NEWMARKET SERVICES ublisher of 95 U.S. and 32 International Relocation Guides, NewMarket PServices, Inc., is proud to introduce our online version. Now you may easily access the same information you find in each one of our 127 Relocation Guides at www.NewMarketServices.com. In addition to the content of our 127 professional written City Relocation Guides, the NewMarket Web Site allows us to assist movers in more than 20 countries by encouraging you and your family to share your moving experiences in our NewMarket Web Site Forums. You may share numerous moving tips and information of interest to help others settle into their new location and ease the entire transition www.NewMarketServices.com process. We invite everyone to visit and add helpful information through our many available forums. Share with others your knowledge of your new location or perhaps your former location. If you ever need to research a city for any reason, from considering a move to just checking where somebody you know is staying, this is the site for you. NewMarket Services looks forward to cooperating with everyone to continually add to our base of City Specific Information along with our various moving topics to help many of the 40 million people who have the opportunity to relocate each year. Please do not hesitate to contact our customer service department to speak to a live representative if we can provide any assistance. Our toll free number is (866) 595-3792. Stockton/Modesto Information Guide [ 5 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE The NewMarket Services Information Guide is designed as a valuable resource tool for you, the newcomer to Stockton/Modesto. It is our intent in producing this publication to standardize important and helpful information on your new community in a format that is most useful to you. Stores and services are listed by category in the business directory. Stockton/Modesto Important telephone numbers, packing and Welcomes You! moving suggestions, and much, much more useful information is found throughout the Guide pages. Selected area businesses, many offering significant savingsare found in the Business Directory Section, sorted by category. The Guide can save you both time and money while providing you a continuous resource tool as you become more familiar with the metroplex. We do hope you find our Relocation Guide to be of assistance to you. If you do not find something you need, or if you have any suggestions for future issues of the Guide, please give us a call. We will be happy to assist in any way. (866) 595-3792 Toll Free From everyone at NewMarket Services Welcome to Stockton/Modesto! 6 ] Stockton/Modesto Information Guide www.newmarketservices.com Stockton/Modesto Information Guide [ Volume 9 [ Number 12 LOCAL INFORMATION The State of California 8 Area Codes, Important Phone Numbers 11 Travel Information 12-13 Driver’s License & Vehicle Registration 14 About Stockton/Modesto 9 Things to See and Do 15-21 Media 22 Publisher: NewMarket Services, Inc. MOVING President: Patrick Morgan Smooth Transitions 24-25 Managing Editor: Rebecca Wallace Choosing a Moving Company 24 Executive Editor: Jason Gerali Packing Tips 24-25 Contributing Writer: Amy Tennant Staying Organized 25 Settling Into Your New Home 25 Executive VP Sales & Marketing: Robert Fischer What’s All The Talk About 27 Regional Sales Manager: Beth Hurley Pre-Move Checklist 28-29 Art Department: Sprague Design. MOVING WITH CHILDREN & PETS Graphic Designer: Dean Sprague Reinforce the Positives 31-32 NewMarket On-Line: Total Web Design, Inc. Choosing a School 31-32 IT and Web Development: Larry Bongiovi Selecting Child Care 33-34 Education 35-36 Research Assistant: Stephanie Cooper, Lora Price Relocating Your Pet 37 Circulation: Little Drummer Boy Dist., Inc. Phoenix Office: FITNESS & HEALTH PO Box 30534 In the Kitchen 39 Phoenix, AZ 85046-0534 Physical and Mental Well Being 40-42 Volunteering 43 Phone: (602) 923-3415 Fax: (602) 923-0774 HOUSING Toll Free: (866) 595-3791 Making the Right Choice 45-46 Chicago Office: Choosing the Right Home 47 902 North Ashland Housing Options For Growing Active Adults Demographics 48-49 Chicago, IL 60622 Home Inspection Checklist 50 Phone: (312) 226-6288 Homecare Basics for New Homeowners 51 Fax: (312) 226-6290 Security 52 Toll Free: (866) 595-3792 Take Control of Your Energy Costs 53 Home Buyer’s Glossary 54-55 NewMarket currently publishes Information Guides for 95 North American and 32 Who’s Who in Building 56 International Markets. To order your Selecting a Builder 57 NewMarket Information Guides for $3.50 Selecting a Contractor 58 each, please contact NewMarket Services Banking/Mortgage Information 59-62 toll free at (866) 595-3792. BUSINESS DIRECTORY In preparing this publication, every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of Business Directory Listings 63-64 the information contained herein, but authenticity cannot be guaranteed. Listings