2020: The year of the Library

Posted on January 24, 2020 by digitalgear

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By Jordan Rosales

It may already be 2020, but 90’s nostalgia is at an all-time high and right now no other after school cartoon is remembered quite as fondly as Arthur. Arthur was always there to make us laugh and teach us valuable life lessons. Among the lessons on how to spell your name and how to be a friend, one of the most important things that Arthur taught us was that having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card! Luckily for us, there’s a fantastic library right here in Downtown Stockton and getting a library card is incredibly simple! All you need to do is walk into the Cesar Chavez branch with your ID. If your current address is different than the one listed on your ID simply bring something with your correct ID and if you are under 17 years old an adult needs to come with you to sign up.

Fun for Everyone!

Without a doubt, you will find traditional shelves of books on every subject imaginable at the Cesar Chavez Library, but you will also find that they offer fun programs and activities for the entire family! To view the programs simply go to the San Joaquin Library website at SSJCPL.org. From there you’ll want to click on the events calendar page in the dropdown menu labeled “programs.” Once you’re in the calendar, click limit by location and select the Cesar Chavez library! Just click go and you’re in!

The library offers multiple events almost every day of the month for every age range. Regular activities include free computer classes for seniors, genealogy helpers’ events for adults, teen SAT/ACT prep workshops, and preschool playtime/storytime for kids!

One upcoming program the library is especially excited to offer throughout the month of February is the Volunteer Income Tax Association (VITA) Free Tax Services offered every Tuesday from 10 am ‑ 7 pm. VITA helps people prepare for tax season! All you need to do is call them at (209) 483 – 4190 and book an appointment.

The library provides a wonderful sense of community through its many clubs: chess club, book club, coloring club, Lego club, and more! Not only that, but you are BOUND to make lasting family memories by attending one of their craft nights, where you can make things ranging from valentines to mugs! They also offer a bilingual storytime called Vamos A Leer. The best part of it is that all these programs are completely free with your library card!

The World at your Fingertips

While the staff at the Cesar Chavez Library would love to see you in person, they want to remind you that there a ton of online services they offer too. With just your library card, you have access to educational tools across the internet. Thousands of magazines await you with Flipster. You can stream critically acclaimed blockbusters like Lady Bird and Moonlight along with educational documentaries on Kanopy. Hoopla offers free e-books and free audio e-books perfect for long car rides like commutes and road trips. Tutor.com offers one on one chat to help kids with their homework in every subject all the way through their senior year of high school. Having a library card even grants you access to Rosetta Stone which will help you tackle that New Year’s resolution of learning a new language or prepare for a trip overseas.

If you thought libraries were a thing of the past, welcome to 2020. The Cesar Chavez library is so much more than a building with books – it offers community, education, and fun. So, if you’re ever bored and looking for something to do, just remember what your old pal Arthur said, “Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card!”

Interpretations Hair Design Studio

Posted on January 10, 2020 by digitalgear

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By Jordan Rosales

Amid the hustle and bustle of a vibrant downtown, lies an unassuming salon and downtown institution, Interpretations Hair Design Studio. When the current owner, Reggie, moved from Sacramento to Stockton in 1994, he worked as a stylist at the salon. As luck would have it, while the original owner was looking to sell the business, Reggie was looking to start a business. The rest is history.

An Owner with Passion

Interpretations Hair Design Studio has been passionately run by Reggie for 27 years and is still going strong. He started his 32-year long career at The Oakland Institute of Cosmetology. It was there where he discovered his passion for styling hair. Reggie spoke about how he found his passion for cosmetology early on during his education, “I fell in love with the different aspects of it, the fact that it’s so much more than just standing behind a chair all day.” During his time as a student, he competed in hair competitions across the state and won several titles. He loved it so much, he continued competing and winning but as a professional! He has previously taught at The Hollywood Beauty College and with the ROP program for the San Joaquin Country Board of Education, where he not only taught but coached his students to win hair competitions too!

The Perfect Home

Reggie ultimately scored the location because that’s where the original business was, but he couldn’t be happier with where he is. Being in Downtown Stockton has a lot of perks, there’s a ton of foot traffic, it’s easy to find and it’s central. The accessibility is a big plus for Reggie, “it’s very easy to get to, people can drive, or they can come on public transportation, which is very important to me.” But mostly, he said the best thing about Stockton is that it’s quiet but also close enough to bigger cities, that you can get to and from them rather quickly, which is key for Reggie since a lot of his clients travel from the Bay Area and Sacramento. He said one of the biggest misconceptions of Downtown is that it’s dead, but as a local business owner, he knows better. He said of Downtown Stockton, “We’re revitalizing. Thriving. We’ve been here for 27 years. Businesses that have been here before us, are still here! People always go up north to shop, but they should really give Downtown a try!”

