It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic FAC Water Tower gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Fresno, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Woodward Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar or visit Van Ness Arch (Fresno entrance gate), don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Fresno, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Fresno, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Fresno, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
A bright yellow sign is turning heads and raising questions on Palm Avenue, just south of Herndon Avenue in northwest Fresno.What restaurant will have a MasterChef and replace the former Blast & Brew and Piazza Del Pane that once was at the spot?It will be The Yellow Chilli.It’s a fine dining Indian fusion restaurant, a worldwide franchise founded by a man considered “the most famous chef in India.” It has 28 locations globally, including several in the Bay Area and Southern California....
A bright yellow sign is turning heads and raising questions on Palm Avenue, just south of Herndon Avenue in northwest Fresno.
What restaurant will have a MasterChef and replace the former Blast & Brew and Piazza Del Pane that once was at the spot?
It will be The Yellow Chilli.
It’s a fine dining Indian fusion restaurant, a worldwide franchise founded by a man considered “the most famous chef in India.” It has 28 locations globally, including several in the Bay Area and Southern California.
The local owners are aiming for a late September opening.
The MasterChef is Sanjeev Kapoor, whose fame in India rivals Anthony Bourdain or Rachel Ray in America — and who is expected to come to Fresno for the grand opening of the restaurant. Many Indians watched Kapoor, who is Punjabi, on his cooking show for nearly 20 years. He was also a judge on India’s MasterChef TV show.
Californians — perhaps some of the tens of thousands of Punjabis in Fresno — make up some customers at Kapoor’s three Yellow Chilli restaurants in the state.
“Everybody knows his name. Everybody is super excited. The closest one is in Danville and everybody is going there to try it,” said Kamal Kaur.
She and husband Satvinder Ghotra are the Fresno owners of this franchised location.
Locals may know her as the owner of Bubble Bee, the boba shops at West and Herndon avenues in Fresno and Herndon and Fowler avenues in Clovis. She also runs The Curry Life pop-up that serves Indian food at the River Park Farmers Market and other locations.
Kaur and Ghotra opened a Yellow Chilli franchise in Buena Park, south of Los Angeles, in a former Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in 2018.
The New York Times profiled the couple and their restaurant that year.
Kapoor told the newspaper that many would-be restaurateurs flock to him because of his fame, but don’t want to put in the grind of working holidays and running a restaurant. But not this couple.
“Unfazed is an understatement,” he said to the paper. “They were mad. But we need mad people. We need that kind of passion. Opening a restaurant is a bigger commitment than getting married.”
Kaur and Ghotra were in the process of moving the restaurant to a new location when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
They never reopened, moving instead to Fresno, where they had family. Kaur opened an Indian TV channel and her husband’s company opened a new warehouse.
Kaur describes The Yellow Chilli as fine dining, but not high end. Main dishes at the Santa Clara location’s to-go menu start at $17.99 and top out at $28.99.
There will be a fusion of flavors on the menu, Kaur said. Say, a tradition sweet corn soup, but with Chinese spices.
Kapoor’s signature dish is sham savera, spinach dumplings filled with creamy paneer cheese on a bed of velvety tomato gravy.
The menu is fusion in the sense that “it’s got the basics of the authentic Indian things,” Kaur said, but it’s also “more acceptable to a universal audience, to Hispanics, whites.”
The restaurant, which has two patios, will have a full bar with Indian cocktails and mocktails, local wines and more.
It’s a big space, but Kaur said she thinks the restaurant will be a success in Fresno.
“It’s not only for Indian; it’s more for everybody kind of thing,” she said. “People have money here. They want to go spend money outside.”
This story was originally published September 5, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
Finding cheap internet in Fresno, California, is important for streaming, gaming and working from home. Residents have access to a variety of options, from affordable cable to high-speed fiber and even satellite in rural areas.Top internet providers in Fresno include AT&T, Xfinity, EarthLink, T-Mobile and Viasat, each offering different plans, speeds and prices. With coverage across the city, Fresno households can choose the best mix of value and performance. This guide compares the top internet providers in Fresno so you can find...
