More than 20 years after leaving school to support herself, Dawn Branscombe earned a diploma from the Newman-Crows Landing alternative education program.

NEWMAN – Like many of her fellow graduates in the Class of 2013, life circumstances led Dawn Branscombe to take a detour from formal education before returning to complete her studies.

Hers, however, was a bit longer than most.

More than two decades after Branscombe dropped out of high school, she proudly accepted her Newman-Crows Landing Adult Education diploma on May 29 and, at 39 years of age, became a high school graduate with a new world of opportunities before her.

“That I finally accomplished it….after so many years actually did it, I’m proud of myself,” the new graduate exclaimed. “I will be able to go further with a lot more than I could have in the past (with a high school diploma).”

Returning to school seemed an unlikely outcome for many years, Branscombe acknowledged.

She was 16 and living in Modesto when life circumstances forced her to leave school.

Faced with a difficult home life, Branscombe said, she had to go to work in order to feed herself.

She attempted to arrange home studies in order to juggle job and schooling, Branscombe explained, but was told by her principal that she had to attend classes.

“Necessities had to come first, so I never went back,” she recalled.

Life’s path took her away from education, into parenthood, through a failed marriage and into a second.

The thought of returning to school crossed her mind occasionally, she acknowledged, but for a long time that prospect seemed dim.

“For a time, I forgot about it and moved on with life. When I had my daughter Alyssa and she started going to school I thought, you know, maybe I should go back and finish. Finally it was like, okay, I’m going to do it.”

Branscombe, who has lived in Newman since 1995, credits her support network with motivating her to go back to school and helping her through the rough spots she encountered.

Husband Dave was instrumental, she said, encouraging her to go back to school and providing support through her renewed educational journey.

She said the alternative education staff – including teacher Louie Dominguez and secretaries Carole Silva and Debbie Castillo – made her success possible.

“They were absolutely wonderful,” Branscombe shared. “They went out of their way to make sure I had what I needed.”

Branscombe had left high school early in her sophomore year – and was nowhere near the credit requirements for graduation.

“I basically needed 185 or 190 credits of the 210 that they required,” she said. “I just started, and worked little by little. At first I was going for my real estate license and diploma at the same time, but I figured the diploma was more important, so I dropped the real estate.”

Branscombe completed some of her studies in the 2011-12 school year, but estimates that 90 percent of her work took place in the recently-completed school year.

The on-line courses were challenging.

“I couldn’t believe how much things had changed. It was just very difficult to pick up and understand some of it” she reflected. “I hadn’t taken any proper English courses in 20 years. There were a couple of times, especially with the English courses, when I was like, I can’t do this.”

Algebra was another challenge…..but foreign exchange students Alice Fogliacco and Jennifer Petersen, who stayed with the Branscombe family this year, helped out.

Even fourth-grader Alyssa pitched in, assisting mom out with suffixes and prefixes.

In addition to accumulating her credits, Branscombe also was required to pass the high school exit exam.

She completed her studies – and has both a sense of satisfaction and broader range of opportunities to go along with her new diploma.

Her options were sometimes limited because she had not completed high school, Branscombe said, but now new doors are opening.

She has, for example, worked as a volunteer crossing guard supervisor and yard duty at Hunt Elementary, where Alyssa just completed fourth grade.

“Now that I have my high school diploma, they can hire me,” said Branscombe.

She also works as a coordinator with a program that places foreign exchange students.

Hers is a story which underscores the fact that it is never too late to complete an education, she reflected.

“It is important to continue,” Branscombe emphasized, “no matter what your problems are.”

GUSTINE – Community members and GHS alumni are bringing the school’s 100-year history to life this weekend with a stage production that kicks off a year-long celebration of the Gustine High centennial.

“A Redskin Review” offers a look at memorable moments from Gustine High’s storied past, celebrating its history and paying tribute to those whose contributions helped shape the school and enriched the lives of countless students.

Director Sharon Bettencourt said the two-hour production will be both entertaining and informative…..a trip down memory lane for some, and a learning experience for others who discover the rich history of Gustine High School for the first time.

Written by 1973 Gustine High graduate Becky Atkins, “A Redskin Review” portrays the school’s history through a creative dual story line.

