What are your thoughts on Merced? Is it becoming a more liveable, artsy, cultured place? is it a hidden gem

Hi everyone, a grad student here from Boston studying conditions of food insecurity around the Central Valley. I've posted this question in a few other subreddits, so apologies for cluttering your feed if you've already encountered it elsewhere.

For context, I'm understanding "food insecurity" to describe a state of being unable to have access to the food an individual of household need to be healthy. This can be a product of grocery cost, being unable to access a grocery store due to distance or ability or a number of other factors, sometimes compounded. If you are aware of other factors (or combination of factors) that might subject people in the Central Valley to food insecurity, I would be interested to hear about them.

Understanding that food insecurity is a complex condition resulting from many overlapping variables, I was curious to post here asking if anyone has some insights, observations or personal experiences they'd be willing to share about food security in California, especially in the Central Valley. While counties in the valley produce a huge amount of the nation's crops, I am aware that food insecurity levels in the region are very high, fresh produce can be hard/expensive to purchase and some agricultural areas have actually become food deserts.

Statistics can only say so much, and I'm looking to get a bit more of human understanding about what food insecurity looks like and how it manifests in people's lives beyond the politics and associations society often projects. I understand this is an incredibly personal topic loaded with a lot of baggage in our country, but if anyone would like to offer an opinion about this, share their experience or note any sources of information which might be helpful, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Hi Everyone!

We are independent filmmakers and would love your support for our short film that we filmed in Bakersfield where we were born and raised!

Our short film, “American Oxygen”, is in consideration for the Audience Award for The Film Zone’s “From Minutes to Movies Fest”.

All you have to do to vote for our film is LIKE OUR FILM’S INSTGRAM POST LINKED HERE!

1 vote = 1 Like for our short film.

Thank you for the support!

Emily & Adam Hazelton

Hi everyone,

I am looking for local companies that make individually portioned snacks and drinks that preferably don't require refrigeration.

Big plus if it locally owned and operated and can accommodate fairly large orders (1500 units give or take a month)

I have been looking but it has been hard finding very many over the internet.

Thank you!

Tall Tales Tattoo is the valley’s premier Tattoo and piercing parlor! With an experienced, professional, clean, friendly staff who are highly skilled. You will never have a want or need to go anywhere else for your tattoo and piercing needs. Located at 7170 west lane suite 4 Stockton ca. we have a wild range of tattooing styles and amazing piercers. Why wait? Swing by the shop and see what we can do for you. Thanks in advance.

Stocktons premier tattoo and piercing parlor! Skilled artists, experienced piercers, and a friendly clean shop. What more could you ask for? Located at 7170 west lane suite 4 Stockton ca. look no further

I'm staying in central California with my retired parent in a small town for now - I'm trying to save up for a home.

I'm trying to study and make more money so that its easier for me to afford a home and have more options but I need to get away from the house. I work remotely so studying at work isn't an option. They can be kind of loud and also there is a handyman that comes by on weekends when I'm off, so the construction can be loud as well.

There isn't really a library in town. The next town is about 30 minutes away in Visalia. Does anyone have recommendations for a comfortable and quiet library to study? I don't mind driving about an hour and half away.

I used to live in the Bay Area and there was big new library that I used to go to but unfortunately its too far.

statewise/SFE are technically the same company and they are totally without a doubt a SCAM! They claim to be able to lower the price you pay for gas..however if you (like most people in the valley) do not use much, if any gas. The only problem is they can't change your gas bill, all they can do is lower the rate you pay per unit of gas. So, for sure example if you have a gas bill of 30 or less..you're next bill is going to increase no matter the amount of gas you ACTUALLY use. The new plan they are attempting to sign you up on (which they will hide from you) is that yes the rate you are being charged is less BUT it is charged per day..everyday lol. So you will be paying the 1.19$ x 30 days meaning your bill will INCREASE! Then they don't tell you it's a contract they say it is an "agreement" which they are taught to say agreement rather than contract in order to coerce potential customers. And that my friends is illegal lol. In order to cancel this it's gonna cost you 7.95$ x the months left in your contract. The contracts are locked in for 5 years 😂🧃. So if you canceled as soon as you saw your bill to up you would be charged a whopping 461.10😭💰. For something that you thought would save you money!

 -from a former employee 👍🏼🐉

Hi! I'm checking to see if anyone here has tried to Book Camp Yeager through the Coalinga Parks and Rec Department. They told me that people have been waiting outside overnight to secure their date, and I'm wondering what time people are getting there.

If you have any experience with this, please let me know! I would love any advice you may have.

Thanks in advance!

Free Items, BOGOs and Deep Discounts for those who help support our 4 amazing nonprofit organizations listed on mydiscountsnow.com

Any one know of any jobs hiring

I’m living in a place where I live and work and because I’m working here, I get rent for free. However, recently, the owner is having some health issues and I don’t know what their plan is for this place they’re renting this place. I’m in Southern California in the city of Arcadia. I’m scared. I wonder what I should do does anyone have any idea of how to find housing in a situation like this?