Finding cheap internet in Fresno, California, is important for streaming, gaming and working from home. Residents have access to a variety of options, from affordable cable to high-speed fiber and even satellite in rural areas.
Top internet providers in Fresno include AT&T, Xfinity, EarthLink, T-Mobile and Viasat, each offering different plans, speeds and prices. With coverage across the city, Fresno households can choose the best mix of value and performance. This guide compares the top internet providers in Fresno so you can find reliable Wi-Fi that fits your needs and budget.
Top cheap internet providers in California: Compare plans and prices in 2025Fresno residents can choose from several internet providers that balance affordability, speed and availability. Below are the top options, ranked from cheapest to most expensive starting prices:
These providers use cable, fiber, fixed wireless and satellite connections. Comparing plans by speed, price and technology is the best way to find the right fit for your household. All sample plans and prices below are based on a home in the 93704 ZIP code unless otherwise noted.
T-Mobile Home Internet uses its 5G network to deliver fixed wireless service across Fresno. It appeals to customers who want simple pricing and don’t want long-term contracts. T-Mobile’s plans include equipment and taxes, so there are fewer hidden charges. Download speeds depend on network demand and location.
Here’s a quick look at T-Mobile Home Internet plan options in Fresno:
Amplified and All-In add features, including the following:
Read our full T-Mobile Home Internet review.
Actual speeds may vary by location. $35 connection fee may apply.
Xfinity is one of the most popular internet providers in Fresno, known for its wide availability and affordable plans. As a cable internet provider, Xfinity offers download speeds that suit most households, starting at 150 Mbps. Xfinity’s prices are among the lowest in Fresno, especially if you bundle other services like TV. However, prices may increase after the first year, and there can be extra fees for equipment or installation.
Here’s a quick look at Xfinity plan options in Fresno:
Read our full Xfinity review.
With $10/mo. autopay & paperless bill discount with bank account. Price for Xfinity Internet for 60 months. After promo, regular rates apply. Mobile $0/mo for 12 months, then regular rates apply. One-time $25/line mobile activation fee applies. Taxes and fees extra. Prices may not include equipment or installation fees. Actual speeds may vary.
AT&T is a major fiber internet provider in Fresno, offering high-speed plans with no contracts or data caps. AT&T’s fiber service provides symmetric upload and download speeds up to 5,000 Mbps in some areas. It is recognized for customer service and reliable connections. AT&T also offers fixed wireless in certain locations.
Here’s a quick look at AT&T plan options in Fresno:
Read our full AT&T Fiber review.
Equipment fees may apply. Speeds and availability depend on address. Plus taxes (w/ eligible Autopay & Paperless bill). Price after $10/mo discount with eligible Autopay & Paperless bill (w/in 2 bills).
EarthLink offers a wide range of internet options in Fresno, including fiber, fixed wireless and satellite. Its plans vary by location and speed, with no data caps and stable pricing after the first year. Equipment fees may add to the monthly cost. EarthLink’s fastest plans can reach up to 5,000 Mbps on fiber.
Here’s a quick look at EarthLink plan options in Fresno:
Read our full Earthlink review.
Equipment and installation fees may apply. Speeds and availability depend on address. Prices accurate as of July 2025. Advertised prices shown. Auto-pay and paperless billing discounts may be applied to prices. Prices are subject to change. Actual speeds may vary. Prices may vary by location
Viasat provides satellite internet service for customers in rural or remote Fresno areas. It is available almost everywhere but is generally slower and more expensive than cable or fiber. Viasat plans have data limits, and speeds can drop during peak times. Introductory pricing lasts for the first three months.
Here’s a quick look at Viasat plan options in Fresno:
Read our full Viasat review.
Prices increase after three months. Speeds may be affected by weather and congestion.All plans include a $15 monthly equipment lease or a $250 lifetime lease option. Most require a 24-month contract, except Unleashed. Pricing and availability for Unleashed vary widely by address. Speeds and data allowances for Unlimited plans differ depending on the plan generation.