One follows “Old Red,” who has been the caretaker of the first 100 years at Gustine High, as he prepares to hand over his responsibilities to “Young Red.”

At the same time, actors portraying three modern-day students are sorting through a trunk of school memorabilia. The various items they come across depict moments and aspects of the school’s history which then are brought to life by other actors on stage.

Take, for example, the founding of Gustine High School 100 years ago.

Three actors (all 1964 GHS grads) portray the citizens who went to see the principal of the high school in Newman, where Gustine pupils attended at the time, about the possibility of Gustine getting its own high school.

Among them is Glennis Kidder – who said she is enjoying the experience and learning about her alma mater at the same time.

“You couldn’t have gotten me on that stage in high school for love or money, but it’s a lot of fun,” she shared. “I have also learned a lot of facts about Gustine High that I never knew. It was interesting to learn that Newman played such a role in Gustine getting a high school.”

At the time the Gustine parents had to board their high school-age children in Newman and bring them home on weekends, Kidder noted.

The Newman principal was not initially receptive to the thought of Gustine getting its own high school.

“We have a little dust-up with the principal about Gustine having its own high school,” said Joe Oliveira, who with Gary Crawford join Kidder’s character in making the case for a Gustine High.

Gustine persisted and prevailed and the rest is, well, history…..much of which will be showcased on stage this weekend in a production that also includes an emotional conclusion which is sure to move the audience.

“This is done with a lot of love,” said Kidder. “This is never going to happen again.”

The show will mix stage vignettes with power-point presentations.

“The concept is very creative,” said Jim Bonta, who portrays Gustine High’s first school board president. “There has been a lot of work put into it. Hopefully people will be entertained, but educated as well.”

A majority of the cast are Gustine High graduates, Bettencourt said, and many are making their acting debut to help share the history of their alma mater.

Atkins previously told Mattos Newspapers that the show will elicit both celebration and tears, and reflects pride in Gustine High School.

“When I wrote this, I kept in mind that in the end I wanted people to walk out of the auditorium feeling glad they went to Gustine High,” she explained.

Marsha Silva is the show’s production manager. John Burgess is technical adviser.

“A Redskin Review” will debut Friday, July 5, at 7 p.m. in the GHS auditorium. Two shows are planned for Saturday, July 6, with a matinee performance at 3 followed by the finale at 7.

Tickets range from $17 to $8 ($6 for wheelchair), and may be purchased in advance at TicketLeap.com, or by calling 585-5246. Remaining tickets will be available at the door.

Brothers Wyatt (left) and Tyler Brazil have started their own line of street wear, named Lost In Expectations.

NEWMAN – Brothers Tyler and Wyatt Brazil are hoping to carve a name for themselves in the competitive street wear industry with a brand that delivers a message as well as a fashionable look.

The Orestimba High graduates (Tyler in 2009, Wyatt in 2011), decided to start their own enterprise to satisfy their own aspirations……not to fulfill the expectations of those around them.

Hence the name of their clothing line, Lost In Expectations.

“We thought it was perfect. It kind of summed up our lives, living through other people’s expectations of us and not knowing what to do after we were on our own and living up to those expectations,” explained Tyler. “I was on the honor roll, but at the end of the day I didn’t know what to do with that.”

Tyler is a student at San Francisco State and works in Alameda, while Wyatt takes classes at MJC and works at Nob Hill Foods.

The concept of starting their own clothing line started back in the fall of 2012, when Wyatt texted his older brother suggesting the idea.

“As soon as he had said it, I knew it could work,” Tyler recalled. “We’re both really into clothes. That has been a constant for us.”

Their first shirts came out about a year ago, and the brothers have since been working to grow their business.

“We have sold a few different designs on t-shirts,” Tyler explained. “We think of a design, sketch it or put it on a computer, then screen print it.”

“We have come out with nine designs,” added Wyatt.

The messages behind their fashion set the line apart, they said.

“A lot of other brands are just kind of random. Ours has a big message that can relate to teens throughout the country and the world,” Wyatt explained. “We wanted to set ourselves aside from all the other brands. We think our messages give us a one-up on everybody else.”

One example:

Abandon (the expectations of others)

Create (your own)

Exceed (them all)

“Figure out what you want to do and create those expectations. Be the best you can be at it,” Wyatt expressed. “It is more fulfilling to do something that you love instead of going to a job just to pay the bills.”

