Join the Conversation Friday, May 16, 2008 posted by Sharon Ito at 2:01 PM Hi everyone, it's News10's Sharon Ito. The season is about to begin for the Sacramento Monarchs. Log on at 5 p.m. and talk online with teammates Ticha Penicheiro and Laura Harper. At 6 p.m., we'll return to the hot topic of gay marriage and the state Supreme Court's decision paving the way for gay marriage in California. We had a gay marriage supporter as our featured guest yesterday. Today gay marriage opponent, Randy Thomasson, will join us in the studio. If you're looking for something to do this weekend, you might want to head to Oakdale and the Cowboys N Chocolate Festival. On this morning's Live_Online, we found out (actually, no surprise!) how much people love their chocolate, Jordan almonds and jawbreakers, too. Candy makers, Janet Sconza Angers and Greg Cater, of Sconza Candy Company joined us in the studio. Sconza is taking over the old Hershey's chocolate plant in Oakdale and should be ready to start producing chocolate, Jordan almonds and jawbreakers by late September or early October. They'll be handing out goodies at this weekend's chocolate festival. Have fun! Oakdale's Chocolate Tradition Lives On posted by Sharon Ito at 8:57 AM Hi everyone, it's News10's Sharon Ito. It was a blow to Oakdale when Hershey closed its chocolate plant last year and shipped jobs across the border to Mexico. After all, Hershey had been a fixture in Stanislaus County since the mid-1960's. But the chocolate tradition continues this weekend in Oakdale with the Cowboys N Chocolate Festival and the pending arrival of the Sconza Candy Company. Oakdale will not only continue to be a chocolate capital, but the home of Jordan almonds, Boston beans and jawbreakers, too. On Live_Online at 11 a.m., you'll hear the story of the Sconza Candy Company, how it all started in the Sconza family kitchen in 1939 with their home-made peanut brittle. The company will be leaving its operations in Oakland and opening later this year in Oakdale, with a promise to use locally grown produce. The company's already hired some former Hershey employees. Janet Sconza Angers, who's the third generation of Sconza candy makers and head of customer service, and Greg Cater, who's vice president of sales, will be our studio guests. We'll see how their family, company and candy philosophy has kept them in business for nearly 70 years. Log on and join our conversation. You can always send us an email: LiveOnline@news10.net