Ashley Cargill of Modesto, with family in Ripon, joined the Manteca Bulletin display advertising staff this week.

Cargilll is a 2009 graduate of San Jose State University majoring in hospitality and recreation with her past work history as a wedding and event planner.

She said, in her spare time she loves to cook and to bake with toffee chocolate chip cookies with walnuts added being a favorite among her family and friends.  Her late grandfather Bill Veldman had emigrated from Holland where he worked in a bakery.  He also had The Dutch Pastry Shop in Modesto before the building of the Sundial Restaurant at that McHenry Avenue location.  Veldman later was a baker at the Sundial after the closing of his bakery.

Growing up in Ripon, Cargill went through the elementary school grades at Ripon Christian High School and went on to graduate from Modesto Christian High School in 2005.  Cargill was involved in soccer all through her school years, she said.

Horseback riding was also a favorite pastime on a Carrolton Road ranch all through high school.  She said she is a second generation in her family who came from Holland.

Cargill remembers all her teachers dating back to the early years at Ripon Christian and can name them all year by year.  She and her classmates at San Jose State were like a close-knit family, often going out to eat after the conclusion of their late classes.

In grammar school, her favorite was Mrs. DeJong in the first grade. 

The new advertising staffer has been assigned to the Stockton business community with a few clients to call upon in Manteca including Doctors Hospital of Manteca.