“A lot of people don’t take the time to find out what they like,” Tyler stated. “They are doing the things they think they should do.”

Parents Rick and Julie Brazil are supportive of their venture, the siblings said.

In the competitive arena of fashion, the Brazils are hoping to make their name stand out.

“It is kind of daunting to see how many brands are out there,” Tyler acknowledged. “The thing we have going for us is the message behind it. We feel like we can have some success if we stick to it.”

The brothers are also aiming for a more affordable price point than many designers, they noted.

Shirts may be ordered on line at lostinexpectations.com.

The Westside Auto Club will host its 34th annual Linguica Run Sunday in Gustine’s Henry Miller Park. Among those getting ready for the vintage car and truck show are, from left, Albert Rocha, with his 1932 Ford; Johnny Verissimo, club secretary; Anthony Souza, with his 1952 Chevy; club members Kevin and Sue Schuchmann; Michael Casey, with his 1969 Camaro; Don Gomes, club president; club member Dan Theroux; and Wayne Thompson, club vice president, with his 1969 Mustang Mach I.

GUSTINE – A busy week in Gustine will continue Sunday, July 7, when the Westside Auto Club hosts its annual Linguica Run.

The event was started by the local car enthusiasts some 34 years ago. After being held as a two-day event in Los Banos in the early years, the Linguica Run moved to Gustine, where it picked up its current name and has become an annual tradition.

Club President Don Gomes said the run will pack Henry Miller Park with vintage pre-1980 cars and trucks.

“We average about 300 vehicles, and have had as many as 350,” he noted.

Among those will be 40 or so local vehicles. A majority of vehicles come from the Bay Area, Gomes said, and others arrive from up and down the San Joaquin Valley.

“I get a couple of families who used to live in Ceres who come from Arizona,” Gomes said.

Some have been coming to the run for years, he added, and often they bring others with them for the first time.

“They tell a friend, and they come the next year,” Gomes explained. “Every year we get different people.”

The Gustine event is popular for a number of reasons.

The shade of Henry Miller Park offers a comfortable setting, for one thing.

And the food is unique.

“They like to come for the linguica. They don’t get that anywhere else,” Gomes said of the beans and linguica luncheon which has fed upward of 1,000 people in past years.

Cars are arriving an hour before the gates officially open at 7:30 a.m. The event continues until late afternoon.

The day will include drawings for prizes, entertainment, a poker walk, awards and more.

Across the way in the GPS Hall, the Gustine Volunteer Fire Department will be serving up its annual breakfast through the morning.

Community members are invited to enjoy the car show as well.

“We get a lot of locals who come down and check out the cars,” Gomes noted.

Owners of the vintage vehicles are more than happy to visit about their car or truck, added club secretary Johnny Verissimo.

“Ask them a question and they will tell you all about it,” he said. “It is their pride and joy.”

Miss Newman Contest

Organizers of the 2013 Miss Newman Contest are seeking contestants for the event, which will be held Thursday, Aug. 29, in conjunction with the Newman Fall Festival.

A minimum of five contestants are required for the event to take place.

The contest is open to young women who will be a high school sophomore, junior or senior next year.

Call Pageant Director Crickett Brinkman, 595-7103, for additional information.

Food program

The Newman Police Department is helping match up families and individuals in need of food with local programs that sometimes have non-perishable food items go unclaimed by their intended recipients.

Officer Ashley Williams said there are no income guidelines or other criteria which recipients must meet other than simply a need for food.

Those interested in being put on a list for distribution or seeking additional information may contact the Newman Police Department, 862-2902.

West Side Walks

West Side Walks, offered as part of the West Side Healthcare Advisory Task Force’s Healthier Choices program, is under way.

Community walks are offered Wednesdays through July 24 at Henry Miller Park in Gustine and Warrior Stadium at Orestimba High School in Newman.

Hours are 6-8 p.m.

The walks promote fitness and also offer an opportunity to exercise with family and friends.

The Healthier Choices for Our West Side campaign promotes positive choices and an active lifestyle.

Gustine Head Start

The Head Start and Early Head Start program in Gustine is accepting applications.

Call 394-1830 for additional information.

Summer library programs

Python Ron will bring his menagerie to the Newman branch library Saturday, July 13, at 3 p.m., for an entertaining show.

