Ray Gonzalez’s dream of personal training was always bigger than a garage gym.
The Sierra High graduate and Savage Elite Fitness owner wanted more for his growing clientele and his own expertise.
“I started training a few members in my garage,” said Gonzalez, who also worked out of a back room CalFit for a short time. “It was never legit … because it was in my garage.”
So he and his business partner – brother Armando Gonzalez – took a risk, signing a lease for a 1,500-square-foot facility in Lathrop’s business district.
Just like that, Savage Elite Fitness was born.
Success has followed suit. Located at 129 D’Arcy Parkway, Savage Elite Fitness has added about 50 members in the last calendar year, bringing its membership level to 80.
Now it’s time to celebrate.
Savage Elite Fitness will mark its one-year anniversary at its current location with an open-house party on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Members and non-members are invited to attend. The anniversary will feature music, jump houses for the kids, free food, tours of the facility, an esthetician and a massage therapist.
“We’ve been open for a year now,” Gonzalez said. “It takes members to keep us running, so we want to give back to them and have a good time.”
For more information, visit www.savageelitefitness.blogspot.com.
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Leonard Photography makes seniors smile
Manteca High students Hector Guitron and Alyssa Rivas have been awarded the Leonard Photography scholarship, which will pay for their senior picture packages. Guitron and Rivas were nominated and selected by school staff, and both are on target to graduate in the spring. This is the second year Leonard Photography has provided the scholarship to a senior at Manteca High.
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Ministries team up for grocery giveaway
The homeless aren’t the only ones struggling to find a nourishing meal.
Cynthia Jackson says times are just as tough for those with an income, whether they’re working or retired, particularly at the end of the month.
To fight these across-the-board hunger pains, Transformed Through Hope has partnered with Bread of Life to give away groceries every third Saturday of the month at 201 W. Alameda.
“The idea is to help anyone that needs help with food,” said Jackson, a pastor at Transformed Through Hope, a small congregation with fewer than 100 members.
The ministries hosted their first giveaway last Saturday, doling out nearly 100 carts packed with assorted foods. Recipients need only register before picking up their food.
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Brock Elliott collecting costumes
With Halloween just around the corner, Brock Elliott Elementary School PTA is conducting a costume clothing drive for those in need.
If you would like to donate a costume, please contact Ruschelle Tolbert at chelletolbert@yahoo.com.
Why drive to Levi’s when you can ‘RYDE’?
Fans planning to watch the Manteca-Oakdale football game at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 11 can travel in style.
RYDE, a Los Angeles-based transportation company, is offering fans seats on luxury motor coaches.
The motor coaches will leave the Save Mart parking lot in Manteca at 8:30 a.m. for a noon kickoff at Levi’s Stadium, the San Francisco 49ers’ new billion-dollar stadium in Santa Clara.
There are two return times, according to a press release: 5 and 8:30 p.m.
Seats are $45 and can be purchased at RYDEthere.com. The site will go live today, said co-founder Bob Aube.
To contact Managing Editor James Burns email jburns@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3542.