are subject to omission, error or change without notice. All material in this publication is copyright protected and can only be reprinted with permission of the publisher. Stockton/Modesto Information Guide [ 7 THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA OR European explorers first began contacting the region in the 16th century; the area was inhabited by a variety of Native American tribes. The coastal areas of the state were colonized by Spain beginning in 1769, but became a part of the Mexico in 1821 because of the Mexican War of Independence. It was part of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, and then was ceded to the United States in the Mexican-American War, which ended in 1848. The California Gold Rush of 1848-1849 brought about 90,000 additional U.S. migrants to the state, and California became the 31st state of the Union in 1850. Reno Sacramento The state’s major predominant industries include agriculture, entertainment, light manufacturing, and tourism. California is also Oakland the home of several significant economic regions such as San Francisco Stockton NV Hollywood (entertainment), the California Central Valley (agriculture), Modesto Silicon Valley Silicon Valley (computers and high tech), and the Wine Country (wine). California’s economy is the largest in the United States, and Salinas Monterey at $1.55 trillion, is larger than all but 7 countries. Per capita personal Fresno income was $33,403 as of 2003, ranking it 12th in the nation. Most of the state has a Mediterranean climate, with rainy winters CA and dry summers. The climate along the coast is mild; cooler along San Luis Obispo Las Vegas the central and northern coast. Southeastern California is arid Bakersfield desert. Along the cost, the rainy season runs from October to April in the north and from November to March or April in the south. Santa Barbara Record temperaturs of a high 134 °F (56.6 °C at Death Valley on Ventura County San Bernardino AZ July 10, 1913 and a record low of -45° at Boca on January 20, Los Angeles 1937. Average yearly precipitation ranges from under 5 inches in Pacific Ocean south-east to 120+ in parts of the north-west. Orange County Riverside California levies a 9.3% maximum variable rate income tax, with 6 tax brackets and a 7.25% sales tax. San Diego he State of California covers the southern portion of the United States’ west coast. With a population of 37 million Fast Facts ESTIMATED POPULATION: 37,172,015 Tand an area of 158,402 square miles, California is the largest U.S. state in population and the third largest in area. LAND AREA: 158,302 sq mi California borders the Pacific Ocean to the west, Oregon to the COASTLINE: 840 miles north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and the Mexican state of CAPITAL: Sacramento Baja California to the south. The state has incredible geographic STATE MOTTO: Eureka diversity. It has both the highest and lowest elevations in the Continental US (within 100 miles of each other), an expansive STATE NICKNAME: The Golden State central valley, tall mountains, arid deserts, and hundreds of miles of LARGEST CITIES: Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose coastline. Most major cities are at or near the Pacific coastline, STATE SALES TAX: 7.5% notably Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Santa Ana/Orange County, Riverside/Moreno Valley, San Bernardino and San Diego. However, the capital, Sacramento, is in the Central Valley, and there are other significant cities on the interior. 8 ] Monterey County Information Guide ABOUT STOCKTON/MODESTO OVERVIEW tockton is the seat of San Joaquin County in central California. Stockton is the 13th largest city in California with a population nearing 300,000. Stockton is the fourth Slargest inland city in California, behind Fresno, Sacramento, and Bakersfield. It was founded in 1849 by Captain Charles Maria Weber, who built the first permanent residence in the San Joaquin Valley after acquiring 49,000 acres through a Spanish land grant. Soon, he established this spot as a stop for 49ers on their way to the Sierra Nevada gold rush. Stockton is about 60 miles east of the San Francisco Bay Area and 45 miles south of Sacramento, the capital of California. Stockton is surrounded by the rich and fertile lands of the California Central Valley and is home to the largest inland seaport in California. In and around Stockton are thousands of waterways, canals, and rivers that comprise the California Delta. Rich peat soil and a temperate climate have combined to make the area around Stockton one of the richest agricultural and dairy regions in California. Throughout the 150 years of Stockton's history almost every major fruit, nut and field crop has been grown, some with greater success than others. Current major crops include asparagus, cherries, tomatoes, walnuts and almonds plus many other smaller-production orchard, row and feed crops.