Availability is a key factor when choosing an internet provider in Fresno. Here are the main providers ranked from the most available to least available:
Actual availability may depend on your address and local infrastructure.
Fresno residents who need fast internet have several choices. Here are the top providers ranked from fastest to slowest maximum download speeds:
Download speed matters because it affects how quickly you can stream video, download files or connect multiple devices at once. Faster speeds are especially important for large households, online gaming or remote work.
When selecting an internet provider in Fresno, consider the following factors:
Fresno offers several types of internet connections:
Several providers offer special programs to reduce internet costs for qualifying households in Fresno:
Eligibility and benefits may vary by provider and program.
Contributing: Luke Dougherty, Hannah Watley, Allconnect.
This article was edited with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication..
Our team of editors independently makes all recommendations. When you buy a product or subscribe to a service through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
Flip the Script is a Bee series that challenges negative stereotypes (with the help of readers) by highlighting Fresno's remarkable assets and culture. Have a tip? Email [email protected] is a place of archetypes.There are the natives; those born and bred with Valley roots. These are families, known and not, with ties that go back generations. See: the Pardinis and their restaurant empire.There are the boomerangs; those who left Fresno (for greener pastures, imagined or real) only to return. Kopi So...
Flip the Script is a Bee series that challenges negative stereotypes (with the help of readers) by highlighting Fresno's remarkable assets and culture. Have a tip? Email [email protected].
Fresno is a place of archetypes.
There are the natives; those born and bred with Valley roots. These are families, known and not, with ties that go back generations. See: the Pardinis and their restaurant empire.
There are the boomerangs; those who left Fresno (for greener pastures, imagined or real) only to return. Kopi Sotiropulos is famously a boomerang. He left to Los Angeles in 1977 and spent the bulk of the 1980s as a working actor before returning to Fresno and becoming the well-known TV personality he is today.
Note: There is a subcategory of Boomerangs who have left and returned more than once. It is something that happens often enough to have its own name (on Reddit, at least). It’s called the Fresno curse.
There are tourists; both figurative and literal. These are the ones who are just passing through and who, for better or worse, see the area with an outsider’s eyes.
And then, there are the transplants; those who came to the area and found it agreeable enough to stay and put down roots.
Earlier this year, The Fresno Bee asked readers to share their stories as part of a reporting project aimed at changing the narrative around what it means to live in Fresno. Here are three transplants on why they moved to the area — and why they’ve stayed.
Steve Skibbie moved to Fresno with no intention of staying long.
Nearly 40 years later, he’s still here, and happily.
“I’ve seen this hundreds of times,” says Skibbie, a professional photographer and production specialist for the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. People say they’ll only be in Fresno for a year or two, “and then they get sucked into the community.”
“They may not even like Fresno,” he says, “but they love the community.”
Skibbie came to Fresno from Oregon in 1987. He had just gotten out of military service and wanted to be a photojournalist. The program at Fresno State came highly recommended. So much so, that Skibbie drove down and camped out in the parking lot of the Joyal Administration building to get a jump on introducing himself around the journalism department.
He knew, almost immediately, that he had chosen the right place.
“I came to Fresno and I liked it. It just hit me right.”
The frat guys during his freshman orientation that first week of school, they didn’t have much to good to say about the city, Skibbie says. It was, “avoid south of Shaw, avoid downtown.”
Skibbie didn’t take that advice. He started venturing around those parts of town, where he found some great architecture. But he really discovered the city with his then-girlfriend (eventual wife). They were running a book club for kids who lived in the motels along Broadway Avenue. Skibbie found there a group of people who seemed to get a bad wrap “because they were poor and lived in a neighborhood that nobody liked.”
“We really just kind of decided that we were going to live downtown,” he says.
For a time, Skibbie and his wife lived as part of a Christian ministry at the Pink House, a fourplex apartment building on L street near the First Presbyterian Church.
In 1998, they became homeowners.