The event is free of charge.

Advance registration is not required.

N-CL summer meals

The Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District is hosting its seamless summer feeding program for children ages 1-18.

Lunch is served from 11-11:30 at Bonita in Crows Landing through July 26.

Lunch is served from 11:45-12:15 in Pioneer Park in Newman through July 26.

Gustine pool open

Gustine’s municipal swimming pool has opened its summer season.

Pool hours are noon to 4 weekdays.

Adult lap swim sessions are held Tuesday through Friday mornings from 9-10.

Night swims will be offered Mondays and Wednesdays from 7-9.

General admission is $3.

Pre-paid passes are available at discounted prices. Season passes are also available.

Water aerobics, swim lessons and private pool parties are offered throughout the summer. Call 854-6471 for additional information.

GUSD summer meals

The Gustine Unified School District is sponsoring a seamless summer food program for children.

Meals will be available at no charge to children from 1-18 years of age.

The meal program runs through Aug. 9 (closed July 4 and 5).

Meals are served from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Romero School cafeteria in Santa Nella and from 12:15-1 p.m. in Henry Miller Park in Gustine.

Gustine FFA alumni reception

The Gustine FFA chapter will host a reception for all FFA alumni Friday, July 5, at 5 p.m.

The reception precedes a production of “A Redskin Review,” which commemorates the school’s 100 years.

Refreshments will be served.

Contact Matt Baffunno, 854-6414, for additional information.

Stanislaus County Fair tickets

Discount admission tickets and arena motorsport tickets for the 2013 Stanislaus County Fair are now on sale.

Fair-goers can buy tickets at discount prices until Thursday, July 11. Tickets may be purchased at the fair box office, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock, or on line at www.stancofair.com

Discounted admission tickets are $10 (a $2 savings over cost at the gate). Unlimited ride tickets may be purchased in advance for $23, a $7 savings.

Season passes are available for $75.

Arena tickets are priced according to event.

The fair opens its 10-day run Friday, July 12.

The 2013 fair will feature a spectacular children’s area with the new Wizard’s Challenge, the magical world of science sponsored by Sky Trek Aviation.

The fair will also offer 10 nights of free celebrity concerts included with fair admission, upward of 30,000 local exhibits and more than 1,750 animals, among other attractions.

GHS Legacy Courtyard Project

The GHS Legacy Courtyard Project is both a beautification project for Gustine High and a fund-raising project for the school’s upcoming centennial celebration. Pavers are available for purchase and engraving with a name, a family name or a loved ones name that will then be used to pave the area on the front lawn of the High School campus. When pavers are purchased and engraved they will be an addition to the flag pole area on the Gustine High School campus.

The deadline to take part in this project so the paver will be in place for the July 2014 celebration is July 15, 2013. Prices for pavers and options for engraving are available for viewing on-line at  polarengraving.comGHSLegacyCourtyard or by calling Dee Aguirre (209) 604-4625 or Cindy Jamero (209) 658-2063. Orders and/or questions may also be mailed to: GHS Centennial Committee P.O. Box 373, Gustine, CA 95322.

Y-LEADers demonstrate their creative side dressing up for themed days each week. Rebekah Carter, front, and Monique Catano used colorful duct tape to craft a clever cape, mask and shirt designed for superhero day.

GUSTINE – Henry Miller Park is once again brimming with youthful energy and community spirit this summer as Y-LEAD embarks on its 12th season.

The city-sponsored summer youth program promotes fitness, fun and citizenship for local youth through a variety of activities set in a day camp environment.

The popular program is once again filled with over 150 youth participating including 100 Y-LEADers (youth entering grades 4-7), 35 junior captains (those entering grades 8-10 who are given additional responsibilities while also fully participating in the program) and 10 captains (paid high school students who each lead a team).

Under the supervision of advisor Charlie Kothenbeutel, and assistant Danet Kothenbeutel, the entire group works together throughout the seven-week program, which started June 17.

Y-LEAD is a collaborative effort, Kothenbeutel pointed out, with many of the day-to-day activities coming from the creative minds of the captains.

The program tries to achieve a variety of goals: Keeping the Y-LEADers physically active, enabling their creative side to shine, building their leadership and teamwork skills and helping them feel connected with their community, he described.

