memories they make here stay with them long after summer ends—and they carry that joy with them until they return to CTT the following year.
As many of you may already know, CTT Founder Jerry Baker is currently facing some medical challenges. While he is not currently involved in the day-to-day operations at camp, he remains actively engaged behind the scenes and is working closely with me to ensure CTT continues to thrive. At CTT’s recent board meeting, long-time board member Chris Noe was elected as Interim President to help guide daily operations and support our long-term vision. Looking ahead, we’re already planning for 2026 and exploring exciting ways to expand CTT’s programs year-round.
A MESSAGE FROM JERRY
We now understand so much more about what it means to live with severe disabilities than we did in the past. I recently underwent surgery for a brain tumor, during which I had a stroke. For someone like me—who once took great pride in communicating—losing that ability has been incredibly humbling.
Severe disabilities are often seen as a form of weakness, but living with them actually requires immense strength. You don’t truly grasp what CTT campers go through until you experience it yourself.
Simple tasks that most people take for granted—speaking, moving, expressing a need—can become overwhelming challenges.
That’s why Tuolumne Trails is so vital.
It helps us recognize the complexity involved in things we usually consider basic. It pushes us to put ourselves in our campers’ shoes, to see the world through their perspective. Our campers deserve deep empathy and unwavering support.
Their resilience reminds us that strength doesn’t always look the way we expect— and that empathy, understanding and innovation matter more than ever.
PLEASE DONATE!
SUMMER PROGRAMS
CTT’s eight summer camp programs are well underway. Campers are enjoying the memorable experiences of fishing in the fishing pond, swimming in the pool, creating mosaics in arts & crafts, performing skits, etc, which will stay with them for years to come. This season, we’re proud to have our largest staff since CTT opened—an incredible team of 18 counselors (including three from Ireland), along with dedicated team leads and nurses—making it all possible. Some of our 2025 camp sponsors include Mechanics Bank, Chicken Ranch Rancheria, Elliot Family Foundation, Dave Koz and Christopher Lawrence.
Camp Tuolumne Trails’ mission is devoted to helping those with disabilities and those who support them by providing an accommodating environment for healing, respite, education and recreation.
If you’d like to find out more about CTT, take a tour, volunteer or learn more about donating and legacy giving, please call CTT at (209) 962-7534, email info@tuolumnetrails.org or visit: http://www.tuolumnetrails.org . Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on camp happenings.
FOGL at SummerFest
Jenny Ferraiolo
FOGL had the opportunity to participate in ROOFBB’s 2025 SummerFest at Mary Laveroni Park on June 14. What a great day of fun celebrating the Groveland community and local businesses. This annual event, which ROOFBB volunteers work tirelessly to put on, raises funds for the community and includes food vendors, wine and beer tasting, music, children’s activities, and booths from local makers and artists.
FOGL booth at SummerFest 2025. Thanks to all who stopped by!
Among those booths, Friends of the Groveland Library volunteers were present to provide information to residents and visitors about the Groveland library and its activities, as well as information on FOGL’s mission to promote the use and expansion of services of the Groveland Library, to promote literacy, and to support the library. In addition, volunteers promoted the Book Nook, the only used book store in Groveland, which helps fund library activities, books for schools and reading programs and, more importantly, a fifth open day at the library.
Visitors to our booth learned of our need for additional FOGL members and Book Nook volunteers with forms available for those interested. Each person who stopped by our booth received a Book Nook Buck worth $1 at the Book Nook. The Book Nook, which is typically open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., was open extended hours that day in honor of SummerFest to encourage visitors to check out the Book Nook, see what there is to offer, and to encourage spending of their earned Book Nook Buck. It was also a nice place to cool off from the heat while browsing for great used reading materials, audiobooks, DVDs and puzzles!
Volunteer Tami Keller-Schmidt works the FOGL booth at SummerFest, informing visitors about FOGL and the Book Nook and passing out Book Nook Bucks, which can be redeemed at the Book Nook every Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It was indeed a great day of fun. We at FOGL enjoyed meeting everyone who stopped by to visit us and learn about our valuable programs, activities, and Book Nook. We look forward to working with you as members or volunteers and seeing you shopping at the Book Nook. Thanks for taking the time to stop by our booth!
Don't Take a Vacation from Your Faith
PASTOR BOB KANDELS
Dear Friends,
As June unfolds and ushers in the beauty of summer, we find ourselves surrounded by the splendor of the Sierra Mountains—warm days, breathtaking sunsets, and long hours to enjoy God’s majestic creation. Whether your plans include fly fishing, hiking Half Dome, relaxing at Tenaya Lake, or enjoying the waters at Pine Mountain Lake or Don Pedro, this season is a gift.
Summer is often a time to step away from our routines, to rest and recharge. But let us be reminded that our walk with the Lord never pauses. Jesus calls us to abide in Him always. In John 15:4 (NIV), He says, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” Let this summer be a season not only of recreation but also of spiritual renewal. Stay connected to the Vine. Let your soul be refreshed as much as your body.
If you're seeking a way to re-engage with worship and community, we warmly invite you to our All-Church Picnic on Sunday, June 1st, following our 10:00 AM worship service. It’s a great opportunity to reconnect and enjoy fellowship together. Visit our website for full details: https://www.grovelandefc.com
Wherever you find yourself this summer, consider joining a Christian church in the area. At Gateway Community Church, we worship every Sunday at 10:00 AM, and we welcome you to join us.
In His Service,
Pastor Bob Kandels
