Kids can cool off in the interactive water play feature while parents enjoy Stephen Bernd’s cool smooth jazz sounds during this evening’s Market & Music at Library Park.
The Manteca Chamber of Commerce sponsored farmers market also features four young entrepreneurs that are offering handcrafted items for sale in addition to the produce, food, and other vendors. The market runs from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays through July 25. There is no market on July 4.
Bernd has played guitar professionally since high school. He has been featured in the new talent section of Guitar Player Magazine. One of his original instrumental compositions, “Steve’s Quick Pick”, has been used as background for MTV’s “Date My Mom Show” as well as on a local cable TV program as well. Over the years he has been tapped to open shows for big name musicians.
Bernd is well-versed in playing smooth jazz, R&B, funk, and rock styles. He has relocated to the Central Valley from the Dallas area where he was part of a smooth jazz, R&B blues band called Natural Bridge.
Natural Bridge has an album called “Permanent Solution” that sells on CD Baby, Apple iTunes, and Rhapsody among other online music sites.
Samples of his music can be found at www.sjguitarist.com
Farm fresh vendors will offer peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, melons, grapes, tomatoes, flavored almonds, walnuts, pistachios, dried fruit, almond butter, almond flour, dried tomatoes, cherries, squash, black eye peas, eggplant, kale, spinach, chard, cucumber, lettuce and more,
Food vendors include Fagundes Food Truck, Rock Oven Pizza, Taco Fiesta, Hummus Heaven, Stuyt Farmstead Cheese, Suburban Harvest Fruit Vinegars, Rosa’s Bakery, Kettlekorn, and Kona Ice. 
There will also be a beer and wine garden as well as additional vendors offering everything from arts and crafts to information on businesses. 
There are weekly drawings that will include free dinners at Sizzler’s as well as items donated by vendors.
American Chevrolet is the presenting sponsor. Other sponsors are Doctors Hospital of Manteca, Tuff Boy, Delicato, South San Joaquin Irrigation District, and Oak Valley Community Bank, Bass Pro Shops, Golden Valley Credit Union, Kamps Propane, and Financial Center Credit Union.
Other upcoming Manteca Chamber of Commerce events include:
uWEDNESDAY COFFEE: The 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, coffee is at 8 a.m. at the Manteca Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, 580 Moffat Blvd.
uFLAGS OVER MANTECA: The chamber through the help of volunteers will be placing 2,400 flags along Manteca streets in observance of Flag Day on Wednesday, June 14. If you’d like to help, contact the chamber.
uWEDNESDAY COFFEE: The 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, coffee is at 8 a.m. at the East Union Cemetery, 580 Moffat Blvd., Louise Avenue and Union Road
uCONGRESSMAN’S MOBILE OFFICE: Congressman Jeff Denham’s mobile office will be at the chamber office at North and North Main streets on Friday, June 16, at 10 a.m.
uINSTALLATION & AWARDS BANQUET: The 94th annual Installation and Awards Banquet is Friday, June 16, at the MRPS Hall, 133 N. Grant St. Social hour is at 5:30 p.m. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person. Tickets are available online at www.Manteca.org or by calling 209.823.6121.
uSMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP: The Small Business Workshop is at noon on Thursday, July 6. Contact the chamber for details.
uRIBBON CUTTING & COFFEE: The ribbon cutting for dentist Dr. Mas’ood Cajee’s new downtown office  and chamber coffee takes place Wednesday, July 12, at 8 a.m. at 132 Sycamore Ave.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com