They were one of several families that moved into the Lowell neighborhood, a mostly forgotten collection of homes tucked between Tower District and downtown proper. The neighborhood was one of Fresno’s first subdivisions and as such includes mansions, but also mid-sized homes, bungalow courts and apartments. The Skibbies bought and renovated a 100-year old home, where they lived and raised their children.
There was a moment, early on when Skibbie thought about leaving Fresno. His parents tried to lure him back to Oregon with a job opportunity, and his wife was ready to go. He applied for the job and interviewed, “and failed,” he says.
His daughter and son-in-law recently moved into the family home, which allowed Skibbie and his wife to “retire” into a loft apartment inside the Pacific Southwest Building.
His daughter is a now boomerang, who returned from a stay in Florida, because Fresno is still a place to get your feet on the ground after school, Skibbie says. The city did rank in the top 10 on a list of the most affordable places to live the state, according to one survey.
Like Skibbie, Paula Castadio, moved to Fresno in the late ’80s to attend Fresno State.
She was a California native and from the Valley; raised just up Highway 99 in the city of Atwater. The counselors at her high school must have had some kind of deal with the university, she says, because “they didn’t really share any other options.”
Plus, her brother was already a student there and that helped in the decision making process.
After graduation, she met her husband, Richard, and began a career that included a long stint with Valley Public Television (where she served as the president and CEO for a decade) and a shorter one at Fresno State. She now works as a consultant.
But there was something else going on.
“I developed a heart for the community,” Castadio says.
“Once you start connecting with the people here, it does tether you,” she says.
“I continue to be touched by that.”
She can point to any number of organizations that are working hard for the good of the community; Cradle to Career, the Fresno Business Council, Central Valley Community Foundation and it’s Drive initiative, which has advocated for $4.2 billion in new development over the next decade. There’s also new investments in art through Measure P, which Castadio calls hugely transformative for Fresno and our mindset.
“That will make this an even more attractive place to live,” she says.
Of course, for Castadio, Fresno has never been short of appeal.
There’s a mix of people and cultures here, and a good cost of living compared to the available quality-of-life activities. The city’s centralized location also puts one in proximity to most places in the state, which is important for the Castadios. They travel up in Napa to see her parents and to the Central Coast. That’s where they spend much of their off time.
Not that they haven’t given thought to other places, or pictured where they might end up if they weren’t here.
“We do the Google search. And we always come back to Fresno,” Castadio says.
“It is a great place to live based on all the factors I can think of.”
For Timothy McCollum and his wife Carol there were two factors that led them to Fresno.
“There was what we wanted to avoid and what we wanted to achieve,” says McCollum a retired lawyer who sold his home in Southern California to move to the foothills northeast of Fresno in October of 1990.
He grew up in Los Angeles.
“I just didn’t want to live long enough to die in Los Angeles.”
The couple looked at cities up and down the state, “from San Diego to Sacramento,” before settling on 40 acres of raw cattle land near Tollhouse.
There, they found a place with clean water and cleaner air, no noise or light pollution. “And,” McCollum jokes, “there were no chemical plants up gradient from us.”
McCollum worked in environmental law.
The property allowed them to have horses, which the couple kept until they got to old to ride, and raise longhorn cattle. They had 22 at the height of things, including a somewhat famous sire bull.
Now they’re down to five.
McCollum commuted into Fresno for work, where there was access to a federal courthouse. That access was an important piece of why McCollum chose the area.
But among out of town lawyers, there was a certain stigma in being from Fresno. “Nothing original was ever created in Fresno, legally,” he says.
One could use that to their advantage.
Now, in his 80s, McCollum is officially retired. But the couple still makes it down into Fresno a few times a week and is happy with their decision to move.
“It’s been wonderful,” he says.
“We’re delighted to be here.”
McCollum actually first shared his thoughts on Fresno with The Bee back in 1998 as part of a series of stories on the Valley’s image. He was one of hundreds who filled out a 46-question survey.
At the time, he called the city “a wonderful place to live,” with one major exception.
“The one great lack in Fresno is leadership,” he said.
“With the current leadership, Fresno is doomed to be a branch office location for distant corporations. If it’s lucky.”
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