Inspiring the Stylists of Tomorrow

Reggie wants Interpretations of Hair Design Studio to be more than just a salon. For those looking into pursuing a career in cosmetology, Reggie offers an apprenticeship program. Reggie never lost his passion for teaching and inspiring future generations, “I really want to target disadvantaged people who need help and don’t know where to go. This could be a stepping stone towards income for them.” To enroll in the program, simply fill out an application through the state board of cosmetology. At only $2,500, the apprenticeship program is much more affordable than traditional cosmetology school, which can typically cost around $30,000. The apprenticeship is a two-year program broken up into two parts. The first year entails two, eight-hour days a week, learning about theory in Interpretations Hair Design Studio’s 2,000 sq. foot facility. The second year is all hands-on training. The hands-on training is a great tool because it allows the student to do practical work with customers and earn an income, while building up a client base of their own. Students can even do their second year at another salon if they get a co-sponsor.

For more information call them at (209) 939- 0686 or check out their Facebook under Interpretations Hair Design Studio.

Meet Tina McCarty!

Posted on January 3, 2020 by digitalgear

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By Jessica Nguyen

Meet Tina McCarty, downtown’s Parking and Venue Manager in the City of Stockton’s Economic Development Department! She is dedicated to the progress of the downtown community, passionate about Downtown Stockton, and is hopeful for what the future brings to the resilient community. As Parking and Venue Manager, Tina oversees parking operations for all five of downtown’s parking garages as well as street parking spaces. Her other duties include but are not limited to managing the operations and policies of the Downtown Marina, Bob Hope Theater, and other large downtown event venues. In addition to her role as Parking and Venue manager for the past four and a half years, Tina also currently serves as an active board member for the Downtown Stockton Alliance. This upcoming March will mark her one year anniversary at the DSA. Why does she do it? Tina enthusiastically shares, “I love it downtown!”

What changes have you seen in downtown over the years?

For the past couple years Tina has worked and spent in Downtown Stockton, there were a couple changes in the area that really stood out to her. For instance, she’s noticed more development in the downtown area and enjoys seeing the projects that rehabilitate and repurpose downtown’s historic structures while, “still maintaining the historic vibes of the buildings.” She notes the Medico-Dental building as an example, as it is being repurposed for future use as Downtown Stockton housing. Tina also mentions the recent changes in downtown’s streetscape — for instance, the change from traditional parking meters to the more effective and modern payment machines. These machines were fully implemented onto downtown’s streets in May of last year. In addition, Tina adds that the downtown schools, such as Stockton Collegiate International Schools and the TEAM Charter School, are great features of downtown Stockton, as it is, “very nice to see the liveliness of the kids.”

What are you most excited to see in downtown’s future?

Currently, Tina is excited about “so much change and development in our midst,” as she is proud of the current efforts to revitalize Downtown Stockton. In the future, she would love to witness the continued evolvement of downtown buildings and the addition of new retail businesses to the area that will help to draw more people and positive attention to the downtown area. One day (hopefully in the near future), she hopes Downtown Stockton will be a vibrant space and favored destination, even after 4 or 5pm! Downtown’s nightlife scene has definitely improved in recent times, as new businesses have worked to draw more business during later hours of the day.

Quick Three!

Where is your favorite spot to have lunch downtown? Favorite place to grab a coffee?

After some slight contemplation, Tina ultimately decided that she couldn’t pick just one go-to lunch destination (I mean, you can’t blame her- there are so many tasty eateries downtown!), so she revealed her top three: Cast Iron Trading Co., the Downtowner, and Nena’s Mexican Restaurant — yum! Have you been to all three yet?

In terms of her preferred spot to grab a cup of joe, Tina explains that she isn’t much of a coffee drinker. However, she does love tea! She shares that luckily, there are also spots to pick up tea downtown. For instance, Trail Coffee makes great tea and is very conveniently located for her to make trips whenever she needs a refreshing cup!

What is downtown’s spirit animal?

“A tiger, because there is so much to be excited about and the rest of the area will hear Stockton roar!”

How would you describe Downtown in one word?

With no hesitation, Tina chooses,“Evolving.”

Month: January 2020

2020: The year of the Library

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Fun for Everyone!

The World at your Fingertips

Interpretations Hair Design Studio

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An Owner with Passion

The Perfect Home

Inspiring the Stylists of Tomorrow

Meet Tina McCarty!

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What changes have you seen in downtown over the years?

What are you most excited to see in downtown’s future?

Quick Three!

Join us for our Talk with Tina on where we will be sharing all things Parking in #DowntownStockton!

January 8th at 10 AM, Facebook live (click here)