20161206-vigil

Candlelight vigil honors those lost to violence

District Attorney Victim Services event was for friends and family to honor victims of violent crime

Holidays can be a very difficult time of year for those who have lost loved ones to violent crime. The Victims Candlelight Vigil is held annually on the Stanislaus Superior Courthouse lawn as a way to remember loved ones and to honor their memory.

This year's 19th annual event featured a lighting of the victims' memorial tree and a candlelight vigil. Attendees were encouraged to bring a non-breakable ornament to hang on the tree as a remembrance of their loved one during the holiday season.

“Friends and family of homicide victims often feel alone in their grief which can be especially painful during the holiday season when there is such an emphasis on joy and spending time together," stated Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager. “The Candlelight Vigil is an important opportunity for them come together and share memories in a warm and supportive setting that specifically recognizes victims of homicide.”

An estimated 500 people attended the ceremony where a special video was played with photos and names of homicide and vehicular manslaughter victims provided by families. The event featured several guest speakers including District Attorney Birgit Fladager, Sheriff Adam Christianson, Annette Ramirez (family member of a victim), Erin Nelson (the executive director of Jessica's House), and Cheryl Titus who is the victim services program coordinator for the District Attorney's office.

Read More

Pet of The Week

Pet of the Week

Mamas, an 11 month old Bull Terrier/Foxhound mix who is the absolute sweetest girl. She enjoys time with her human laying on the couch while they watch their favorite show and she loves going on walks to see the neighborhood. This girl will be your best friend and is just waiting for someone to come in and adopt her.

We have so many wonderful pets at the Adoption Center @ 3647 Cornucopia Way Modesto.  We're open Monday & Tuesday 10am - 6pm, Wednesday 1pm -6pm, Thursday & Friday 10am - 5pm, and Saturday 12pm - 5pm. Closed Sundays and Holidays. You can also look online at other Available Dogs and Available Cats. All of our adoptable pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and micro chipped.

Recent News

PIT2026

Volunteers Needed for the 2025 Homeless Point-in-Time Count

We are seeking volunteers to assist with the annual Homeless Point-in-Time Count the morning of Thursday, January 29th. Volunteers must be 18 or older and have a smartphone to conduct surveys of our neighbors experiencing homelessness. The deadline to register and complete the required 30-minute training is January 18, 2026.


Click Here to Register | Click Here to Complete Training


The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a one-day, unduplicated count of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This data helps define the scope of homelessness in our community and informs policy and funding decisions. Learn more about what volunteers can expecthere.


Visit www.CSOCstan.com to view past PIT Count reports and learn more about the Stanislaus Community System of Care.

View Event Flyer
20221215-homeless

Volunteers Needed for 2023 Homeless Point-In-Time Count

The PIT Count is an unduplicated count of all people in Stanislaus County experiencing homelessness. It provides a "snapshot" of what homelessness looks like on a single day of the year.

Let’s make everyone count!

The Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) needs volunteers to conduct the 2023 Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.

The PIT Count is an unduplicated count of all people in Stanislaus County experiencing homelessness. It provides a "snapshot" of what homelessness looks like on a single day of the year.

The Count is scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2023. The deadline to register is January 6, 2023.

The Count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to estimate the number of Americans without safe and stable housing. It’s a requirement to receive federal funds to reduce homelessness.

Volunteers will work alongside the County’s Homeless Outreach and Engagement Team as they fan out across the Stanislaus County. They’ll engage with local homeless individuals and their families to complete surveys and help distribute care packages.

The registration process is easy. You can register online at https://stanislaus.pointintime.info/. You'll be required to choose a training session and select the city where you’d like to work.

Other options to register: By phone (209) 558-2961 or e-mail CSOC at csoc@stancounty.com. You can also scan this QR code from the camera app in your smart phone.

The 2023 Homeless PIT Count is organized by the Stanislaus Community System of Care (CSOC) which includes local governments, non-profits, and homeless providers.

Read More
20221107-adus

Free Accessory Dwelling Building Plans for Residents

Pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) building plans that are going to be available, free of charge, for property owners living in any of the partner jurisdictions.

In partnership with the cities of Ceres, Modesto, Oakdale, Riverbank, Turlock, and Waterford, Stanislaus County has contracted with TPH Architects to develop complete, pre-approved Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) building plans that are going to be available, free of charge, for property owners living in any of the partner jurisdictions; this is to help streamline the permitting process and reduce the costs for property owners to add ADUs to their properties.

Senate Bill (SB) 2, signed by Governor Brown in 2017 was aimed at addressing the state’s housing shortage and high housing costs. The legislation directed that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), use 50 percent of the revenue in the first year to establish the Planning Grants Program (PGP). The PGP program was not competitive and all localities that met the eligibility requirements were funded.

All the cities decided to utilize a portion of their PGP grant funding to partner with Stanislaus County to go out for a request for proposal to contract with an architect to develop the ADU plans that are now being made available free of charge to residents.

ADUs are an accessory beyond traditional construction in California homes providing a solution for additional housing needs for families. ADUs, also referred to as in-law units, are being built to address the lack of housing that meets people’s needs for affordability and proximity to job rich environments.

ADUs tend to be significantly less expensive to build than new detached single-family homes because they are not being built on new land and can provide as much living space as apartments and/or condominiums. These free plans have been designed to provide adaptability in meeting typical lot sizes and configurations found throughout Stanislaus County. There are seven different options in a variety of sizes and exterior finishes creating a desirable living space for those who would seek to occupy an ADU.

To take advantage of this opportunity, we encourage property owners should contact a representative in their jurisdiction of residency to obtain the pre-checked building plans, free of charge, and to get more information about the process of constructing an ADU on their property.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUS) - Planning & Community Development - Stanislaus County (stancounty.com)

Read More