The basic elements of the  program are well established, including the structure of the organization and the practice of incorporating games, crafts, songs, snacks and activities into each day.

“The program has been so successful over the years. Some things stay the same but we try to come up with new ideas and implement them as well,” Kothenbeutel explained.

This year, for example, Y-LEAD is going to add a water element to the program. An entire week will be dedicated to water-related activities but also to learning about the importance of water.

Y-LEAD is about having fun but it is also about making friends, providing youth with a sense of belonging to their hometown and the realization that their actions make a difference.

Alexis Barnett and Jaque Carrillo are both experienced Y-LEADers. They told Mattos Newspapers they enjoy the various activities and being able to spend time with their friends But, they also like  helping out their community. “I like picking up trash in the park and helping to clean at the businesses downtown. It’s fun to help the community look better,” Barnett expressed.

Y-LEADers asked each other questions during a “getting to know you” game during the first week of the summer program.

“I like doing all the fun stuff we do here, it’s the stuff kids like to do but I also like that we clean up our trash wherever we go,” Carrillo proudly added. This is her fourth year as a Y-LEADer.

Habits developed in the program have become engrained.

“I see a piece of trash, I just pick it up and put it in the garbage now, whether here, at school or at home,” she described. Helping out and taking pride in her town, her home and her school, is just a basic instinct for her now, she related.

Community pride is one aspect of Y-LEAD. Another is learning to be a leader, in all aspects, Kothenbeutel noted. Working well with others is an important life skill, he added, and recognizing and celebrating differences is essential to becoming a successful leader.

Every participant is expected to treat one another with respect and kindness.

There is no tolerance for being mean-spirited or bullying and put-downs are not allowed.

“Y-LEAD is for everyone. Everyone brings with them their own background, their own experiences, their own skill levels but once here we are one group working together,” Kothenbeutel explained.

Over half of this summer’s Y-LEADers are new to the program.

To set the tone and the foundation for the program, the leadership theme of the first week focused on building bonds between team members and familiarity as an entire group. Teams were given a color but from there had to create a team name, a team cheer and a team skit which they performed on the gazebo stage.

Throughout the week they played games that required teamwork and activities that emphasized the need for various skills, personalities and physical attributes working side by side to attain success.

Barnett and Carrillo are part of the orange team who have named themselves the Orange Crushers. They would be crushing oranges during their skit, they said.

And, “We won the pipe game yesterday!” one of their team members exclaimed during a snack break. The goal was to carry a long pipe with numerous holes to a bucket and fill it with as much water as they could, she excitedly described.

Visualize, a long tube and 10 children of varying height, age and ability. The tube is held vertically. “I had to have the tube covered by my hand at the bottom,” Raul Vergara explained as he demonstrated his technique. The shortest team members had their fingers plugging the holes on the lower end of the pipe while the taller kept the higher holes plugged. Their captain poured the water in the tube and the team carefully made their way together to the bucket at the finish line. “The water was dripping all over your head and down your shoulders, remember?” the group collectively reminded Vergara. “Yeah, I got soaked!” he responded with a grin.

But, they won….not a prize, but the satisfaction of figuring out how to work together.

Subsequent weeks in YLEAD focus on themes such as environmental, patriotic, multi-cultural, career, community service and water. Special activities of the program include guest speakers from local leaders and community members,  make a difference day, a talent show, scavenger hunt, soccer tournament, the Mr. and Miss Y-LEAD contest, field trips and whatever else the captains come up with along the way.

“I’ve been very impressed with the group of captains this year. They have come together quickly and have some great ideas they are putting into action. They are role models to these younger kids and are living up to that responsibility,” Kothenbeutel expressed.

Y-LEAD will be represented at Gustine’s July Fourth festivities with a float in the parade and a carnival booth in the park. Funds generated will help defray costs of the program.

Youngsters in the Newman Recreation Department’s Fit Kids summer program enjoyed water-themed activities recently.

NEWMAN – The lazy days of summer have been anything but for youngsters who are participating in a city-sponsored program with an emphasis on promoting physical activity.

Newman’s Fit Kids program, now in its fifth year, keeps youngsters on the move through a variety of games and activities two mornings a week.

About 35 kids are registered for the program, and on any given day upward of 30 are in attendance.

