Election Day is November 3, and as Americans, Californians and residents of San Joaquin County, we have a lot of decisions ahead of us!

With so much media attention focused on the Presidential Election, it is easy to overlook a very important voter measure on the same ballot: Measure V. For residents of River Islands, V stands for the Value of having one school district for all of our students, from K – 12. V stands for Vocal, engaged parents. And V stands for a Visionary School District: the formation of Banta UNIFIED School District.

For many years, the Banta Elementary School District provided education for its youngest students, who then went on to high school in the neighboring Tracy Unified School District. With the growth of River Islands, and our parents’ desire to have their students attend a high school closer to home, we have worked together with Tracy and Banta to expand Banta into a unified school district, with the authority to charter a high school within our River Islands Academies.

The passage of Measure V means:

  • River Islands students, grades 9 – 12 will be attending a HIGH SCHOOL built within River Islands itself.

  • The new high school will be chartered and operated by River Islands Academies under Banta Unified School District.

  • The advanced, technology-and-arts-rich charter school approach that has shaped the education for our younger students at River Islands will be carried on seamlessly into a high school curriculum because the High School will be a part of the River Islands Academies.

This measure represents years of planning and coalition building, the result being that both the Tracy Unified District and Banta Elementary School District are in agreement about the importance of expanding Banta’s reach into high school education, through our charter Academies program.

The new district would come into being on July 1, 2021; its board and River Islands would focus on the development of a high school campus that would open in our community in August, 2023.

As for the cost, passing Measure V creates Banta Unified School District at no additional cost to the property owners beyond what is assessed in the General Obligation Bonds already in place.

Whether you vote by mail or in person, please make your voice heard!

All the best–
Susan Dell’Osso
President, River Islands Development

Leaves are changing and cool autumn breezes are approaching, which means it’s time to celebrate the season at River Islands! There are so many ways to enjoy fall in our community, but here are our favorite ways to FALL in love with autumn.

Take a Nature Walk

Grab your walking shoes and your camera and enjoy the warm colors of nature on one of the many trails throughout the community, including the Bennie & Joyce Gatto Historic Trail! When you’re done, hit The Boathouse Restaurant for a warm and tasty meal.

Refine Your Art Skills with Virtual Paint Night

Spruce up your home with a work of art, handmade by you! The City of Lathrop and Kat’s Paint Parties are hosting monthly paint nights via Zoom from now until December. Each event is a different painting based on the season. Register for one or all of the sessions here.

Explore the Corn Maze at Dell’Osso Family Farm

THe Dell'Osso Family Farms corn maze birds eye view
Photo Credit: Dell’Osso Family Farms

Gather up the family and enjoy a day of quintessential fall activities! Dell’Osso Family Farms’ 24th annual Pumpkin Maze and festivities will be from October 3rd – 31st and River Islands residents are lucky enough to live right next door. Find the perfect pumpkin and snap some cute selfies in the pumpkin patch. Then head over to the haunted house for a spooktacular fright. When you’re ready, try to find your way out of this year’s GIANT Corn Maze!

Dell’Osso Farm will be open daily from noon to 8 P.M. Monday – Thursday, and until 9 P.M. on Fridays. Weekend hours are 10 A.M. to 9 P.M. on Saturday, and 10 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Sunday.

Tickets can be purchased online on the Dell’Osso Family Farms website.

Please note that due to COVID restrictions, face masks and/or face shields must be worn at all times.

Attendees are encouraged to limit their groups to family members only, and to be mindful of 6 ft. social distancing with other guests. More information about Dell’Osso Farm’s safety procedures can be found here.

Visit Halloween Town in Tracy

kids gather around a werewolf at the Tracy Annual Halloween Haunt

Take a day trip over to Tracy for the 5th Annual Halloween Town event on Saturday, October 10th! Shop from local businesses for holiday decor, baked goods, and more. This event is free, however pre-registration is required for each guest.

Like you, we can’t wait to deck out our homes in fall decor and enjoy every pumpkin-flavored treat under the sun! If you’re not part of our fantastic community yet, don’t worry! There’s always something exciting happening throughout the year. Find your dream home on our website and get ready to enjoy life at River Islands!