30th annual Holiday Affair Dec. 16

The biggest holiday party in Manteca is being planned by Manteca Soroptimists for their upcoming 30th Annual Holiday Affair.

MUSEUM OPEN HOUSE

Manteca Historical Society and Museum will be hosting its annual Holiday Open House from 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 10 at the museum, 600 W. Yosemite Ave. On display will be 17 Christmas trees, some trimmed with vintage ornaments. Animated figures, some life-size, adorn the Memorial Building front window. Traditional Christmas carols will be sung and holiday background music will be provided by Keri Stewart. A drawing will be held offering a gift basket and items from the gift shop. A wide array of refreshments will be served and admission is free.

Almond Blossom dinner on Jan. 14

RIPON - The Ripon Chamber of Commerce is holding their 48th Annual Almond Blossom Kick Off and Tribute Dinner on Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Ripon Community Center, 334 Fourth Street at 6 p.m.

ODDS & ENDS

Manteca regional attractions

Every wonder what attracts people to visit Manteca?

1969: City Council raises garbage collection rates to $2.25 per month

CORRECTION

The Manteca Unified Student Trust, or MUST, will be conducting its team basketball clinic this Saturday at Manteca High's Winter Gymnasium.

McKinley Ave: Where will it go?

McKinley Avenue could one day define the outer reaches of southwest Manteca and how that part of the community develops.

Let it snow, let it snow in Manteca!

Valley commuters on their way to work in the Bay Area early Monday morning were treated to a rare visual treat in the Altamont: white chocolate hills that turned the normally brown and green vista into a winter wonderland magic.

Fire district flap flares up over half hour of OT pay

LATHROP – It may not turn out to be as expensive and as laboriously long as the City of Lathrop's Matt Browne case, but a personnel issue involving the demotion of a 15-year fire captain with the Lathrop-Manteca Fire District is also being reviewed by an administrative law judge.

Turning blight into senior housing

Six months ago, the only shelter that the 1.4-acre parcel wedged between Grant Avenue and the back of Dribbles' Car Wash and Burger King provided was for a homeless encampment amid rubbish and weeds.

1,060 families may go without Christmas meal

Sue Teunissen at this point wouldn't mind at all if the community was able to come forward with just enough money to put hams on the tables of struggling families in Manteca, Lathrop, and Ripon this Christmas.

Delicato Vineyards fine art show entries open on Dec. 26

Delicato Vineyards is holding its 22nd annual Fine Art Show from Saturday, Jan. 16 through Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. All art in this show will be available for sale.

Violent sex offender is registered in SJ County

The Megan's Law Website lists recently released sexual predator Dewayne Michael Smith as a resident of San Joaquin County – not San Francisco, where he was said to be working after a short stop at his parent's mobile home address in Manteca.

Brock Elliott Pancake Slam

The fourth annual Pancake Slam takes place at Brock Elliott School on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 7 to 11 a.m.

Price break for garbage intact for city’s seniors

LATHROP – It has been five years since the Allied Waste Corporation asked for any sort of a rate increase for seniors.

Prepare for Lyft off in Manteca

Mark Kosier is a 6-foot-7 computer repairman – and that's not even the most interesting thing about him.

Regional Transit bus tough bargain to beat

For efficiency and bargain, the bus gets high marks.

Drive-thru dinner helps injured teen

Schools are on summer break. But while schools are closed and students are out enjoying their vacations, members of the Parent Teacher Group of St. Anthony of Padua School are keeping their hearts open to help a Manteca family in need. They are sponsoring a drive-thru dinner fund-raiser at Fagundes Meats for the family of Manteca High School student Jonathan Loon.

Munson, Winn in runoff for SJ supervisor

The San Joaquin County District Four Board of Supervisors' race will see Russ Munson and Chuck Winn enter a November runoff for representation of the east side of the county from Lodi and Woodbridge to Ripon.

Rodeo this Saturday & Sunday in Lathrop

Give Every Child a Chance is staging the Xtreme Bulls & Broncs Rodeo on the River fundraiser on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8 from noon to 5 p.m. both days at Dell'Osso Family Farm in Lathrop just off Interstate 5.

Sign battle costing business

Manteca's elected leaders don't want to put the hard-to-find Weber's BBQ out of business or other small businesses now populating the Manteca Industrial Park.

INDEPENDENCE PARADE

The Sunrise Kiwanis want to make sure everyone that wants to celebrate the Fourth of July by participating in the traditional parade down Main Street in Manteca will be able to do so.

Moore wins third term as SJC Sheriff

The results have yet to be certified official, but San Joaquin County Sheriff Steve Moore appears to be headed for a third term.

St. Anthony’s Ministry for Caring hosts lunch for CAPS consumers

Jon is a consumer of Valley CAPS.

Munson, Winn lead for supervisor

Russ Munson and Chuck Winn were the leaders in the race for the San Joaquin County Supervisors Fourth District seat encompassing Ripon, Escalon and Lodi in early vote counting Tuesday.

SUMMER EVENT

Arthur Thompson likes fresh.

Manteca to Kaiser: Restore hospital services

Manteca's elected leaders want Kaiser to restore services to the healthcare firm's Manteca hospital.

Sheriff Moore heading for 3rd term

Two term San Joaquin County Sheriff Steve Moore held the early lead Tuesday night and appears to be headed towards another four years as San Joaquin County's top cop.

Salazar tops DA race

Deputy District Attorney and Chief Prosecutor Tori Verber Salazar led Gary Hickey in the race for San Joaquin County District Attorney Tuesday night at press time.