“This gives the kids something to do in the summer,” explained Recreation Department staff member Stephanie Lopez, who oversees the program. “A lot of times kids get out of school for the summer and don’t have a lot to do. It lets them get out there and be active, see their friends from school and make new ones.”

Activities vary from one session to the next.

“Flag tag” is the universally popular activity, Lopez said, but youngsters also take part in baseball and soccer, work their way through obstacle courses and enjoy an occasional water day.

“We look for different games to play. We add different things each year, and might even bring in some of the games that they play in school,” she explained. “Sometimes we give them the option of which game they want to play that day. They don’t all like the same things, so we switch it off a lot.”

Exercise is incorporated in a variety of manners. Youngsters stretch before taking part in games, and will take part in activities such as running the bases at Matteri Field.

Activity leaders are selected at each session.

“We try to give everybody a chance to lead,” Lopez noted.

Occasional activity days complement the sessions dedicated to physical activity.

For example, Caroline Nelson from the West Side Art Association is working with the youngsters on art activities.

Each session concludes with presentation of charms for participation and to recognize traits such as perseverance and honesty.

The program continues through July.

Fit Kids is open to children 5 through middle school age. Depending on the activity and the number in attendance, the group may be divided by age for some events.

Most participants are fifth-graders or younger, Lopez said.

Not all were initially enthused about participating, she acknowledged.

“I have some parents who tell me that they are signing up their kids because they want them to be physically active,” Lopez said. “The kids might not want to initially, but then they change their mind and like coming to Fit Kids. They have a lot of fun.”

Tony Lopes of Gustine recently won the senior division Dairy Jeopardy competition at the National Holstein Convention. He became the first contestant to win each of the competitions offered at the national convention.

GUSTINE – A Gustine High School student’s diverse dairy knowledge lifted him to top honors in a Jeopardy-themed contest at the National Holstein Convention earlier this month.

In winning the senior division of Dairy Jeopardy, Tony Lopes became the first competitor to claim top honors in convention history to win all seven Dairy Jeopardy, Dairy Bowl and National Written Exam competitions.

Lopes’ passion for the industry piqued his thirst for knowledge about all things dairy – and that paid off in winning the senior division against a dozen other competitors, all of whom were of college age.

He comfortably won both the preliminary and final rounds of the game show-themed contest, which focused on dairy management.

Lopes said he devoted hours to preparation, but did not know in advance that the theme would be management.

“Jeopardy is a contest where you expect nothing….or expect anything. You have no idea what the questions are going to focus on. You have to prepare for everything,” he explained.

Lopes was raised on a family dairy and has his own herd.

He became involved in the California Junior Holstein after reading about the organization in a dairy publication at 9 years of age, which led to his contest involvement.

Success did not come instantly. He first competed at the national level at 10 years of age, and did not win until his third competition.

His resume now includes national championships in junior, intermediate and senior Dairy Jeopardy, junior and senior Dairy Bowl (team events) and junior and senior dairy tests.

Initially, Lopes said, his goal was to win a Dairy Bowl championship. But the wins kept coming, and the goal eventually became one of winning each competition.

“With all the preparation I have put in over the last eight years, there was a little pressure to continue at a high level. I would hate to go back there having done well in the past and not be able to continue the tradition of it,” Lopes remarked. “A lot of work goes into it. You are competing against others from all over the United States who have the same passion, and who have been working just as hard as you have.”

Plaques commemorate the victories, but for Lopes the greatest satisfaction comes from the sense of accomplishment and making connections within the industry.

The knowledge gained serves him well, Lopes added.

“That has allowed me to have a broader knowledge of day to day operations. You don’t just learn about cow-side practices. You are learning about what goes on outside the farm and are able to bring that knowledge into day-to-day practices and production agriculture,” he explained. “That allows us to be more effective in what we do.”

Personal growth has been a benefit as well.

“I have become much better at public speaking, and more confident in myself and my abilities,” Lopes reflected. “It has shown me the steps necessary for me to learn, which benefits me as a student, and moving forward as I continue to learn about the dairy industry.”

Having reached a contest pinnacle, Lopes is no longer eligible to take part in the national competitions.

Lopes would, however, like to serve on the junior advisory committee of the National Junior Holstein Association.

He is the son of Paul and Darlene Lopes.